Local and General

There is a very strong probability, in consequence of legislation amending the Shops and Offices Act, that the five-day week (closed all day Saturday) will be introduced before long. A suggestion to form a parents' association f,or Leeston Consolidated School has been made and will in all probability be put forward as a definite proposal early in the new year. . There has been considerable movement of wool from New Zealand during the last month, 17,877 bales having been shipped, and the inquiry for wool from overseas is very strong, all countries being anxious to secure supplies, states a report issued by the New Zealand Wool Board. According to reports made at the North Canterbury executive meeting of * the agricultural section of Federated Farmers, the crop situation in some districts of North Canterbury was serious, more particularly so north of the Waimakariri river.0 If rain fell within a week an average crop of wheat would probably result in the districts south of the river, it was stated. For clover the position was similar, for ryegrass it was not so bad, but the outlook for hay in most districts was unsatisfactory. Aircraft-carriers from the Royal Navy are to be transferred to the Australia.!! Navy, it was officially stated recently. The number is not yet known, but it is believed that the carriers will be of the escort type. R.A.A.F. personnel now attached to the R.oyal Navy Fleet Air A.rm will remain with the Royal Navy until the carriers are transferred, and will then transfer to the Australian Fleet Air Arm.

The "Baltimore Sun" said that underlying the achievement of releasing atomic energy was a sequence of discoveries regarding the character and behaviour of atoms. It added: "These discoveries were not American. The original work was clone by European scientists. German, English, Scandinavian, French and Italian. European science was responsible for the fundamental discovery. American science picked it up and put it to use. Can we afford to continue on the basis ,of borrowed knowledge?"

Britain is to have bantam cars of five and six horse-power in a variety of designs, with saloon car comfort. These are types which will be exhibited at the Motor Show next October, says the "Sydney Morning Herald." They will have independent suspension--in some examples, on four wheels—also automatic gear-change and more" streamlined body shapes. One car of a popular make will have its gear-change in the form of a pushbutton set. Four buttons ,on the dashboard will give the driver first, second, third, or top gear without other action. •

More than 100 U-boats will be sunk in the Atlantic shortly outside the 300-fathom line. It will be the greatest wholesale scuttling -...of vessels since the German fleet went down at Scapa Flow after the first world war. When these U-boats, [now in British custody in Scottish and northern Irish ports, are disposed of, only 18 U-boats will remain of Germany's great undersea fleet. These will be divided equally among Britain, France and Russia for experimental purposes. Each of these countries will retain at least two of the 1600-ton "type 21" submarines, which were coming into service at the end of the war.

The British Admiralty has dis- | closed another long-kept war secret ,in telling some of the daring exploits of the Navy's "cockle" men —Royal Marine commandos who j were launched from submarines and ! attacked their targets in small row- . ing boats. *In one of their most remarkable adventures these marines, all volunteers, paddled 50 miles up the Gironde river to damage enemy shipping in the harbour at Bordeaux, France. Using limpet mines—small mines that are fastened to the hull of the vessel—they attacked six ships suspected of being blockade runners for the Nazis. Large holes were blown in at least three, and probably five of the ships, the Admiralty said in describing it as one of the most daring individual attacks of the war.

Rabbitskins to the value of at least £500,000 were taken from Dunedin by the American vessel, Kenneth McKay, for New York, a few days ago. The number of bales in the shipment was approximately 13,000 and their value was | a record for the port, although the I total quantity ,of bales has been exceeded in previous single shipments made when prices were, lower. The Kenneth McKay also had on board approximately."l7o bales of opossum/ skins, representing a total value of about £70,000. Another valuable shipment which left recently was a cargo of wool, which was taken by the Antar. She took what is sail to be the largest shipment of wool that has gone forward since the outbreak of war.

Change is inevitable in a progressive country.— Disraeli.

Misses Eva Millar, and Noeline Taylor were the successful competitors in the Vernon Cup (FirstAid) competition held recently. This competition is held annually for country detachments belonging to North Canterbury Red Cross V.A.D. Centre.

Young people's anniversary is to be celebrated by the Leeston Salvation Army on Sunday. There Will be meetings at Leeston, morning and evening, and at Doyleston in the afternoon. On Monday evening a concert for which a good programme has been prepared, will be held in the Leeston Town Hall.

Next Friday, December 7, the judging of the lamb and calf entries in the Ellesmere Boys' and Girls' Agricultural Clubs will take place at Ellesmere A. and P. Association's show grounds. This will commence at 10.30 a.m. Each year is marked by increased competition and greater interest by both parents and children in these projects and there is always a large attendance at this parade. Prospects for this year are very good. Hot water will be available on the grounds;

Interest in the question of topdressing New Zealand hill-country from the air has been revived again with the end of the w,ar ? the shortage of experienced labour for this work, and the necessity for the immediate application of superphosphate to large tracts of sheepgrazing hill country which have been denied treatment with fertilisers during the war. These" areas, which carry a large proportion of the Dominion's flocks, will in cases erode badly, or revert to scrub and fern, if early steps are not taken to re-establish a firm sole of grass, sa-ys the "Dominion." Masscy Agricultural College has recently taken the initiative in an attempt to arrange for trials in aerial topdressing. The hilly Gisborne district, one of the most important sheep-farming areas in New Zealand, is vitally interested in any scheme which may save labour and prevent further erosion scars from appearing on the steeper slopes. A small committee of sheep-farmers has discussed the question of having supplies delivered to outback stations by air, as well as the general question of hill-country top-dressing

A feature of parents' day, which was observed at Leeston Consolidated School last Friday, was the particularly fine attendance of parents jwhich was much larger than on [previous occasions. All spent an 'tour in inspecting the work of the children in the classrooms, watching the pupils at their lessons and altogether taking- a keen interest in what was being taught and the methods .adopted. Not only were the parents interested in the children dul the children were also interested m the visitors and the general impression gained was one of helpful co-operation and interest in the work of the scho,ol. The .next period was spent in the playground where each group of classes, from the primers up, demonstrated outdoor exercises, infants play-games, older children folk dancing, other physicaltraining of various kinds and there W«re also items by the school choir The parents were welcomed by Bevan Burgess and Jennifer Mclaughlin- on behalf of the pupils and Mr W. H. Cartwright also spoke, expressing the pleasure of the staff and pupils at such a large gathering.of. parents and the keen interest shown in the work of the school.