NEWS OF THE DAY

Auckland Star, Volume LXXV, Issue 31, 7 February 1944, Page 2

NEWS OF THE DAY

Naval Slang Like other services, the Navy has developed a language all its own. In a recent issue of the Auckland Naval Magazine examples from a sailor's vocabulary are given. For instance "gash" means that which, after feeding a crowd, is left over; "head down" means to doss or sleep, also called "kip"; "Nelson's blood" or "bubbly" is rum; "jewing" is sewing; "two zeps in a cloud" is sausage and mash; "sharks in Red Sea" are herrings in tomato sauce. Courteous Schoolboys Boys attending the Seddon Technical Memorial College have good manners, but .the same cannot be said of some of the passengers to whom they gave up their seats in a tramcar proceeding citywards this mormng. There were at least 15 schoolboys on the tram and all seemed more than ready to stand when an adult could not find a seat. It was noticeable that men accepting the favour acknowledged the courtesy. The same could not be said of young women who took the proffered seat as of right. British Sausages After nearly four years and a half of war the people of England have achieved a world reputation for uncomplaining patience. When grumbling and grousing does emerge it usually has a touch of -British humour about it. With meat rationing imminent in New Zealand, this comment in a letter received privately from England has an especial interest: "As for the sausages nowadays, well, they have so much bread in them one doesn't know whether to take mustard or marmalade with them." "Retrograde Step" "I think it' is a retrograde step to hold all the local body elections at the same time," commented the Mayor, Mr. E. H. Andrews, at a meeting of the Christchurch City Council, when costs for the municipal elections in May were bemg discussed. Such a multiplicity ox issues was confusing to electors, he continued. Most electors were interested in the main contest —the Mayoralty and council— but with a variety of voting papers thrust on them, they lost interest in the other issues. Other factors were the extra poll clerks and equipment needed. Kahawai in Flounder Net Dragging for flounders at Manakau Beach, just north of the Waikawa stream, New Plymouth, recently a party of young people, led by Graham and Neil Bryant, netted 39 kahawai as well as some flounders. The party had the net out only five minutes when they saw a considerable disturbance in the water. They drew in the net quickly and found they had surrounded a shoal of kahawai. For several days last week thousands of shrimps were washed ashore in the locality, and the kahawai had been feeding on these small fish. The flounder net was much damaged by the unexpected strain, and the party considers the catch to be the largest at Manakau Beach for many years.

Effects of Ergot "No importance need be attached to propaganda suggesting that New Zealand dairy produce and meat are dangerous on account of ergot consumed by grazing stock, as very few dairy cows obtain it in toxic doses, and'these produce only small quantities of milk," states the annual report of the New Zealand Dairy Board. Experiments have shown that milk and flesh from cows which have fed ergot in toxic doses are free from alkaloids, and no ill-effects were produced when these were fed to rats or pigs. Clean But Archaic An interesting description of an Italian village is contained in a letter written home by an Auckland _ soldier. "The tiny houses," he writes, "are of stone with steps and walls whitewashed, giving an appearance of cleanliness, externally at any rate. Horses, donkeys, cattle and fowls and other livestock are kept in a kind of stable underneath the house. What with winding stairway streets, village water pumps, quaint cottages and gardens, the general effect is quite picturesque and reminiscent of a world of bygone days." Minus Her Skirt The much-used joke of the absentminded professor leaving home minus his trousers was translated into reality in Wellington on Thursday morning when the staff of a big Government Department Avere astounded to see one of its female members arrive clad in a blouse and pink petticoat, but without her skirt. On being informed of her state of undress, she hastily returned home to don the missing garment. The incident created a stir among the office staff. Costly Swim "How would you like to drink your own bath water?" asked Mr. H. P. Lawry, S.M., of five students who appeared before him in the Palmerston North Magistrate's Court charged under the Municipal Corporations Act with bathing in the Tiritea reservoir. Mr. Lawry added: "You turned the Tiritea dam into a bath and asked all the city to drink the water afterwards." The defendants were two young women and three young men. Two were each fined £3 and the others £2. Costs in each case amounted to £1 13/. A sixth defendant, aged 16, made a voluntary appearance in the Children's Court. Ants Troublesome Ants have been troublesome in many parts of Auckland for some time, and housewives have tried various remedies, but none seems to eradicate them completely. Some of the most effective remedies have been given by the Health Department. Probably the best is to make a syrup of loz borax, lib sugar and hot water, and leave in containers. This attracts the ants, which either die in the containers or return to their nes.t and poison the other ants. Another recipe is to mix one pint of creosote and three pints toilet paraffin. When it is dry the mixture is brushed round the edges of shelves. The ants will not cross over it. If the nest can be found, pour boiling water, chloride of lime and kerosene over it.