LOCAL AND GENERAL

Nelson Evening Mail, Volume LXIII, 23 July 1929, Page 4

LOCAL AND GENERAL

It is generally expected that the Ad-dress-in-Reply 'debate will conclude this week (telegraphs "The Mail's" Parliamentary reporter). From inquiries made to-day, there seemed to be ground for believing that the end would be reached'this evening or to-morrow. In that case, it is probable that the following day will be devoted to discussion on the proposed amendments hi the Standing Orders of the House, an indication to that effect having been given some days ago by the Prime Minister.

Hundreds of sharks' teeth have been found in a cargo of phosphate from Morocco which is at present being discharged at Auckland. This phosphate comes from a place 200 miles inland, so that the presence of sharks' teeth opens up interesting speculation. Some specimens of the teeth were shown to Professor A. J. Bartrum, of Auckland University College, who slated they would be approximately 60,000,000 years old. Professor Bartrum identified* the majority of the teeth shown him as being those of the lamma shark, although several other species were represented. , Moroccan phosphate is mined by the French and railed to Casablanca, whence it is shipped all over the world. The cargo at present, being unloaded at Auckland was brought by the steamer Newton Pine.

A request from the New Zealand Fruitgrowers' Federation Ltd. that apple packing classes similar ten those at present operating at Motu'eka and Riwaka be established on the Nelson side of the Bay was acceded to by the Education Board yesterday. At the Education Board meeting yesterday the following appointments were made: Rockville (S.T.), Edgar R. Kemp; Spring Grove (S.T.) Rutherford Don, formerly at Cronadun; Puramahoi (S.T.) Eric H. Muncaster, formerly at Lyell; Granity (A.T.) Mrs A. A. W. Todd, formerly at Stockton; Stoke (A.T.) Lilian M. Webber, formerly at Mt. Grey Downs. Messrs F. V. Knapp and the chairman (Mr F. W. 0. SmiLh) were reappointed on the Nelson Technical School Board of. Managers. The New Zealand road cycling championship has been allotted to Taranaki this year, to be run in connection with the round-the-mountain race in the spring.—Press Association. The Tory Channel whalers captured one whale on Friday and four on Saturday, bringing tTic tally for ths seison, so far, up to 27, In the Magistrate'? Court at Auckland charges of demanding £7 and £2 lCs with menaces at Auckland on 20th July, with intent to steal, wore preferred against Harry Cooper Douglas, aged 57 years, railway employee, who pleaded not guilty and was committed to the Supreme Court for. trial. No application for bail was made.—Press Association. In to day's issue the Railway Department draws attention to train arrangements and cheap fares in connection with the Seddon Shield football match at Nelson on Saturday, 27th July. During the past week or so considerable quantities of materials have arrived from Wellington and have been railed from Picton to Wharanui in connection with the construction of the unfinished link in the South Main Trunk railway (states the "Express"). An important shipment, which was transferred to the scene of operations at the end of last week, comprised several truck loads of steel girders for the completion of the bridge across the Stream near Wharanui where the lonely-looking piles have been awaiting the erection of the superstructure for years. This bridge should be .completed shortly, making available a length of line laid years ago as far as Tirohanga. Thousands of sleepers and large quantities of rails to be used for the laying of ballast sidings have also been transported to the sure of operations. Double reductions all this week at Trathen's big sale. Room must be made immediately for extensive alterations to shop." Double reductions at Trathen's sale. See big list page 2/

Cremation of the dead in an electrical furnace is being considered in connection with proposals to build a municipal crematorium at Christchurch. The city engineer reported to the council recently that ho had already obtained information regarding tho crematoria at Auckland, Wellington and Dunedin, and also of those at Adelaide, Melbourne and Syd-, ney. He had communicated with the I Japanese Consul regarding the disposal j of the dead by electrical cremation. This method was very little used in Ki\- ! rope on account of the cost, but in Japan, where cremation by electricity was national, the cost was very low. and he was told it was only about 19s. Ho had received a letter from tho Japanese Consul-General in Sydney stating that the information was being forwarded to him. A dust storm along a front of 150 miles and rising to a height of 1000 ft. recently swept over Boulin, Queensland, submerging practically the whole district. In reporting "the occurrence to the Doputy-Postmaster-General at Brisbane, the postmaster at Boulia says:— "It was one of the worst storms in tho history of Central Australia. The great cloud obliterated fences and stockyards, even sheds and huts, and as it travelled northward the great mass gathered in size. For six hours it took pus:-< ssion of hundreds of miles of country around Boulia and made travelling impossible. Even motor-ear lights could not penetrate tho great mass of sand and dust."

The new season in Franklin is opening with good prospects (says tho "Herald"). Tho winter has been comparatively mild and followed an abundant autumn. Consequently herds and flocks on most farms have ample feed to carry them through till advancing spring makes its stimulus further felt. Pastures throughout the countryside have already started away in fresh green growth, and a picture of promise for the new season is presented. A large number of cows are already milking, and the herds generally are calving in. good condition. Lambing is also in progress, and so far the season has proved promising. Losses have not been heavy, and the percentage of lambs appears likely to be very satisfactory. The abundance of feed should lead to early fat lambs and good wool yields. In the cropping areas the very early potato crops are now appearing above ground, and with mild weather should make good growth. Quite a large acreage has already been sown in potatoes for this season, and the planting out of onion crops has also started. Conditions at present are favourable to good growth.

The fact that the two-pound loaf does not always weigh 320 z has been mentioned in Parliament with uncomplimentary comments in regard to the Department of Public Health. Chief among the offending loaves that do not scale by 2oz is the "barracouta." This is a long, lean, loaf, popular in families where there is a great demand for a "crusty bit." And crust appears to bo the whole' point unless the complaining member is in possession of facts to prove that the solids content of his "barracouta" is less than that of the standard two-pound loaf, says the "New Zealand Herald." One housewife, who certainly does not weigh the bread she buys, is convinced by the usual intuitive method of her sex, that only the old-fashioned "turnover" or Maori loaf is liable to give a thud when it. goes on the scales. However, tlie official facts from the bakers' point of view were given by Mr J. Heaton Barker, secretary to the New Zealand Master Bakers' and Pastrycooks' Association. He said that for many years there hud been considerable "pin pricking" about the bona fides of the "barracouta" loaf. For this loaf the dough was "weighed-in" as for a standard loaf, but it lost more weight in the baking. There was a bigger area of crust and greater cvaporatign of moisture. Bakers thus became liable for prosecution for selling under-weight bread, although if the dough was conscientiously weighed the food value of the "barracouta" was precisely the same.

The aeroplane to be used by the Nelson Operatic Society for their production "Going Up" has arrived from Christclmrch and is at present being put together. Sir Truby King, Director of Child Welfare in New Zealand, arrived at Sydney by the Tahiti from Wellington on Bth July to spend three weeks in Australia in the interests of the Australian Mothercraft. Society and the Plunket Society's Health Mission. Dr. Purely made the suggestion, at a meeting held at the Sydney Arts Club, that Sir Truby King 'should allow himself to appear on the talkies. "Future generations will revere your name," said Dr. Purdy, to his farmer New Zealand colleague, "and they will realise that you were the prophet of your time. It is due to them that you should deliver a message which will be available for all time." The remarkable growth of the City of Auckland in recent years was referred to by Mr J. S. Tyler* at the annual dinner of the Auckland Master Builders' Association, savs the. "New Zealand Herald." Mr Tyler said since 1924 permits had been issued far the erection of buildings to a total value of about £7,000,000. It was a tribute to the contractors that the cost of inspection, had amounted to an exceptionallv small percentage of the amount. The Nelson Amateur Operatic Society is producing the popular musical farce "Going Up" at the Majestic Theatre for a three nights season commencing on Tuesday next. The producer, Mrs Hulme of Christchurch, has been hard at work for the last three weeks and the rehearsals have been going ahead most satisfactorily. The box office plan is now open at "Snapshots," Trafalgar street, and it is anticipated that there will be very heavy booking as the net proceeds are in aid of the Earthquake Relief Fund. Day sale tickets are available at various shops in town. "We have recently had published on behalf of the Manufacturers' Association or the 1928 Committee or some other body of secondary or financial propagandists a mass of literature all with one object—more protection," said Mr W. J. Poison., President of the New Zealand Farmers' Union in his address at the annual conference at Wellington to-day. "One gentleman has gone so far as to describe his proposal to enforce the purchase of New Zealand made goods exclusively by Legislative means as 'the modern economic solution,' and his pamphlet gravely setting forth this 'plan' has been broadcast from one encl of the Dominion to the other. These things would be ludicrous if it were not necessary to take them seriously. Many thousands of people who do not investigate these questions for themselves take such arguments at their face value." Floral velveteen frocks 25/-! Smart frocks in women's size. Formerly 55/lo 79/6. Now 25/- at McKay's Safe.* Double reductions to-morrow and all this week in blankets, quilts, sheets, towels, pillow cottons, sheetings, iovfars, linens, etc. Trathen'a remarkable sale values. See page 2.* Crepe de chine frocks 19/6, that were 65/- to 95/-. Only 10 of tiieso, so come early to-morrow to McKay's sale.* Moufflon 4in fur trimming, beige, filch, stoncmartcn, greys, cream.—Trathen's.* Millinery models 10/6 at McKay's Sale. Formerly 45/- to 57/6.*

According to information before tho Main Highways Board at tho moment, it'will "cost'in the vicinity of £25,000 to restore damage to main highways in tho earthquake areas of the. South Island. A statement to this effect was made bv Mr M. H. Wynyard, a member of the board, who returned to Auckland after attending the board meeting in Wellington. Mr Wynyard said that, with a view to getting accurate details as to the actual damage, tracks were being cut through the slips in the Buller Gorge. Pending any reconstruction scheme in order to maintain communication between Nelson and Westport, everything possible was being done to keep open the detour road from Murchison to luangahua. Several earth tremors were felt during tho early hours of this morning, and a sharper oue at 6.55 a.m. The West Coast Rugby football team which plays the Nelson representatives for the Seddon Shield on Saturday will arrive overland on Thursday evening. It is interesting to note now that we are on the road towards the warmer days af summer, that the time between sunrise and sunset to-day is half an hour longer than on the shortest day. The lengthening out of the days lias been duo mostly to the time of sunset which was 4.34 p.m. on 22nd June and is 4.53 p.m. to-day. The curious crows of Australia have ahabit of swooping down on golf balls and carrying them olf in the belief th.it they aro eggs. This sounds a tall story, but Mr W. Endean, a prominent member of tho New Zealand Yacht Squadron, who returned to Auckland by tho Marama last week, had the experience of having his game interrupted by an inquisitive bird while in Sydney (says the "Star"). With a friend he went out to the Concord links, and at the third hole was advised not to drive too far, as the crows were bad. The New Zealander, believing that one of the course's stock jokes was being put over on him, drove with his usual length. No crow appeared to retrieve the white sphere, and Mr Endean's belief was confirmed. At the seventh hole he did the best drive of the day, and followed it up with a beautiful second. Going out to finish off the hole, much to his consternation he saw a black shape swoop down from the clouds, pick up his ball, and fly away with it to a mangrove swamp. After that Mr Endean played with a ball that was painted yellow, graciously loaned him lor the occasion, it being explained to him that spheres of this colour do not attract the crows in the belief that they are eggs. . At Wellington to-day Jack George Sharpe, aged 37 years, an advertising agent, on a charge of obtaining £l5O by false pretences from the Merron Estate, Ltd., Sydney, was ordered to be extradited. A Sydney detective arrived to-day to escort him baek.—Press Association.