GENERAL ITEMS

Nelson Evening Mail, Volume LXXII, 17 January 1939, Page 4

GENERAL ITEMS

Snow was falling on the Mt. Arthur range this morning, extending as far down as Brown Acre. Fire in Church Street Last evening at 9.12 o’clock the Nelson Fire Brigade received a call to Church street where fire had broken out in the kitchen of a house occupied by Mrs E. A. King. The fire, which originated from a faulty chimney, which allowed sparks to get into the packing of the hot water system, was extinguished before much damage was done. Where Water is Precious. Water famine at Marble Bar, West Australia, was relieved with a vengeance when a madly rushing creek cut the town in halves during last week's storm. According to Mr J. D. Collister, M.Sc., a graduate of Auckland University College, who is. now senior master in mathematics at Hale College, Perth, the place is usually as dry as a bone. Water has to be imported, and owing to costs of transport a r 1 iss of water is worth almost as much as a glass of beer. Recently the maximum temperature at Marble Bar was over 100 degrees for 113 days, and during that time the minimum for 17 days was over 100. Mr Collister is spending a holiday in Auckland. Balance of Nature. “From being the domain of philosophers and alchemists, the earth’s atmosphere is now subject to intensive study by chemists, physicists, botanists, physiologists and industrialists, and jt seems their obligation nlo to educate j public opinion in the preservation of j natural resources and the maintenance iof the great balance of Nature, ’’ said Mr Russell Grimwade, C.8.E., B.Sc., at the congress now’ being held at Canberra, of the Australian and New Zealand Association for the Advancement of Science. Mr Grimwade quoted applications cf the major and the rare gases, and cited the trends of utilisation as emphasis on the need of heed being paid to the industrial demands on all natural resources. He said that political and social authorities must be led by chemists and physicists to an understanding of the balance which had remained undisturbed in the earth’s existence until the dawn of the industrial period in the nineteenth century. Old Scheme for Harbour Reclamation A large plan of proposed harbour improvements which was drawn up many years ago for the father of the Hon. W W. Snodgrass has been presented to the Nelson Harbour Board by Mr Snodgrass, who was thanked by the board last night. The plan provides for the reclamation of the mudflat east of a line running north from Auckland Point to the Boulder Bank. In the centre of this area is a dock with an entrance cut through the Boulder Ban’.:. “Symphony in Stone”

“Symphony in stone,” and “exquisite artistry in detail,” were descriptions given to the Sign of the Takahe by Tasmanian legislators who paid a visit to Christchurch c-» Friday, states the “Star-Sun.” They were the guests of the Minister of Public Works (the Hon R. Semple), who entertained them to morning tea at the Takahe, and later conducted them on a forty-mile run over the hills, visiting Scarborough. Sumner and New Brighton. The Hon. G. Hunter. M L.C., also accompanied the visitors The Hon. M. Gray, in describing the ceiling of the Takahe as a masterpiece, said that it would “compare with the best in the world.” Mr Gray, who was born in Ireland, spent many years in England and Continental countries before going to Tasmania. He said that he could well remember the ceilings of many of the architectural show places of Europe, and would not class them as being superior to the design and beauty of the Takahe. Mr Gray added that the pure economist might say that the expenditure made in constructing the Sign of the Takahe was not justified, since it would probably not. produce material things, but economics did not always count From the cultural point of view, the Takahe was cT unlimited value, and an asset that would increase as the went by. The visitors would not be drawn into making a comparison between the scenic attractions .of the South and North Islands, contenting themselves bv observing that that would be tantamount to contrasting the rose with the lily. Ancient Seal Skull Found A fossilised seal skull has been sent to the Auckland War Memorial Museum for identification. It was recently discovered in a cliff face at Ohope Beach Whakatane, 20 feet from the top (states the “New Zealand Herald”) Apart from being possibly slightly larger than the skull of the seal species which are still known in l New Zealand waters, measuring llin in length, the skull is identified as distinct from extant species, mainly by a different arrangement of the teeth. On Friday Mr A. W B Powell, of the Auckland Museum, stated that the head apparently belonged to an extinct species allied to the existing southern fur seal, which is still found on the coast of the South Island. So far as is known it is only the second discovery of the type in New Zealand The first was in 1928. when, basing identification on fragments of bone and teeth found in a clilt near Cape Kidnappers. Dr J Allan Berry described the species as actocephalus The Ohope specimen is a fairly complete skull and. if it proves to be of Dr Berry’s type, it is expected to yield valuable additional information about it. The skull was sent to the museum for identification bj Mr C. McCready. of the Whakatane Borough Council. Record lor Storage That rlawkes Bay possesses unsurpassed facilities for the handling of the \» 00l clip was illustrated during the course of a visit which was paid to the woo: stores at Port Ahuriri one day last week (states the ‘Daily Telegraph”) There are many wool stores *1 the Port associated with the various brokers through whom the season’s clips are disposed of. but the record of anv one of these stores must go to that of Messrs Williams and Kettle Ltd in vhich there were no fewer than 20.000 bales This must be a record for New Zealand if not for the whole of Australia and New Zealand.

Subscription to Shipwreck Relief Society “Here's a hardy annual.” said the chairman of the Nelson Harbour Board. Mr A. Gould, when a request from the Shipwreck Relief Society for a subscription came before the board last evening. Support for the request was given by Mr H. W. Kelly. “It’s very awkward to be wrecked and come ashore without any ‘duds,’ ” he said. "I know; I was wrecked at Greymouth. and was glad to receive assistance.” The chairman said that he was not opposing it. but he would like to have a balance sheet and see how the funds were expended. It was decided to make a contribution of £2 2s and to ask for a balance sheet. Deer Desert Southern Alps There was a marked absence of deer and chamois in the Perth country, southern Westland, stated an Auckland member of a mountaineering party that spent New Year in an expedition to the Garden of Eden area. He stated that whereas a year ago deer were numerous. on this occasion they saw only one chamois and no tracks, probably as a consequence of this there was a profusion of mountain daisies and Mount Cook lilies in bloom, presenting a fine sight.