LOCAL AND GENERAL

Nelson Evening Mail, Volume LXIV, 8 January 1931, Page 4

LOCAL AND GENERAL

About 40 or SO men on the railway extension works were paid off yesterday and the remainder, about 250, are to be paid off on 14th January.

A gorse fire near the lime kiln at Port Nelson occasioned some concern this morning and the fire engine was called out. The flames, however, had been got under control before the arrival of the brigade. Just a suggestion of colour on the lips produced with a Godot- perfumed lipstick, adds greatly to your charm.—W. McKay and Sons. Ltd.* A Millinery Special at McKay’s tomorrow! Trimmed Model Hats in Exotic Straws and Crinolines 21/- each. (Regular values 29/0 to 37/0).“

Another reduction in the wholesale prices of all grades of raw and refined sugars is announced to-day In spile of the great improvement in the surfaces of main highways during recent years, country 'garage proprietors have had a very busy time lately mending punctures for motorists, says the Auckland "Herald”. Owing to the need of economy many holiday-makers travelling bv motor-car used their old tyres for their journeys instead of buying new ones.

Queer fish arc sometimes caught by trawlers, which touch the fringe of the deep sea waters never fished in the ordinary way. This is certainly the case with the rare variety of spiny dogfish (Oxynotus bruniensis) taken by the Nora Niven, of New Zealand Fisheries, Ltd., in the course of ordinary trawling operations off the east coast of the South Island, near Cape Campbell. From the dorsal fin to the pectoral fins it is wedge shaped. The fish is, in fact, flat-bottomed, and the almost flat sides meet in a ridge at the back. This one, which is the third known specimen caught in New Zealand, was 2ft. long and a foot wide, and weighed eight pounds. The tail is_ a typical shark’s tail. A specimen is known to have existed in the Canterbury Museum, and another was caught off the Wairau bar off the Marlborough coast.

"In Worcester street, Christchurch, there is a statue of Captain Scott, whom we hold up as one of the great people who submitted to hardships and who was one of the energisers of the world; yet in his will we find that he warns his S on against indolence and the tendency to take things easily, which was what he himself had to fight against, said Professor J. Shelley, at Christchurch, “and if that is so with Scott, and he overcame them, it must be even harder for us to set ourselves against it.”

Fruit crops have suffered through the gales which swept the Waimate district during the week-end, reports the “Press.” The wind at times reached an exceptionally high velocity, and here and there around the town a window was stove in by the force by the storm. Raspberries particularly were battered, and although the half-'grown state of the fruit helped its resistance, many growers have lost a great deal of fruit. Dust storms occasionally accompanied the high wind.

An unusual theory to explain the American accent or twang, which has proved most detrimental to the development of the American talking picture in other countries, is advanced by Mr K. Joughin, of Waihi, who returned recently after a two years’ tour abroad. He says (reports the Auckland btar s Waihi correspondent), that there exists in California, and beyond that great State, a definite fog-belt, which affects the nose and throat, ultimately causing tonsilitis and adenoids, and the development of the nasal twang. When in California, he and his family were beginning to feel the effects of this iog. The American people, he added, were doing everything possible to encourage the speaking of correct English. That many people who came to him asking for advice in choosing a vocation for their children wanted to know what they were going to get out ot it was the contention put forward oy Professor J. Shelley when speaking at the Dominion camp of the New /ealand Anglican Girls’ Bible Class Union (reports the Christchurch Press). “They are thinking merely of what is going to give them enough money to keep them in good circumstances, lie said, “and that is a very disturbing state of things. The average business man wants it. That is the wrong attitude, and means that they no longei live, but exist only. “If I were the Director of Education in New Zealand—which Heaven forbid —l should make school camps compulsory as part of school time, with teacherl there not to teach but to answer questions when required. Children would sample what life is when in direct touch with it- It would be the greatest educational rreform ever known m New Zealand.” —Professor J. Shelley, speaking at the Dominion camp of the New Zealand Anglican Girls’ Bible Class Union. In replying to the resolution recently carried by a meeting of returned soldiers at Tahiatua, urging the Governmient to reduce the value of land and buildings of all properties sold under the Discharged Soldiers’ Settlement Act and to give immediate relief in the matter of deductions from nulk cheques, the Acting-Prime .Minister . the Hon. E A Ransom, states that it is not pioposed to deal with such matters in the general manner suggested in the resolution, but to consider each case on its merits. In anv case where a soldier settler is in financial difficulty on account of the present low prices ruling for primary produce, lie should make ap plication for relief to the Commissioner of Crown Lands for the district concerned, says the Minister, so that the matter may be considered by the Land Board. 1 in terms of the Discharged SoldSs* Settlement Act. Mr Ransom mves an assurance that any recommendations coming before him will liar his “sympathetic consideration. “We must fight against the spirit of depression and endeavour to face oui difficulties with a brave if nob alway smiling face,” says in a New Year message in the Chuich Gi'/ette.” “In times such as we aie experiencing at the present we are sometimes apt to forget the many, blessings which we have experienced in the oast and allow present difficulties to Set us down,” adds the Archbishop. “Trulv in manv ways we are saved by hone, and the world’s confidence m our counGy should inspire us with hope anil the desire to show ourselves worthy of that confidence.” Turn to page 7 and see all about toClothing and Drapery Co., Ltd.

A dance, organised bv the Riwaka Croquet Club, will be held in the Oddfellows’ Hall on Friday evening, when music will be supplied by Mr H. v\ d liams. Lower prices for beautiful frocks and jumper suits at Trathen s. Pace 7 has a big double column advertisement with specials for the week end.—The Auckland Clothing and Drapery Co. Ltd.* Business as usual at Trathen s except- that hats, frocks, coats, jumper suits and seasonable goods are lower in price.* Have you read our ad. on page 7, it has some real clinkers for the week-end. _The Auckland Clothing and Drapery Co. Ltd.*

Lightly priced hats at Trathen's, 5/11, Another lot of Frocks bought cheap bv McKay’s! There are models in Floral Satin, Art Silk, Voiffi and Celanese Marocain and worth 76/- to 96/-. Special Week End Price 46/-. See Windows 9 and 4.*

The biggest news in the paper is our big ad. on page 7.—The Auckland Clothing and Drapery Co. Ltd.* You can buy beautiful frocks now at quite low prices at Trathen s.* By lubricating the intestinal tract Lubrolax quickly remedies most chronic cases of constipation. Lubrolax is pure paraffin combined with Japanese seaweed.—Nees, Chemist, Hardy-st.* Girls’ blazers are cheaper at Trathen’s, now 7/11, 9/11/ 12/11, 19/6.*

Recently H.M.S. Lupin was relieved on the Persian Gulf sector by the sloop Folkestone, and British prestige was lowered. The tribesmen at once noticed that the sloop possessed only one funnel, whereas the Lupin had two, and they concluded that this failure to provide the Folkestone with a second funnel was due to the poverty of the British. And, .ytrangelv enough, it is not only the tribesmen on the shores of the Persian Gulf who are prone to judge a vessel by its funnels, remarks the Auckland ‘Star.” Trans-Atlantic travellers soon showed that they disliked the ships tha*t had either reduced the number of funnels or had reduced the size. It was found necessary, by some lines catering for the tourist traffic, to build dummy funnels and turn the space inside them into quarters for the crew rather than spoil what these travellers considered the proper look of an ocean liner.

Over eighty inquiries for houses to rent were received bv a W ellington estate agent on Tuesday (reports the “Dominion”). He states he has never known such a demand for houses to rent during many years of experience in the business. Most of the inquiries are from people wanting houses handy to the city, and in this man’s own words there was “an insatiable demand for unfurnished and furnished houses and Hats.” The demand had been steadily growing for some months past. Instead of the "position becoming easier in that line of business, it was getting heavier. Many of those requiring houses were recent arrivals in Wellington, some of whom had been transferred to Wellington. There were not sufficient houses suitable to let. There is also a steady demand by intending purchasers for houses in most suburbs and city, this agent said last year was a better year in the business than 1929. It was noticeable also that there was a shortage of brand-new bungalows. What were offering were mostly jn Karon, and even in that area there were not many new vacant bungalows available. There was a brisk demand for Government loan houses of four or five rooms. Judging by the past few months, increased business could be looked for. The New Year had certainly started briskly in the land agency business, he concluded.

At Maraetai, on the lawn of Mr H. Pollard’s residence, a kapa Maori was held to assist in meeting obligations in connection with the community hall, reports the “Star”. Te.kapa Maori was most interestingly carried out by a couple of Maoris from a nearby settlement, ably assisted by a committee of Maraetai residents. I* irst a circulai hole, about four feet diameter was dug in the earth and lined with small stones, a fire of tea-tree being made over it on which were placed more stones. After a couple of hours’ fierce burning, the stones became white hot'and were then ready for the “cooks” to nerform thentasks. Meat—pig and lamb—and potatoes were the menu items. Nearly three hours were allowed for cooking, and by this time about a couple of hundred people, young and old, had assembled to view the opening-up of the “kapa.’ It was an object lesson to the civilised pakehas present to see the method of cooking. It was said that three or four times as much food could have been cooked on this kapa, and for fully 24 hours after it was still hot. Considerable attention has been paid recently by the Railways Department to the merits of Diesel electric rail traction, and this was one of the main questions which one of the senior experts of the department was asked to investigate during a recent trip abroad. In spite of the fact that much has been said in favour of this form of traction it is stated by the department that developments have not so far warranted its adoption in place of steam. Exhaustive tests have been carried _ out with Diesel electric engines in various parts of the world and it is stated that the results have not come up to expectations.

All that are unemployed are not unwilling. There is the case of the family that was about to depart for Sunburn Island for the day just at the moment that the unemployed man eagerly applied for work, writes “M.A.T. in the Auckland “Star.” The sympathetic husband, looking round the garden, said: “Oh, very well, then, you can start cleaning up the garden. He assumed, perhaps, in saying cleaning up ” the man had been a soldier, lhe unofficered worker, rejoicing in his job, in their absence dill it with immense thoroughness. No weed eould escape that man. The fact that lie did not discriminate between a dock and a dianthus, a Christmas lily and a carrot, a dandelion from any of mother s favourite flowers, may have had something to do with mother’s tearful glance when the family returned to its devastated garden. It had all the appearance of a shell-shattered small farm in the Fiance of 1918. The slayer of weeds was proudly assuming his coat. Ive cleaned the garden up, sir! lie boasted. “You have!” said the employer. He has!” wept the wife. “And the worst of it is, said the employer, as he watched the satisfied slayer through the garden gate, “I’ve paid lnm for this ruin.” And mother wailed, Oh, my Canterbury bells!”

“Shortly before Parliament closed, a statement was made in the House in terms so vague that it is difficult to assess it at its real value, states an editorial article in the New Zealand “Medical Journal,” “but it bad the appearanee of betraying an intention to dispense with the service of a parttime officer of the Health Department who is consulting obstetric adviser to the Department and inspector of the State maternity hospitals. The reason assumed for this veiled intention was economy, to wit, the saving of about £6OO a year. Where is now all the boasted political solicitude for maternal safety and welfare when false economy of this kind is under consideration? Here is an adviser of world-wide fame in his own branch of knowledge, whose work has been a source of strength to the Health Department, and has give confidence to a large section of the public. His cost to the community is not greater than that of an ordinary second-class bureaucrat, the services of a dozen of which might be terminated with no false economy. It is better that a parttime medicalman of high repute should review obstetric work in hospital and in private practice than that a fulltime Civil servant should do so, and in the present state of medical and public opinion maternity hospitals require more inspection than general hospitals. We see no reason whatever for disturbing an arrangement which has undoubtedly been good for the Government, tiie public, and the medical profession, and there is every reason why it should be continued. Nothing better can be done, and we trust that wise counsels will prevail, The appointment to which we refer arose out of the findings of the Maternity Mortality Commission, and was not made hastily or ill-advisedly. It is quite probable that there will again be a public agitation on the question of ‘Safe Maternity,’ for history is apt to repeat itself, and what then will be thought of an alleged saving of £6OO a year?”

A laxative which is perfectly safe for children and invaluable, too, when they are “out of sorts” is Dr. Don’s Granules Being made from purely vegetable ingredients they are ~entle in action, and do not cause griping. 1/6 packet. Obtainable R, W. Martin, Chemist,*

.Public attention has been drawn to the fact that a Canadian family of eight who came to New Zealand not long before Christmas lias applied to the Auckland Hospital Board for relief, comments the Auckland “Star.” Without entering into the special features of this particular case, we consider that the occurrence of such a state of things should be carefully guarded against by the responsible authorities. At such a time of industrial and financial depression, it is not right that outsiders should be permitted to enter this country without the certainty of finding occupation and means of sustenance, and thatj failing this, they should at once become a burden on public charity. Certainly, we are under no obligation to take charge of Canada’s emigrants. For the Canadian law on this point is extremely strict, and there are already many cases on record of New Zealanders who have been refused entrance to Canada even though they could show that they had private means for their support and definite offers of employment. In justice to our own people, and also to the strangers who, incited by false expectations, may find thenway to New Zealand just now, it would be well for the Department to look more carefully into the enforcement of the existing regulations and to tighten up the restrictions, if and when such a course is required.

Some concern was caused to the parents of two small children who were missing from their homes for a time this morning, but later they were found safe and well.

An incident at a childrens’ party at Canberra on Christmas Eve seems to suggest that men who nowadays go about the business of entertaining young people run at least one risk which counted for little with their fathers. The older generation had beards of their own, and an inherited knack of looking after them, which Mr John Brander, of Westlake, apparently had forgotten. When Mr Brander, who was impersonating Father Christmas, assayed to light a cigarette he lit, instead, Ins whiskers, which had almost disappeared in smoke before Mr Brander could dissociate himself from his inflammable disguise. He was rather badly burned and had to be taken to hospital for treatment. This sensational incineration of Santa Claus’ most impressive attribute was followed by the discovery that the toys ordered for the children had not arrived. At this stage the party, which was held at the Presbyterian Church, ended.