General News

Nelson Evening Mail, Volume 79, 10 January 1944, Page 4

General News

More Gorse Fires The Nelson Fire Brigade yesterday was called to attend to two more gorse fires. In the early hours of the morning. at 12.55 o'clock, gorse on fire in St. Vincent street, opposite Parere street, was extinguished with the use of a hundred feet of hose. At 11.20 o’clock in the morning several acres of burning gorse between Washington Valley and Stanley Crescent, fanned by a stiff sou’-wester. threatened a number of houses. Two engines were sent out. One delivery of hose was played on the fire from Stanley Crescent and another from Washington Valley. The brigade spent an hour and a half dealing with the fire. Many Rabbits Trapped After a month’s trapping operations in the lower Wangaehu area, a rabbiter employed on contract by the Wanganui Rabbit Board has taken more than 2000 rabbits, states the ‘Wanganui Chronicle.” The same rabbiter, over a period of five years in the Patea district, where he was previously employed, had a tally of more than 200.000 rabbits. Fijian Troubadour Fiji has her South Sea cowboy troubadour. His name is Vattro, and he is only twelve years old, writes “The Post’s” Fiji correspondent. To the delight of American troops stationed in the group, he can sigh over “Red River Valley” as mournfully as a barn dance headliner or Arkansas “ridge runner.” His voice is of* surprising volume and tone, and he is always sure of an appreciative audience. More sensational still, he can yodel. Asked how he learned to sing with such professional aplomb. Vattro confessed: “I watch the singers in the cowboy movies ” ‘lf you notice any man of advanced years boasting natural teeth still sound and serviceable,” writes “Meerschaum” in the "Tobacco Plant,' “you don’t need to be a Sherlock Holmes to conclude the fortunate possessor of those ‘ivories’ is an old smoker. Smoking is the finest preservative of the teeth known.” Yes. the weed hath its virtues, the anti-tobacs to the contrary, notwithstanding! Its value as a disinfectant was demonstrated during the great Plague of London, while its power to solace and comfort in time of trouble is acknowledged by millions the world over But to get the best out of tobacco its quality should be the best—“toasted ” lor choice because toasting deprives it of most of its nicotine, while at the same time enhancing flavour and aroma. But mind! —the only genuine toasted blends are Cut Plug No. 10 (Bullshead). Cavendish, Navy Cut No. 3 (Bulldog). Riverhead Gold, Desert Gold and Pocket Edition—as sweet, fragrant, cool and comforting as tobacco can be made. Their great popularity. however, has had the usual result. Worthless imitations are on the market Beware!* Ladies’ Afternoon Frocks in Plain and Silk Florals. S.S.W. to W.X. Special selling at 4gns. 4 Coupons. At McKay’s.* Alfred Gould announces an auction houses, etc , next Thursday, at 2 p.m.. sheets and blankets. poultry. fowlsale of surplus furniture, floor rugs, on account of Mrs J. D. Robertson’ junction of Washington Road and Richardson Street. Children’s Floral Print Hats, size 6 3-8 to 6 7-8. From 5/9. Plain colours. From 3/11. 1 Coupon. At McKay's.’ l '

Nasturtiums and Curly Leaf A retired sugar planter from Fiji, who has been struck by the prevalence of curly leaf among the peach trees in New Zealand, states that in some parts of Fiji it is a recognised cure for the disease to plant nastur-j tium at the foot of peach trees and I let it grow a foot up the trunk, reports the “Auckland Star.” The result, he says, is often a good crop of peaches. Nasturtium does not impoverish the soil and seems to have some chemical property which nourishes the plant life of fruit trees. Total Eclipse of Sun The first of this year's eclipses. a total one of the sun, is due to take place during the early hours of January 26, but no phase of it will be visible in New Zealand. The path of totality extends across the Eastern Pacific, South America, the Atlantic, and north-west Africa. Duckbill whale near Totaranui In regard to a rare species of whale, the duckbill whale, washed ashore near Wanganui, a correspondent from Takaka recalls that about eight years ago a duckbill whale was brought up on Goat’s Bay beach, near Totaranui. It was about 18 feet long, and the correspondent believes that the skeleton of the head was taken to the Riwaka school. More R.S.A. Clubs The return of so many servicemen from overseas and their joining up with the Returned Services’ Association have brought home to a number of branches of the association which have no clubrooms the necessity for making such provision, and it is likely that a number of new R.S.A. clubs will be established shortly. For example, there are movements both in Timaru and Oamaru for the establishment of clubs in these towns. Mr W. F. H. Stone, secretary of the Invercargill R.S.A., has received a letter from the South Canterbury R.S.A. asking for advice and information on the setting up and conduct of a club, and a similar inquiry has been received from Oamaru. Bottle Smashers Busy During Christmas week 40 Wellington Corporation buses had to have tyres repaired because of cuts from broken bottles (states “The Post”). Ten were cut right through the lining fabric and completely ruined. The tyres cost £35 each. The present state of the tramway tracks is also causing minor injuries to bus tyres where slivers of steel are picked up. Maori Family’s Record The reported death in action oi Private Rongo Peta draws attention to the excellent record of the family of Mr W. Peta. of. Te Kaha. Five sons have served either with the 28th Maori Battalion or with the Royal New Zealand Air Force. They belong to the Whanau-Apanui tribe, which has sent a very large proportion of its young men to the present war, and come from a small maize-growing district, most of it settled by Maori farmers, that prides itself upon having had every one of its fit youths and men in one or other of the oversea? or home defence forces. Mission to Lepers The sum of £9400 was raised in New Zealand for the Mission to Lepers during the year ended 30th November. 1943. This was an increase of £2495 over the previous year’s returns. This year the Mission to Lepers celebrates its 70th year. Amounts raised in the Nelson district last year included the following: Motueka area £55 13s 4d. Nelson £3ll 17s lid, Nelson legacy £44 11s 4d, Richmond £4 12s, Riwaka £9 2s, Tahunanui £sl 7s lOd. Takaka-Col-lingwood £3B 13s. Tasman £sl 10s, Wakefield £2 ss. Stolen Cups Caterers serving the Hill and Derby enclosures at the Ellerslie racecourse during the Christmas-New Year Meeting lost a total of 956 teacups, valued at about £7O. states the "Auckland Star.” In addition 271 soft-drink bottles were taken away by unauthorised persons—the loss to the caterers in this regard totalling £27. Mr Arthur Adams, of the firm of Adams and Sons, who have the catering license for those enclosures, stated yesterday that the loss in cups is considerably more serious than is indicated by the actual money value. The difficulty was replacement in time to meet other catering needs. All the cups were new ones, of New Zealand manufacture, and the firm had gone to the trouble of marking the bottoms of each distinctively in red so that they could be recognised as their property. It was not possible, in dealing with a crowd of up to 20,000. as was the case on Boxing Day, to watch carefully what happened to each individual cup. Stabilisation ? Legislation to enable lower paid workers to receive wage increases in spite of stabilisation is to be introduced by the Government, states a report in the latest issue of the “Union Record.” which is the official paper of the New Zealand Building Trades’ Federation, the Auckland, Wellington, and Hull Valley Carpenters’ Unions, the Auckland Drivers, Labourers’, Plasterers’, Boot Operatives’ and Ship Yacht, and Boatbuilders’ Unions. The paper also quotes a report to the Auckland Trades Council that the New Zealand Federation of Labour, which has also taken up the matter with the Government, has a definite undertaking that the wages of lower-paid workers will be raised to a minimum of £5 5s a week for males and £3 a week for females. Record Consumption of Water, The consumption of water in Christchurch last month reached the record figure of 214.407.500 gallons, 20.000 gallons more than the previous highest consumption figure. This information was given to “The Press” by the act-ing-Town Clerk (Mr C. S. Eowie), who said it was due to the foresight of the present City Council and past councils that Christchurch was in the enviable position of being able to maintain this large supply of water without any restrictions whatever. .West Coast Harbours The low water depth on the Greymouth bar remains at six feet. With the tides on the make, soundings taken at high water on Friday, showed a depth of 15ft four inches, an improvement on the depth of 14 feet 10 inches recorded on the previous day. The Marine Department’s suction dredge, Rubi Seddon, commenced operations on the Westport bar on Friday. The dredge has been idle during the Christmas and New Year holiday period. The department’s second dredge, the Eileen Ward, will recommence opei-ations to-day. A satisfactory depth of water has been maintained during the period of the dredges’ idleness, both at the Westport berthage area and on the bar. Infants’ Cardigans in plain rib or fancy lace stitch. Pink and Creme only. 15/6. 1 coupon. At McKay’s.*