General News

Nelson Evening Mail, Volume 80, 23 February 1945, Page 4

General News

Cycling: Without Lights In the Magistrate’s Court this morning two cyclists, G. L. Davis and K. J, Strange, wfere each fined 10s and 10s costs for cycling at night Without lights. Standard dr Stil dents

The belief that the present low standard of some first-year university Students Was only a passing phase was expressed by the liaison officer with secondary schools, Mr J. Thompson, in his annual report presented to the Auckland tiriivfersity College Council. He said the best products Of the secondary schools were as good now as they ever were, but the majority of them—for example, 80 per cent, of the 1944 Auckland scholarship holders—were studying medicihe, scienoe and engineering. The energetic measures taken by the college with regard to unsatisfactory students and th 3 compulsory addition of a year to their stay at secondary school must raise the standard of their attainments whether they were accredited or not.

Money Urider Water The diving skill of the Maori children at Whakarewarewa village gives them a good deal of loose change, and the most active of them can make several shillings in a busy afternoon. But it has often been conjectured how much money thrown into the water is not recovered by the children. A clue to this was given recently after a frc«;h in the stream. On such an occasion, the money lying in the bed is swept into two deep crevices, and only an experienced adult swimmer can remain under water long enough to recover it. From this source, one man last week recovered £l7 8s and another over £5. Most of this was in pennies.

Amongst the many wedding presents received by a certain happy pair in Auckland recently was a huge carton of cigarette tobacco, and as both the young people adore cigarettes, this very unconventional bridal gift was greatly appreciated by them. It was something new in wedding presents, which too often consist of things the recipients don't care a button for and could very well do without. The accompanying card read: “May all your troubles end in smoke!” And, to cap all, the contents of the carton proved to be Riverhead Gold—the finest cigarette tobacco money can buy! It’s one of the five famous “toasted” brands so popular with smokers of both sexes. Another very choice cigarette tobacco is Desert Gold, while the three other genuine toasted brands. Cut Plug No. 10 (Bullshead). Cavendish, and Navy Cut No. 3 (Bulldog), are unequalled for the pipe; also Riverhead and Desert Gold tailorrrtades. All toasted, and no sore thrdsft, nO tough!*

Church Union A disappointing feature of the present negotiations for Church Union (among the Presbyterian. Congregational and Methodist churches) is that While the very able and representative committee has achieved practical unanimity regarding the proposed basis there has been, so far. little sign of enthusiastic response on the part of the churches themselves. The apparent coolness with which the Union Committee's report has been received seems to indicate that the time of really effective organic union is not as near as We had hoped.—Statement by Rev. A. H. Scrivin, in his presidential address to the Methodist Conference. High Wind in Wellington

A high southerly wind which started with a sudden gust in the early hours of the morning sept heavy rain squalls, sweeping over Wellington yesterday. The velocity of the wind rose rapidly after 5.45 a.m., and gusts of 50 miles an hour were frequent. At Rongotai a gust of 71 miles an hour was recorded at 10.30 a.m. The strongest gust recorded at Kclburn was one of 61 miles an hour, recorded at the same time. To 9 o'clock last night 44 points of rain had been recorded at Kelburn. No damage was reported.

Centres of National Healing “One vitally important aspect of Christian schools, appreciated by all too few. is their capacity to heal the open and ugly sores of national prejudice and hate.” said the Rev. A. H. Scrivin in his presidential address to the Methodist Conference. “ Much has been written about the ‘clash of colour,’ and it is claimed by many that racial antipathies are instinctive, but those of us who have had under our care schools in which white. black, brown ahd half-caste children have been gathered, at an early age. know that the hateful race prejudice does not exist until it is inculcated by older people. . . . We suggest, therefore, that international Christian schools for selected students are likely to be more effective in assuring understanding and peace between the nations than an international police force, necessary as the latter may be in the meantime.

Hosiery Coupons According to a statement made by the acting-Rationing Controller. Mr A. J. Costelloe, to-day. hosiery coupon XlO3 will expire on 31st March. “Coupon XlO3 should normally expire at the end of this month.” said Mr CostellOe, “blit owing to the stofek position and in order that everyone who is desirous of doing so may redeem the coupon, the expiry date has been extended for a period of one month. It. is emphasised, however, that ebupon XIO3 will definitely expire on 31st March and cannot be used after that date.” Hosiery coupon XlO4 becomes valid on Ist April for a period of six months, for one pair of women’s fully-fashioned stockings of either silk or art silk, or any mixture thereof. Damaging Trifles Indicating the good woik done by the magnetic truck operated by the Main Highways Board, Mr M. H. Wynyard. motorists’ representative on the board, told the council of the North Island Motor Union, at the quarterly meeting this week, that in the past year the truck had picked up 9280 pounds of nails and other items dameging to tyres from aerodromes, ancf 5182 pounds from main highways, of which 3618 miles had been traversed. The figure relating to highways Worked out at 1.4 pound to the mile, the previous corresponding figure being 2.1 pounds. Th« board had since acquired another magnet,- of a type operated independently and towed by a truck, which Was now in use in the South Island. Another was being built for use in the North Island. Herd Testing Well Established According to the figures in the annual report of the New Zealand Dairy Board the Nelson district has a higher percentage of cows herd tested than ih any other part of the Dominion. 19.6 per cent, of all cows in milk were tested in the Nelson Land District, the average yield of butterfaf 270.291b5, being second only to Taranaki which was 270.74yd5. The average Dominion yield was 253.541b5. The average test in Nelson 4.88 was the highest in the South Island. Vandalism at Lighthouses In an interview yesterday the Minister of Marine, Mr O’Brien, expressed grave concert at having received reports of cases of vandalism in tLe form of damage to lighthouses. Recently two automatic lighthouses were wilfully damaged by some persons breaking and entering into them, breaking and destroying part of the equipment, cracking lantern panes, part of which were thrown over a cliff, and stealing tools. The Minister stresses the danger to life such damage entails. Offenders apprehended may expect pj osecutiori with the utmost rigour. They are liable to seven years’ imprisonment with hard labour.

Prominent Farmer Drowned Thrown into the tidal estuary of Waima River When a punt capsized, Waldermar Jensen, aged 62, widower, a farmer of Waima Valley, was drowned (states a Press Association telegram from Whangarei). The accident occurred when Jensen had transferred cream from his punt to the collecting launch which was at the wharf oh the opposite side of the river to his farm. As the launch was leaving the wharf the punt was apparently caught in the wash. Jensen had been farming in the Waima River area for 20 years and was to have been installed as Worshipful Master to-morrow evening at the Hokianga Masonic Lodge.