NEWS OF THE DAY.

Auckland Star, Volume LXXII, Issue 90, 17 April 1941, Page 6

NEWS OF THE DAY.

A Lonely Soldier. The motives which actuated a soldier in converting two cars were explained by Detective-Sergeant Murray in the Wellington Magistrate's Court after the soldier had pleaded guilty to the oftence. '-He was advertising in the Press as a 'lonely soldier' who desired to meet an attractive young girl with a view to matrimony," said Mr. Murray, "and he was using these converted cars to drive around calling on the ladies who answered the advertisements." Olympic Oak Tree. The oak tree grown from the aeorn presented to Dr. J„ E. Lovelock after his victory in the 1500 metres at the Olympic Gaines in Berlin in 1936 has now arrived at Tiniaru, and is in the care of the borough curator. On its arrival in the Dominion the acorn was tended at the Christchurcli Botanic Gardens, and the plant, which is now about ICin high, will, in accordance with the wishes of Dr. Lovelock, be planted in the Timaru Boys' High School grounds, probably after the winter. Bay of Islands Big Fish. The Bay of Islands big fish- records show that from January 1 to March 31 this year 95 marlins and sharks were caught on the fishing ground by devotees of the sport. Of this number 54 were marlins, the largest being a black marlin of 9331b brought in by Mr. X. Jones, of Auckland. A mako shark weighing 4991b was caught by Mr. I. Carruthers, of Wellington, and a 0001b reremai shark by Mr. B. Cassidy, of Auckland. The largest striped mar'lin, weighing 3781b, was taken by Mr. V. Cornaga, of Melbourne. American Cars. Defence needs are expected to force changes in the construction of American motor cars, according to motoring writers in American newspapers. Aluminium pistons may have to give way to cast iron, and engineers are already studying design problems that may come about when defence priorities are invoked in other materials. There will be 1942 models, but their originality will depend on defence pressure. Meanwhile 1941 models are pouring out of Detroit 20 per cent faster than last year to clear the assembly lines for army orders.

Battle of Culloden. One of the outstanding events in the annals of Scottish history, the Battle of Culloden, occurred on April 16, 1746. On this . occasion the Royalists under the Duke of Cumberland inflicted a decisive defeat on the Jacobites led by Bonnie Prince Charlie. The battle began with a duel between nine Scottish and ton British guns. The Highlanders were surrounded, and suffered many casualties. The encounter is commemorated by a cairn and a boulder —the Cumberland Stone—erected on the battlefield. All Serving. "We are happy and proud to advise that as far as we can ascertain every male member of the club is serving his country.'either overseas, as a territorial, or as a member of the local or country units of the Home Guard," wrote the secretary of the Egmont Alpine Club in a letter received at a meeting of the Hawera Home Guard committee, in reply "to the committee's appeal for enlistments. ' "Our women members, too, are all working actively in the various women's war organisations," continued the letter, "while we have over 50 members overseas." Needless to say, the letter aroused very favourable comment.

Madame Tussaud.

To-day is the 91st anniversary of the death of Marie Tussaud, founder of the famous "Madame Tussaud's Exhibition" of wax figures. Born in Berne, she learned the art of wax modelling with her uncle in Paris. Madame Tussaud began her career by modelling heads of many prominent leaders and victims of the French Revolution, and was herself imprisoned. She then moved to London and eventually established permanent London headquarters. It was destroyed by fire in 1925, and reopened three years later. The exhibits include politicians, royal personages, criminals, sportsmen, writers and artists, and other public figures.

Souvenir of Southern Cross.

A Union Jack flag brought by Sir Charles Kingsford Smith in the Southern Cross in 1928 from Australia to New Zealand has been presented to the Royal New Zealand Air Force at Wigram, the gift of Lady Wigram. For the past 13 years the flag has been in charge of Miss F. Wilson, of Christchurch, and of the Union Jack Club, whose chairman, Dr. J. Leslie Will, described its history at the presentation. Brought to Wigram in 1928, and later raffled by the Sydney Hospital, the flag was won by a Christchurch doctor and left in charge of the matron of The Limes Hospital (Miss Wilson) until handed over to the Union Jack Club for safe custody.

More Humane Than Nads.

"The behaviour of Italian submarine crews, on occasions, has been much less callous than that of the Germans," declares Rear-Admiral H. G. Thursfield in the current issue of the "Navy." "The s.s. Shakespeare was sunk in the Atlantic after a gun action which lasted two hours, against an Italian submarine commanded by Lieutenant-Commander Salvatore Todaro. The survivors of her company, including her master, took to the boats, when further resistance was impossible, owing to their one defensive gun being put out of action. The submarine then closed and sank the Shakespeare by further gunfire, but instead of leaving the survivors to their fate, as the Germans would have done, she towed the boat to within sight of land."

Canada's "Beauties "

The "iris of McGill University, Montreal, Canada, have taken the eye of the ex-president of the Canterbury College Students' Association, Mr. J. N. Steeds, states the Christchurch "StarSun." Writing to "Canta," the Students' Association journal, he says: "Now about the McGill girls. Never in all mv life have I seen so many attractive young girls. I am sorry to say that if a third of them were to attend lectures at Canterbury College not many of our men students would be able to concentrate on their work. They know how to dress, their hair is done beautifully, they walk well, and they can carry on a bright conversation without running down other people . . . they are sporting, and, above all, they appear to take their work quite seriously."