NEWS OF THE DAY.

Evening Post, Volume CXXV, Issue 92, 20 April 1938, Page 8

NEWS OF THE DAY.

Every Unit Represented. Not only was every unit represented in the returned soldiers' contingent which left for Australia yesterday, but practically every reinforcement had its member or members. The Maori labour battalions were well represented and a Niue Islander represented those who served from the South Seas. The general secretary of the New Zealand Returned Soldiers' Association (Mr., S. G. Harrison) said today that the members of the contingent had been carefully checked as they went on board last night, and so far as could be ascertained all had sailed. One of the Maoris had been taken ill, but he was replaced yesterday by another member of the same tribe. A "radiogram received by the Union Steam Ship Company from the Maunganui this morning stated that the weather was fine and the sea smooth. The message added: "Men thoroughly enjoying themselves." • Floods at Hunterville. Hunterville experienced the worst flood for seventeen years on Saturday afternoon, states "The Post's" representative. Footpaths and a number of business premises were covered with water for over four hours. Near the Silverhope Bush motorists were held up for hours,. and a ■ great deal of damage has been done to bridges, property, and roads in. the district. A Final Gesture. When the ships carrying the returned soldiers' contingent to Sydney passed the Heads last night, the electric light detachments of the 15th Heavy Battery, Fort Dorset, paraded specially, and farewelled them by playing the searchlights on the vessels. Messages were signalled to both' the Monowai and Maunganui, and were acknowledged. Royal Birthday. H.R.H. Princess Elizabeth Alexandra Mary »f York, the Heiress-Presumptive to the Throne, celebrates her twelfth birthday tomorrow. She was born on April 21, 1926, at Royal Lodge, Great Windsor Park, her father and mother, now the present King and Queen, then being the Duke and Duchess of York. Her only sister, the Princess Margaret Rose, is four years younger, having been born on August 21, 1930. Rescue of Seagull. The distressing predicament of a seagull that had become entangled with a telephone wire stretching from the Queen's Wharf sheds to the Ferry Building attracted much attention on the Auckland waterfront on Monday morning (states the, "New Zealand Herald"). The bird had had a piece of mutton fat tied to its leg, and by the string it hung suspended, at times fluttering wildly while scores of its fellows screamed and dived about it. No fewer than seven men—two policemen, two telegraph linesmen, and three Ferry Company employees—cooperated in the difficult task of effecting a rescue. This was eventually accomplished by lowering the line until the bird could be reached and freed. . i . Need for Safety Measure. On a calm, sunny day there are few spots In Wellington more attractive than the grassed area adjoining the Boat Harbour and full use is made of it by children and adults. The grownups are usually content to regard the harbour and its changing scene from the seats which give the final touch to the area, but the children, or many of them, seem to find a fascination in playing near the railing overlooking the Boat Harbour. There is nothing to prevent a child from falling into the water, and already there has been one case of a small boy overbalancing and requiring two men to rescue him. The provision of wire-netting along the railing would be a safety measure that would be much appreciated 'by parents. There are not always adults about to rescue youngsters who may fall into the water, and safety measures adopted after a fatality would be poor consolation to bereaved parents. Infectious Diseases. Twenty-five cases of infectious, diseases and four deaths were reported to the Wellington Health Office for the week ended April 19, three of the deaths being attributed to tuberculosis and one to diphtheria. In the central Wellington area there were 13 cases of diphtheria, three of erysipelas, two of tuberculosis, and one each of scarlet fever, septic abortion; hydatids, and undulant fever. In Nelson-Marlborough, one case of poliomyelitis (paralysed), one of scarlet fever, and one of tuberculosis were reported. In reply to a question yesterday, a Health Department official said that though a few more cases of measles had been reported in Wellington, these, were scattered, and there was no indication at present oi any major oubreak.