GENERAL ITEM:

Nelson Evening Mail, Volume LXXII, 27 February 1939, Page 6

GENERAL ITEM:

Four New Planes I'oui 1 new planes to replace those destroyed by lire last week are being ordered by the Middle Districts Aero Chib at a total cost of over £SOOO. states ‘The Post’s” Palmerston North representative. It is hoped to secure delivery in two months’ time. Two machines will be Tiger Moths and the other two Moth Minors. Arrangements are being made for the immediate re-erection of the destroyed hangar. The site is being cleared and in the new building there will be a fireproof wall between the hangar proper and the club’s quarters.

| Insuring a Mayor Because of the risk to the life of the Mayor of Runanga, Mr R. McTagI gart, while he is acting as testing officer for motor driving licenses, in an honorary capacity, an insurance policy will be taken out by the Runanga Borough Council on Mr McTaggart's life. This was a decision reached at a meeting of the council. The Mayor presided. He was exposed to the risk of serious injury, the mayor said, in inviting the council to take out a policy to cover that risk. While he was testing an applicant a few days ago the car had gone over a bank and he bad narrowly escaped serious injury. He did not particularly want the job, which was an unpaid one, but if the council wished him to carry on the work then he must ask that an insurance policy be taken out Councillors were unanimous that it was not reasonable to expect the Mayor to take the risks involved in the work without insurance, and it was agreed to take out. a policy. “Prices Too High” “A man is belter on £3 a week in England than on £5 a week in . New Zealand. The prices for everything here are exorbitant." This view was expressed to a "Southland Times” reporter by Mr G. Sewell, retired chief engineer of a big iron and brass fitting firm in Doncaster. England. Mr Sewell had been in New Zealand for more than 12 months on a leiturely tour of the country. Prices in New Zealand, he said, were twice as high as they were in England. Clothing, cars, rent, fuel and foodstuffs were all high in price. He mentioned one make of car that cost an Englishman £IOO. In New Zealand, he said, the same car cost more than £2OO. Motoring was dearer in all wdys Petrol was Is 4£d a gallon in England, and was 2s 2d and more in New Zealand, he said. “If it was not for the rate of exchange. English people could not come to the Dominion. The prices of everything would be too much for them,” ’Mr Sewell added. Redwood Tree relied One of the largest Redwood trees in the Nelson district growing on the estate of the late Mr Henry Moore in Tory street, fell to the axe and saw on Saturday. The tree was estimated to be about 60 years old. and its diameter at the base was 7ft 6in.

Tubercular Maoris The disturbing incidence of tuberculosis among the Maoris was the subject of an address to the native school teachers attending the refresher course at Rotorua by Dr. H. B. Turbott, of the Health Department, states a Rotorua correspondent. Statistics, said Dr. Tur- I bott, revealed the fact that while the 1 Maori death rate from tuberculosis had risen from 33 per 10.000 of respective population in 1917 to 35.70 in 1937. the European death rate on the same basis had decreased from 6.87 per 10,000 in 1917 to 3.91 in 1937. These figures were actually under the estimated position, for Maori vital statistics Were by no means complete. A personal survey in one county In 1933 showed that there was a Maori death rate of 49.4 per 10.000, whereas it was officially returned in that year as 41.6 The type of tuberculosis affecting the Maori was predominantly human, the incidence of bovine tuberculosis being held to be a negligible factor. A significant fact was that over 90 per cent, of the cases occurred among persons with more than half Maori blood. The incidence fell generally most heavily upon the full-blooded Maori. Dr. Turbott considered that there was little improvement in the Maori tuberculosis pbsition, chiefly as the result of environmental conditions, including bad housing. overcrowding, poverty and bad diet. Other factors were the psychological attitude of the Maori toward the disease, fatalistic resignation which militated against reporting the disease and attempting proper treatment, and the fact that European preventive measures were almost non-operative among Maoris.

Rugby ahd Defence The management committee of the Auckland Rugby Union has decided to give its whole-hearted support to the territorial movement. In a resolution passed last week it requested all affiliated clubs to give earnest consideration to the appeal of recruiting officers for recruits from Rugby players, as it was impressed with the representations made by the defence authorities as to the urgent necessity for ihcreased strength in the Territorial Forces. Limestone Cave Discovered A large cavfe, irt which hundreds of stalactites hang from the roof, has been discovered on native property about six miles south of Te Mata by Messrs H. A. Brown and J. M. Newton, of Te Mata (states the Raglan correspondent of the “N.Z. Herald”), 'the opening to the cave is only large enough for one person to enter, but once inside one is amazed at the size of the cave and the beauty of the Stalactites. A few glow wdrms were also noticed. A Nelson man while chatting with a local tobacconist began to clean out his pipe, “i wish,” he said, jokingly, “you could sell me a pipe guaranteed not to get foul in use!” The tobacconist smiled. ‘Afraid I haven’t got any pipes like that,” he said, “pipes will foul, but some much quicker than others. It’s largely a question of the tobacco, and the amount of nicotine it contains. Talking about that I can give you a tobacco so comparatively flee from nicotine that your pipe won’t foul nearly so fast as pipes usually do.” "What tobacco is it?" came the question. “Why. thete are five brands,” replied the tobacconist, “Cut Plug No. 10 (Bullshead), Cavendish, Navy Cut No. 3 (Bulldog), Riverhead Gold and Desert Gold. They’re all toasted, ahd contain so little nicotine you hardly know it’s there. Fine flavour and aroma, too. And as they are so comparatively free front nicotine they don’t affect throat, heart or nerves. If, by any chance, you haven’t tried them, take iny tip and do so.” He did. These are the only toasted tobaccos.* The attention of the travelling public is directed to on alteration in the time of departure of Newman’s service car ft-brh Nelson for TakaKa Commencing on Wednesday. Ist March, the car Will leave Nelson at 8 a.m.. not 8.30 a.m. McKay’s Cleu-up Week! Ladies' Kobe Silk Frocks lh smart stripes, wellcut styles With short sleeves, S.S.W. to W.X. usually 15/11. This week only 7/11.* McKay’s. - Clean up Week! Floral Georgette Frocks with matching coatees. Dainty colourings In attractive styles. S.S.W. to S.W. only. Usually 69/6. This Week only 25/-.4 McKay’s Clean Up Week! Ladies’ Afternoon Frocks in floral art silks and novelty crepes, short and long sleeves. S.W. to W.X. Usually 49/6 This week only 19/11.* ;

Unusual Breeds of Dogs The presence of two breeds of dogs new to Auckland shows, Afghan and Elk hounds, at the Auckland Kennel Club show last week, created much interest. The Elk hounds arc not unlike [the “huskie ’ of Polar fame, having pointed upstanding ears and tail curling upward over the hindquarters. The Afghan hound is of unusual build and | colouring. Taller than a greyhound, the hair of its coat is long and uniform from shoulders to the paws. Unorthodox Swimming Race The Mayor of Marton. Mr Fred Purnell, and Councillor Mogridge gave visitors to Marlon for the swimming carnival rather a shock when they dived fuily clothed into the baths and raced the length of the baths, states "The Post’s” representative. Minus only coat and shoes they showed the present generation a thing or two, and to the delight of the crowd swam stroke for stroke and finished absolutely equal. Sermons Bear Fruit One Methodist minister has occasion to think that his sermons are not falling on deaf ears. Returning to his parked car after a session of the Methodist Church conference last week, he found that some damage had been done to it. but that the motorist responsible had left a telephone number for him to ring. When he telephoned, the driver who had caused the damage apologised for the mishap and offered to meet the cost of repairs. He revealed that he was a member of the Minister's own congregation. “Staggering” Imports A new expression is coming into use among Auckland importers. In discussions on quotas, referrences are now frequently made to “staggering” imports (states the “Star”). This, of course, does not mean that imports are so huge as to be almost unbelievable, nor does It imply the opposite The word Is used in in a smoother flow of imports, and scribes the method by which the Government is now enabling importers, where necessary, to spread their imports more evenly over a year. instead of being tied down rigidly t« a halfvearly basis. By increasing the quantities of goods licensed for the current half-year, the new methods. It is stated, may retard the building up of New Zealand’s London funds, but it will result in a hmoother flow of imports, and therefore steadier conditions of trade.

Vagaries of Copra Market The vagaries of the copra market and the effect of the recent drop in the price of the commodity on the finances of the Methodist Church in the British Solomon Islands was mentioned by the Rev. A. H. Scrivirt, general secretary of the Foreign Mission Department of the New Zealand Methodist Church, ot the annual conference of the Churrh in Christchurch last week. Mr Scrivirt said that copra had dropped to £3 7s a ton in the last year. In his experience, he had known copra quoted at £42 a ton, and it had once risen to more than £SO. This fall in the market was very disconcerting to those who were planning estimates on the basis of the state of the market, which was of vital importance to the native members of the Church. The Rev. A. W. E. Silvester, a missionary on furlough from the Solomon Islands, told the conference that during the four years he had been in the islands copra had fallen from £22 to £3 7s 6d a ton New Spirit in Industry In appealing for goodwill in business and industry, the Minister of Labour, the Hon. P. C. Webb, said at a luncheon ot the Auckland Junior Chamber of Commerce last week that a greater effort was needed to bring the spirit and atmosphere of the playing field into the factories and workaday activities of the nation (reports t’'e “Star”). “If we succeed in this direction.” he added, *we shall be able to hand down to our children a legacy of which both we and they will be proud, and it Will be an example to them In shaping their own course.” New Zealand, like every other country in the world, Was, he declared, grappling with the problems of economic security, and upon their solution depended economic peace, which was the foundation of world peace. By removing the causes of internal economic strife, each country could make a contribution towards a happier world. Interesting Hybrid The phenomenon of hybridism in nature has probably been more fully studied in New Zealand than in other botanical regions, and in all cases its occurrence is of very great interest to botanists. There is on exhibition in the Otago Museum at the present time an interesting example of hybridism, collected and presented to the museum by Mr J. E. Attwood. of Raetihi. The parents of the hybrid are the ordinary snowberry (G. antipodal and the species of snowberry (G. oppositlfolia) found only on the volcanic plateau The former of these has small leaves and fleshy fruits, while the latter has large leaves and small dry fruits. The hybrid* have leaves of Intermediate size and usually fleshy frluts. although one specimen has small dry fruits. A New Record On Thursday last week the Teviot Orchard. Roxburgh, established a new record for the amount of fruit picked and packed in one day. a total of 1032 cases (10J tons) being harvested and despatched (states the “Otago Daily Times"). Previous to this—-in 1935—the same orchard established a record by consigning 1350 cases, the output for a week-end s harvesting. At this same period Messrs George Bros., of Roxburgh East, despatched 1250 cases. These tallies were far and above any consignment Which had beeh hitherto sent away in previous years, so that the new tally certainly sets a record. The apricots leaving the district this year In such quantities, practically 70 tons a day. are well coloured, clean, well matured and of excellent quality. One of the members of the winning learn in the inter-house competition lost her cap on Saturday night while on her way home, and is anxious to havfe It restored.