NEWS OF THE DAY

Evening Post, Volume CXXX, Issue 76, 26 September 1940, Page 10

NEWS OF THE DAY

Summer Time Again. Summer Time begins at 2 a.m. on Sunday and time will be advanced by thirty minutes. New Zealanders have by now got used to the transition, and the alteration in the clock causes no confusion. Summer Time will remain in force for seven months, until the last Sunday in April. "Lucky Scoop" Art Union. The drawing of "Lucky Scoop" art union is to take place at the Masonic Hall, The Terrace, Wellington, tomorrow morning, commencing at 9.15. Wellington's Flower Day. Wellington is to have a Flower Day at the end of the second week in October and all horticulturists are going to be asked to contribute blooms, the proceeds of the sale of which will go to patriotic purposes. In making this announcement at the opening of the Wellington Horticultural Society's spring show in the Town Hall, Mrs. Khox Gilmer appealed to all members to make the day a success. It was a chance, she said, for horticulturists to raise a big sum for the boys at the front. Clematis Cutters Cautioned. "This" has been an early spring, and never have our native flowers, particularly the kowhai, been so beautiful," remarked Mrs. Knox Gilmer at yesterday's opening of the Flower Show in the Town Hall. "The clematis season is also at hand," she added, "and we must protect our native flowers." If any of you see clematis cutters at work, I hope you will take the numbers of their cars and report them to the police, and I hope the fines won't be light." "Mary, Call the Cattle Home." Miss E. Aubrey and her brother, of Cattle Flat Sation, Wanaka, recently drove 160 head of cattle from the station through Central Otago to Oamaru. Travelling ten miles a day, they reached their destination in three weeks and delivered their large herd in splendid condition, without the loss of one animal. Miss Aubrey is only eighteen and her brother slightly older. The • achievement is no mean feat and proves how well the New Zealand girls tackle heavy work in these days when so many young men are away with the Army. Pioneers' Descendants Overseas. There are already 36 members of the New Zealand Founders' Society serving with the New Zealand Forces overseas. At a meeting of the society last night the president (Mr. Cheviot Bell) said he thought that was an excellent record for a society that was only eighteen months old. He said that the women of the society had decided to send the members overseas something in the way of Christmas cheer. Anti-grousing. There was still too much "grousing" in New Zealand, the Hon. W. Perry. M.L.C., commented when stressing the need for an optimistic outlook at a Returned Soldiers' Association function. "One of the worst forms of i grouser at the present time," he said, "is the man who is looking forward to the compulsory loan that is coming with much more trepidation than the average Londoner looks forward to an air raid." Months Shipping Statistics. | Shipping and cargo statistics for the ; month of August as compared with the I same month of last year showed de- ! creases in both the tonnage of shipi ping arrivals and cargo landed, stated the chairman, Mr. W. L. Fitzherbert, at the meeting of the Wellington Harbour Board last night. The net tonnage of shipping arrivals was 313,501 tons, as against 333,814 tons, a decrease of 20,313. The manifest tonnage of cargo landed decreased from 209,197 tons to 189,226 tons, by 19,971 tons. The principal decreases were in general cargo imports from British and foreign ports, 14,235 tons, and from coastal and intercolonial ports, 5027 tons; general cargo exports to British and foreign ports by 2702 tons and coastal and intercolonial ports by 6156 tons; imports of timber, l, n.43,283 super feet; and wool and hemp. 4643 bales. Increases were shown in general cargo transhipments, 1173 tons; oils in bulk 8524 tons; and cheese, 1314 tons. Butter and frozen meat showed little change. j "Awful Liars." ' "The other day the Italians broadcast that, they had killed 80 per cent, of the New Zealanders with bombs. They are awful liars. Nobody was hurt." So writes Lieutenant-Colonel F. S. Varnham, M.C., E.D., Officer Commanding the 19th (Wellington) Battalion of the New Zealand Expeditionary Force in Egypt under date August 31, in a letter to Mrs. Varnham, New Plymouth. "We are wearing sun helmets now," added the letter. "They have the New Zealand badge in front and my battalion has a red diamond on the pugaree on the left-hand side. They Hook quite smart, but take a bit of : getting used to the appearance after our felt hats. Spread out as we are here each company does its own cooking and feeding arrangements. This 1 applies also to the officers, so each company has its own little officers' mess, consisting of a tent. .. . For field work like this we purchased some time ago two small kerosene stoves and the men all have their own mess utensils, and the company keeps a few spares for mess visitors." ,

| Defenders of the Forest. The Native Plant Preservation Society and the Botanical Society have both decided to actively support any movement designed to prevent the continuance of the destruction of native ! bush on the Akatarawa Road, believing that the scenic value of the bush, its water conservation value, and its value to bird life each and all demand sane action for the sake of posterity. Schoolboy's Opinion. "Who said London was in ruins?" defiantly asked a Jewish schoolboy who has arrived at Auckland from England, states the "New Zealand Herald." "A few bombs in the East End, a little damage to the Palace and the docks, and a 'dud' near St. Pauls, but what's that?" The boy treasures a few pieces of shrapnel which fell near his school in London. Accompanied by his mother and sister, he will live in New Plymouth. New Zealanders in London. "Your boys were having a wonder- j ful time at Home when I left," said j an Englishwoman who has arrived at Auckland after an exciting voyage from England, states the. "New ZeaI land Herald." The New Zealand uniform was evident in most parts of London, she said, but the Strand was ! simply thronged with men of the i Second Echelon. "I don't know whe- ! ther they are having such a good time mow" she said a little wistfully, adding that she had spoken to every New Zealand soldier she saw. London seemed gay, and in the beautifully fine weather Londoners were having !a last fling before settling down seriously. Police Control Wanted for Rugby. A complaint by a referee concerning the behaviour of a number of spectators at Rugby Park for a senior football match last Saturday prompted the j management, committee of the Canter-1 bury Rugby Union to endeavour to have police representatives present for future matches, states the "Press." The referee, Mr. D. F. Johnson, said that in the first half of the match between Linwood and Albion a spectator on the western sideline shouted abuse at the Linwood forwards, alleging that they were offside. He stopped the game and told the offender that it would not proceed until he went away. In the second half there were several such nuisances, and they finished up by drinking a bottle of beer. He tried to 'ascertain the names of the culprits, but was not successful. Traffic Lights Rearranged. During the past few days a temporary return has been made to manual j control of traffic at the Courtenay I Place intersections, while a new con-1 trol box has been erected and some rearrangement made in the placing of the lights. The former control box, centrally placed in the main width of the roadway, has been struck three times by motor vehicles, the third time resulting in damage to the mechanism as well as to the housing. The new control is off the roadway altogether, and, instead of a central light system to guide traffic from Majoribaiiks Street to Courtenay Place, lights will be erected on the northeast corner of the reserve in Courtenay Place. Any driver proceeding from Majoribanks Street may on getting the green: light go straight ahead, turn right into Lower Cambridge Terrace, or left into Kent Terrace. When proceeding eastwards from Courtenay Place, he may, on the green light, proceed straight ahead to Majoribanks Street, turn down lower Cambridge Terrace (en route to either Wakefield Street or Oriental Parade), or drive into Kent Terrace. Expert's Services Sought. "It is rather remarkable that New Zealand leads the world in the invention of milking machines," the principal of the King Edward Technical College (Mr. W. G. Aldridge) said at a board meeting when a request was made by a firm for permission for Mr. T. Conly, of the college staff, to be associated with it as an occasional adviser on patent law, states the "Otago Daily Times." "Mr. Conly is a New Zealand authority on milking machines," he added, "and he has a wide knowledge of patent matters." Mr. P. O. Srnellie pointed out that New Zealand also led the world in seed-clean-ing machines, and he added that the request should be granted. The dei sired permission was granted.