NEWS IN BRIEF Recruiting- Progress

Dominion, Volume 33, Issue 239, 4 July 1940, Page 11

NEWS IN BRIEF

Recruiting- Progress

A total of 91 registrations were made in the Wellington and Hutt Valley area on Tuesday, bringing the total for the first two days of lhe month to 171 and the total since recruiting began to 7465. Of those so far medically examined 4776 have boon passed fit, 969 have been declared permanently unlit, and 3;»14 have been sent to camp. There are at present. 507 men on lite temporarily unfit list. Radio Licences. Radio licences in New Zealand for the month of May totalled 340,073, compared with 316,838 in May last year. For Sick- and Wounded Fund. The Belmont Golf Club has decided to donate to the Sick, Wounded and Distress Fund all green fees collected next Sunday. Stableford, bogey, putting ami approach competitions will be. held. Fiji Import Licences. In future the importation into Fiji Colony of cigars, cigarettes and tobacco is prohibited' except with the leave ttnfl licence of the Comptroller of Customs. 'l’liese items have hitherto not: been on the list of goods which are subject to a permit.

Whitebait Season. Fine weal iter favoured the opening of the whitebait season on the Waikato River this week, and a fair quantity of the fish was taken, (hough there do not appear to have been any large hauls. One experienced man who tried for three hours caught only lib. of whitebait, of a value of 3/-. Golden Mallard Ducks. Twelve American golden mallard ducks have been liberated in the Wyndham Domain lagoon by the Otago Acclimatization Society. There are many ordinary mallards to be seen in the lagoon, and it is hoped that they will cross with the American variety and thus produce a bigger bird. The golden mallard is easily recognized by the bright fluffy plumage on its neck.

A Surprising Saver. During the hearing of a charge against a youth of 17 years in the Magistrates’ Court, Auckland, De-tective-Sergeant McHugh mentioned that defendant had previously borne an excellent character and was a steady worker. “He has only been in Auckland eight months and has saved £200,” said Mr. McHugh. The magistrate, Mr. Molding, S.M., looked surprised, and remarked, “£2OO in eight months? How does he do it?”

Welcome For Airmen. “Western Canada is preparing a royal welcome for New Zealand airmen when they arrive 'to participate in the Empire training scheme,” said Mr. E. E. Ackland, honorary agent for the New Zealand Government at Vancouver, who has arrived on a visit to the Dominion. Mr. Ackland added that in Vaneouver arrangements were being made for a civic welcome, tit which the Lieutenant-Governor of British Columbia, the mayor of Vancouver, and other dignitaries would be present.

A Matchless Collector. One of the most popular personages in an Auckland office recently was a man who had prepared for a rainy day. His foresight had been directed toward collecting full boxes of genuine wooden and wax matches. Before the unbelieving eyes of his fellow workers he drew from various capacious pockets an assortment of brands that roused the envy of pipe and cigarette smokers. He even went so far as to strike any match just to show that there was no deception. Purchasers rushed him, and the price soared to twopence a box, but the hoarder firmly refused all offers. Later, however, his natural good nature overcame him and he unbent sufficiently to sell two half-boxes to two of his bosom friends at the bargain price of one penny. In a burst of confidence he revealed that he spent his half-days accumulating matches from city and suburban shops instead of digging five family garden. He added that be considered it a matchless hobby.