GENERAL ITEMS

Nelson Evening Mail, Volume LXXIII, 2 January 1941, Page 4

GENERAL ITEMS

Found on the Beach A Bell Block farmer reported on Saturday that a steel cylindrical object with a brass cap that might be connected with a fuse had been washed up on the beach. The collector of Customs at New Plymouth, Mr J. M. O’Reilly, accompanied by Lieutenant R. G. A. Farnell, New Zealand Army Ordnance Corps, who is on leave at New Plymouth, subsequently made an inspection. The cylinder was brought to New Plymouth but whether it is an improvised anchor or a missile of destruction has not yet been determined, reports the “Taranaki Daily News.” The arrival of the cylinder gave rise to the report that a mine had been washed ashore. Mines laid presumably by the German raider Wolf during the last war have come ashore at intervals on the west coast of the North Island. At present rewards are being offered through the Customs Department for the recovery of mines in New Zealand waters. Church Union The opinion that there is need for the Churches to draw closer together and to co-operate in doing their work more efficiently in this country is expressed by the “Outlook,” the organ of the Presbyterian Church, in an article discussing the proposals for union of the Presbyterian, Methodist and Congregational Churches. “The Churches ought to get together,” it says, “because it is part of the Christian faith that God’s family is one family. Not only would it set a good example in wartime, but it would be a benefit to all the Churches from the point of view of efficiency and economy. Now, having been publicly asked to converse and negotiate about union, we have to return an answer.”

Native Flowers Not for many years has there been such a wealth of native flowers in the bush as is to be seen at present in many parts of the country (states the Wanganui “Hefald”). Chief among the flowers is the tree daisy, of which great white clusters of flowers can be seen in many sheltered localities. Also blooming in profusion and with a most penetrating scent is the mahoe. Watersiders’ Bonus The Lyttelton waterside workers received a bonus on Christmas Eve under the new system of co-operative working on six overseas vessels. While the amount was not divulged officially, it was stated that about £SOO was being paid out, this including about £IOO paid by the Railway Department to men working for it. Some of the men are said to have received £3 representing up to lOd an hour in addition to their ordinary scale of wages. The bonuses were most acceptable to the men, in view of the slack time that has prevailed on the Lyttelton waterfront during the past two weeks. A Crew’s Gratitude Gratitude for assistance given them by cai’penters, foremen and waterside workers on the Auckland waterfront was expressed in a letter received by the Auckland Waterside Workers’ Union from the crew of a ship which was torpedoed and sunk. The crew of the ship was recently in Auckland and received gifts of clothes and other assistance from the men mentioned. The letter is as follows:—“We, the members of the crew, wish to thank every one of you who so kindly subscribed for our benefit. We assure you that we deeply appreciate what you have done, and sincerely hope, given the opportunity, to repay the kindness shown to us. Once again we thank you, and hope to meet you all again under different circumstances.” The seamen’s pay ceased at the date their ship was sunk, and they received only their war-risk bonus of about £5 a month, said Mr A. Girven, secretary of the Auckland Waterside Workers’ Union. The men were shipped home as destitute British seamen, he said. Use for Gas Masks The Invercargill City Council is to provide some of its employees with gas masks. The Trading Committee recently recommended that the Gas Department officers be empowered to obtain three gas masks which are required from the point of view of safety for men engaged in certain types of work in connection with the gas undertaking. It was not anticipated that the cost will exceed £lB. Realistic Souvenir A Nelson lady has received as a souvenir from a New Zealand soldier a piece of a German Messerschmitt shot down over Hellfire Corner round the Dover area. Good Fishing at Rotorua The number of fishing licenses issued for the Rotorua acclimatisation district this season is almost unprecedented. according to the Conservator of Fish and Game, Mr A. Kean. He said that it would be one of the best seasons in view of wartime conditions. A party of Rotorua district anglers took fish of 71b, 81b, and 91b, respectively at Lake Rotoiti. Other good bags have also been taken at Lake Rerewhakaitu, where four rods took 23 fish on Christmas Day. A Noisy New Year’s Eve

New Year’s Eve in Nelson was one of the liveliest and noisiest for years. Encouraged by the ideal weather crowds thronged the streets which were busier than on Christmas Eve. The activities of the Queen Carnival committees added to the gaiety, not to mention commotion as the army tank fired off blank cartidges. Men from the navy entertained from the navy float, the Army Queen had sideshows and entertainments behind McKenzie’s, and the Air Force section ran a carnival alongside Central Motors. As it approached midnight the crowds drifted towards the Post Office. It is a long time since so many people collected there to welcome the New Year in. The throng extended from Halifax street to the State Fire Insurance building. As the clock chimed the Pipe Band struck up and rattles, squeakers and motor car horns added to the din, while circles were formed for the singing of “Auld Lang Syne.” Took Nothing on Trust Among the many hundreds—perhaps thousands—of inquiries made at the office of the Union Steam Ship Company about the stranding of the Rangatira was one from a man who had obviously suffiered on previous occasions from the work of rumour-mon-gers (states “The Press”). “Is the ferry sailing to-night?” he asked the inquiry officer. “Yes,” was the reply, for the Wahine was even then making a daylight trip from Wellington in order to take over the Rangatira’s northward trip from Lyttelton. The inquirer gave the official no chance to explain this. “I knew it was a pack of lies,” he said, and rang off. Chickens Killed by Weasels Heavy losses of chickens as the result of attacks by weasels have been reported by a WaTmate farmer. In one instance 32 chickens were killed, and the loss for some three weeks was more than 60 chickens. On a neighbouring property a hen was found, still sitting on the nest, but almost decapitated. Sharks and Porpoises Large numbers of sharks and porpoises have been seen close to the shore by holiday-makers at some East Coast beaches (reports “The Herald”). Sharks and porpoises, as well as many other fish, are plentiful around Whangaparaoa Peninsula, where schnapper have been caught in large numbers near the shore. The Auckland Harbour is at present well stocked with fish, and fishermen have been surprised at the size, conditions and quantities of schnapper caught within its limits recently. Baby on Luggage-Carrier The most surprised petrol pump attendant in Auckland was a young man who, on going to fill the petrol tank at the back of a motor car, found a perambulator with a baby in it on the luggage-carrier. The parents appeared quite unconcerned about the possibility of losing both perambulator and child should the retaining straps give way, and as the baby was mofortably asleep the attendant offered no comment on the unusual method of carrying it. Beach Frocks at McKay’s. Many styles, all fast colour prints. Short sleeves, S.W., W., O.S. From 8/11.*