GENERAL ITEMS

Nelson Evening Mail, Volume LXXIII, 10 January 1940, Page 4

GENERAL ITEMS

Fined for Drunkenness A first offender for drunkenness, who was arrested in Trafalgar street last night, was charged before Mr G. A. Edmonds, J.P. in the Magistrate’s Court this morning. The defendant, who did not appear, was fined 10s, the amount of his bail. Old Lady’s Walk. The 12-mile walk from Clifton to the gannet sanctuary at Cape Kidnappers and back, together with the somewhat arduous ascent from the beach to the heights of the cape, is generally regarded as strenuous for a young person But for the journey to be accomplished by a 74-year-old woman must be looked upon as phenomenal. Mrs E. Marchant, of Hastings, with a party of friends, visited the sanctuary on a recent Sunday, leaving Clifton in the morning and returning in the afternoon. For 65 years Mrs Marchant has resided in Hastings, but prior to Sunday she had not been to the cape. When she expressed her wish to walk to the sanctuary, her friends and relations were dubious as to whether she should attempt the undertaking. Apart from a little assistance she received climbing the hill at the cape, Mrs Marchant completed the walk unaided. It is believed that Mrs Marchant is the oldest person to visit the gannet sanctuary. From a perusal of the visitors’ book at Clifton, it was learned that the previous oldest was a man aged 70 years. Incredible Battle Line Impressions of the Maginot Line are given by Mr Harold Nicolson in a recent article in the “Spectator.” “I had already seen photographs and heard descriptions of that necklace of fortresses.” he says. “The actual details, the guns and the casements were more or less as I had imagined; and, in any case, they were beyojid my comprehension. What took me completely by surprise was the giant scale of these preparations. I had expected something resembling a flotilla of cement torpedoboats; I war confronted by a fleet of super-dreadnoughts. The magnitude of the enterprise left me thunderstruck. I had never supposed that the French peossssed such a gift for dissimulation. We penetrated deep into that fantastic labyrinth. Great galleries stretched before us; the sound of wireless reached us from the messrooms; there came a clatter of dishes from the kitchens; they were singing as we passed the canteen. The atmosphere was dry and warm, with some faint pulsation behind it. We signed the visitors’ book in the reception room. It seemed inconceivable that we were actually in the battle line.” Anglers Chased by Bull Two local anglers had an unenviable experience when fishing in the Motueka river during the Christmas holidays. They had just left the river, and were greeted by a roaring bull. Needless to say they lost no time in making for a handy tree and rods and reels were dropped in the hasty ascent. Soon the bull arrived too, and began pawing the ground. The two men thought they were in for an uncomfortable night, but after an hour or so, the animal retired to a safe distance, but barred the way to the read. There was nothing else to do but make for the river, which in the darkness was no easy task, and the anglers made their escape that way. Children to Visit Exhibition During a visit to the Nelson Education Board Dr Elizabeth Gunn, Director of School Hygiene, congratulated the secretary, Mr H. J. Thornton, on the enormous task he had undertaken in arranging for so many children from the board's area to visit the Centennial Exhibition. The parents, teachers and school committees had taken a keen interest in the arrangements and as a result a record for the number of children to be taken to such a won-] derful exhibition would be established, j Over 1000 children were to be catered' for on the trip which would give each party three days in Wellington and only those who had been associated with such work would realise the great amount of detail and careful organisation necessary.

A Scarecrow Sentinel Keeps Hares Away

A winchman. whose hut is at the 3500 feet level on the Hume (Cobb River) Electric Power Co.’s working area, found that the depredations of hares precluded the cultivation of a successful kitchen garden. Last season, as soon as the vegetables appeared above ground, the hares promptly ate them down. This season, this winchman has a flourishing garden with potatoes, tomatoes, lettuces and cabbages always available to provide the daily menu. No attempt has been made to fence the garden plot, but a scarecrow, such as is commonly erected to frighten feathered pests, stands guardian in this elevated solitude, and not one hare has found sufficient courage to brave the really terrifying appearance of this stuffed and immobile sentinel. Senseless Slaughter An example of senseless slaughter was disclosed recently, when the carcase of a bullock was found in the Cobb Valley. The animal had been shot by some holidaymakers for purposes of fresh meat, and apart from taking a leg and the tongue, the remainder of the caracase had been left where the beast had fallen. The employees of the Hume (Cobb River) Electric Co., are justly incensed as the killing occurred on property under the Company's jurisdiction

The first smoke of the day! Can you beat it? Lots of chaps light up directly they tumble out of bed in the morning; others smoke while having their cold tub, but most wait till after breakfast. Mark Twain said the only times he wasn’t smoking was when he was eating and when he was sleeping! Old smokers often have a whiff when they wake in the night—say it "sends them o IT again.” Tobacco? Of course tastes differ, but if a census of brands could be taken it would probably be found that the most popular of all —right through New Zealand —are the "toasted” ones. Go where you will you'll find them on sale —yes. even in the backblocks! Sweet, mellow, cool and comforting. Cut Plug No 10 (Bullshead), Cavendish. Navy Cur No. 3 (Bulldog). Riverhead Gold and Desert Gold merit their immense popularity. It’s toasting, by eliminating the nicotine, that makes them safe for the smoker! They're so popular they're being imitated. But imitation toasted is no good. Ask for the brands enumerated.*

Intending patrons are reminded of the Summer Ball in the enlarged and modernised Stoke Dance Hall to-night.