General News

Press, Volume LXXVII, Issue 23361, 21 June 1941, Page 8

General News

Otira Gorge Road The Otira Gorge road is still impassable because of snow, fine frosty weather having caused the snow to freeze, adding to tne difficulties of motorists. Redcliffs Flood Damage A resolution expressing sympathy with those residents who had suffered personal loss and hardship and those whose property had been flooded by the recent encroachment of the sea was adopted at a meeting of the Reacliffs Burgesses’ Association. A report from the secretary (Mr A. F. Roberts) states that it was noted with a degree of satisfaction that the District Public' Works Engineer (Mr T. G. Beck) was entrusted with arrangements to have protective walls erected on the waterfront. Hares on Port Hills More than one visitor to the snow-covered tops of the Port Hills yesterday noticed the tracks of hares. Even on the tops close to tne citv, along the Rapaki road, there were numerous signs of the activity of harps searching on the deep snow for food. . But there are comparatively few hares in this area now, although 20 or 30 years ago, according ’to old residents of St. Martins, it was no uncommon experience to be able to shoot 15 to 20 hares in the morning. Even now, those who walk over these hills in summer can start up two or three, hares on any afternoons tramp. JNOi infrequently one oij two are shot. \ Halfpennies in Letter Two halfpennies enclosed in a letter sent from Christchurch to a New Zealand member of the Royal Air Force, and intended to be used as souvenirs, caused the return of the letter to the sender under the regulation prohibiting the export of New Zealand com. The halfpennies have apparently been confiscated, as the letter came back with a penny stamp substituted for them. An official note was enclosed, informing the correspondent that New Zealand coin is prohibited from exportation except with the permission of the Minister for Finance, In this instance postage stamps have, been substituted for the coin and the letter is returned without surcharge.” Big Purchases pf Oats Oats millers have this season bought their requirements more rapidly than for very many years, and are reported now to be in . possession of the bulk of their requirements for the year. Totals so far purchased for all purposes by millers aggregate nearly 1,000,000 bushels, and only about 60,000 bushels are believed to be required to complete millers’ stocks. Charitable Bequests Several social and charitable bodies, particularly in the Buller district, benefit under the will of Mr John Hayes Enright, merchant, of Westport, who died in a private hospital m Christchurch in August last. The sum of £SO is bequeathed for cancer research in New Zealand, £IOO to the Westport branch of the St. Vincent de Paul Society in Westport, £IOO to the Makogai Leper Missiop, Fiji, £25 to the Westport branch of the Crippled Children Aid Society of Canterbury and the West Coast, and £IOO to the Convent of Mercy, Westport. Accommodation for Constables “It belongs to the dark ages,” was the description given yesterday by the Hon. P, C. Webb, Acting-Minister in Charge of Police, to the accommodation for constables at the Christchurch Police Station. The Minister said that on his return to Wellington he would discuss with the Commissioner of Police whether an improvement to the accommodation could be made. Australian’s “Tommy” Gun A trial order has been given by the military authorities for 100 Australian “Tommy” guns constructed to a new design prepared by Private Owen, a young member of the Australian Imperial Force from Newcastle. The Minister for the Army (Mr P. C. Spender) said that when the new design was brought to his notice he .was determined that it should have a prompt and full test. The trial order for 100 guns would enable this to be done. “Whether the gun survives the tests or not, the important thing is that it should have a proper trial,” Mr Spender said. “The same thing applies to any worth-while idea, whether it originates outside or Inside the Army. Under Army regulations, a private cannot approach the Minister direct. But I can always have a man paraded before me.” The new gun is described as smaller than the American Thompson sub-machine-gun, but carries a satisfactory number of cartridges. If tests in about two weeks’ time prove satisfactory, it will be adopted on a large scale for the Army. ■ Americans Eager to Join R.A.A.F., Four Americans have applied to the Royal Australian Air Force for enlistment. Two of them are sailors already in Sydney, but the other two have written from their homes in the United States. One, an undergraduate of the University of Tennessee, says that he is willing to pay his fare to Australia, The.other, who is at the moment working in Peru, says he is willing to do anything they think he can do in the Royal Australian Air Force. The two seamen in Sydney may possibly be accepted. The position of citizenship is being examined. The other two in America have been advised that there is no need to come so far as Australia, as there is the Rbyal Canadian Air Force close at hand. Labour Attitude to Honours It is believed that the former Premier, Mr Mair, some months ago recommended to the King that a knighthood should be conferred on a leading citizen of Sydney for his outstanding services to the state, writes a reporter of the “Sydney Morning Herald.” When the Mair Government was defeated at the elections, this recommendation was referred to the new Premier, Mr McKell, who indicated that his Government did not approve of honours. Consequently; the recommendation of the fprmer Premier was not given effect to. A similar position arose in 1925 when the Labour Party, under Mr Lang, defeated the Fuller Government. The honours recommended by Sir George Fuller before the elections were not approved because the new Premier, Mr Lang, made it clear,that his Government was opposed t" the granting of honours.