NEWS IN BRIEF

Dominion, Volume 36, Issue 308, 23 September 1943, Page 6

NEWS IN BRIEF

National AVar Savings Last week 185 towns attained their national war savings quotas. Seventeen of the 18 chief post, office centres were successful, and in 16 postal districts the full district quota was obtained. Four additional places attained thirlooth con-, secutive weekly successes—Marton and Aramoho in the AA’auganui district, lakaka in the Nelson district, aud Awa-iiino-Mokau in Taranaki.

£5032 for Patriotic Fund. The amount now collected and subscribed by the AVellington Commercial Travellers’ Association for the metropolitan patriotic fund for comforts for the New Zealand forces overseas and in camp has reached £5032. What to Eat. “Go into any restaurant in the city and you will find girls making a meal of white bread, cakes and such things.” said Dr. Turbott in a health talk to AVellington Rotarians. “They would be much better nourished if they preferred wholemeal bread, a bit of cheese, and a glass of milk.”

Fish Shortage. Scarcity of fish in any quantity still prevails in AVellington. In one centrally situated fish shop which usually disposes nf a large quantity of sea food daily there were only exhibited for sale yesterday mussels, mutton birds, whitebait, eels aud oysters. No fish from bountiful Cook Strait, yet plenty of oysters from Foveaux Strait, 400-odd miles away. Thirty Years in One Church. On Sunday, Mr. 11. Temple AVhite completed 30 years as organist and choirmaster at the Taranaki Street Wesley Church, AVellington. At the morning service the Rev. Ashleigh K. Petch referred to the excellent and faithful service Mr. White had rendered to the church, and indeed, to the city, during that long period.

Jail for Ship-Deserter. Thomas Richard Rogers, seaman, aged 21, who pleaded guilty to deserting from his ship at Auckland on August 31 last, was sentenced to one month’s imprisonment by Mr. Goulding, S.M., in the Magistrates’ Court, AVellington, yesterday, The agent for the shipping company said accused had made no attempt to rejoin the ship, nor had he reported to the company. Price Fixation.

Recently inquiry was made as to the price of a safety bicycle in a AVellington shop. Much to the surprise of the inquirer the shop assistant said the price of the particular cycle indicated was £l6 17/1, “AVhy the penny?” asked the customer. . “AVe don’t know—that is the price placed on it by the Price Tribunal, aud that is what we are charging,” was the reply. “You wouldn't take £l6/17/-?” he asked. “No, we must stick to the price that was fixed,” .was- the reply. Radio Officer Deserts.

A radio officer, Stanley Walton Kebble, aged 22, admitted iu the Magistrates’ Court, Wellington, having deserted from an overseas ship, and he was sent to prison for a month. SeniorSergeant G. J. Paine said the owners of the ship regarded the offence as serious and that a substitute operator, had had to be taken from an essential industry. He would have to go to England and back at considerable expense. Kebble said the treatment he had received aboard the ship had led to his deserting it. Freedom from Slips.

Though tlie rainfall during the past month has been heavier than for any period of that length during the year, Wellington has heen remarkably free from landslips of any consequence. With the earth well loaded with water through the almost continuous rain of the last three lyeelw, it was expected that there might be slips along tlie many steep-sided hillside roads with which 'Wellington abounds, but other than a few barrow loads of spoil here and there no serious slips have been reported to the city engineer’s department; and the officials hope that this state of things wili continue.

Servicemen’s Skating Rink. The Glide roller skaling rink, Wakefield Street, which is being brought into use again by the Metropolitan Patriotic Committee, for the benefit of servicemen, has been provided with a hew floor of the finest bituminous mix, which appears to possess a perfect surface. Carpenters are busy constructing ticket and other offices, a skate room, manager’s office, and other necessary offices. The old main entrance in the centre of the Wakefield Street frontage,, has been completely boarded up. A new main entrance is being provided at the -eastern end of the frontage, where the executive offices are located. This rearrangement gives additional floor space for the skaters, and makes for convenience.