NEWS OF THE DAY

Auckland Star, Volume LXXIII, Issue 255, 28 October 1942, Page 2

NEWS OF THE DAY

A Hew Name To the many names given to women serving in war-time occupations, such as "Wrens," "Waafs," "Landgirls" must be now added a new one for women employed by the Railway Department as porters and assistant guards. They are known unofficially throughout the service as "Budgies," the reference being to the deep blue colour of their uniforms.

Measles Again Prevalent School rolls in many suburbs of Auckland are again depleted owing to the Incidence of measles, though the disease is only in mild form. The outbreak of German measles which took toll among many adults some months ago appears to have died down. Cases or severe illness, associated with diarrhoea and vomiting, are reported from some districts, school children being among the principal sufferers, but inquiries at the Health Department to-day failed to indicate any general incidence of this malady.

Native Trees Flowering Freely Cabbage trees around Auckland are making a particularly good showing of white flowers this spring, and other Indications that the warm, moist conditions are favourable for native flora are seen in the parks and gardens, and in the appearance of the pohutukawas on the cliffs and sheltered spots near the sea. Expectations of an early flowering season for pohutukawas are encouraged by the signs of rapidly-swelling buds in the past week or two. Following the short and mild winter the trees nhoulfl make a fine crimson display. Stolen Pencils

In happier times a business man making an Inventory of articles missing from his office after the visit of burglars would have scorned to include two lead pencils in the list. However, a man who recently appeared in the Magistrate's Court, Wellington, was charged with the theft of two pencils, together with other more valuable articles. That is a measure of the scarcity value of these imported goods. The pencil problem may well have unforeseen psychological reactions if it eliminates the doodler who, while awaiting a telephone call or an appointment, allows his pencil to wander Idly to produce weird designs. Students' Community Effort

A group of men and women Students from the University of Otago have established a Co-ed Club, with a view to providing some form of recreation on Sunday evenings for boys and girls from 14 to 18 years of age, many of whom have previously had no way of occupying their time. The Y.W.C..A has placed Its hall and cafeteria at. the disposal of the club, which arranges a programme usually run-: 'ting of games, community slnglnr. •'•upper and a short talk, followed by a discussion. ITayers are held at the conclusion of the evening for those who desire to participate. The sponsors hope " that the effort, will do much to foster ■ ; 'Vamong the members of the club a Btnue of responsibility for the welturo of the community.

Bottled Beer Rationing Bottled beer may be rationed at Greymouth within the next month, according to a statement made by the manager of the Westland Breweries before the Armed Forces Appeal Board at Greymouth. The rationing might be necessary because of a shortage of bottles, he said. The company had been able to secure only 500 gross of bottles instead of the 2000 gross required. If conditions did not improve it was very probable that Greymouth hotelkeepers would receive bottles of beer only in exchange for bottles returned by them.

Lord Anton and the Marines The coincidence of the recent announcement that a new British battleship, H.M.S. Anson, is now at sea, and reports of the large-scale operations being carried out by the United States Marines in the Solomons recalls the link between Great Britain and America in the evolution of this branch of the fighting services. Lord Anson was admiral of the fleet in the eighteenth century, and is famous for his introduction of marine regiments of the Royal Navy for the protection of British trading vessels plying the Atlantic. The well-known United States Marine Corps was founded on this pattern.

Bible and Anton Tchevoff How two books, one the Bible and the other Anton Tchevoff's Russian stories, proved invaluable during a stay in a Russian camp in Lapland following the sinking of his ship are described in a letter by Seaman B. Philpott, of Palmerston North. In the camp "there was little writing gear, a few books of the worst type" and no opportunity for sport because of thick snow. "One's mind fust stagnated," says the writer. "Fortunately I got hold of Anton Tchevoff's Russian stories and if I read them once it was forty times. It is a pretty good test of literature to find yourself stranded in a place with very little proper mental exercise and to be able to read a book over and over again and still enjoy it. I feel eternally grateful to Anton Tchevoff. I also got a Bible which I read very much, from cover to cover."

Prisoner in Japan One of the first letters to reach New Zealand from a prisoner of the Japanese has been received by Mr. and Mrs. M. Jones, of Waiuta, West Coast, from their son, Radio Operator John Messack Jones. "I am being treated quite well," he says. "Our main food consists of soup, rice and bread. I am keeping well and not being bothered, so please don't worry too much. We here think we will return soon." Radio Operator Jones added that he was working clearing rocks and scrub on a hillside. An issue of 30 cigarettes a week was made, and prisoners would be able to buy their own soon. He said that he had seen "quite a bit of Japan," which was very picturesque with cherry blossom and kimonos. The letter was written on thin rice paper of nearly foolscap length, and corrections and a postscript were in Radio Operator Jones' own writing. It was written in June.