NEWS OF THE DAY

Auckland Star, Volume LXXII, Issue 192, 15 August 1941, Page 6

NEWS OF THE DAY

Whakatane Road Blocked

The main highway between Rotorua and Whakatane was blocked by a slip near Rotoiti that held up traffic for two hours yesterday, including the service bus from Gistorne.

The Tale of a Tail The story of an unusual theft comes from Clive, near Napier. Writing to a relative in Ponsonby, a resident of this Hawke's Bay district states: "Someone has stolen the tail off old Belle, the horse. It was nearly touching the ground, but yesterday, behold, there was only about six inches left, and the docking was done in quite a professional way. Brushes are scarce, but it's a wonder if she doesn't catch a chill." '*Trying-oat" Stranded Whale A resident of Alton, a small town sojith of Patea, is engaged in boiling down a large whale that was stranded on Rangikura beach. Using an ordinary washing copper for the trying-out operation, he got 22 gallons of whale oil for half a day's boiling. The copper is set in a bank beside the beach, and driftwood is used for firing, while oil drums are filled as the flesh renders down to oil, and are sledged to the nearest road, two miles distant. In its crude state the oil is valued at 9/ a gallon, and is readily disposed of at 18/ a gallon when refined. The amount already obtained is estimated to be about a fifth of the probable full yield from this whale. Community Centre Plan Authority to call for tenders for the construction of buildings for the Rangiora Community Centre has been received by the Rangiora High School Board. The community centre movement at Rangiora, a town 20 miles north of Christchurch, with about 2000 inhabitants, is a joint effort by the High School Board, the Ex-pupils' Association, the ParentTeachers' Association, and a representative bodj' of the North Canterbury residents. It aims at recreation, education and social well-being, and it is hoped that the centre buildings will serve not only such institutes as school and adult education groups, but any and all local associations at work for the good of the communitj-. Air Force Recruits

Over 6000 men in New Zealand have completed the preliminary course in education and have reached the necessary air-crew standard, according to Mr. E. Caradus, director of the R.N.Z.A.P. educational services. During June 1072 pilots and observers and 419 gunners sat the tests, said Mr. Caradus, and with the exception of 9 per cent of pilots and observers and 12 per cent of the gunners all were successful. In July the fi^ res were:—Pilots and observers, 630; gunners, 177. There was still a demand for the classes in the Dominion, and at present 76 were in operation, said Mr. Caradus. The classes were of great value to the jur force applicants, as their later studies were made much easier.

V for Victory "Milk Council here" is the usual reply over the telephone when one rings the Auckland Metropolitan Milk Council. In addition to acknowledgment of a ring, the council's telephone attendants now add "V" for Victory," in order that the patriotic slogan shall be kept prominently before the public.

Parcels Appreciated Several letters of appreciation from different cities in Britain thanking the Automobile Association (Auckland) for gifts of parcels which the association has been sending regularly for distribution among needy families were received at the council meeting last night. The Lord Mayors of Manchester and Liverpool were among the writers, while one married woman stated: "I was one of the unfortunates over here, having lost my home, husband and little boy, and had part of my leg amputated. When the visitor brought the parcel and said that it came from New Zealand, I was thrilled to think that we had friends 1 over there many miles away." Little-Publicised Work Interesting sidelights on a littlepublicised business—that of cleaning —were brought before the No. 1 ! Armed Forces Appeal Board yesterday during an appeal. Appellant stated that he was holding 50 to 55 keys of city offices, and one of the difficulties in disposing of his business was to find someone whom the firms could trust with these. Another problem was to find a man who could clean windows high up on tall buildings. One employee he had had recently engaged in this work had remained at the job only half an hour before he found it too much for his nerves. Counsel pointed out that this work of cleaning was essential for health reasons. The appeal was adjourned sine die, to be reconsidered when the married men are called up. Salvation Army's Loss Recent issues of the English War Cry contain photographs of the debris which is all tiiat remains of the Salvation Army's national and international headquarters building in London. Nazi bombs reduced the big building to smoking ruins. One picture shows a mass of twisted steel, which is all that remains of the lift, and another shows Brigadier W. Parsons, of the international headquarters property department, 1 among workmen who are digging! out the contents of strongrooms and basements in quest of all salvable material. It is obvious that many of the financial and other records of the Salvation Army were destroyed, since an advertisement in one issue asks retired and pensioned officers to send details of their allowances and postal addresses.