NEWS OF THE DAY

Auckland Star, Volume LXXIV, Issue 53, 4 March 1943, Page 4

NEWS OF THE DAY

Appeal Board Premises

Work on alterations to Civic House and Fergusson Building to provide greater accommodation for the No. 1 Area Manpower Office is nearing completion, and it. is expected that the new premises will be ready for occupation in about ten days' time. The rooms of the Armed Forces Appeal Boards will be in Civic Building, while the office staff will be housed in the adjoining Fergusson Building.

Good for Grandfather

A recent news item stated that Mr. J. Portland, of Waharoa, shore 331 sheep in 8i hours, writes a correspondent. This is a really good performance even for a young shearer, but when a grandfather turns them out at that rate the effort is outstanding. Mr. Portland's son-in-law, Mr. T. Malone, who is employed at the Waharoa dairy factory, has two children, the eldest of whom is three years. Mr. Portland has also won the shearing content at the Hamilton show on several occasions, and his latest effort rates him as a top-notcher. He is a well known figure around Morrinsville, being a keen member of the Gun Club in which he has won various competitions, and is also a very keen deer stalker.

Protest Unwarranted

There was a mild sensation on a ferry boat.when someone alleged that annual ferry tickets had been increased by a couple of pounds for married • couples. There was', a chorus of protest, for it was the time of the day when the mater of .the home was'proceeding to the city to do her shopping. Passengers agreed that everything was rising and quoted the recent increase m the water rates from 1/6 to 2/6 per 1000 gallons, but thought that any rise in ferry fares would be the limit. Before the boat got to Auckland the true story of the rise in fares was told. A bachelor who had for many years procured an annual ticket decided to get married and one of the first things he found out was that he had to pay £2 5/ extra when he added his wife's name for a double ticket for ferry travelling. Air Force Band's Job

When the band of the Royal New Zealand Air Force visited Auckland last year it is probable few of the persons who attended its parades and recitals realised it had a dual role. Apart from its musical work the band when off parade at its home station is a fully effective aerodrome defence corps. Its aerodrome defence duties are in no wise a sideline, but a serious aspect of the band's curriculum when it is at its home station. In this specialised defence work, the bandsmen are trained by instructors of the R.N.Z.A.F. aerodrome defence squadrons—a special department ofthe ,air force. In addition, the band is fortunate in having as its warrant officer, a man who has served in practically ali parts of the Empire as a member of the British regular force, and who is thus able to do much in co-ordinating on-station band and defence duties. Incidentally, it is this man, too, who trained the R.NT.Z.A.F. drummers in their famed drumming technique—a military band specially learned by the warrant officer as a member of the famous Worcestershire Regiment.

Shortage of Matches

"You cannot get matches to-day," interjected an Opposition member, when the Minister of Supply, Mr. Sullivan, was speaking in the House of Representatives last night. This caused the Minister to declare that in ratio to population, New Zealand had more matches than any other country. The reason was that ingredients for the production of matches were used in munitions, and matches were, therefore, scarce, though less so in New Zealand than other countries, such as Australia, where the manufacture of munitions was more extensive.

A Green Summer

The present summer is the greenest one experienced in Wellington for many years. Though the season is wearing on, the gardens are lush with new growth, the lawns, bowling greens, golf courses and paddocks in ■the district are a rich green, and the grass is growing as though it were spring. This is the result of warm temperatures combined with plenty of rain, coming at a time when the country is usually burnt brown. Sea water in the harbour continues to be about three degrees warmer than at the corresponding period of last year.

Spelling of "Guadalcanar"

Questioned regarding the pronunciation of the word "Guadalcanar," when speaking at a Hamilton Rotary Club lunch, the Rev. C. T. J. Luxton, an escaped missionary, replied that the correct spelling of the word was with a final "1," but owing to the natives interchange of the letters "d," "r" and "1" it was likely that confusion' might have occurred. The headquarters of the Methodist Mission, said the speaker, were at Munda Bay, New Georgia. As the Japanese are situated at the head of the harbour they cannot be surprised, and they control the narrow entrance.

Booking for Haircuts

One Auckland barber has overcome the difficulty of manpower shortage and saved himself from the unnecessary rush which would ordinarily have been imposed on him when his assistant was called in the forces. Long-hair*ed prospective patrons must book for a haircut beforehand. ' The saloon door remains closed except to those who have made appointments, but the barber is sometimes able to squeeze an odd job or two in between appointed times. This method appeals to his regular clientele, who rarely have to wait now, but arrive at the establishment at the appointed time, and are attended to immediately.

Trophies Mislaid

Two valuable swimming trophies were absent-mindedly left in a tramcar by a well-known Wellington swimming official and were not recovered till half an hour before they were due to be presented. The trophies, given by. Mr. L. Blundell for competition between United States servicemen at a swimming carnival at the Thorndon baths, were carried in a brief case, and the man entrusted with their care, becoming involved in a conversation with a fellow traveller, alighted from the tram without them. It was not till he was questioned at the baths that he remembered the trophies. The condtictress of the tram on which he left them was located, and fortunately had the bag in her keeping.