Untitled

Hokitika Guardian, 17 June 1927, Page 2

Eom.owinc a request from the BorI ough Council with a view to casing the financial drain on tile Borough funds, an appeal for more .subscribers to the Public Library is about: to be made. A public library is a necessary amenity to any town, and Hokitika is extremely fortunate in having a pleasantly centred building of adequate capacity well stocked with a splendid library. The Public Library is under the joint control of a committee representative of the Borough Council and the subscribers. The committee is a very active one. and for some, time past lias been able to give sper'Tal attention to supplementing the store of books. There is a very fine range of works. Most of the classical authors are well represented, while all popular modern writers have representative works on the shelves, fn magazines and periodicals there is also a wide choice, and a good variety of newspapers, representative of the leading papers of the Dominion. In a sentence, therefore, the library and readoding room are exceedingly well found. An appeal for greater support can therefore he made with every justification, and there should he a good public response. It is altogether in the interests of tile town to have the library efficiently maintained, and on that account the local public should take a pride in an institution which is of such general value to the community. Included in the building is a museum room which is well arranged, and has many attractive exhibits of considerable value. A good deal e.f honorary work lias been performed in bringing the museum display to its present point, and one way of appreciating what is being done in that respect. would lie for an increasing public interest in the general welfare of the institution. The demands in the way of the annual subscription are not of an exacting nature, and young and old might find it possible bv exercising a little thrift in other directions, to do something for the town by aiding in a small wav to support so deserving a public utility. Our town is going to be exactly what the people care to make it. ami the cultivation of a civic pride in the welfare of such a utility as a public library, is a very useful direction in which to seek to do something to benefit the place and those living in it. A well stored library is a fountain of knowledge for all who care to drink deep from its treasures, and citizens generally should he only too ready to participate in the good flings nrovided and obtainable within the Public Library.

The first factorv for the manufacture of power alcohol on the North Queensland sugar fields is approaching completion 23 miles south of Mackay, at Sarina. The company behind the enterprise. it is said, lias a nominal capital of £1.000.000, and is a combination of sugar growers with the famous Distillers Co., Ltd., of Scotland. It is proposed to manufacture power alcohol from molasses and cassava, a fibrous root imported front Java, which shows a luxuriant growth in Queensland. "Whether the cost of production and harvesting cassava will leave a mnrgin of profit will be tested. But the main

question for sugar growers is the eco- i noniic- use of the raw juices from the cane and low-grade syrups in the manufacture of power alcohol. If this is proved it will mloan that Queensland will he able to produce an unlimited quantity of material for the manufacture of power alcohol, and thousands of acres of -sugar cane "ill ha brought into use. It- is hoped to produce ].- 000.000 gallon of power spirit during the first year. The company will also produce its own sulphuric other, which blended with the spirit brought, it is said, its efficiency up to OSi per cent, of that of petrol. Sir James Colder, a director of the Distillers Co.. Ltd.. of Edinburgh, who was the guest of the Millions Club at a recent lunch in Sydney. said his company hoped eventually. when markets were obtained, to convert waste molasses to the extent of 100. GOO tons into a motor spirit which should ein-Me Australia to reduce her importation of spirit to a very large extent. It was intended ito utilize waste matter for the production of 6.000.000 gallons of motor spirit a year. His company also intended to start distilling whisky in Victoria. That locality had been chosen because the temperature there was lower on an average than in New South Vales, and the process of fermentation called f>r a lew temperature. The methods cm ployed in the company’s stills in Scotland will he used, and cx|rerts arc assured that a good potable spirit can he produced which, when well matured. will find a large market in Australia.