General News

Press, Volume LXXXV, Issue 25738, 25 February 1949, Page 6

General News

Played Ont Time Although the three Canterbury members of the New Zealand cricket team to tour England must have had a busy time yesterday—they left for Wellington last evening—one at least of them was still at his work late in the afternoon. ‘ Members of the Museum Trust Board were rather surprised to find Mr W. A. Hadlee, the New Zealand captain, at their meeting, which did not begin until after 4 p.m. Mr Hadlee’s firm acts ,as accountant to the board. 'Before Mr Hadlee left the 'meeting, the chairman (Mr J. L. Hay) expressed to him the best wishes of the board. Unloading of Sugar Begun The work of unloading 300 tons of sugar from the holds of the Kurow at Lyttelton began last evening. The Kurow arrived last Sunday, but had been without waterfront labour since Monday morning. Christchurch manufacturers using sugar for their products have been very short this week and some were expecting to have to close their factories next week unless supplies were received. Work on the ship proceeded from 6 o’clock to 9 o’clock last evening. Losses in Heat Wave A number of Christchurch firms producing foodstuffs are computing losses incurred during the recent heat wave. In many cases stocks deteriorated in manufacture and in store, many factories not usually requiring the airconditioning and cool-store facilities which would have countered the abnormal heat. Confectioners had particular manufacturing difficulties. All stocks are being examined carefully before being put on the market. Gift of World Record Litter The carcases of the world record bacon litter have been given by the owners, Messrs H. Montgomery and W. E. Bell, to the people of Britain. On the basis of the present ration of 2oz a week, the litter, weighing nearly a ton and a half, will provide a week’s ration for 25.000 people.—(P.A.) Roads to West Coast Closed The Lewis Pass and Otira Gorge roads to Canterbury from the West Coast were still closed yesterday but it was expected that both routes would be open tp-day. The Otira Gorge road was blocked by a slip in the gorge, and the Lewis Pass route by a slip between the top of the pass and Hanmer Junction. Communists and R.S.A. Reversing its earlier view that no action should be taken to exclude Communists from the Returned Services’ Association, the New Plymouth R.S.A. last night resolved “that in the association’s opinion, membership of the Commupist Party is incompatible with membership of the R.S.A.” “No one could subscribe to the objects of both organisations,” said the mover of the resolution. Mr E. B. Paterson.—(P.A.)

Water Cure for “Hangover” Commenting on the statement made in Auckland by Professor G. W. Pickering that a pint of water taken before going to bed is an excellent “hangover” cure, Professor R. D. Wright, of the Physiology School, Melbourne University, remarked that some people might say that anyone who could drink a pint of water before bed after a party had not had enough to drink to have a hangover. “Water is a definite help,” he added, “as the disability of the drinker is water balance. Vitamin B-l helps too, but some remedies seems to suit some people and not others.”—Melbourne, February 24. British Immigrants to N.Z. The Department of Labour and Employment yesterday announced that of 2928 Government-assisted immigrants since the inauguration of the scheme, only 37—barely 1.3 per cent.—had been released from their contracts to return to Britain. Twenty-eight had been released for domestic or com.passionate reasons; four were held unsuitable; and only five had returned to Britain because they were dissatisfied.

Western Samoan Flag The approval of.the design for a flag for Western Samoa was gazetted last night. A similar notification was given on May 27, 1948, but the New Zealand Government has since been asked,.on behalf of the Samoan people, to apoprove of a flag of a slightly different design. This request has been granted, and in future, the flags for general use on shore within Western Samoa will be the New Zealand ensign and the new flag now approved. The latter is red, with the first quarter blue, and bears five white, regular, five-rayed stars, representing the Southern Cross.—(P.A.) Rare Specimen The Canterbury Museum has in its collection one of the only two specimens in* the world of a small rhinoceros from Java, Rhinoceros sondaicus, Dr. H. J. Coolinge, secretary of the Pacific Science Board, an American research organisation, who attended the recent Science Congress in Christchurch, said when he saw the specimen that it was probably bought by Sir Julius von Haast from Ward’s National Science Establishment at Rochester, New York. The only other specimen was bought there and is at present in an American university. The species is now almost extinct and there is no possibility of further specimens being obtained. About 20 of the species are alive, in a national park in Java, but it is feared that they will not survive during the trouble in Indonesia. Support for Conscription Wholehearted support for Compulsory military training was given in a resolution passed by the executive of the South Canterbury Returned Services’ Association last evening. “I feel that the Returned Services’ Association has a duty and responsibility to the. people of this country to keep pressing for this,” said Mr H. G. Naylor, who moved the resolution. “No other body of men is better qualified to speak on this subject since no one else has had the experience of what training and discipline mean in battle,” he said. The Prime Minister and other authorities would probably welcome support of this sort, since, for the Prime Minister, opposition to compulsory training was coming from a very difficult source, said Mr S. H. Bird.

Paintings Given to Lyttelton The Mayor of Lyttelton (Mr F. G. Briggs) has received a letter from the Under-Secrets ry of Internal Affairs (Mr A."G. Harper), saying that Mrs Hilda Grenfell, of London, has presented to the New Zealand Government two paintings by Archibald Stuart Wortley, A.R.A., of her parents, Sir Neville and Lady Lyttelton. Sir Neville Lyttelton was the son of George, fourth Baron Lyttelton, president of the Canterbury Settlers’ Association. after whom Port Lyttelton was named. The Government has offered the paintings to the Lyttelton Borough Council for hanging in §pme public building. Mr Briggs has accepted the paintings on behalf of the council, and they will be hung in the Council Chamber. “Darby and Joan Club” As a result of its appeal for funds last* November, the Wellington City Mission has been enabled to purchase the former residence of Sir George Shirtcliffe in Tinakori road, for use as a residential “Darby and Joan Club.” The City Missioner (the Rev. Harry Squires) said experience with a “Darby and Joan’’ day club at the mission’s headquarters in Taranaki street had shown thqt there were many old people who would benefit from a residential club. Sir George Shirtcliffe’s residence was built 40 years ago. It is still in good condition. Its two storeys contain about 20 rooms.— (P.A.) Waimakariri River Drops

The level of the Waimakariri river dropped five feet in the 24 hours before 3 p.m. yesterday. Thp level of the river is now Only three feet above normal. The water is still discoloured and the river is not expected to be fit for salmon fishing thft week-end.