GENERAL ITEMS

Nelson Evening Mail, Volume LXXI, 31 December 1937, Page 6

GENERAL ITEMS

N'.Z. on Airways Map

A statement that Mr Harold Gaily, New Zealand representative of PanAmerican Airways, has done probably more than any other single individual for Pacific and trans-Tasman flying was made by the Hon. P. Fraser, Minister of Marine, at a luncheon given to the captain and crew of Imperial Airways’ flying-boat Centaurus at Auckland, says Hie “Star.” “He lias worked assiduously, determinedly and successfully to establish the service now being inaugurated between the United States and this Dominion,” said the Minister. “He has succeeded because he wouldn’t take no for an answer, and he has done a great deal to put New Zealand on the airways map of the world ”

Boy Injures Spine

When diving at the Raglan wharf Leonard Pegler, aged 16. a clerk employed at the Raglan Post Office, struck his head on the moorings of a boat and injured his spine, which is thought to have been fractured. He was admitted to the Waikato Hospital, and his condition is fairly serious.

Liberty and Freedom

“Of what avail the plough or sail, or land or life, if freedom fail?” The great American philosopher, Ralph Waldo Emerson, was quoted by the Hon. P. Fraser. Minister of Marine, in speaking at a luncheon to the officers of the British flying-boat Centaurus, reports the Auckland “Star." “To-diy we can ask of what avail will be all the advancement and advantages of modern civilisation if they are to be used for the destruction of mankind and the overthrow of liberty and freedom,’’ said the Minister. “In some parts of the world the progress of civilisation has been turned against mankind, and as we gaze at the world we are forced to the conclusion that the two nations which stand together as the defenders of freedom and world peace are Great Britain and the United States.”

Riding Standards

Christmas in a jockey's life is far from a time of feasting and junketing, with important riding engagements -t hand it is rather a period of fasting and sweating, with the minatory finger of the weighing scales always there to point the appearance of the jockeys natural enemy—avoirdupois, remarks the Auckland “Star.” The Auckland Cup must have established a record this year in shewing that while seven of the horses starting in a field of 15 were given the. minimum weight of 7st, not one of them failed to carry overweight, The extra weight carried varied from lib to lOJlb, and the surpr’se winner. The Buzzer, carried 61b more than the minimum allotted to him, while Knigh/ of Australia, close up cond, carried 31b more than the luxurious 7.2 imposed by the handicapper The old-time minimum of C. 7 for (he bottom weights would not have been of much value in such a handicap, and it seems that riding standards will soon need raising again.

Girl Saves Man’s Life A younv man, Mr D. Vaughan, employed at the Taihapc Post Office, was bathing in a deep pool in the Hautapu river when he got into serious difficulties, and would probably have lost his life but for the timely action of a young woman, Miss F. Coley, who arrived on the scene with Mr H. Finn just as Mr Vaughan disappeared in deep water (states the “Post”). Miss Coley dived in and rescued the bather, who was unconscious when brought to the bank. Mr Finn applied artificial respiration for 15 minutes before Mr Vaughan began to respond. Mr Finn is a non-sv.immer, but has a good knowledge of resuscitation methods. The water was so deep that Miss Coley experienced difficulty in finding Mr Vaughan when he sank, success being achieved when she touched his bod/ with her foot.

The combined committee of the Nelson Rifle Club and City Pipe Band have arranged the first of a series ol Inglesides and dance which will be held in the Oddfellows’ Hall on Monday next, 3rd January, 1938. Items will be given by Nelson’s leading artists, and the dance music will be supplied the Harold Williams’s Band. Prizes will be allotted for the Monte Carlo, and all patrons to arrive before 8.15 p.m. will receive an early complimentary ticket for the next entertainment. The programme has been arranged to include all the popular dances, and there will be no dull moments.

“Hearty Congrats.,” said the tobacconist, shaking hands, when an old customer told him he’d landed a hatful in an overseas ‘Consultation.’ “What you going to do with the greed?” “Oh, I dunno. Never could keep money. Burns a hole in my pocket. But you can gamble on this. I'll lay in a good stock of ’baccy lor one thing.” “What Ho! I reckon now you're a blooming millionaire, nothing’ll do you but the best imported. eh?” “Not me! Cut Plug No. 10 lor yours truly. I'd sooner have a pound of it than a cartload of best imported Now then!” “Well, I won't say you’re wrong. There’s a run on toasted. Why, my sales this year are away up!—for all five brands, mind you—Cut Plug No. 10 (Bullshead), Cavendish, Navy Cut No. 3 (Bulldog), Rivcrhead Gold and Desert Gold. Smokers give toasted a go and find they can't do without it.” “Well, soon as I’ve collected my dibs I’ll be along again.” “Righto! old sport. So long! Be virtuous and you’ll be happy.”*

Value; ot' Estates In the first Km months of this year the number of estates certified in New Zealand for death duly was <l7Bl of an abrogate net value of £111,092,432. The December abstract of .statistics shows that for the whole of last year the number was (1405 of an aggregate net value of £17,229,18(1. This year to date .9,1 of 111; estates have been of a value of £20.000 and over, and 4.1 in the class of £15,000 and under £20,000. Olii I’luin Tree What is perhaps the largest and oldest plum tree in the Waikato is bearing a splendid crop of red Christmas plums behind the shop of Mr W. Timmins, of Stulholmo street, Morrinsvillc. This huge tree was planted 50 years ago by Mr F, J. Marshall behind the butcher’s shop which he established Mr Marshall later became Morrinsvillc’s first Mayor and recently returned Iron, a trip to Great Britain. Go high is this plum tree that even the most enterprising climbers fail to reach the top blanches.

Preservation of King Ferns

There ha; never been any intention by the Public Works Department to destroy the king ferns which form a grove on a yet unformed section of the Waitakere scenic drive, according to an official statement. Fears had been expressed by Miss Lucy M. Cranwcll, botanist at the War Memorial Museum, that the lung ferns would be destroyed, but Mr F. S. Dyson, district Public Works engineer, explains that since the start of Ihe work the engineers concerned had recognised that king ferns were scarce and worth preserving. When the time was opportune the ferns would be transferred to a suitable place. It was considered that the variety was easy to transplant

Left Holding (he Baby

A baby in arms was the centre of an amusing incident at the Auckland Trotting Club’s meeting at Epsom, says the “Herald ” Early in the afternoon was left by its mother with a stewardess to be nursed ostensibly for a few minutes. More than an hour later it remained unclaimed. It was not until an appeal was broadcast through t. e public address system that the mother returned to the grandstand and took charge of her child from its patient nurse.

Eye Pierced by Wire An injury was suffered by Mr Norman John Finlay, farmer, aged 51, of Rangiaten, when a sharp wire pierced his eye. Mr Finlay was admitted .o the Waikato Hospital. His condition was not serious. Shortage of Tennis Balls An unusually large demand for the cheaper classes of tennis balls, and for eye-shades has existed during the past few days, and several Auckland firms this week were unable to supply orders, in spite of recently-augmented stocks, slates the “Herald.'' “We could have sold hundreds more balls, if we had them,” a shop assistant stated, "inquiry has never been keener.” The opening up of public courts in paras and at beaches, together with the long spell of fine weather, has helped to make tennis perhaps the most popular of this summer’s recreations Nelson Railway In this issue the Railway Department advertises the altered running of the usual 7.20 a.m. Belgrove-Nelson train.