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Nelson Evening Mail, Volume LXXIII, 17 August 1940, Page 6

At the weekly dance in the Velma Hall to-night at 8 o’clock the music will be by the Labour Dance Band of seven players. There will be modern and old time dances and prizes will be given for Early Birds Monte Carlos, etc. Soldiers, sailors, and airmen will be welcome as guests. Supper will be served by the ladies.

Unusual Present A unique and most fitting present was handed to Mr T. C. Brash, president of the New Zealand Fruitgrowers’ Federation by Mr Flewellyn King at the provincial conference at Hastings (says the Daily Mail”). It comprised a small brass bell hung from a complete young golden delicious tree mounted on a polished base of sturmer tree wood, and a hammer made from the wood of a delicious apple tree. The gift is for use at annual conferences of the federation. The bell would be a memento of Mr King’s long association with the industry, said Mr Brash returning thanks for the gift. “Mussolini An Irishman” During a visit to Milan before the outbreak of war he met an Irishman by the name of O’Connor, said the Rt. Rev. J. Lawson Robinson, Moderator of the General Assembly of the Presbyterian Church of New Zealand, during a short address to the Invercargill Rotary Club (reports the “Southland Times”). “You may not know that Mussolini is an Irishman,” O’Connor had said, “but his real name is Richard Murphy—that is why they call him Dick Tater.” “Neutral” Christians Commenting on a statement by the Bishop of London, that the people of j England were less Christian than the; people of Uganda, the Ven. Archdeacon H W. Monaghan, of Timaru, speaking, at the Anglican Board of Missions rally in Wellington, said he did not agree with that remark, but he did agree i with the view of T. S. Elliott that thej people were "neutral.” That was thetrouble with secularised democracies —the people, in a'Christian sense, were; neutral. Being neutral is peacetime! was different from being neutral ini war. Were the people still going to| continue that state of neutrality? The 1 King, the British Prime Minister, and? Lord Halifax had all spoken to the; nation as a Christian nation, and to-day' the Church must be ready to go forward to the new world, to seize the opportunity or lose it for ever—history did not make faith in God, but faith in God made history. Children Classed as Goods The fact that children in school buses were classed as goods, not as passengers, was revealed at a meeting of the Otorohanga District High School committee. The chairman. Mr B. McKenzie, said that children were rated at 30 to the ton. The buses could not exceed 25 miles an hour, the limit imposed on goods service, but not on passenger vehicles. Such is Fame When Dr. J. F. Staton, who is in Wellington again for music examinations, was in British Guiana recently, a coloured gentleman named Atkinson presented himself for examination in the primary pianoforte class. This is a class for young children, but Mr Atkinson was over 40. Dr. Staton soon realised that he was hopeless, but he let him go through. “By golly, I have enjoyed that examination, doctor,” said the beaming native. “Do you know, doctor, my wife gave birth to a baby man this morning, and I have christened him John Frederick Staton Atkinson.”

No Male Nurses “Why do the male nurses work only 40 hours a week, and the female nurses 48 hours?” asked Mr R. Harding at Monday’s meeting of the Hawkes Bay Hospital Board. The question arose from a paragraph in the matron’s report in which it was stated that some overtime had accrued to the male nurses. The Medical Superintendent (Dr. J. J. Foley) explained that there were really no male nurses, but male orderlies, who were covered by an award and enjoyed a 40-hour week. The men were willing to work longer hours, but could not do so without the payment of overtime. It was decided to take up the question with the Labour Department. Pro-Churchill Dutch “Dutch inhabitants of Java are very pro-Churchill,” said Mr W. J. D. Montford, a British company representative from Java, upon his arrival at Auckland. “They a*e taking things very calmly, but show a measure of determination that we will win the war. Their general attitude is that they will put up a good show if the Japanese come. To ensure readiness the European population of Java is mobilised for a month at a time, but otherwise life in Java goes on with very little change.” A Walking-stick Tree Notable alike for its size and its curious history—it is said to have sprouted from a walking-stick—a ribbonwood (hoheria) tree in the grounds of Mr Wildey’s home, 41 Antigua street. Christchurch, had recently to be felled, states the “Star-Sun.” Three feet from the ground, the bole was six feet in circumference, and many people well acquainted with native trees considered it to be the largest specimen they had seen. According to tradition, it had an extraordinary origin. About sixty-five years ago, so runs the story, Mr T. D. Harman, the well-known Christchurch solicitor, whose family then occupied the house, returned from a hiking trip with a hoheria walkingstick that he had cut in the bush, and someone stuck it in the ground. The stick was seen, some time later, to be sprouting leaves, and so was left in place, to grow into a giant specimen of its kind. It was always known to the Harman family as “the walking-stick tree.” Southland’s Rainfall The unusually low rainfall in Southland, during the last six weeks has caused much inconvenience to those who rely on tanks to provide their supplies of water (says the “Times”). In almost all the country districts and in some suburbs of Invercargill tanks have been dry for periods of up to two weeks and the carting of water has been necessary. Less than an inch of rain fell in Invercargill in the period from Ist July to 13th August.. Such drought conditions in the late winter are unusual for Southland. The country districts appear to have suffered most beca ise of the general excellence of the weather. Fortunately, wrier has been available from nearby rivers and in some cases wells, but much good time and labour have been used in its transport. Stock has not suffered by the dry conditions. The many frosts of the last six weeks, coupled with heavy falls of dew on some of the milder nights, have kept pastures and feed moist and succulent. and rivers, although running low. have provided ample watering for horses and cattle.