NEWS IN BRIEF

Dominion, Volume 34, Issue 125, 20 February 1941, Page 9

NEWS IN BRIEF

Art Union Drawing The (li'tiwing of "One Tor Alother" Art Union is to take place at the Masonic Hall, The Terrace, IVellington, this morning, starting at 11.30, Pacifist Views. It was evident that many people in New Zealand held pacifist views, said Mr. O. Bell, Crown representative, when examining an appellant before Hie No. 4 Armed Forces Appeal Board at Wellington yesterday. Vicloty Queen Carnival. The'Weliinglon Fdueation Board last night agreed to grant a half-holiday to school children in Wellington and suburbs, but not in tile Hutt Valley, to enable them to attend the street pageant to inaugurate the Victory Queen Carnival in aid of patriotic funds. The Two Comets. Only with telescopes, and then not very well, are comet 19-11 A and Cunningham's Comet, which have been visible for about three weeks, now discernible. The new comet can be seen in the early evening and Cnnuigham’s in the early morning. Rugby Football Prospects. Officials of the various Rugby football clubs in Wellington and the suburbs are now turning their attention to the coming season, aud delegates will shortly be called together for the annual meeting of Hie Wellington Rugby Union, on March 19. It is said that there are good prospects of Services teams taking part in the Rugby competitions this winter.

Deep-waler Starfish. The third deep-water starfish reported in New Zealand waters has been sent to the Auckland War Museum. Ir was caught oil' the Bay of Plenty. It is covered with roundish knobs of a purple hue on a background of bright yellow and vermilion and is sometimes found off New South \\ ales, where the fishermen call it the tire brick fish.

Free Use of Baths. Advice that Australian and New Zealand airmen en route overseas would bo admitted free to swimming baths under the control of the Auckland City Council, was received from the town clerk at a meeting of the executive and finance sub-committee of lhe Auckland Metropolitan Patriotic Committee. The mayor of Newmarket had also given a similar assurance in respect to the Olympic Pool. Three Cargoes Lost.

Taking all precautions against, trouble, a Rotorua business man placed his Christmas order overseas early last year, but the ship carrying it. was sunk. 'Chore was still time for a repeat order to arrive in time for Christmas, Inn that, too, went: to the bottom. Advice has now been received that for the third time the goods have been sunk. All that has so far arrived is th*' invoice and (he bill.

Soldiers on Point Duty. At several busy intersections in Auckland recently, members of the newly formed territorial unit the First Provost Company, now undergoing a course at Narrow Neck. undertook point: duiy. The mon, who wore military uniform and white gloves, worked under the supervision of City Council traffic officers. They handled traffic smartly, and motorists commented upon the clear signals given by the soldiers in their temporary role.

Music Examinations. Mr. E. C. Cachemaille, representative in AA'ellington of the Associated Board of the Royal Colleges of Music, has been advised that Mr. AVesley Roberts, who was in New Zealand 14 years ago, will be one of Hie examiners this year. Difficulties have arisen in England over the publication of new sheet music for the examinations held by tlie board, and, from the present outlook it would seem that it is not likely I hat any new music will be available, so that, (lie board may be thrown buck upon such music as is available in the country. Waste Materials.

Al the ntinual meeting of lhe Auckland Chamber of Commerce on Tuesday, tlie president, Mr. N. B. Spencer, who is chairman of the AVaste Reclamation Committee, reported that the Auckland district had collected 16 tons of non-ferrous metals. He said Hits would result in between £6OO and £7OO accruing to the Patriotic Council funds. Arrangements had been made to collect waste paper and a depot, had been opened at Newmarket. Others would also be opened shortly. In view of the petrol restrictions a house-to house collection would not bo possible.

Leaving Well Alone. In an Auckland suburban residential district, which otherwise was complying with instructions in Tuesday night’s trial black-out, the wardens were surprised to see one house so brilliantly illuminated that it stood out as a beacon. Tlie officials visited the offending house, to find it was a new one in which painters were working overtime to complete tlie contract. Die problem of what action should be taken was solved by one understanding warden with the remark: “Heaven forbid that we should stop any mail from working more than 40 hours a week.” Sand for Incendiaries. Discussing tlie provision of sand for smothering any incendiary bombs which possibly be dropped in Wellington, tlie city engineer. Mr. Luke, said yesterday Unit almost any receptacle would do as a sand-container for business or private premises, so long as it was kept dry in some sheltered place, preferably near the front or back door. Supplies of sand would be made available to business houses from Hie Corporation yards, Clyde Quay, as from next week. 'The proper quantity to store would lie as much as would fill a benzine tin. It is not proposed to deliver sand to householders, but they are being asked to have their containers ready. Pigmy Tree Exhibits. Forest trees in miniature are included in an exhibition of 60 sub-alpine plants collected from tlie volcanic plateau in the vicinity of Tongariro, at present on show at the Auckland War Memorial Museum. In full fruit of a brilliant red colour is a pigmy rimu, which grows to a height of only two or 1111'00 inchest'. Another shrub is a pigmy totara. which grows to an average height of 18 inches. There are several species of daisies and two rare veronicas, the latter being found in the scoria country at a very high altitude. The plants are rep resen la live of those to lie seen on the mountain slopes between Waiouru and Ngauruhoe, and many in these parts arc named after Mr. ,T. C. Bidwell, the first European to climb Ngauruhoe 102 years ago.