General News

Press, Volume LXXXI, Issue 24571, 21 May 1945, Page 4

General News

Launch Adrift in Harbour Naval signallers at Godlev Heads early yesterday .afternoon sighted a drifting 30-foot launch. A minesweeper of the Royal New Zealand Navy was dispatched from Lyttelton and towed the launch into the port. It was ascertained that the launch did not belong to a Lyttelton owner, and it is thought probable that it had drifted from one of the bays in the harbour. Sportsman’s Lucky Shot A feat of which many sportsmen dream, but which few achieve, was performed by Mr C. E. Rhodes, of Dargaville, when he shot three cock pheasants with one cartridge. The birds rose from the ground together, and were closely grouped when Mr Rhodes fired from a distance of 20 yards. He discharged one barrel and the three birds fell. Flood Water in Sub-Station The assistance of a trailer pump of the Christchurch Fire Board was called, upon yesterday to keep down the level of flood water in the Addington substation. Mr R. G. Mac Gibbon, district electrical engineer to the Public Works Department, said last evening that flood water coming down both sides of Princess street had invaded the substation. One machine had been stopped as a precautionary measure, but no damage had been done. The pumps of the sub-station were not quite able to cope with the flow of water, and the assistance of the trailer pump had'been called upon. Wedding Anniversaries “Do you happen to remember the date of your marriage?" asked Mr Jus- 1 tice Callan of a petitioner in a divorce case ih the Supreme Court, Auckland, who was married in August, 1940. “It was either the 3rd or the Ist or the sth,” responded the witness confidently. “You are rather unlucky," said his Honour. “The marriage certificate says the 4th.” Asked if they had not usually' celebrated the anniversary of their wedding day, the witness said it was generally his wife who reminded him. Steamer Express Delayed The steamer express Rangatira was about two hours late in reaching Lyttelton on Saturday morning, encountering the southerly gale immediately after leaving Wellington. She berthed at Lyttelton at 9.5 a.m. Yesterday morning, the Wahine was more 'than half an hour late in reaching Lyttelton, and berthed at 7.35 a.m. Non-Publication of Evidence The unusual' course of -directing that evidence of a witness should not be published until further evidence in rebuttal was heard was taken by the Royal Commission on Licensing at its sitting on Friday. Mr J. D. Willis, counsel assisting the commission, said that all counsel had agreed that the witness’s evidence containing allegations against a certain hotel's practice should not be published until the interests concerned had an opportunity of calling evidence in rebuttal. The chairman, Mr Justice Smith, gave a direction to that end. Sports Flxtqres Postponed A strong sou’-west wind, accompanied by continuous rain, caused most sports fixtures in Christchurch on Saturday to be postponed. The management committee of the Canterbury Rugby Union decided to carry on with the senior matches only, and Lancaster Park oval, on which the principal game between Linwood and Trailing College was played, was in surprisingly good order. Other grounds did not provide a firm foothold. Crosscountry runners turned out in strong force and clubs held races under conditions that fully tested the staying powers of the competitors. All League and Association football, basketball, hockey, and other games were postponed. Another Counterfeit Note A fourth counterfeit £1 Reserve Bank note has been .discovered. Two were detected in Dargaville recently, and a third was found at an Auckland bank. Last week another of these notes was discovered in an Auckland department store when the cash was being made Up. It has been handed to the police. The numbering is the same as on the other notes. 6 over M, 505296. No Domestic Coal in Auckland No coal is available for supply to domestic users in Auckland, according to advice by the Auckland Coal Dealers’ Association. The association states that, it regrets having to advise the public of this, and that as soon as the Government makes supplies available for domestic consumption, deliveries will be resumed. ‘‘Nastier Medicines" “I frankly admit my surprise at the fact that approximately 4,750,000 prescriptions for free medicine were dispensed last year at the expense of the Social Security Fund,” stated Mr C. A. Barrell, Labour candidate in the Hamilton by-election. “It seems to be a tremendous doses ge for a young nation to swallow each year. Perhaps some economy could be effected if the doctors prescribed nastier medicines, particularly for dyspeptic Tories and Democratic Labour candidates suffering acutely from anti-Labour Government spleen.” ______________