GENERAL ITEMS

Nelson Evening Mail, Volume LXXII, 1 March 1939, Page 4

GENERAL ITEMS

tkinson Observatory | The Atkinson Observatory will be pen to the public from 8 to 10 p.m. on , hursday if the sky is reasonably clear. hoaling of Greymouth Bar Because considerable shoaling has T aken place on the Greymouth bar, a estriction has been placed on the ' raught of the larger ships trading to < ie port. High water depths of up to r Oft during the last month have given lace to depths of only slightly more 5 han 20ft. For that reason 16ft Bin ' as been stipulated as the maximum ' [raught for all ships crossing the bar. intil such time as the depth increases. The whole thing is purely temporary ind there is no cause for any alarm ; n the part of the commercial comnunity and shipping interests.” said Jr P. J. McLean, member, and until ecently chairman, of the Greymouth larbour Board. “Forty-eight hours of lortherly seas would remedy the shoalng. which has been caused only by nany weeks of heavy south-westerly ~nd’s Milk Consumption A total consumption of 7.124,218 gallons of milk and cream in Auckand last year was recorded in the report present at the annual meetng of the Auckland Metropolitan Milk council this week This figure represented an increase of 293,618 gallons Dn the 1937 consumption of 6,833,744 gallons. The amount of milk distributed to schools during the same period was 330.429 gallons, against 314,679 gallons for 1937, an increase of 15,750 gallons. During the year 5529 samples of milk and cream were tested, and these showed the good average fat content of 4.6. with a percentage of 8.9 of solids other than fat. Exchange of Farming Views The suggestion to send a Farmers’ Union representative to England to discuss problems with British farmers was enthusiastically received as a progressive and important step at a meeting of the Southern Hawkes Bay provincial executive. Explaining the proposal. the president (Mr J. C. Bolton) said that not only would the representative explain New Zealand’s position to the English farmers, but would also return with information on their outlook towards New' Zealand. The import restrictions would also be explained There w'as no suggestion of politics in the idea, but it was thought that the move would have a good phychological effect on any Government attitude to the Farmers’ Union. He thought the Dominion president, Mr Mulholland. was the man for the job. The High Commissioner, after all, was a party politician. A motion supporting the project was carried, as also was a proposal to advocate an Empire organisation of primary producers. Wool Guarantee Not Favoured A meeting of members of the Fanners’ Union and woolgrowers in Taumarunui to consider a guaranteed price for wool respected the proposal and adopted a resolution that the meeting was definitely of the opinion that it would be detrimental to the industry for the State to control the sale of wool. The meeting recommended the Farmers’ Union to collect statistics and ascertain to what extent th? industry needed assistance and to open negotiations with the Government for a discussion of the most equitable manner in which benefits could be applied. A motion expressing the view that the most equitable and satisfactory assistance would be a flat rate bonus on all wool sold by producers was lost.

income Tax Payment To-day being the last day for the pay- | ment of income tax before the penalty i period supervenes, money order offices became busier to-day as Nelson taxpayers remitted their share of the £9,500,000 budgeted for this year. After to-day the statutory penalty of 5 per cent, will be added to all amounts remaining unpaid. However, special legislation passed last year gave the Commissioner of Taxes wider powers in remitting the penalty for laic payment. Rates on Empty Houses A ratepayer who enclosed a cheque to the Papakura Borough Council this week nearly got a remission of rates for six months on account of his house being unoccupied continuously for that time. The Mayor. Mrs S. Evans, w'as putting the resolution for remission when a councillor interjected that the ratepayer in question kept the house empty for the purpose of selling it. The Mayor remarked that if that w r as the position, any person who kept a house vacant on purpose to sell it should pay rates. The council then decided not to remit the rates for the unoccupied period.

Suitable Gifts “I can think of nothing more useless than a golden key, after the ceremony is over.” said Mr R. A. Lippincott, architect to Auckland University College, in explaining on Monday why he did not intend to present one to the Minister of Education, the Hon. P. Fraser, for the opening of the new biology block at the college (reports the “Herald”). “Instead I will hand him an ordinary key, which I hope he will return, and with it a small piece of antique Sheffield plate which I have been able to obtain. In making gifts I prefer things of use and beauty which I would like to possess myself.” Previously, when Mr Fraser laid the foundation stone of the building, the architect presented him with some eighteenth century volumes of Milton, in place of the more customary silver trowel. Wanganui River Scenery “It is tops with me.” said Mr Bernard L. Tatman, of St. Louis. U.S.A., when he arrived in Wanganui after a trip down the Wanganui river. What Mr Tatman meant, of course, was that the river-trip was the highlight of his New Zealand tour (says the “Herald”). “The scenery is lovely,” said the man from Missouri, who said he was impressed with the leisurely flow of the river in and out of deep canyons and the many twists and turns it made on its way to the sea. Incidentally when an America says “I am from Missouri.” it means that he cannot be fooled. “T have travelled on all the rivers in my State,” said Mr Tatman, “and we have no scenery to equal yours.” In Missouri the rivers were swift and provided many thrills for the canoe enthusiast like himself. On the Wanganui one missed the animal life which made a trip on the American rivers so interesting. Turtles sliding into the river, snakes hanging from trees, bull-frogs and many kinds of birds created much diversion for the river traveller. The Wanganui river scenery alone compensated for these shortcomings, if such they could be termed,” added Mr Tatman. Some day Mr Tatman hopes to return to New Zealand and come down the river by canoe.

Fire Brigade Captain Resigns After fourteen years’ service in the Tahunanui Volunteer Fire Brigade, the present captain, Mr J. A. Luck, has handed in his resignation, “to make way for younger men.” A letter to this efTect was received by the Tahunanui Town Board at its meeting last evening The chairman. Mr C. H. Chamberlain, and other members expressed regret that Mr Luck had taken this step, and H was resolved that a letter of appreciation for his long service be sent to him. “There’s many things a chap can do without at a pinch when times are hard and the clouds refuse to roll by, but tobacco is not one of them,” wrote a contributor to a London weekly not long since, “hard times? Why, then, it is precisely that the smoker craves more than ever the soothing, care-dis-pelling influence of good tobacco.” So it is. Despite the depression, the demand for the weed in the Old Land is constantly growing. And it’s precisely the same in New Zealand, where nine out of every ten men smoke—to say nothing of women—yes, and most of them smoke one or other of the five famous brands Riverhead Gold, Desert Gold. Navy Cut No. 3 (Bulldog), Cavendish, and Cut Plug No. 10 (Bullshead). Once you try them you always buy them! —So sweet, so pure, so fresh and fragrant are they! The toasting does it! How’s that? Because it eliminates most of the nicotine, and thus makes this beautiful tobacco safe for the smoker, who can indulge ad. lib. with absolute impunity!* Left over from Trathen’s Sale, final bargain clearance to-morrow and Friday, Frocks, Costumes, Ensembles and Oddments.* Late arrivals: 50 Ladies’ Autumn Hals not previously shown, 5/11 to 12/11. Black, Navy, etc. Trathen’s.*