General News

Nelson Evening Mail, Volume 79, 8 February 1944, Page 4

General News

Earthquake Jolt

A short sharp earth tremor was felt in Nelson just before ten minutes to six o’clock this morning. The shake was sufficient to awaken sleepers and after the first jolt slight tremors continued for about half a minute. No damage has been reported. Gas Producers

In an endeavour to reduce the possibility of forest fires during summer months, the use of gas producers on vehicles travelling on certain roads through forest areas is prohibited by a notice in the latest Gazette. The period during which the restriction •operates is from Ist August in any year to 30th April in the following year, both days inclusive. The areas covered by the regulation are part of the Rotorua-, Waikaremoana road between Waiotapu and IVTurupara. adjoining or passing through the Waiotapu and Kaingaroa State forests, a distance of 23 miles, and 11 miles of the Dargaville-Opononi road passing through the Waipoun State forest. An exception is made by the notice. which states that permission may be granted for the use of gas producers by a conservator or other forest ranger. The Wrong Funeral The retiring General Manager of Railways, Mr H. Casey, at a farewell gathering in his honour yesterday, convulsed With merriment a large audience of railway servants. Referring to the glowing tributes to his work as General Manager, Mr Casey said that he was reminded of the story of a citizen who had a great reputation among the people but had none at all in his own home. The widow and the youngest daughter attended the funeral service in the church and during the eloquent tributes paid by the clergyman the little girl, only eight years of age, kept tugging at her mother’s frock. Finally the mother said: ‘‘What’s the trouble dear?” the daughter replying: "Let us go home' mum; I think we have come to the wrong funeral service.” Melrose Rest Home The official opening of the W.D F U Melrose Rest Home will take place on the afternoon of Friday. 24th March. A Missing Wallet A remarkable coincidence occurred at the Hamilton police station. An American serviceman was brought in in a state of intoxication by an American provost and complained that he had been robbed of his wallet and 80 dol lars. Owing to the man’s condition, the complaint was not taken seriously. Ten minutes later a constable brought in a civilian who had been arrested for drunkenness. On his being searched the missing wallet, documents of identification and the dollars were found in the civilian’s possession. In addition to the intoxication charge, the civilian was charged in the Police Court to-day with the theft of the wallet and its contents. He was remanded until Thurs day. Municipal Affairs A total of 71 items appears on the order paper for the Municipal Conference to open at Napier on 15th March Remits on a variety of topics from ali over the Dominion will be considered Remits from Palmerston North and Upper Hutt deal with the deterioration Of roads through heavy Army traffic and recommend that the Government be approached to reimburse local authorities for the wear caused, in view of the exemption of Army vehicles from heavy traffic licence fees. Of interest to dog owners is a suggestion that an annual registration charge of £1 be made for all dogs other than working dogs. A request for Government assistance in the organisation of a practical national scheme for the effective control of the noxious weed menace is included on the agenda. Vitamins for Pigs

Illustrative of the wide scope of animal research work being carried out in r e Dominion is an extract from the annual report of the New Zealand Dairy Board dealing with an investigation as to the value of vitamin A to pigs confined to bare yards during winter and spring. It was calculated that good grazing saves from one to three gallons of milk per pig daily during fattening. The report concludes that good pasture is much more valuable than cod liver oil or other vitamin concentrates under North Island conditions.

Struck Bullet With Hammer A pupil of the Wellington Technical College, John Donaldson, 5 Somerset Avenue, received a bullet wound in the side of the mouth yesterday when he struck a .303 bullet with a hummer at school. He was taken to the hospital by the Free Ambulance. Bias Towards Wool Concern at what was described as the apparent swing toward wool production instead of necessary foodstuffs wus expressed at u meeting of the Central Taranaki Primary Production Council at Stratford. Mr Poison, M.P., considered that a serious position would develop unless the trend away from food production was checked immediately. The chairman, Mr L. MarfeJl. speaking of the general increase in New Zealand in the number of breeding ewes, said that the figures had increased particularly in Auckland and Taranaki. This was significant, considering that these were the two major dairying districts. Mr Poison said that whut alarmed him was the swing from food production to something which might possibly wreck the country’s economy. He spoke of the trend to more wool production, which was indicated by the increased sheep figures, and quoted examples of the position of the wool market after the last war, when the price fell drastically. He contended that a turn to wool was fatal to this country. The policy of the Government should be to encourage farmers to produce all possible foodstuffs and to reward them in a manner commensurate with their efforts. Other sections of the community were being well paid for their efforts. Plumbing Repairs

Plumbers continue to complain that they are being kept on very short commons as regards material for the upkeep of houses and other buildings in Wellington. One of them said yesterday that whilst the Government could make arrangements to build 1500 houses in the Wellington area plumbers were not being given sufficient material to keep privately-owned houses in decent repair. It was-true that there were a few more plumbers available now than a year ago. but that was small consolation when they could not secure material, corrugated and sheet iron particularly, though they were aware large quantities \vere held in stock in the country.