General News

Press, Volume LXXXIII, Issue 25246, 26 July 1947, Page 8

General News

1200 Watches Stolen Twelve hundred watches consigned to a firm in Dunedin were pillaged from the cargo of the Kent during the ship’s stay in Auckland last month. The value of the watches is estimated at almost £5OOO. They were packed in four wooden cases. The Kent arrived at Auckland on June 9, and remained there until June 20, and later discharged cargo at Wellington, Lyttelton, and Dunedin. It was not until the vessel reached Dunedin that the theft was discovered.—(P.A.) Pukeko’s Special Trip The coastal. steamer Pukeko has been assigned by the Shipping Controller to make a special trip from Lyttelton with cargo for Gisborne. This action followed representations by the Gisborne Chamber of Commerce on behalf of merchants, retailers, and building contractors. The trip will help to relieve the difficulties caused by the accumulation of merchandise in South Island ports. Flag Half-mast for Road Deaths If the flag on the Chief Post Office in Christchurch is flown at half-mast at any time between August 18 and August 30, it will not necessarily be to mark the death of any distinguished person. The flag will be flown at halfmast for 24 hours after any fatal road accident in the district, as part of the national road safety campaign to be conducted by the Junior Chambers of Commerce of New Zealand next month. Arrangements for the flying of the flag have been made by the Canterbury Junior Chamber of Commerce as part of its share of the campaign. Fame Under the heading “First of the Many?” “Granny” in “Column 8” in the “Sydney Morning Herald” reports: “Application before the Licensing Court for change of name ‘Boylan’s Hotel,’ Union street, Pyrmont, was granted yesterday. Proposed new name: ‘Montgomery Hotel’?’ In a paragraph the following day, “Granny” records that several persons “rang to protest against hotels ' being named after Lord Montgomery, a teetotaller.’’ British Prestige in India In a letter from New Delhi to relations in New Zealand, Sir Clutha Mackenzie remarks: “British stock stands very high here to-day—the real tribute to our stewardship.” In mentioning that he has seen a lot in recent times of Indian leaders—Jawahnrlal Nehru, Patel, the. Naidus, Mrs Pandit, Dr. Ragendra Prashad, etc., Sir Clutha Mackenzie says; “The whole spirit of India has changed; and the Indians declare to me that were there an independent poll these days 80 per cent, would vote for the British remaining. We are treated with great respect, even honour. . . . We think the Viceroy’s partition and Dominion status plan has avoided the terrible civil war and slaughter which hung over the whole country. Far more has gone on than you ever read of, and continues; and there are predictions of much trouble to come over the partition of the provinces, communism, indisciplmed youth, dacoits, ex-service-men. and what not; but we are assured by everyone that no British hair will be touched.” Historic Woods in Chair The presidential chair of the New Zealand Founders’ Society is made of a variety of woods with historical associations. It has kauri that was part ° f th® s eco P<i bridge built over the Balclutha river in 1880; Australian hardwood from the brig Boyd, which was burned and sunk by Maoris in 1809 in Whangaroa Harbour; matai that was part of a chest of drawers made in Wairarapa in 1875; kauri from the military blockhouse built near the mouth of the Waitara river, Taranaki, *n 1J60; red beech weatherboard of a P Ul *™,6 erected at Lawrence, Otago, in 1867; Honduras mahogany from a paychest of H.M.S. Orpheus, wrecked on the Manukau bar in 1863 (a brass plate on the chest bore the date, 1720)* totara from a Maori meeting house of the Arawa confederation of tribes, Rotorua; and matai from the stockade of Pa Fort, used in 1830. A Bell from Plymouth

A bell from the blitzed St. Michael’s Church, Devonport, Plymouth, has arrived in New Plymouth, where it will be installed at the Westown School as a memorial to former pupils who lost their lives in the Second World War. The bell, which stands about 2J feet high and weighs more than 4cwt, with a 201 b clapper, was cast in 1845. As an antique and a memorial, it was allowed into the country customs-free. Franz Josef Hotel The Franz Josef Hotel will not be taken over by the Tourist Department on August 1, as was intended when negotiations for the purchase by the State recently were completed. Mr P. Graham, one of the vendors, told a representative of “The Press” that there would be some delay in the department’s taking over. Further investigations were necessary, after the destruction of part of the hotel by fire and until these were finished the actual date of the transfer would not be known. It is understood that an officer of the department is expected to visit the West Coast shortly, to make final arrangements for the transfer. Thanks For Gifts Field-Marshal Viscount Montgomery has written to the president of the Canterbury Manufacturers’ Association (Mr B. J. Masters) expressing his thanks for the writing desk given to him by the furniture trade group of the association, and the two pairs of Army shoes given by a member of the footwear group. “It is most kind of you, and I am deeply grateful,” says Field-Marshal Montgomery. ‘■Please convey my thanks to all Concerned.’’ Motor Drivers’ Licences Holders of motor drivers’ licences are now required to carry their licences with them when driving any motor vehicle, and must produce them for inspection by a traffic inspector when required to do so. That is the effect of a. provision of the latest amendment to the Traffic Regulations, 1936. Failure to carry a licence or to produce it is an offence against the regulations, and an offender is liable to a fine not exceeding £5O. Army Education Service Applications are being called for the position of director of the Army Education and Welfare Service in New Zealand, with the rank of lieutenantcolonel or major, according to experience and . qualifications. The director will be responsible for the administration of the service, and duties will include liaison with the education, rehabilitation, and broadcasting services, the University of New Zealand, National Library Service, and other educational organisations providing facilities for the education and resettlement of servicemen. Art, sport, and hobbies are included, and also public relations activities and publication of Army newspapers. Assistantdirectors with the rank of captain will also be appointed in the northern and southern military districts. "Mug” A Sydney Magistrate recently dismissed a charge of insulting language against a man who had called a policeman a “mug.” One police witness said he did not know what the term meant; another defined it as “fool.” But the law is inconsistently unkind; a few’ days later before another Magistrate a man was charged with using indecent language and the word “mug” io a policeman. The accused told the policeman that “a law had been passed” that he could call the policeman a “mug” and the policeman could do nothing about it. It cost the defendant £5 to find out that the policeman could, and that there was another person to whom the term could be applied. Simultaneous Chess Match Mr Robert Pikler, the visiting Hungarian violinist and grandmaster of chess, played simultaneous games against 21 members of the Canterbury Chess Club last evening. He has specialised in this type of play and recently played against 30 members of the Remuera Chess Club. In some of these games he has been matched against as many as 40 players. Last evening after two and a half hours’ play he had won 19 games, drawn one, and lost one. The Canterbury player who won his game was Mr G. H. Atkinson, and Mr A. S. Hollander