NEWS OF THE DAY

Auckland Star, Volume LXXIV, Issue 303, 22 December 1943, Page 4

NEWS OF THE DAY

Traveller's Timepiece Last week the Star reported on a "remarkable watch with six dials" giving times in Bombay, Berlin, Melbourne, London, Capetown and New Zealand. Mr. J.' Simpson, of Morrinsville, has had a timepiece for over 30 years with seven dials, recording times in Calcutta, Hongkong, Bombay, Shanghai, Sydney and London, and the usual dial for seconds. Matter for Regret The owner of a primus stove is regretting an act of generosity a few days ago. A friend of his who was going camping asked him for the loan of the stove. The friend was accommodated, but the owner is now ruefully reflecting how handy the stove would have been in the present absence of gas. As he does not know where the friend has pitched his camp, he is left meditaton the consequences of his "boy scout act." Tame Pigeons Pedestrians in Shortland Street have remarked upon the tameness of the pigeons which haunt the vicinity of Jean Batten Place. One young bird this morning suffered itself to be picked up by a passer-by and carried into a nearby office for inspection. It rested quietly in the hand, and, when ultimately released, resumed its picking up of unconsidered trifles from the pavement as though nothing unusual had happened. As Postage Stamps Only In their zeal to help along the campaign or for the less altruistic reason that they have had no other, stamps handy, some people have been putting health stamps on receipts and duly cancelling them in the ordinary way, says the Manawatu Times. The stamps may look all right when so affixed, but unfortunately as receipt stamps they have no legal status and a receipt stamped with a health stamp is not valid. Inscribed on the health stamps is the word "Postage only, not the words "Postage and Revenue" as on the ordinary stamps. Health stamps may be used for postal purposes only, as postage stamps and not as revenue stamps. Aids to Rehabilitation Three men being trained in the head office of the Rehabilitation Department will shortly go overseas for the purpose of meeting soldiers about to return to New Zealand. This fcheme at present applies to the Middle East only, but the Director of Rehabilitation, Lieutenant-Colonel F. Baker considers there is no reason whv rt cannot be extended. "These men will be stationed at general hospitals the convalescent depot and Se reception depot,".he said when in New Plymouth this week One back to New Zealand with w\ C t h ch r ov U er n Si g e S w in fhp draft he accompanies, £!d 4SI Sien rlturn to the Middle iS pa^lng giV on T& S°winformation from New Zealand."

New Wharves After War In view of the fact that the construction of major wharves at Wellington is contemplated in the early post-war period, involving the handling of even longer and heavier piles than hitherto, and that to design ■ and build an appropriate piledriving punt for this purpose will take at least two years, a stajt has been made on the design of a new punt with the object of placing a definite proposal before the Wellington Harbour Board for its approval. Someone Blundered A young Dunedin wife recently dispatched to her soldier husband overseas a "greetings" cable by means of the prescribed numbered schedule governing these messages. The message, so far as she knew, was in order at this end, but judge of her surprise ■when an acknowledgment came to hand by letter stating that the final clause in the cablegram received by her husband contained the staggering announcement —without any authenticity—that "a son had been born. . Obviously, someone had blundered. Gibraltar's Magazine Wherever forces are stationed the itch to write and appear in print is sure to manifest itself. An Auckland resident received the other day a copy of The Rock, a magazine produced by the garrison serving at Gibraltar. The publication carries a good deal of bright reading matter and some excellent cartoons. Both the amusing and the serious side of Army life are presented, and the various activities recorded of this "little bit of England" at the tip of the Peninsula. "Fourpence to Pay 1, A member of the Home Guard, a few months ago, complying with instructions, returned to headquarters the Government rifle which had been issued to him. Soon after the formation of the guard he had lent his™ wn rifle to the authorities when the appea for private weapons was made His feelings can well.be imagined when he received, this S an official notice .in an *OHMS" envelope informing him that his rifle could now be returned to htaf-but there, was fourpence postage to pay on the letter. Backward Boys "As a matter of importance to us is the future of the so-called rna.adusted bov, the boy who comes to school and finds that he is behind in certain key subjects of the cuiiiculum," said Mr. F. Renner at the breaking-up ceremony at Rongotai College. "Maladjustment in subjects like arithmetic or English may have disastrous effects not only on the boy's progress, but on his whole future moral development. For boys of this type we need a course of wide interests, but withal a course suited to their future needs. As things are at present, our postprimary schools are lacking, to the danger limit, in facilities and equipment for dealing with this type of child—a child of relatively greater importance than 90 per cent of his fellows."