NEWS IN BRIEF

Dominion, Volume 37, Issue 120, 16 February 1944, Page 4

NEWS IN BRIEF

Art Union Draw

The drawing of “Tons of Money” Art Union is to take place at the board room, second floor, Wellington Commercial Travellers’ Association building. Customhouse Quay, this morning, commencing at 9.30 o'clock. Attempted Murder Charge. Charged wilh the attempted murder ot Neville Godfrey Green, at Pori on January 17, William Robert Alfred Hallis. aged 62, farm manager, Pabiatua, appeared in the Magistrates’ Court, We.lington, yesterday, and was remanded to appear at Pabiatua on February 24.

Rotary Conference. The Rotary conference, to have been held at Christchurch next month, has been postponed because of rail travel restrictions. It may now take place after Easter. This was announced at the Wellington Rotary Club lunch yesterday. Stuart Wilson Cup. A crop of potatoes which yielded 2b tons 3cwt. an acre gained John Biuuie, a pupil of the Huinga School, Taranaki, this year's award of the Stuart Wilson Cup. The Education Department pre seats a gold medal to the winner. The season being unfavourable, this crop :« considered excellent. Radio Petition.

Continued support is being accorded the petition urging the Government to consider establishing a radio broadcasting station at Timaru. Drawn up by the mayor, the petition is available at the offices of the Timaru Borough Council, aud a number of signature sheets are in circulation.

Maori Girls’ Hostel. A hostel, which will provide accommodation for Maori women and girls and enable them to continue their studies and employment in a friendly Christian atmosphere, is to be erected at Hamilton by the Home and Maori Methodist Mission. The estimated cost of the scheme is £4OOO. Main Trunk Expresses. In yesterday morning’s issue it was stated that till'further notice a limited express will run from Auckland on Monday and Friday evening of each week, and from Wellington on Tuesday and Saturday. The Railways Department points out that the trains from Wellington will leave on the same days as those from Auckland, Mondays and Fridays. Oyster Season. The oyster season is at hand again, and sometime this week, weather conditions permitting, Southlanders will be sampling the first of the season catch fresh from the famous beds in Foveaux Strait. Preliminary reports indicate good prospects. Oystermen at Bluff have been working steadily in recent weeks preparing for the opening of ths season. Auckland Municipal Roll. The main roll for the Auckland City Council election on May 20, which closed on January 31, will contain 52,594 names, compared with 53,798 in 1941 and 45,870 in 1938. Fluctuations in main roll numbers, however, are not of much significance, since the supplementary rolls at recent elections have contained between 15,000 and 20,000 names—a relatively large proportion of the whole. Waterside Workers’ President. The ballot held by the New Zealand Waterside Workers’ Union.for the election of a president for the ensuing year resulted in a win for Mr. H. Barnes, Auckland, who defeated Mr. J. Flood, Lyttelton, the present president. It was officially stated yesterday that the voting was very close. Mr, T. Hill, the national secretary, was re-elected unopposed. Twenty Tons of Wool Comforts. The estimated requirements of the National Patriotic Fund Board for 1944 include over 20 tons of wool to make knitted comforts for the three services. The navy will need 16,0001 b. of wool, the anny 63001 b., and the air force 23,000 lb. The estimated cost is £23,000, of which £7OOO will be recoverable. Under a reorganized scheme, the whole of the cost of the knitting wool will be debited against the board, but the provincia, councils will be responsible for the knitting, as previously. National War Savings. National war savings quotas were obtained last week at 196 towns, five more than in the preceding week. Every postal district attained its objective. In tee Timaru district for the second consecutive week every town was successful in obtaining its individual quota. The unusually good results of recent weeks reflect the enthusiasm and enterprise witn which most local committees are now endeavouring to raise their full annual quotas before the close of the national savings year at March 31. Battle Against Boredom. The battle against boredom and some of the steps taken to fight it among New Zealand garrison troops in the Pacific were described to the Rotary Club, Wellington,' at its lunch yesterday by Mr. H. H. Newton. He mentioned the work of the Army Education and Welfare Service, the Y.M.C.A., National Patriotic Fund Board, and the Services Canteen Board. One feature of the entertainment side was that through the assistance of. the United States authorities, New Zealand personnel, saw first-run motion pictures sometimes a year before their release in New Zealand. A Woman’s Initiative.

Calling at a place where her busband had left his motor-car with the ignition keys in position so that she could use it, an Auckland woman discovered that someone bad forestalled her by driving it away. On her way home she recognized the car being driven down the road. With considerable courage and resource she leaped on to the running board, startling the would-be thief by informing him that she owned the vehicle and advising him to get out as there was a policeman waiting for him along the road. The car was stopped and the driver decamped, leaving it to its rightful owner. Public Bequests. Public bequests totalling £7OO are made under the will of Mrs. Mary McKenzie, who died at New Plymouth in December. They are £lOO each to the Home Mission, fund, to the Foreign Mission fund and to the Maori Mission fund of the Presbyterian Church of New Zealand, to rhe Presbyterian Church Social Service Association. Wellington, for the purposes of the Presbyterian orphanage, Berhampore, to the Y.W.C.A.. New Plymouth, to the Salvation Army. New Plymouth, and to the Presbyterian Church property trustees. New Plymouth.—P.A. War Coincidence.

Coincidences are happening continually in connexion with war. Here is another. Gunner J. Ball wrote a letter from Egypt to his parents in Hamilton, Mr. and Sirs. J. Ball, and by a strange coincidence the letter was censored by Gunner Ball’s cousin, a lieutenant in the British Army, whom he had never met. They had been within a few miles of each other without knowing it. Thu lieutenant arranged a meeting, but unfortunately both units moved on before they could get together. Later news stated that the cousins were to meet, in Italy.

Given a Chance. Riki Te Koau, a thrcequarter-caste Maori, aged 42, who had pleaded guilty to breaking and entering by night the premises of Thomas Spry, Kaiioi, and stealing property and money of u toll! value <>f £lB7/6/-, was admitted by the Chief Justice (Sir Michael .Myers), in the Supreme Court yesterday, to probation for one year, on condition that tie pays the cost of the prosecution, £l/1/-. It was stated that the goods and tupuiy had been recovered. His- Honour said be was not sure that prisoner deserve! it, but as the probation officer's report was favourable, he would give him a chance to rehabilitate himself. Mr. J. A. Scott appeared for Te Koau. Triple Rescue. In a heavy surf and strong undertow, members of the Maranui Surf and Lifesaving Club assisted three people to the shore at the weekend. A small boy who got into difficulties was supported by a man till a club member took him inshore. The man, who was not a strong swimmer, then found himself being carried out, and a girl who was swimming nearby went to his assistance. However they were not able to make any headway (jgainst_ the strong undertow and were helped in by two other club members who then arrived ou the scene. Bathers who find themselves in difficulties should raise one arm above the bead and continue giving the signal till assistance arrives.