GENERAL ITEMS

Nelson Evening Mail, Volume 76, 17 May 1941, Page 4

GENERAL ITEMS

Waimea County Roads A new classification of roads in the schedule in th«. late.--: Jc concerns both main highways ana ( ounty roads and replaces chat made in 1931. Notifying Change of Address. The obligation resting on every man called up for service with the armed forces to notify any change of address to the Area Officer of the military district in -vh\h he residrs is emphasised in a regulation which is gazetted. Provision is made for substantial penalties for failure to do this. Returns of Income Notice to make annual returns of income for the year ending 31st March last is given in the “Gazette.” For ordinary returns the last clay for acceptance is 2nd June. Where returns are accepted for a year ending later than 31st March they shall be made within two months of such later date. Miners and Home Guard. “It might be difficult for miners, working from 8 a.m. to 4 p.m., to attend Home Guard parades,” said a mine manager when giving evidence before the No. 2 Armed Forces Appeal Board at Huntly. The chairman, Mr S. L. Paterson, S.M., said he could not see the difficulty when farmers, working much longer hours, cojld find time to prepare themselves in case of an ornei gency. Corn Broom Grown at Remuera. Success with the growing of Cana-1 dian corn broom on his property in Waiatarua Road. Remuera, nas been obtained by Mr E. Oldfield, who has planted a crop as an experiment. The ! broom is a relative of the sorghum family. Mr Oldfield, imported the seed ! from Oklahoma, and, ccnsidering that j the soil has not been fertilised, the I results are very good. The crop has f*rown to a height of 14ft and the long cane-like stalks are very sturdy. The weekly dance will be held in the Velma Hall to-night at 8. Music will be by the Labour Dance Band, and dancing will be old time and modern.

British Export Cargoes. j - Information regarding the scheme for the speedier loading of vessels in t Britain was received in Auckland this ) week (says the “N.Z. Herald”). Port j 1 emergency committees have been set < up in many parts of Britain and it is j j necessary for manufacturers to obtain j I permits before goods are sent to the 1 docks for export. The object of the ( procedure is to prevent delays and'; accumulation of goods at the portsi i which occurred from time to time, par- ; ju*ularly in the winter months. It is j j | considered the measure will improve ] ; port handling and a turn round of ships j j by approximately 40 per cent. Badge for New Zealand Seamen. Seamen serving in New Zealand j registered ships of the mercantile j marine are to be issued with a distinc- . | i:ive badge which has been approved , iby the Government. This advice has been received from the Minister of 1 Defence (Mr Jones) by the Mayor of : Auckland (Sir Ernest Davis), an as-!' ! sociate member of the New Zealand | Company of Mariners, who made re-1 presentations on behalf of the com-! pany that such a badge should be issued. The badge is silver and consists of the letters M.N. surrounded by a crown. The badge has been on issue to seamen in the United Kingdom and ' Australian registered ships for some time and its adoption by the New Zealand Government will be welcomed by the men of the New Zealand Mercantile Marine, who although engaged in dangerous war work, have had nothing to distinguish them from civilians while ashore. Joint Delivery. A reserved judgment of considerable importance to town carriers and retailers was delivered in the Napier { Magistrate’s Court this week, when Mr jj. Miller, S.M., dismissed informations I brought against Clausen’s Keen Kut j Stores, Limited, and Blythes, Limited, who were charged with operating an j unlicensed goods service. At the hearing the Main Highways Board traffic inspector, Mr J. W. Coddington, said a delivery van was owned by Clausen’s and Blythes, the former holding a twothirds interest, while the latter held the remaining share. Operating and maintenance expenses were borne in a similar proportion. For the defendants, Mr M. R. Grant said the dispute was really a question of whether two owners could do what one was clearly entitled to do. "It appears to me that this was a perfectly genuine arrangement,” said the magistrate in his judgment. “It was not entered into to evade the Act. The defendants are simply doing what they can do individually without a license. In these days of difficult trading, any attempt to economise, including the saving of petrol, strengthens good faith. Moreover, in combining the defendants controlled their own traffic, which is of service to the Transport Department.” Precious Onions. The greatly-enhanced value of onions in Britain to-day was exemplified in a letter received by an Auckland resident from a brother serving in Eng-j land. He said he recently attended u patriotic function, at which a raffle was held, the first prize being a large onion and the second a dozen bottles of champagne. Fire on Launch Last Monday at about 4 p.m. the launch Lloma, owned by the Mr E. R. Haldane, of Lower Hutt, and in the care of A. S. Turner and Sons, French Pass, was completely destroyed by fire. The cause of the fire was unknown, but it is presumed that it was caused by the sbort-circuiting of a battery. Every effort was made to extinguish the fire, but it had gained too great a hold before being noticed. Smaller Native Birds Increasing “The smaller native birds seem to be increasing of late years, especially in residential areas where they are attracted in spring and summer by the many flowering and berry shrubs planted by the residents,” states the annual report of the Southland Acclimatisation S. ciety. “In the winter months an increasing number of residents feed tuis, bellbirds and wax eyes with honey and other sugar-like substances. These birds occasionally nest in trees and shrubs in the centre of towns and are a source of delight to the citizens. During the past year there have been no reports of the wanton destruction of these birds, and residents are keen to see that they are not disturbed. Native pigeons occasionally visit the gardens in towns and. in particular, are very fond of eating the leaves of laburnum trees. It is believed that in forest areas vermin exact a heavy 101 l on bird life.” Record Oil Drill All New Zealand records for depth of drilling have been broken by the Midhirst oil well, which is 870 ft deeper than the previous deepest hole. A well at Blenheim was drilled to 5680 ft and this was beaten when the Totangi well on th t east coast was sunk to 5700 ft. The Midhirst well was at 6570 ft when | the latest report of the I\\:w Zealand j Petroleum Company was issued. Con- i siderable difficulties with the formation were experienced at Mi Thirst in the early stages, while drilling at Morere, | on tne easi coast, was going ahead' sieadiiy. Over recent months the posi- l tion has been reversed. Good progress has been made at Midhirst, but a ! series of troubles has arisen at Morere, 1 culminating in the breaking of a crank- 1 shaft of the power unit. Work will therefore be held up there until another crankshaft arrives from America. In the meantime drillers from the east coast have come to relieve Midhirst drillers due for leave. The British Spirit. The unquenchable spirit of the ordinary people of Britain in the face of the heaviest enemy air raids is shown in a letter received by an Aucklander from a woman of 78 who lives in London. “We are going through such a terrific time that we never know from hour to hour if our home and effects and ourselves will be blown to pieces,” she writes. “Our fiat is over a confectioner’s shop and post office, a.-d the night before last, for the 27th time, the front was blown in completely under us and two adjoining shops. I still manage to maintain my Devonshire pluck, but it lakes a bit of doing at time. 1 am answering your letters at once, in case of what might happen. It is no use sitting down moping, for if a bomb puts an end to my mortal life then I shall not be on a bed of 1 sickness year after year.” A combined Hockey and Football | dance will be held at the Richmond Town Hall on Wednesday next, 21st Me.y A bus will be leaving the Suburban Bus stand at 7.45 p.m. and will re- j | turn after the dance. i At the Oddfellows’ Hall, Waimea ; street, to-night, the usual dance will * jbe held. The programme will suit all 1 and spirited music will be supplied by j Williams’s and Reynish’s Orchestra. ' i There will be two Monte Carlos with j eight prizes, and a dainty supper will 1 be served at 10.15. Mr G. L. Housiaux 1 will be the M.C. A meeting of the Motueka District ] Fruit Exporters’ Association will be > held at the Jubilee Hall, Lower Mou- ] tcre, on Thursday evening, 22nd May, ' when preparation of remits will be in- j eluded in the business.

Australia’s War Effort. "There is no 40-hour week in Aus- | tralia,” said Mr M. G. C. McCaul, ! when speaking of Australia’s war effort to the Wellington Junior Chamber of Commerce (reports “The Post”). "The I people are putting their backs into it and everybody appears to be working hard. Of course they have their labour difficulties, but these are mostly re- ; garded as insignificant compared with the great war job on hand. There is an j air of determination in Australia that is inspiring. Everyone is anxious to help. Society women are working in munition factories, determined to do something more than knit socks or make comforts for the soldiers.” Warm Autumn Weather. Temperatures reminiscent more of summer than autumn have ruled in Auckland for the past week and office workers have been glad to discard coats l in the cause of comfort. The spell of j warm weather has been accompanied 'by high average barometer readings and | fine sunny days without the humidity that often mars similar temperatures in summer. The highest thermometer reading during the month so far was 69 degrees.