General News

Press, Volume LXXVI, Issue 23058, 28 June 1940, Page 6

General News

Auckland Rates Reduced A reduction of 3d in the £ in the total rate levy for the current financial year was made by the Auckland City Council. This reduces the present aggregate of 4s 4£d to 4s l^d. —Press Association. Chatham Islands Steamer Service A scheme to ensure the continuance of steamer communication between the Chatham Islands and Lyttelton would probably be completed next week, the Minister for Marine (the Hon. D. G. McMillan) said, when questioned yesterday. The Westland Shipping Company, which owns the Tees, the vessel used on this run for many years, has gone into liquidation, and the Tees is tied up, as is usual, during the winter. “The Government realises that the service to the Chatham Islands must be kept going,” said Dr, McMillan, “and it is investigating proposals that will ensure its continuance. I hope to have the arrangements completed next week.”—Parliamentary Reporter. Amended Breakfasts “There is one way in which we can help to increase the supply of bacon for Britain, and that is by doing without bacon for breakfast and relying instead on the mutton chop,” said Mr W. J. Poison, M.P., chairman of the Primary Producers’ Federation, in addressing a large meeting of farmers in Palmerston North. Apart from less consumption in this country, he added, it was most important to augment the production of bacon pigs. Teachers Who Enlist No teacher joining the forces will suffer professionally by enlisting, and his interests in respect to promotion, grading, and superannuation will be fully safeguarded. This is the essence of the Teachers’ Emergency Regulations, gazetted last night. The regulations cover, inter alia, appointments to vacancies caused by enlistments, the acceptance of reduced period training in the case of training college students who enlist, and the relaxation of pass conditions for the teachers* certificate examination for teachers enlisting. Teachers in the forces will have the right to apply for positions in the customary manner.—Press Association. • Lifeboats Recovered Advice has been received in Whangarei that the two lifeboats that were cast adrift when the Niagara went clown off the northern ccast have been washed Op on a beach. The boats were not necessary for the passengers and crew and after being tied together were set adrift. One was extensively damaged when found, but the other had received little damage. Both boats have been hauled to a position of safety. Popularity of Bowling Bowling has shown a substantial increase in popularity as a sport in the Dominion during the last year, according to figures contained in the annual report presented to the Dominion conference of the New Zealand Bowling Association in Christchurch yesterday. No fewer than 394 clubs are now registered .with the association, and the Dominion membership is 19,810, 771 more than the previous year. Interest in White 'Heron The white heron at the Botanic Gardens has been a much-photographed bird this season, according to the director of the gardens (Mr J. A. McPherson). Scores of photographs have been taken each week lately, and considerable interest has been shown in the bird’s habits. The heron, which has become more tame and which seems to have no objection to people approaching within a few yards, now spends some of its time on the iivon, near the gardens, and apparently feeds from the river, thqugh not on trout. Mr McPherson said yesterday that the heron had been noticed lately catching goldfish in the garden ponds and letting them drop back again. It had, hi. said, established itself on the Avon in the face of opposition from seagulls which fairly regularly fed on less sprightly trout in the river. Breadmaklng a Controlled industry The breadmaking industry, including the making, distribution, and sale of bread, is now a controlled industry under the Supply Control Emergency Regulations. Notice to this effect is contained in last night’s Gazette.—Press Association. “Fours” or “Rinks” Something of a conundrum came before the New Zealand bowling conference yesterday, when it was asked why the term “fours” had been adopted in* place of “rinks.” “A rink is what you play on. You can’t play a rink on a rink. You can’t play a rink on a green because a green is three rinks. Half the Work of the last year has been changing ‘rinks’ to ‘fours.’ For goodness’ sake don’t give us all that work of revision again,” said an executive member, in explanation. Defeatism Condemned The suppression of defeatism, no matter what turn the war ever took, was advocated by the Mayor (Sir Ernest Davis) at a meeting of the Auckland emergency precautions organisation. “Triumphant defiance should be our watchword at all times,” he said. “Away with moaners and those who run about with downcast faces, worrying their soul cases out as to what is going to happen.” Sir Ernest suggested that the determined attitude of the people in Britain served as the best example of “triumphant defiance” New Zealanders could adopt. . No Petrol Available Because no petrol is available for the purpose, a motor drive over the Summit road, which was arranged for delegates to the New Zealand Bowling Association’s conference, has been abandoned. The president (Mr L. B. Evahs) said it Was unfortunate that it would be impossible to take' delegates “on one of the most beautiful drives in New Zealand.” The proprietors of the motor-bus service had not been able to obtain a special licence. Hitler’s Secret Weapon The view that Hitler’s secret weapon, of which so much was heard, was not some mechanical force, was expressed by Bishop Simkin in his address at the annual Auckland diocesan missionary festival at St. Mary’s Cathedral, It was coming to bo realised, he said, that it was not a super aeroplane or a new machine of destruction. It was the influence of the devil himself. Bowlers for Great Britain The proposal by the Iriternational Bowling Board that a party of New Zealand bowlers visit Great Britain in the summer of 1940 had to be abandoned because of the outbreak of hostilities.. About 20 men and 15 women intended to make the trip. The New Zealand Bowling Association decided at its conference in Christchurch yesterday to ask that the invitation be renewed when the war is over, since it was a tour which would be of great value to the game in the Dominion. Mishap at Oyster Wharf The gale raging at Bluff on Wednesday was the cause of a mishap at the oyster wharf. A pdwer-driveti truck used for conveying sacks of oysters from the beds to the railway siding was blown Over the end of the Wharf into the harbour. The truck was fully loaded at the time. The services of the Bluff Harbour Board’s diver were obtained to salvage the trufck and its contents. Players and the Rule Book “Gould you supply me With information on the rules and genera] aims Of the game of Rugby?” ran a letter read at the last meeting Of the Wellington Rugby Union. “An overseas friend of mine wishes to follow the game intelligently, and I am experiencing difficulty in finding even a player who can give me rules of the game.” The meeting decided to furnish the requited information. Niagara’s Crew Helped Orders for clothing and underclothing, footwear ahd overCOatS tb the value Of £145 were given by the joint Council of the Sick, Wounded and Distress Fund in Auckland to members of the CreW of the liner Niagara Who last their personal belongings When the vessel sank off the coast early on Wednesday last week. The 21 men who received help in this way were all married and returned soldiers from the Great War of 1914-18.