NEWS IN BRIEF

Dominion, Volume 29, Issue 264, 4 August 1936, Page 11

NEWS IN BRIEF

Mr. Semple Joins the A.A. The Minister of Transport, Hon. R. Semple, has joined the Automobile Association (Wellington). Pleasure that Mr. Semple had taken this step was expressed by the chairman of the association, Mr. E. A. Batt, at 'the monthly meeting last night, when it was reported that 97 new members had been elected during the month. Frosts in Far North. The heaviest frosts for some years were experienced throughout Northland during the week-end, nine degrees being registered on the upper levels. of Whangarei. says a Press Association message. The days wore gloriously clear and fine. Visitors From America. After spending four days in sight-see-ing in Sydney, a party of nine American women led by Mrs. Grace Morrison Poole, past-president of the Federated Clubs of America, returned to Wellington by the Maunganui yesterday. The party passed through Wellington recently, and they have returned for a tour of the North Island before leaving Auckland on August 18 by the Aorangi for Vancouver. They will leave Wellington to-day for Hie Chateau Tongariro. “A Strang! Age.”

“Here we are trying to prevent people being killed and maimed on the roads while two or three persons in Europe are spending millions of pounds in manufacturing armaments to annihilate nations,” said Mr. E. A. Batt, chairman of the Automobile Association (Wellington), at the monthly meeting of the association last night when discussing the prevention of accidents. “We live in a strange age,” he said.

Parking at Now Station. Satisfaction with the final arrangements for parking at the new Wellington railway station was expressed by the roads committee of the Automobile Association (Wellington) in its report to the monthly meeting of the nssociation last night. The report stated that the arrangements allowed ample parking space for official .cars, taxis and private cars. It was under stood that the taxi interests had expressed their agreement with the proposals.

Infectious Diseases. For the week ended August 3 twelve cases of infectious disease were notified to the department from the central Wellington health district. There were seven cases of scarlet fever, three of tuberculosis, and one each of diptheria and puerperal fever. Six cases of infectious disease were reported from Wanganui-Horowhenua, 15 from the Wairarapa-Hawke’s Bay, and two from Nelson-Marlborough. One death from tuberculosis was reported from Wanga-nui-Horowhenua, and one from Waira-rapa-Hawke’s Bay from the same cause.

Small Boy, Big Voice. Last night's wrestling contests in the Wellington Town Hall will be remembered by patrons grouped near the front of the stage as an occasion of sore trial. The culprit was a small boy with red hair, an angelic face, and a voice like a soprano fog-horn howling on one note. “Lofty,” he chanted, as Blomfield strove within the ring. "Go on, Lofty, attaboy Lofty, go on Lofty, attaboy Lofty ...” On and on and on the voice went, piercing, unescapable, inexhaustible. “If that boy were mine I’d spank him,” said one man. “Shame,” said a matron nearby. "Dear little chap; ought to be in his bed, though.” On and on went the voice. On and on and on. The same woman pursed her lips and said: “That child is getting on my nerves, on my nerves I tell you. Shut up!” she shouted at the auburn angel. “Attaboy Lofty, attaboy Lofty, attaboy Lofty ...” The boy remained vocal and oblivious. At last the bout and the chanting ended. There were sighs of relief. The second pair of wrestlers entered the ring. Shudders went through the crowd near the stage as the voice resumed as fresh as paint: “Attaboy Joe, attaboy Joe, attaboy Joe ...” Angel face had found a new hero to worship.