GENERAL ITEMS

Nelson Evening Mail, Volume LXXIII, 3 January 1940, Page 4

GENERAL ITEMS

Control of Ragwort A warning that if the usual chemicals for the eradication of ragwort were not available any means whatsoever should be resorted to in order to exterminate the weed, was given by the noxious weeds inspector, Mr H. T. Brill, at a meeting of the Matamata County Council. Mr Brill stated that prosecutions might follow in cases of neglect. Travelling Light Everyone knows what an encumbrance baggage is to the holidaymaker, even when travelling by rail or car, but when it comes to cycling it is absolutely essential to take only the barest necessities. This was realised by at least one Aucklander, who left by cycle on a 100-mile trip to visit some friends, says the “Star.” All he carried was a tooth-brush and his batb ing shorts.

Soviet Flag Removed When flags of various nations were placed in position at the Chief Post Office at Auckland as part of the Centennial decorations, they included the Soviet flag, which was conspicuous with hammer and sickle design. Later, the Soviet flag was removed, and replaced with the flag of the Republic of Panama, says the “Star ” A Long Smoke To light a pipeful of tobacco with one match and keep it burning as long as possible was the object of competitors in the Taranaki pipe-smoking derby at the Mardi Gras carnival at Ngamotu Beach. New Plymouth. J. L. Lowe, who kept his pipe alight for 57 minutes, was an easy winner. V. E. Frost was second and J. M. Draper was third. Greek to Them? Did the Maoris name Kaiapoi. or was it the Greeks? At least one Englishman considers that the name has a Grecian ring. In a letter to an English newspaper, headed. “Greek at Leatherhead.” he said: “On the outskirts of Leatherhead. at the ‘round-about’ by the gasworks, I often drive past a row of small houses called ‘Kaiapoi Cottages.’ The word has a distinctly Greek appearance, as if it should be pronounced ‘Caiaroi.’ Can any of your readers tell me the origin of this odd name?” The inquirer was Mr K. T. Dowding. Whitewalls, Kingsbury Green, N.W.9. No doubt nearly every inhabitant of Kaiapoi could tell him that the name meant “food depot.” Capt. Cook, Astronomer, Recalled Only two eclipses, the minimum number possible, will occur during 1940, and neither will be visible from New Zealand. The first, an annular eclipse, will occur on 7th April, and will be visible only in America. The second, a total solar eclipse, will be visible only in South America. The obscuration in each instance will be for about four minutes. It is interesting in Centennial year that a transit of the planet Mercury across the face of the sun will be observed from the Dominion. Captain James Cook made the first astronomical observation in New Zealand of a transit of Mercury in November, 1769, and the incident is commemorated in the names Mercury Bay, Red Mercury and Great Mercury Islands, which the navigator gave to portions of the east coast of the Hauraki Peninsula. Our New Zealand industries now cover most of the necessaries qjid some of the luxuries of life. Especially is Maoriland becoming noted for the splendid tobacco grown and manufactured in the Dominion by the National Tobacco Company, Ltd. (the pioneers of the -tobacco- industry in New Zealand). Connoisseurs think so highly of the Company's goods that the latter are now regarded as the purest in the world. How has this come about? It is largely owing to the toasting of the tobacco, which not only eliminates the nicotine but vastly improves the flavour and aroma. It is worthy of note, by the way, that these are the only toasted tobaccos on the market. Smoke them as freely as you please, and they’ll do you no harm. There is no other tobacco of which that can be said. Ask any tobacconist for one or other of the following (according to taste) - “Riverhead Gold” and “Desert Gold” (mild), “Navy Cut” or “Cavendish” (medium), or ‘Cut Plug No. 10” (fullstrength). These brands are in universal demand *