NEWS IN BRIEF

Dominion, Volume 34, Issue 137, 6 March 1941, Page 9

NEWS IN BRIEF

Women Pick Beans

Members of the eastern bays section of the 'Women’s War Auxiliary went to the rescue of market gardeners in the Hutt Valley by assisting to pick the bean crop, much of which has gone to the canning factory at Petone for eventual use in a branch of the armed forces. The male labour of the growers was required to pick the tomato crop and had the women not come forward the bean crop would largely have gone to waste. The women were paid reasonable wages, which they have devoted to patriotic purposes.

Sign of the Tinies. “'Closing down at end of month owing to import restrictions,” is a printed notice which appears over the show windows of a Wellington mid-city shop. It should be added that the goods usually retailed in these premises were foreign manufactures of a luxury or semi-luxury nature?

Hutt Tomato Crop. The tomato crop in the Hutt X alley is approaching its full capacity. Not only is the Wellington market being supplied but shipments are being made to Nelson for sauce making and supplies are also being sent to the factory at Petone for pulping. Eventually the pulp will be used for condiments.

Town or City Hall? Wellington has long since passed from the town status to that of a City, yet the centre of all municipal activity is still called the Town Hall. It is the opinion of some members of the city council that the name of the municipal centre should be called the City Hall, a designation thought more in accord with the dignity of a city in the second century of its existence.

Maori A Simple Language. Speaking at the annual meeting of the Manawatu Honorary Justices’ Association in favour of the Maori language being taught in the schools, the president said: “Any person can be taught in a single lesson how to pronounce and spell every word in this -ideally simple language. Every syllable ends with a vowel, each pronounced as in French. Only nine consonants are used, and they are pronounced as, in English.’

Vice-Regal Angler. His interest in trout-fishing was neatly expressed by the ‘ GovernorGeneral, Sir Cyril Newall, in reply to addresses of welcome at the opening of the Municipal Conference at the Auckland Town Hall on Monday night. “If by chance I am fortunate enough to catch a trout of traditional dimensions, I shall never doub't that it must have spent its early life under civic protection and guidance in the hatcheries,” his Excellency said, amid laughter.

Analyst Finds Beer. Facts are sometimes proved in the courts of law with an exactitude.that seems to the layman to be hardly necessary. During the hearing of the charge of murder in the Magistrates’ Court, Wellington, yesterday, some evidence was given that made even the solicitors engaged on the case smile. lhe Dominion analyst, Mr. R. L. Andrew, was called into the witness box. He testified that the liquid in a full beer bottle was beer. He had analysed it at the request of the police, he said.

Life’s Simple Pleasures. It was a pity that people had not come back to the simple, pleasures of life, said Mr. R. R. Martin, president of the Karori Horticultural Society, introducing Mrs. Knox Gilmer at the society’s dahlia show held yesterday in the Parish Hall, Karori. For this state of affairs Mr. Martin blamed the motorcar, and emphasized that if he had his way he would cut out petrol altogether for a period so that car owners and others, bereft of handy transport, might realize the joys that came from gardening.

Flower Shows in Wartime. “Flower shows cannot harm patriotic efforts; in fact, they can help them, said Mrs. Knox Gilmer, in her address yesterday at the opening of the Karori Horticultural Society’s dahlia show, proceeds from which will be transferred to patriotic funds. Mrs. Gilmer mentioned that there had been much controversy about flower and vegetable shows being continued while there was a war going on, but as gardening provided recreation and as there was a certain amount of pleasure to be derived from it, she did not hold with the view that shows, where people had the opportunity to display the results of their efforts, should be abandoned.

Sand for Fire Bombs. The Wellington City Council has taken the lead in providing buckets ot dry sand for the suppression of incendiary bombs. These receptacles, painted scarlet, and stamped “for E.P. use, have been placed in the entrance vestibule of the Town Hall, as a reminder to citizens generally of their duty m this respect. Sand is now procurab e at the city corporation yards art Clyde Quay, but, so far, not a great deal ot it, has been requisitioned. The root trouble is that such supplies can only be easily lifted by those with motorcars or lorries, as a bucket, of sand is somewhat' weighty. - That being the case, consideration is being given to a proposal to convey the sand to tlie householder by the rubbish-ear service, or in some other way. Lent Season. “I am fully aware ot the difficulties of observing Lent in a country where the season of the year is the opposite to that in which Lent occurs in the old lan’d,” writes Bishop Simkin, Bishop of Auckland, in a pastoral letter in the “Church Gazette.” “Yet I believe that the effort to . keep Lent and to make some real sacrifice tor_oui self-discipline is our duty, and if honestly made will bring a great blessing to us. I believe that we have no greater need at this present tinie-than to repent, nationally and individually, and I hope that, you will all make the utmost use of tlie penitential services provided during the season. There is always the positive way in which we cun keep Lent. Could we all make a definite resolution to join in the daily intercessions which are being offeicd in our churches at this time?" Beware Stranded Mines. The need for a public warning to visitors to ocean -beaches against handling any unusual-looking canister they might find washed up on the shore was suggested by a member of the Paraparauniu Home Guard during a discussion at the last parade. It was pointed out’ that a mine might tie washed up on any of the beaches and if tampered with bv inexperienced persons grave results might follow. He thought a public warning should be given by the Government that in the event of any* thing resembling a mine being found the fact should be reported at once to the nearest police station or post office to enable them to get in touch with responsible officers. Another member said he had seen a warning notice m a post office, but-others who visited the post office daily said they had not noticed it, and agreed that a more effective warning was desirable. The officer in command thought the suggestion was a good one, and undertook to pass it on.