NEWS IN BRIEF

Dominion, Volume 34, Issue 112, 5 February 1941, Page 11

NEWS IN BRIEF

Finger Print Evidence Giving evidence in the Supreme Court. Wellington, yesterday, during the trial of a man charged with breaking, entering and theft, Constable Jensen, a fingerprint expert, said the police usually took nine prints of similarity between fingerprints as a mini.mum. “I should say, from the number of prints I have examined, that that is a very safe minimum,” he added. Men lor Industries. The State Placement Service, Auckland, has received about 200 applications from men who desire to enter a training course in fitting, turning and welding under the Government's scheme to train men for the engineering industry, upon which demands are being made for the production of armaments. It was the first day on which applications were invited. Men who desired to enrol came from njany occupations. Some were employed, and some were out of work, and in ages they ranged from 18 to 60 years.

Volunteer Harvesters. Good work was performed by a number of business men and garage hands during harvesting in the Te Awamutu district. The men readily volunteered to assist the farmers because of the shortage of labour, to get their hay in. The farmers where these men worked spoke highly of their services. The men donated the whole of the money earned to the patriotic funds.

Shooting in King Country. ' Good sport is at present obtainable in the rugged country of the Mauhangaroa Ranges on the western shores of Lake Taupo. Wild pigs are particularly numerous, and herds of wild cattle are to be found feeding in old clearings in the bush which have become covered by second growth. Toward the southern end of the range on the open country at the fringe of the bush rabbits are particularly numerous.

Successful Street Day. The street day held in December should result in a profit of about £lO5, said Mrs. L. O. H. Tripp at yesterday’s meeting of the executive committee of the Wellington branch of the Navy League. The amount collected, which included donations totalling £27, was HOS/4/8. From this was to be deducted expenses incurred, but these should not be more than £3.

Spots on the Sun. On the sun at present is a large group of spots about 86,000 miles in length. The group is quite active and is centrally situated. This is the first sign of activity on the sun for some time. If it is necessary to tlx the blame for the recent spell of bad weather, it would be more, appropriate to blame the sunspots instead of the comets, though probably the sunspots had nothing to do with It. Most certainly the comets did not. though a number of people seem inclined to think so. Petone and Hutt.

Congratulations to the mayor and councillors of the city of Ixiwer Hutt and to the Hutt Chamber of Commerce on the achievement by their borough of city status were expressed by the president of the Wellington Chamber of Commerce, Mr. R. 11. Nimmo, at a meeting of the council of the chamber last night. He said he hoped that Petone would soon also become a city, or that, better still, Petone aud Hutt would combine to form one big city. Hospital Administration.

A serious and highly-undesirable state of affairs had been disclosed, said the president of the Wellington Chamber of Commerce, Mr. R. 11. Nimmo, referring to hospital administration at a meeting of the council of the chamber last night. Mr. Nimmo added that the whole question was now under consideration by the Prime Minister. “Do you think we will get rid of political control?” asked a member. “Yes, if the Prime Minister’s suggestion 'is carried into effect and a commission is set up to control the hospital, ’ Mr. Nimmo replied. Not Enemy Agents.

Defence authorities in Napier received a number of telephone calls last Thursday evening to the effect that a Alorse lamp was signalling from the summit of the Sugar Loaf hill at the back of Taradale. Inquiries revealed that the flashes were not destined to be decoded by the enemy, but by Napier Home Guard members, who were cooperating with a group of thp Taradale Home Guard in signalling manoeuvres. The opinion was expressed that in such an event the movements should be notified to the public, who acted properly in reporting the matter to the correct quarters.

Founders’ Society. Tomorrow evening at the National Club the New Zealand Founders’ Society is to celebrate the anniversary of the signing of the Treaty of Waitangi by holding a social evening. The president, Air. Cheviot Bell, will preside. Among those who have accepted invitations to be present are the High Commissioner for Caiiada. Dr. W. A. Riddell, and Airs. Riddell; the Australian Trade Commissioner. Air. C. E. Critchley; Air. L. O. 11. Tripp, representing the Royal Empire Society; Air. J. A. Hunt, representing the Royal Society of St. George; Air. R. 11. Nimmo. representing the Scottish societies; and Air. John Tucker, representing the Welsh Society. Ridding World of an Evil.

The Henley-on-Thames Rotary Club has communicated with the Wellington Rotary Club recording the fact that it was honoured by the presence at a recent meeting of Sergeant. Pilot Julian, Hataitai, Wellington, and Sergeant Pilot Turnbull, Palmerston North. “It is our custom,” the secretary wrote, “to entertain men from overseas when opportunity offers. We delight in doing honour to the men who have made such a sacrifice as your gallant sons have done in joining up to assist us in ridding the world of an evil and a deadly tyranny. We look forward to a conclusion of the present strife, and the dawn of a brotherly age when the principles of Rotary will form a great part, in the relationships of men and nations.” The Harrow Club has also sent cordial greetings and wishes for a happier .year.

Navy League Souvenir. Every year members of the Wellington branch of the Navy League attending schools aud colleges receive a souvenir. usually a small folder with a photograph of an important person aud letterpress about this person on the inner sides. This year’s souvenir follows the customary style. The photograph is a-Marcus Adams study of the daughters of the King anil Queen, the Princesses Elizabeth and Alargaret Rose, and the accompanying letterpress is an extract from Princess Elizabeth's broadcast speech of October of last year. It reads: “We know, every one Of us. that In the end all will he well, for God will cure for us. and will give us victory and jieaee: and when peace comas, remember it will be for us, the children of today, to ujake the world of tomorrow a better and happier ■ Dlace.”