In 1973 Wesley-Smith wrote a paper , Cycads and Cattle in the Northern Territory, for the Animal Industry and Agriculture Branch , which pointed out the danger of toxins in the leaves for cattle , plus the threat to humans eating the nuts.
As a result , he was contacted by the professor who detailed the history of cycad poisoning in Japan.
It seems the Japanese cycad (Cycas revoluta Thunb) stores starch in seeds and trunk , producing a toxin which causes liver damage , internal bleeding and death if eaten .
Wesley-Smith said the l948 American-Australian Scientific Expedition into Arnhem Land discovered Aborigines had developed a way to leach out the cycad toxin eons ago.
(Nuts, Wesley, Cycads. )
After an overnight storm , the overflow at Aplin's Weir , Mundingburra, Townsville, delights swallows which live under the footbridge and fishermen who gather on the banks .
A surprising number of books about the great Australian cricketer Donald Bradman have turned up recently in North Queensland op shops, says our Shipping Reporter who is always cruising about looking for treasures . He has had to restrain himself from buying all of the Bradman volumes for sale .
However, he did get the desirable boxed two volume Don Bradman Albums, a 1995 Lansdowne Publishing reprint , and the 2019 ABC Books Tea and Scotch with Bradman discovering the man behind the legend, by acclaimed author , Roland Perry.
Tucked away in the Shipping Reporter's jumbled sea chest are some old Don Badman oddities , including a l931 article which appeared in the Cummins and Campbell's Monthly Magazine about the time he came to Townsville for an Easter carnival with what was termed the Visiting Southern Cricketers .
It appears this was the Alan Kippax Xl which played against North Queenland in Townsville.
Buchanan's Hotel featured the " renowned " Bradman and the Southern Cricketers , below, in its advertisment which appeared in the magazine.
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| Duncan recovering in Darwin Hospital, watched by children who spotted him floating in the harbour , only wearing a sock, and raised the alarm . |
It highlights the competing attractions of Townsville and nearby Magnetic Island .
On the left , it portrays a rather busty rendition of sports mad Townsville's Castle Hill and its Saint up which many people clamber each day for a magnificent view out to the island and the Coral Sea .
The island attractions included a toothy , curvaceous bathing beauty carrying what looks like a whip - surely not Madame Lash ?, a classy canine bellhop , Koalas and Mini Mokes.
The library display contained a wide range of pamphlets , leaflets and advertisements covering the North .
(University, Lash, Townsville.)
Our Shipping Reporter is deeply concerned about the possible mosquito threat to people attending popular Townsville Christmas celebrations such as the imitation town of Bethlehem and Carols by Candlelight at the Riverway Oval.
Why ? - Because during the week , armed with two cameras, he ventured into a leafy Townsville botanical park intending to capture the pleasant scene after rain and was forced to retreat , slapping wildly at mosquitoes which attacked him , not wanting to catch Ross River , Dengue , Zika , Barmah Forest, etc .
Since then , he has been told of several places about town where the mozzies are bad .
As the annual Riverway events , attended by tens of thousands of people , are near lagoons , our waterfront roundsman fears the mozzies could be out in large numbers . The festivities kick off December 18 and include The Stable in which little Jesus was born . This year, He might have to be placed under netting if the mozzies are in droves.
The Townsville City Council website for the Riverway Yuletide events quotes the controversial mayor , Troy Thompson , the subject of some stinging comments , as saying Carols by Candlelight bring the community together . It might also bring them close to mozzies , so they should take protective measures if they attend .
During the week , ferocious , blood sucking March Flies , also known as Love Bugs and Honeymoon Flies, were a problem on Magnetic Island . A whip snake was also spotted there sliding across the track on the Pope's Land .
The Shipping Reporter says mozzies have been active in Darwin after heavy rain and humid weather .The mozzies were so bad down in the rural area that Rural Rebel Rob retreated inside for three days and resumed writing his memoirs . So it seems the Great Australian Christmas Bite is underway across the nation in a variety of forms .
(Mozzies, Manger, Honeymoon.)
A flimsy and torn December l911 invoice has been found that was sent from the Sydney firm of Feldheim, Gotthelf Limited, general merchants and importers of British, Continental and American merchandise , to a prominent North Queensland company , Hollimans Limited, Ravenswood , into furniture, hardware , mining and farming supplies, groceries and household goods.
It shows that an order for tricycles had been shipped aboard SS Aramac for S. Allen and Sons , Townsville . A copy of the invoice had also been sent to the mining centre of Charters Towers , one of three towns where Hollimans was in business , Townsville the other, still delivering a diversified range of services in the region.
The Australian Postal History and Social Philately website says the name of Feldheim, Gotthelf & Co. has been linked at several Powerhouse Museum sites.
In the decades that followed Australia’s Federation in 1901, a number of ceramics decorated with Australian motifs were produced in Britain. Wedgwood, Doulton and Worcester in particular designed and made series of wares mostly destined for the Australian market.
These tablewares, it continues, were sold by local retailers, for example Sydney’s Flavelle Bros, Feldheim Gotthelf and Company and Anthony Hordern's, so the firm was in very good company.
In addition to tableware , they sold an earthenware chamber pot with a ‘Wattle’ pattern, produced by Doulton & Company and a 1905 Bismark ‘Rosette’ embossed opal glass lamp produced in Germany for the company.
The finding of a 1902 postal cover addressed to Noumea, New Caledonia, in a Spink philatelic auction, proved that the company also catered for clients outside Australia.
The company also produced trophies , one being for the inaugural l895 Head of the River Regatta , won by the Sydney Church of England Grammar School. Made from sterling silver in Europe , it depicted a youth holding an oar in his right hand , on a wooden pedestal .
Moritz Gotthelf , born in Germany in l840, arrived in Melbourne in l860 , then moved to Sydney, becoming a successful businessman , a prominent member of the Jewish community , involved in many community organisations . A president , vice-president and treasurer of the Great Synagogue , he was elected a life member of the board of management.
(Tricycles, Trophies, Townsville.)
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| Townsville after good rain. Vallis pix. |
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