GENERAL ITEMS

Nelson Evening Mail, Volume LXXIII, 6 December 1940, Page 4

GENERAL ITEMS

Summer Ferry Service The Arahura resumes running in the Nelson-Wellington service to-morrow, leaving Wellington in place of the Matangi, which withdraws for one trip for the purpose of slipping. From Wednesday next the summer timetable will be maintained by the Matangi leaving Nelson on Mondays, Wednesdays and Fridays, and the Arahura on Tuesdays, Thursdays and Saturdays, and from Wellington on alternate nights. Cost-of-Living Bonus Private Hotel employers have sought through the Arbitration Court exemption from the Court’s general order awarding the 5 per cent, cost-of-living bonus. The Court has reserved its decision. Giant Robber Crab A coconut crab as big as a good-sized lobster has been brought back alive from Fanning Island by a Wellington doctor, and presented to the Wellington Museum. Regarded by the island natives as a food delicacy, these robber crabs cause great damage among the copra or where the natives rely extensively upon the coconut for food or drink. They do not live in the sea, but in the bush, and will climb tall palms—from 50 to 80 feet high—and sever the stalk of the nut, afterwards descending to feed on the contents. They usually cut down many more nuts than they require. Sunday Schools Decline Concern at the decline in the number of Presbyterian children who attend Sunday schools is expressed in the “Outlook,” official paper of the Presbyterian Church. Of about 66,000 children of Sunday school age in New Zealand, about 28,500 do not attend Sunday school, and of 39.000 people of Bible Class age over 25,000 do not attend classes. The church .has 4030 Sunday school teachers and 1925 Bible class leaders, compared with 9489 primary and secondary teachers in Slate and private schools. Since 1927 the attendance at public schools has dropped, but that at Sunday schools has declined further. “We cannot be content to let this decline continue unchecked,” says the “Outlook.” “There can be no greater challenge to our church in this generation.”

Successful Salvage The story of successful dredging operations carried out by a yachtsman ir Lyttelton Harbour is in the class of Ripley’s famous series, states the “Star- , Sun.” Absent-mindedly emptying a cup of water over the side of his craft . one evening he realised with horror that his dentures had gone with the water, in which they were “parked” for the night. Next morning dredging operations were begun, with an improvised scoop made from a petrol tin suspended between two small craft. Six attempts were unsuccessful, the drag failing to go down. Adjustments were made, and up came a scoopful of mud from under thirty feet of water. With a shout the owner retrieved his upper denture from the top of the scoop, and with a “too much to expect” feeling plunged his hand further into the mud. No one was more surprised than himself when he brought up the lower set. Facsimiles of Paintings Owing to the generosity of the Carnegie Institute of New York the National Art Gallery is now in possession of another 150 facsimiles of famous paintings, for the most part copies of the works of British artists. They have been framed and are now ready for hanging. Swollen Population of Hong Kong Normally Hong Kong and the Wen Territories have a population of 750,000 To-day it has swollen to something like 2.000,000 because of refugees from China. A Wellington resident who recently visited Hong Kong saw hundreds of them sleeping on doorsteps, window ledges, where they were wide enough, and on the pavements. Bridge Collapses When a heavy truck he was driving broke through the Black Bridge on Monday evening and fell into the Waitangi River, Mr Kenneth Boyd, of Kaitaia, escaped with minor injuries, states a Whangarei correspondent. The truck, containing 50 pigs and 21 calves, was owned by Mr B. Beard, carrier, of Kaitaia, and was being driven to the Moerewa freezing works. When it was near the centre of the bridge the structure collapsed, and the vehicle fell about 25 feet, coming to rest with its wheels in the air. The wreckage of the truck pinned Mr Boyd’s right arm, but he was able to keep his head above water. Several nearby farmers attracted by the noise of the breaking bridge, were able with difficulty to release Mr Boyd. An attempt was then made to save the animals in the truck, and all but four pigs and six calves were brought to the bank. Misguided Patriotism Of the patriotic fervour of a Sydney citizen who buys war savings certificates to destroy them there is no question. It is reported that he buys £5 worth of the certificates every second week and destroys them. His idea is to make a free gift to the State of £125 a year. All very good, but — here is a “but” in the business—officials, while appreciating the gesture, have pointed out that the proper course is to forward the certificates to the Treasury or the Commonwealth Bank for cancellation. If they are not cancelled they remain a liability on the Commonwealth. Pelorus Reserve At a meeting of the Pelorus Scenic Board Messrs G. I. Martin (chairman), J. Kennington, G. L. Page, M. W. Grace, Dr. Gibbs, and Mr W. J. Elvy (secretary) attended. The secretary reported that the following works had been carried out: Stone-edging drive and path; filling and gravelling the precints of the cottage; preparing the dump and depositing rubbish; fencing the cottage and lavatory areas; shifting the old hut used as the post office; planting of shrubs; removal of fallen trees on tracks; top dressing of paddocks. The matter of obtaining a horse for work on the reserve was left in the hands of Mr Kennington. A.notice is to be erected requesting campers to obtain sites from the caretaker. Mr W. Wilson was appointed honorary ranger of the Ronga Reserve. Periodical inspections are to be made to deal with the trespass of cattle on this reserve. Mr Furness submitted a motion regarding the alteration of camping fees to bring them in line with other camps in the South leland. After discussion it was agreed that the fees be altered to 2s each night and 10s each week. Accounts totalling £64 3s were passed for payment. The board expressed pleasure on the improved appearance of the precints of the cottage by the erection of fences, stone edging and the general cleaning up. The caretaker, Mr Guinan, was thanked for his enthusiastic services. Biennial Grading of Teachers The Education Department's attitude towards biennial grading of teachers is discussed by the Director of Education (Dr C. E. Beeby) in an article in “National Education.” His general attitude is that it would benefit teacher nnd inspector, though he sees one or two possible objections. If it does that, he adds, it cannot fail to benefit the child, “the most important member of the educational team.” “Grading, after all, is only a piece of administrative mechanism, a means to an end.” adds the Director, “and if biennial grading is as efficient a mechanism as annual grading, and if it gives promise of interfering less with the real business of educating the child it would seem only reasonable to try it.” “Hay To Burn” Full advantage of the fine weather over the past ten days has been taken by farmers in the Auckland Province to carry out haymaking, and long hours are being worked on most farms to complete operations while the ideal conditions prevail. In some districts the reaping of the crop and the stacking or baling of the hay have been completed. As a result of the early spring and the exceptional growth the crops are much heavier than last year, and from lands that have yielded an average of about two tons of hay to the acre in past years upwards of three tons are being harvested. The returns vary, of course, according to the districts, and in some localities four tons to the acre is stated to be quite common. In the Wiri district last year the high yield of five tons an acre was recorded, and baling contractors stated on Tuesday that similar harvests may be expected in some localities this season. “We shall literally have hay to burn this year,” stated a farmer in the South Auckland district. The yield last season was good and there was a fairly large surplus due to the open and congenial conditions of the past winter. The carry-over and this year’s crops would ensure that ample dry feed would be available for the coming winter.

Marlborough Crops The manner in which the primary producers of Marlborough have “put their shoulders to the wheel” in assisting the Dominion’s war effort drew an expression of pleasure from Mr R. B. Tennent, Director of Primary Production in a brief interview with an “Express” representative. Mr Tennent spent two days in the district inspecting cropping in general, and he also visited various farms where linen flax is being grown. He voiced the utmost satisfaction with the progress in all branches of agricultural activities. “The Marlborough farmers have turned up real trumps in the way they are assisting the Dominion’s production effort.” he declared. In every direction, the district appeared to be very forward, he added. He was particularly pleased with the linen flax crops which, he could definitely say, were more forward than any others in the Dominion. Peas, too, were well worth mentioning. Marlborough was known as the producer of the best peas in New Zealand, and this year the crop was going to be an outstanding one.