NEWS OF THE DAY

Auckland Star, Volume LXXIV, Issue 34, 10 February 1943, Page 2

NEWS OF THE DAY

Wool Coming Forward Restrictions on the acceptance of wool into store, which were imposed at the time of the last Auckland appraisal, about a fortnight ago, have been somewhat relaxed, and a steady flow is coming forward in readiness for the next appraisement here starting on March 4. By careful stacking of the clip, more space has been made available, but it is still necessary to exercise some control over the intake. Tough on the Cook Continuous service in war work of various descriptions is being 'given by members of a Timaru'household. All, including the mother, are employed in essential industries or wartime positions, and work the following shifts:—Midnight to 8 a.m., 7 a.m. to 7 p.m., 9 a.m. to 5.30 p.m., 1 p.m. to 9 p.m., and 5 p.m.' to 1 a.m. Also included in the household are two invalid soldiers, returned from the present war. Preparations of meals is a nightmare for the cook, who is the person off duty at the time. American's Joke When the 3.30 ferry boat from Devonport was berthing at the Auckland side yesterday, strong winds caused it to go astern.once or twice before it could finally make the jetty, the delay causing a good, deal of conjecture amongst the passengers, including a number of Americans. Solemn faces relaxed and there were many broad grins when one of the Americans gravely announced, so that all could hear: "When the Queen Mary comes to New York, it seems to take us half the time it does for you people here to berth the crossharbour punt!" Bananas Disiributed For some time the city markets ,have been bare of bananas. Therefore a shipment distributed early this week proved a welcome addition to the fruit supply. In the consignment were 11,000 cases, sufficient for the main centres in the North Island, and the fruit is stated to have opened up in good condition. It is selling at the fixed maximum price of 7d a lb retail. No oranges have been imported for many weeks, and none are exnccted by the Internal Marketing Division until next month or early m April, when the island orange season begins. Up From the South A ship's captain who arrived at Auckland yesterday from Bluff told a friend of the frigid weather he had experienced at the southern port and during the northward trip. He stated that at Bluff thick scarves, sou'-westers and deck boots were the order, while the waterside workers . were wrapped in thenwinter garments. The change when Auckland was reached was to the other extreme. On the voyage up the coast the present south-westerly break was noticeable all the way, but it seemed to have been almost dissipated by comparison, with southern standards.

Wet Morning Tricks Wet, slippery roads this morning led to one bus driver playing on another a practical joke which is reserved for such days. One driver had stopped his bus to pick up passengers, when the other, coming from behind, drove through a puddle beside the stationary vehicle, sending the slush on to the front side windows. Had the driver's window not been shut on account of the rain he would have received the full blast, and he murmured something about seeing the other driver later. Coffee — Without Beans The beverage known to New Zealanders as coffee and to Americans as anything but that, was again the subject of jocular comment at a gathering attended by representatives of the United States forces in New Zealand. At a meeting of the New Zealand Founders Society in Wellington, Colonel J. H. Nankivell recalled that General Hurley had once said that in making coffee New Zealanders and Americans had two things in common—they both began with coffee beans and they both served the drink in cups, but there the resemblance ceased. "I would join issue with the general," the speaker remarked. "I have just stayed at two leading hotels in Christchurch and Dunedin, and they don't even begin with coffee beans." American Presidents American sailors seem to find out many odd places to seek information about New Zealand. Rummaging through an old council chamber room which had been vacated for some time they came across a number of group photographs of councillors, with the Mayor figuring in the centre. The pictures were all stacked behind one another with the faces to the wall waiting for a place where they, could be properly hung. Turning them over and scanning them carefully they remarked, "You people seem to think a lot of your mayors and councillors, but in our country we don't pay much attention to them after they are once out of office,. but we do feature our Presidents, especially the big fellows well over 6ft tall like Washington and Lincoln, who were both 6ft 4in in height." Renaming of "Massacre" "When the Maoris gained the upper hand in any engagement with the British, it was generally referred to as a massacre, but if the British troops were successful it was a fine military achievement," said Mr. Justice at the occasion of the 103 rd anniversary of the signing of the Treaty of Waitangi celebrated by the ■ New Zealand Founders Society in Wellington. Referring to the . associations between Captain Wakefield and the president of the society, Flight-Lieutenant C. W. D. Bell, his Honor suggested that the engagement at Wairau where Captain Wakefield and a party of British troops were killed should no longer be called a massacre. Other engagements between the two races had been renamed in recent years. He explained that fighting had occurred when the. accidental discharge of a gun killed a Maori during negotiations /when the British troops had gone-' to Marlborough to arrest the chief Te Rauparaha.