General News

Nelson Evening Mail, Volume 80, 26 June 1945, Page 4

General News

Cheerful New Zealanders When contrasted \yith the “hard, calculating faces” of Americans, New Zealanders have a cheerful appearance, according to Mr W. J. Plowden-WardlaW, a British businessman, who has been visiting the Dominion. In the United States and Canada two men could not converse for more than five minutes without the subject of money entering the conversation. The dominating place occupied by sport in adult conversation was peculiar to New Zealand and Australia. Pip Fruit Crop The pip fruit crop this season in Hawkes Bay has been considerably higher than was expected, according to figures given by Mr A. G. Hedgeman, I.M.D. manager at Hastings. A total of 743,751 cases—598,086 of apples and 145.665 of pears—was submitted. These included 30.000 cases of fruit for dehydration. It is estimated that a further 25.000 cases are held in cool stores throughout the district. After the previous season’s record of more than a million cases, this season’s crop is considerably better than expected. The weather during the season was consistently favourable for pip fruit production, and yield accordingly was high. The quality of the fruit was satisfactory, an analysis showing that 87 per cent, of the apples were graded fancy. 10 per cent, commercial, and three per cent, minimum. The fruit rejected amounted to only 1.75 per cent, of the entire crop. Stunners represented almost 26 per cent, of the total apple crop handled. Sdvereign Found In a Fish a sovereign, dated 1337, the year Queen Victoria came to the Throne, fell from a nice-sized butterflsh when it was bein;4 cleaned by a fisherman at Coorong. South Australia. The sovereign was shiny and bore the head of King William IV., Queen Victoria’s uncle. The theory of South Australia's chief fisheries inspector, Mr Frank Moorhouse, is that the sovereign belonged to a passenger in the brigantine Maria, wrecked off the Coorong coast in 1840. Natives killed some passengers and took their belongings. “The natives were in possession of coins later, and as they hunted game up and down the Coorong. the coin might easily have dropped into its waters.” added the inspector. However, he had no explanation how the butterflsh could have acauired the piece of gold or how long the fish had lived. In Adelaide the finder handed in his sovereign at the Savings Bank and received £2 9s Id.

C. W. auctioneer, advertises detailed list of important, sale to Uo held at the residence of Mrs A. B. West. 5 Scotland street, Tuesday next. 3rd July, at 12.15 p.m.; also extended list of goods for to-morrow’s sale to be held at the Mart, 1.45 p.m.*

Company’s Anniversary The 70th anniversary of the formation of the Union ’Stfeam Ship Company will fall on July 12. It had its origin in Dunedin and the first meeting of the provisional directors was held on May 31. 1875, and the certificate of incorporation was issued on TJuly 12 of that year. The company started with five l vessels aggregating 2126 tons. The nominal capital was £250,000 in 25.000 shares j of' £lO each, but during 1875 the paidup capital did not exceed £IOO,OOO. The company now has an issued capital of £3.000.000. of which the P. and O. Steam Navigation Company holds all the 1.000,000 Ordinary £1 shares. This Week’s Coupons Ration coupons available this week are: —Meat (ration Is 0d weekly, H coupons 3J, others 3d; child’s ration, 9d weekly, J coupon 3d.—Nos. 34 and 35 Butter (ration 6oz weekly, each coupon Boz).—Nos. 33, 34 and 35, available urti til July 8. Sugar (ration 2Jlb monthly, each coupon lOoz). —Nos. 33 to 36, available until July 8. Tea (ration Boz monthly, each coupon 2oz). —Nos. 33 to 36, available until July 8. Petrol.—No. 11 at half face value and No. 12 at one and a-half times face value, available (jnlil June 30. Nelson Motor Registrations Yesterday 142 motor, vehicles were relicensed at the Nelson City Council Chambers where the Post Office has established its motor registration office. This brings the total number of vehicles relicensed to dale to 1747 as compared with 1695 for the corresponding period last year. There are still aproximately 800 vehicles to be registered before the end of the week and a Post Office official to-day appealed to motorists to relicense their cars at the first opportunity in order to avoid a last minute rush. “The Road to Serfdom” In reference to yesterday’s leading article, which discussed Professor F. A. Hayek’s book, “The Road to Serfdom,” we have been informed that some copies of the book have reached New Zealand, not from America, but from Australia, where the book has been published under the reprint system now operating. A copy of “The Road to Serfdom” is in the Nelson Public Library. Early Lambs Winter’s severity notwithstanding, a number of early lambs have put in an appearance in the Waimeas as well as in the Takaka district. Tampering with Time Switches Instances of consumers tampering with electric time switches were reported to the Waimea Electric Power Board at its monthly meeting on Friday. The board’s (Mr N. A. Andrews) stated that there had recently been instances of consumers tampering with time switches, even when they had been sealed. Members commented on the seriousness of the offence and it was resolved that the engineer be instructed to disconnect the supply immediately where tampering was occurr T ing and to prosecute the offenders, as provided for in the regulations.

Vegetable Growing An increase of about 60 per cent, in vegetable production in Hawkes Bay next season is being provided for in contracts'now being let by the Internal Marketing Division at Hastings. Another heavy dehydration programme also is to be undertaken. Additional equipment is being installed at the King street assembly point to facilitate the handling of vegetables • under the expanded programme. Contracts are being let for such vegetables as cabbages. carrots, and cauliflowers, which can be dispatched long distances to the forces now in combat in the forward areas of the Pacific. More delicate lines, such as lettuce and celery,* are not being handled to the same extent as formerly.

July Petrol Coupons There have been .numerous inquiries concerning what is the actual face value of the July petrol coupons, because the figures are double-printed on them. The Transport Department states that the value is assumed to be that stated in the single figure, the doubleprinting having been done for a particular identification purpose.