NEWS IN BRIEF

Dominion, Volume 33, Issue 280, 21 August 1940, Page 11

NEWS IN BRIEF

Prayers For The Empire

Prayers for tlie Empire were olfeied up at tlie weekly intercessory service in tlie Town Hall, AVellington, yesterday Tlie first portion of tlie hour was conducted by the Rev. O. Burnet, who spoke briefly ou "is God Almighty and the second was in the hands Cit Mr. T. C. Brasil, assisted by a number of ministers and laymen, Mr. C. Collins was at the organ.

Federation of Labour. 'The National Council of the Federation of Labour is holding a quarterly conference in AVellington. Air. A. AleLagan. national president, is presifling. Tiie conference opened iu the Trades Hall yesterday and is expected to last two or three days.

Defective Trani Tracks. Considerable repairs are being made to tlie tram tracks in Courtenay Place. Repairs to track foundations are being made continuously, such is tbeir stale, and it is only a matter of time when the tracks from Courtenay Place to tlie Bank of New Zealand corner, on Lambton Quay, will have to be rela'id._ 'These tracks have now been down 35 years, so that they have done good work.

Shoaling on Grey Bar. AVith tlie recent prolonged dry weather and no fresh in the Grey River for almost two months, considerable shoaling has taken place on the Giey River bar, and the depth at high water on Alonday was only 19ft. Ilin., a. reduction of three feet since the previous soundings, and tlie lowest for many months. As a result of the shoaling, the loading of tlie larger types of vessels has been considerably reduced. Commerce Chambers Co-operate. Representatives of the Petone and Lower Hutt Chambers of Commerce were welcomed at last night s meeting of the AVellington chamber by the president, Air. R. H. Nimmo. Representation of the Hutt A'alley chambers is part of a movement to co-ordinate tlie activities of the local Chambers of Commerce and extend their influence. Air. A. Lcibezeit represented Petone in the absence of Air. AV. P. Coles, Air. C. E. Aloran Lower Hutt, in the absence of Air. A. J. Gearing. The Anzacs.

General Sir lan Hamilton, writing to a London newspaper, informs readers that the word "Anzac” was very much more than "a code word at the time of the Gallipoli campaign. “Evervone,” writes 'Sir lan, “real Anziics included, will be pleased to learn that, the Aussies are out to win a new title for themselves which will eclipse the world-famous title of Anzac. In this attempt they will find their best backers and well-wishers in the ranks of the gallant Anzacs themselves, whether they be Australians or New Zealanders.”

Soldiers and Air Attach'. Australian soldiers, even before they go overseas, are being accustomed to the always-present risk of air attack. Some of the troops of the Seventh Division, A.1.F., have been in camp at Ingleburn. Under an arrangement with the Royal Australian Air Force, a plane appears over the camp each day. AVherever the pilot sees a detachment of troops marching, drilling, or at work on guns, lie dives low over their he«ids. Tlie men have become so used to this performance that they now regard it as part of 'tlie day’s routine. The R.A.A.I’. pilot also swoops over the ctrinp blindings.

Old Coin Discovered. An interesting relic unearthed recently at. -Sogi, Apia, during excavation work, was an old copper coin, which was found nearly 4ft. below the surface. The coin is the size of a shilling, but 'thinner. On one side is the figure of a lion, with three paws restin- on a shield, and the letters “OAI beneath. Surrounding the figure are the words “Doseientas Pievas en Kilog, Clngo Centimos.” The reverse side shows a male figure resting on a high headland with outstretched arm pointIng to the sea with a baton. The only lettering distinguishable are the figures “1670.”

Waterfront Control. Because of the need to keep down the numbers of the Waterfront Control Commission no representative of the producers will be appointed, according to advice received from the Alinister of Labour, Mr. AVebb, at a monthly meeting of the Auckland executive of the New Zealand Farmers’ Union. It was stated that representations had been made to the Alinister along those lines in view of the unsatisfactory conditions .prevailing. Tlie union had also suggested that improvements might be effected by using barges for Hie loading of cargo- and 'by using trays or slings which could be lifted from the trucks. Representatives of the union a're to be invited to a conference called by the Government to discuss working on tlie waterfronts in New Zealand.

Eyesight Test. Before passing as lit for military duties a man has to pass several tests. One of these is for eyesight. The testemployed at the Buckle Street Drill Hall, where all Wellington recruits are examined, is one invented by the Japanese. It consists of half-a-dozen squares of paper, filled in with a mosaic 01 dots and lines in a variety of pastel shades. Some of these mazy designs include definite figures, outlined in a certain shade or colour, plain enough to the person with normal sight, but puzzling or not visible to the colour blind or those with defective sight. There are two squares which to the normal sight present the course of a flowing river with several bends, yet to the colour blind only a definite unit figure is visible. The variation in colours does file trick that catches the iwson with defective eyesight. 3he rest, of the test consists of reading letters of varying size on a distant wall, using one eye at u lime, the usual optician’s test.