GENERAL ITEMS

Nelson Evening Mail, Volume LXXI, 16 November 1937, Page 4

GENERAL ITEMS

Partial Eclipse of the Moon On Thursday next, shortly after dark, the moon will be partially eclipsed, and the phenomenon, given favourable weather conditions, will be visible in New Ze-iUnd. The moon will enter the earth’s shadow just after 7.30 p.m. At 8.13 p.m. nearly one-sixth of the moon will be obscured, but thereafter 'he moon will move out of the shadow again, "all clear” being sounded about 9 p.m. The eclipse therefore, will be a very small partial one, and, although interesting, as all eclipses are, will net be spectacular. Attention is drawn to the Railway Department’s advertisement in this issue in connection with train arrangements and cheap fares to Richmond on Friday end Saturday, 19th and 2Cth November, on the occasion of the Nelson A. and. P. Show. In aid of funds for the Motueka Safe Bathing Society, a Paddy’s Market will be held m the Women’s Division Hall, Motueka, on Friday afternoon and evening, and at 9 p.m. the results of competitions will be announced.

Richmond Wider Supply Residents of Richmond me requested to conserve the water supply as much ns possible during the present dry period, and to refrain from using the hose except for strictly necessary purposes. Failure to do this, in addition to observing the present restrictions, will result in tire supply being further curtailed, stales the Mayor (Mr 11. Warren Kelly). Asbestos Deposits "Active prospecting by (he Hume Pipe Co. (Aust.), Ltd., lias been carried out on the asbestos area held by the company, in block I. Flora survey district. Takaka County, with the object of developing the extensive asbestos deposits of the area which they hold under mineral prospecting warrant,” comments the Minister of Mines (the Hon. P. C. Webb) in his annual statement presented to the House. Complaints by Mental Patients Complain.; made by patients In mental institutions about harsh treatment were referred to by Mr R. A. Wright (Independent. Wellington Suburbs) when the- Mental Hospitals report was under discussion in the House of Representatives yesterday afternoon. Mr Wright said he realised how difficult it was to get any reliable statement out of a patient, but in a case brought under his notice the patient had two black eyes when visited The Minister in Charge of the Mental Hospitals Department (the Hon. P. Fraser) said that if Mr Wright would give him particulars he would see that the ease was investigated. Mr Wright said an investigation had taken place, and the attendant blamed had said that the patient had fallen down. If there was any doubt about some charges the attendant should be given the benefit, but he suggested a note might be taken of the occurrence so that a further incident of a similar nature would have a certain amount of check upon it N.Z. Red Cross Society Mrs T. H Lowry, president of the N.Z. Red Cross Society, offers a prize of £1 Is for tiie best story submitted by a member of the Junior Red Cross for the Christmas number of the Junior Red Cross Journal. Stories must be original, and should contain not more than 1200 words. The best stories will be published in either the Christmas number or in subsequent issues of tiie journal Entries close 27th November. 1937 Stories should be sent to the Secretary, N.Z. Red Cross Society, Christchurch

Extraction of Oil from Coal "My department continues to keep in intimate touch with the latest developments abroad in hydrogenation and oilier processes for the extraction of oil from coal. An officer of the Industries and Commerce Department accompanied the Hon. the Minister of Finance during his recent visit to Great Britain, and gave special attention to all recent developments in coal-utilisa-tion. I mentioned last year tiiat a qualitative and quantativc survey of our coa! resources was a most necessary preliminary work before proper consideration, could be given to any major scheme. T am pleased to say that this survey has now been commenced.” (states tiie Minister of Mines, the Hon. P. C. Webb, in his annual statement to the House). Total Value of Minerals "The value of minerals, including kauri-gum, exported and of the coal used in the Dominion, amounted to £3.691.419, as compared with £3.694,480 during 1935. The total value of such minerals exported to the end of 193 G amounted to £195.959,756,” (reads the Mines Statement for 1936), Magistrate s Menioi ies Day; in Auckland forty-three years ago, when lawyers wore moustaches and conveyancers favoured beards, were recalled by Mr Wyvern Wilson, S.M., on Friday, when members of the Law Society gathered to bid him farewell (slam, tiie "New Zealand Herald”). Mr Wilson said that when .ie began h'~ legal career lea-drinking was almost v known, and at ibc conchr-inn oC any conveyancing matters, it was usual for the head clerk to treat the parties to a drink. The large shutters which sh elded the front of the shops in iho.se day; had disappeared with the beards, no doubt because of the ? o'clock closing laws Staff Being Increased Because experienced milliners are at a premium in New Zealand, a Napier millinery manufacturer has decided to advertise in Australia for additional employees, this step being necessitated by tiie extension of his factory (states the "Telegraph”). "1 shall advertise in Auckland and locally, of course.” lie said, "but it is difficult to get experienced milliners in the Dominion, where the labour available is confined almost solely to apprentices. I am looking for 20 apprentices and 15 experienced workers, and I expect to have a staff of 75 working by Christmas.” In answer to a question, the manufacturer stated that the additions were being brought about with the object of producing new types of millinery.

Britain and U.S.A. “Everywhere in the United States there is a genuine desire to foster friendship with Great Britain and the Dominions, and this feeling in growing very rapidly,” said Mr J. Scabrook, Auckland, on his return from a visit to the United States by the Aorangi. “Tire people of America, particularly the thinking people, realise that one of the greatest factors for the preservation of peace is a link between the two great English-speaking nations.” Goldfields Revenue and Gold Duty "The amount of goldfields revenue received and credited to the accounts of local bodies during the year ended 31st March, 1937, was £22,042 15s, an increase of £1230 4s 5d compared with the previous year. During the same period tl.j total of the three duties on exported gold amounted to £119,324 18s, of which £7814 2s 4d was credited to the accounts of local bodies under section 12 of the Gold Duty Act, 1908. The special export duty of 12s 6cl per ounce amounted to £108.793 6's 2d, which sum was paid into the Consolidated Fund,” (stated the Mines Statement presented in the House by the Hon. P. C. Webb). No Iron Production Last Year “The Onakaka Iron and Steel Co. Ltd. (In Liquidation) produced no iron ore for the period. Negotiations are now in progress for the reconstruction of the works and installation of modern steel-making plant.” comments the annual statement of the Minister of Mines (the Hon. P. C. Webb).

“Road Hogs" A Timaru motorist of many years’ experience lias just returned from a visit lo Auckland, and in conversation with a representative of the "Timaru Herald ” he said that he had never met .greater "road hot's" in his life than he encountered on his visit by road to Auckland. "I can drive with the rest ol them." he said, "but if I got one I got SO real frights." He said that on tho good stretches of roads between Wellington and Wanganui and between Hamilton and Auckland il seemed to be the hobby of motorists to try to force approaching traffic off the road. In most places there was a white line indicating the centre of the road, but the olfending motorists took a fiendish delight in driving across the crown of the road and they would not budge. “You could sec them coming nt you," said the speaker, "and to preserve you” skin you were forced right over to the edge of the roadway. On the winding roads in the King Country they come round bends at 50 and GO miles an hour, and in one instance 1 was forced up on to a bank to save a smash. I am glad lo say that South Island motorists have more respect for other users of the road” Fertiliser Works The establishment of a fertiliser factory at Napier was the subject of an urgent question asked in the House of Representatives yesterday afternoon by Mr H. M. Christie (Government, Waipnwa), in conjunction with the Hon. 11. E. Barnard (Napier), and Mr E. L. Cullen (Government, Hawkes Bay), who emphasised the importance of an adequate supply of fertilisers lo the farmers of Hawkes Bay. In reply the Minister of Industries and Commerce (the Hon. D. G. Sullivan) said that several applications had been received for licenses to establish new phosphatic fertiliser works, including a proposal lo erect a works in Hawkes Bay. The granting of the license was a matter for the Bureau of Industry, said the Minister, and a special committee of the bureau had visited Napier, Hastings and Whangarei in connection with the matter. The erection of works in any one district, was not merely a matter of local enterprise, but was one affecting the whole Dominion, and it was necessary to consider the matter from that aspect rather than from a purely local point of view. “I recognise the importance of the question to the farmers of Hawkes Bay," added Mr Sullivan, “and I hope that it will be possible for a decision to be made at an early date." The Horner Tunnel Work on the Homer Tunnel, which is to give road access to the Milford Sound, has been resumed for the so ison, and there are at present 30 men on the job engaged in preparation work for the driving, which will probably begin in a Jay or two, states the "Otago Daily Times.” When the roll is up to full strength, the total number of men engaged will be about 40. The weather at the Homer has been fine and the work is proceeding without any delay.

Old Apostle Spoon What is probably one of the oldest pieces of silverware in New Zealand, an English apostle spoon dated lfiCJ. has been deposited in the Auckland War Memorial Museum on loan for a month by its owner, Mrs Mary Ring, of Onehung” (states the “New Zealand Herald"). The spoon has been in the possession of Mrs Ring’s family as long as any member can remember, and was brought to New Zealand many /ears ago. Apostle spoons were in vogue all over Western Europe from the fifteenth to the early seventeenth century. They were usually made in sets of 13, including a "master” spoon bearing a figure of Christ seated upon a throne in majesty The individual Apostles were represented holding either the symbols associated with them or the instruments of their martyrdom. Not many complete sets of apostle spoons have survived the vicissitudes of three centuries and more, but many single specimens arc in the bands of collectors in Britain and elsewhere Law of Property "The law of property has fallen into disrepute,” said Mr Wyvcrn Wilson, S.M., on Friday, when members of the Auckland Law Society gathered to bid him farewell on his retirement, reports the “New Zealand Herald.” Mr Wilson said that a contract used to be sacred, but now there was a feeling that, it a thing could not, be done, there was no need to do it. Bluff Hills Flea Colony Ants, dust and now fleas! Variety is one of the most noticeable traits of the troubles which have been sent to try the residents of certain localities on the Napier hill area, and the latest type of visitor is probably the least welcome of all (says the "Telegraph"). Droves of fleas—at least some residents are convinced that there are droves of them—are reported to have descended on one or two localities, bringing concern to numerous householders as well as more than the usual, bother to Fido, Flossie, Jock, and the rest of their tribe. The theory has been advanced that the abnormal growth of the Blulf Hill flea colony has been the direct result of the dust, nuisance created by Hie operations on the Blulf cliff face.

Cleanliness in Germany “I had the impression that the Germans would be half-starved and weaklooking,” wrote a New Zealander to a Dunedin relative after a trip to Berlin (records the "Star”). “On the contrary, they are a most healthy and happy lot. I thought there would not be such a thing as a cake in the place, but all the shops arc very attractively stocked. Another thing is the scrupulous cleanliness of the sereets; there is not an untidy scrap of paper to be seen. They arc all the same—just a perfect model of cleanliness.”