NEWS OF THE DAY

Auckland Star, Volume LXXIV, Issue 41, 18 February 1943, Page 4

NEWS OF THE DAY

Prisoners in Italy In a letter to friends in Invercargill, Private A. S. Grant, well known in football circled in Invercargill, reports that as a prisoner of war in Italy he has been transferred from Camp 52 to Camp 47. He describes his new quarters as "a grand place." The roof and floors are tiled, the walls are plastered and the sanitary arrangements are the latest and most hygienic. Hot showers are availabler four times a week and facilities for washing are good and ample. Consequently he was "feeling in the pink." In the same camp were other men well known in Invercargill, and Private Grant mentions "Syd" Purdue, "Buster" Uttley and Ernie Gumbley. All were well and they had had many a long talk over "the old days" in Invercargill. Motley Home Guardsmen Some Home Guardsmen, who had been clamouring for many months for uniforms, have taken the first opportunity to get back, into "civvies". again. There is a reason for this seeming paradox. In at least one Auckland unit the guardsmen were told that while the hot weather lasted they would not be required to wear their battledress. The result at the last parade was a motley array of uniforms, portions of uniforms and mufti. Those fortunate enough to have obtained them some time ago wore khaki shirts and shorts, which preserved their military appearance without discomfort. Others were cloth od in sports trousers and coats, which were hardly less cool than their battledress. Guardsmen used to keeping their heads covered welcomed the chance to wear brimmed hats instead of the glengarry. Thanks to Sea Power A thrilling scene in colour of a British convoy ploughing its way through heavy seas escorted by j ships of the navy and planes of the R.A.F. was found in a case of merchandise received by an Auckland firm the other day. "Arrived safely —Thanks to Sea Power" was printed in large red lettering across the top and bottom, while on. the back of the label the words were printed in 12 different languages. "Ever since the war start our firm has received shipments from Britain with never more than three weeks interval.' said the business man. "Admittedly the shipments lately have been small, but they come, and I think it is duo to the people at Home, particularly to the sailors who man the ships, "that all- publicity possible should be given to what they are doing for us."

Ups and Downs of Wool A statistical summary of the remarkable growth of the sheep industry in Australia and New Zealand shows that the New Zealand wool clip, which was valued at £1,139,G96 in the 1903-04 season, reached £18,172,74S last season. The price obtained to-day is double that at the dawn of the century. During the period of nearly 40 years the lowest average price paid was £7 10/3 a bale in 1932-33, while the highest was £23 IS/4, in 1927-2 S. Last season the return was £1S 8/10. A Takanini Cyclone A miniature cyclone struck the Takanini district on Tuesday afternoon with considerable force. Rain was falling heavily at the time, when the cyclone, of whirlwind character, hit Mr. T. Jones' store near the public school. It ripped the verandah clean off and blew, it on to the house, doing considerable damage. The cyclone then followed a straight line towards the Great South Road, and in its progress uprooted trees and overturned chicken houses. Tarpaulins had to be placed over Jones' store to make it weatherproof for the night. Hamilton Girl in Melbourne "The theatre is booming in Australia," writes Miss Bettina Welch, formerly of Hamilton, who is appearing in "Reunion in Vienna," in Melbourne. "We are doing terrific business, with packed houses every night, while across the road from us Gladys Moncrieff in 'The Merry Widow' is also packing them in. On the finish of our season here we leave for Adelaide to play 'The Man Who Came to Dinner,' 'Robert's Wife' and 'Reunion in Vienna.' Then we go up to Brisbane, which will bring us to about June, and after that we may go to New Zealand." Esperantist Expectations "The Esperanto movement is destined to play an important part in reconstruction in the post-war world, particularly as it is already thriving m such countries as Russia ana China," said a member of the Karori Esperanto Society. Wellington, at a meeting last week. He also said there was a strong Esperanto movement in Great Britain, and before the war progress had been made in most of the countries now under German domination. "When these countries are freed." he concluded, "Esperanto is certain to regain its former strength- and be the means of establish ihsr peace and a closer relationship between the nations- of the world."