NEWS IN BRIEF

Dominion, Volume 34, Issue 139, 8 March 1941, Page 13

NEWS IN BRIEF

Soldier’s Lanyard

Civilians often express curiosity about the purpose of the coloured cord shoulder-lanyards worn by soldiers of the Divisional Cavalry and other units. A corporal of the cavalry who was

on leave this week was embarrassed to be asked whether he carried a whistle on the end. of the lanyard, hidden in

his tunic pocket. “Well, not exactly

a whistle,” he explained, “but it’s for wetting my whistle,” and he revealed that the article worn on the end of the cord was a bottle-opener.

Cheap Apples. Fancy grade Dunn apples, were smd in the Allen ’Street markets, AVellington, yesterday morning at 4/- a 40ib. case.

Pigeon Messengers. As the result of a discussion on signalling methods used during the Great AVar, members of the Gordonton (Hamilton) unit of the Home Guard have decided to establish pigeon lofts so that pigeons could be used for the dispatching of messages in case of an emergence. Valuable birds to form the nucleus for the teams have been given by Air. C. Crabbe, a member of the Hamilton Homing Pigeon Club.

Storms in the Atlantic. Storms and hurricanes in the North Atlantic during December and January were regarded by British seamen who have arrived at Auckland as being far more dangerous to shipping than the menace of enemy raiders and U-boats. One ship which was recently in Auckland crossed the Atlantic in light ballast and received such a buffeting during a hurricane that she lost many rivets before arriving at New York with the sea leaking into the No. 1 hold and a small amount of cargo for New Zealand slightly damaged. Wellington Apollo Singers.

Notwithstanding certain adversities brought about by the war, the financial position of the AVellington Apollo Singers is sound, states the report which will be submitted at the society’s annual meeting shortly. There have been several additions to the library, the present value of stock in hand being £9O. The committee expressed its appreciation of the past year’s services of the conductor, Air. H. Temple AVhite. During the past season donations had been received from Airs. Knox Gilmer and Alessrs. C. A. Rendle, C. D. Lennie, O. S. Heyman and R. A. AVrigbt.

Sex Education Proposal. The introduction of sex education in the school curriculum was urged by a deputation from the Auckland School Committees’ Association at a meeting oi the Auckland Education Board. Speakers said the question had. been exercising the minds of association members. It was appreciated that many teachers were opposed to the project but the authorities should face their responsibilities. Suitable lessons could be printed in the School Journal. Such education was given in other countries. The chairman, Air. W. J. Campbell, said the board would consider the representations, but be pointed out that the final decision lay with the department. Gold in Waste.

The discovery of a gold signet ring among more than 20,000 parcels collected in the big waste materials drive of some weeks ago has brought to light a strange coincidence. After the drive a man whose name begins' with B reported to the Christchurch City Council that he feared a gold signet ring, bearing his initials, had fallen into the sack, containing his waste material offering, A careful watch was kept for a ring when the huge number of parcels was being sorted at the council’s yard. This resulted in the discovery of a gold signet ring, and though the surname initial was a B it was not the ring about which inquiry had been made.

New Territorial Unit. The formation of Fiel'd Hygiene Sections having been decided on by tbe Army Department, as part of the Territorial Force, preparations are now being made for the selection of prospective non-commissioned officers. At a later date the units will undergo two months’ intensive training. One section will be located in each of the the three military districts in the Dominion. Personnel for the unit are to be drawn from those classed medically as Grade 2 or 3, and who have the trade qualifications necessary. Men of the foregoing gradings are at liberty to apply for inclusion in the unit. For the first section 11 prospective noncommissioned officers are to attend a course of instruction at the New Zealand Medical Corps depot shortly. It has been laid down that men to fill these positions should in civil life be sanitary inspectors or trainees, chemists’ apprentices or plumbers.