NEWS OF THE DAY

Auckland Star, Volume LXXII, Issue 205, 30 August 1941, Page 6

NEWS OF THE DAY

New Territorial Unit A change in the designation of a unit of the territorial force is announced in the current issue of the New Zealand Gazette. The recentlyformed 2nd Battalion, Hawke's Bay Regiment, will m future be known as the Ist Battalion, Ruahine Regiment, and its headquarters are to be located at Dannevirke. During the Great War Ruahine companies of the "Wellington battalions served with the Expeditionary Force. A Prisoner in Crete "You have nothing to worry about as regards our treatment," writes Corporal Clyde Cooke, a prisoner of war in Crete, to his parents in New Plymouth. ''We get an issue of cigarettes every day-, a bottle of soda water, fresh meat, potatoes, leeks, onions and plenty of green stuff. There are 49 of us billeted in a house, and we have appointed two cooks from the crowd and we are living very well at present." The letter states further that the Germans went round Greek houses and procured mattresses and blankets for the prisoners' use.

Strain of Night Driving Drivers employed in the railway service on buses and service cars are moving to be given special consideration for the strain of night driving in the present reduced lighting conditions, reports a Wellington correspondent. Reports from drivers of buses and service cars, they stated, indicated that night driving If is particularly trying to eyes and nerves. Glare from fog lights is also causing the drivers concern, and they,feel that the Transport Department should take immediate action to remedy the position. Members of the road services branch of the A.S.R.S. consider that the Government would be well advised, in the interests of public safety and the health of the workers, to reduce night hours of all drivers of passenger and goods vehicles, including tramway motormon.

Granting of Probation y Quoting from o report of the Prisons Board on the granting of t, probation, Mr. Justice Blair said in J the Supreme Court, Wellington, that out of 1070 persons admitted to pro»9tton last year only 11 per cent failed to observe the probationary conditions. That gave judges a bit k o* comfort, as they met a lot of criticism about the granting of probation. The report also stated that carefully-planned crimes did not dei£f n ? rous impulses of the ~ hi™ J people think the law doesnt have generous impulses, but Jr. we do, commented his Honor. Ki '

Ducks in Fog The thick fogs that spread across the Avon (Christchurch) in the mornings seem to have caused much concern to the ducks. Each morning small groups of ducks are to be seen waddling across roads, private gardens and parks, quacking and wagging their tails. Naturalists say that the reason ior their strange behaviour is that ducks dislike flying in fogs, so they leave the river and do a little land exploration. J

Diamonds for Red Cross A diamond brooch, valued by a Melbourne jeweller at between £80 and £100, and a five-stone diamond ring, valued at £35, were found nestling in a flat jewel case which was wrapped up in a child's frock and coat sent to the Red Cross Civilian Relief Depot, Melbourne, for bombed victims in England. Thinking the case had been packed by mistake, one of the voluntary workers at the depot telephoned the sender, only to oe told that "Oh, no, there was no mistake; I just thought the brooch and ring might be of some use to the Red Cross."

Appeals for Seaman The need for a check on members of ships' crews, who have been exempted from military service provided they remain in their present occupation, to see that they adhere to this proviso, was pointed out by Mr. C. R. Orr AValker, S.M., chairman of the No. 1 Armed Forces Appeal Board, yesterday, when a number of appeals affecting merchant seamen and fishermen were heard. He stressed the importance of this provision, and spoke of the danger of men exempted from service signing off a ship, say, for a holiday, and not returning to the sea. In most cases the appeals heard were adjourned sine die, with the usual provision. In future, appeals for seamen are to be heard in Wellington, simplifying the matter for both shipping companies and boards.

New Word The word "eumulo," used frequently by counsel engaged in substantiating an appeal in the Supreme Court, Napier, was questioned by Mr. Justice Northcroft. Counsel was speaking of "eumulo value" of an estate. "What is this word 'cumulo'? I have not heard it mentioned in my experience before, and do not think it is commonly used in Court," said his Honor. Counsel's reply was that he could not ascertain its significance himself, but the Commissioner of Stamp Duties had used it in his statement to describe the land valuation. "It's the jlrst time I have encountered the word," his Honor &»id.