General News

Nelson Evening Mail, Volume 80, 28 November 1945, Page 4

General News

Hottest Day of Year Christchurch experienced its hottest day of the year on Monday, when a temperature of 87.2 degrees was recorded at the Christchurch Magnetic Observatory at noon. It was the hottest day for November since 1923, when 90 degrees was recorded. The hottest day ever recorded in Christchurch was in January, 1872, when 95.7 degrees were recorded. Ihs Serving of Drinks.

A decision to inform the Southland Trades Council that the trust was trying to adopt a new system, that it believed it could serve all classes with drink sitting down, that if the new system did not prove satisfactory provision was being made for the installation of bars, that the working man was being catered for and that the trust took exception to the remark made at a meeting of the council that the trust did not want the working man in Its lounge bars, was made at a. meeting of the Invercargill Licensing Trust. It was stated that in a district such as Invercargill 95 per cent of the customers would be working men.

Sydenham’s Clock Tower A report by Mr E. G. S. Powell, consulting engineer, on the measures which might be taken to make the Sydenham Post Office tower earthquake safe, was placed before the Christchurch City Council this week together with the announcement of the Minister of Works (Mr Semple) that the demolition of the tower would be proceeded with (reports “The Press”), Mr Powell gave a minimum estimate of £2400 for the strengthening of the tower and £2BOO for strengthening th e main building. As an alternative, he suggested that the tower could be lowered to eaves level and “tied” to the main building, the estimated cost of tl being £4300. The council took no action. "The report shows that the work could be done, but at very great expense,” said the Mayor (Mr E. H. Andrews). “For that money we could build a separate clock tower.’ Councillor L. G. Amos: “The report simply bears out the opinion of our own engineer.” On Councillor G. Manning’s motion, the council decided that it was inadvisable to take the matter any further, and on the suggestion of the Mayor, the works committee was ins' ructed to report on the possibility of housing the clock in Sydenham.

“It would be a good thing for dentists if smoking had never been invented,” wr’tes “Forceps” in a London journal devoted to dentistry, adding: Tobacco smoke is one of the very finest preservatives of the teeth. It may discolour them sometimes, but it frequently prolongs their usefulness to old age. Sweets, on the other hand, are the dentist’s best friends. Children and women, who are always munching them, very often suffer badly from defective teeth, and I never pass a lolly-shop without wanting to take off my hat to it. But tobacco smoke assuredly prevents decay.’ So it does But the tobacco should be of special quality “Toasted” is ideal for the purpose, because, owing to the comparative absence of nicotine in it, it can be smoked so freely without affecting the health. All five brands of the genuine toasted—Cut Plug No. 10 (Bullshead). Navy Cut No. 3 (Bulldog), Pocket Edition. Riverhead Gold and Desert Gold, are splendid teeth preservers, and more fragrant and delightful tobaccos are simply not to be had, whatever price you may pay —Advt.

Alfred Gould and Son announce details of the clearing sale to be held at Mr M. L. Russ’s property at Hope, tomorrow, Thursday, at 12.30 p.m. sharp. Details of the attractive catalogue to be sold at the Rooms, Friday next, ate also shown.—Advt.

More Cement Available The shortage of cement which has been causing concern in Nelson for the past two months now appears to be easing and builders to-day reported that they were able to obtain the sup* pUes they required. Wairau Bridge A start has been made by the P.W.D. in repairing the damaged span of the Wairau bridge which had four piles washed out during last week’s flood. So far only preliminary work has been carried out, an 1 the closing of the bridge has been delayed until piledriving is commenced. A start on this work was to be made to-day. Amenities of Courtroom The amenities at the Nelson Supreme Courtroom were unfavourably commented upon during the Supreme Court session yesterday. The Chief Justice, Sir Michael Myers, remarked during the afternoon that he did not usually make a break either during the morning or afternoon but fie could not help noticing that the seats in the jury box were uncomfortable; in fact they were the worst he had ever seen. The court was then adjourned for a few minutes. When the Grand Jury returned to the court in the morning the foreman, Mr J. A. Harley, thanked the judge for his congratulations to the district on the lightness of the criminal calendar, and added that the people of this district did not like the discomforts of the courthouse and jury room and kept away from them.

Record Catches Good catches of barracouta have been made by Port Chalmers fishermen in recent weeks (says the “Otago Daily Times”). The numbers fluctuate daily, but the record for one day’s fish, ing, made a few days ago, was 720 dozen. This was brought in by 14 boats, one of which caught 105 dozen. Some days the catch is comparatively small, as the fish run in schools. Each fish has to be caught separately, which fact affords some idea of the work involved for a one or two man- team. Barracouta is caught with a pau tied by two to three feet of line to a bent stick. The angered fish swirl savagely around, creating a disturbance in the nature of a whirlpool, while the fisherman hooks them and throws them into the boat, where they drop off the hook. The process is repeated as fast the the fisherman can work. As may well be imagined the work is very strenuous. This method of fishing is the same as that used by the Maoris for catching barracouta in early times. Perhaps the one improvement on the Maori f-u is that that modern instrument has a swivel hook running through it, whereas the Maoris used a fixed hook.. A similar method is used in the United States for the catching of tuna.