NEWS OF THE DAY

Evening Post, Volume CXXX, Issue 150, 21 December 1940, Page 10

NEWS OF THE DAY

The Longest Day,

Astronomically speaking, tomorrow is the longest day. About noon the sun enters the sign of Capricornus, marking what is called the solstice, or the commencement of summer in the Southern Hemisphere and the commencement of winter in the Northern Hemisphere. As far as New Zealand is concerned, there will as yet be no appreciable shortening of the hours of daylight; in fact, the sun continues to set later each day until about the second week in January. That from now onwards it will be rising a little later will affect only the early birds and early worms. There is consolation in the fact that the best and most of New Zealand's summer weather tends to occur after the longest day rather than before it. Although there has already been some good summer weather, there would be no complaints if there was a great deal more. Colourful Scene. One of the most delightful little spots in Wellington at the present time is the reserve at the corner of Grant Road and, Wadestown Road, where during the winter improvements were carried out by the reserves department. Livingstone daisies are now in full bloom, making a blaze of colour. The Director of Parks and Reserves (Mr, J. G. MacKenzie) says that the beauty of the reserve has attracted a great, deal of notice, and he has received a letter from a Grant Road resident expressing appreciation of the improvements. The corner, the writer stated, had been transformed into a delightful, colourful scene that was a joy to behold. Few Horsemen on Farms. The small proportion of farm workers who were able to ride a horse was remarked on by members of the Appeal Board of the Christchurch I Man-power Committee, states "The Psress." One employer, appealing on behalf of a farm hand, said that, although the property was large, there were no horses on it, and he doubted whether the farm hand could ride. Many such men could not ride a horse, he said, but most of them seemed able to ride motor-cycles. Children's Tonsils. A remit that the Department of j Health be asked to take steps to treat children with enlarged tonsils and advise parents concerning dietary and other measures of treatment with a view to preventing the removal of tonsils as recommended by many school medical officers, was adopted at the quarterly meeting of the Auckland School Committees' Association. Several delegates contended that the removal of tonsils was not always in the best interests of the children concerned. Sheepskin Coats. Suggesting that New Zealand could make sheepskin coats for the forces overseas such as are now being made in South Africa, a resident of Durban has written to a friend in Christchurch giving details .of the scheme, states the "Star-Sun." An appeal has been made from Britain, she says, for as many coats as possible. The Maritzburg branch of the Navy League is now making these coats for the Royal Navy. The skin is left with the thick fleece attached, and worn inside. Shoulder buckles are attached to the skin, and a belt round the waist completes ; the coat." One firm of stock auctioneers in Natal has been active in soliciting gifts of skins from farmers, and the appeal has met with a marked response.

Appointment of Psychologist. The Canterbury Education Board recently applied to the Education Department for the appointment of a fullytrained psychologist to investigate the needs of problem children, but the Department has replied that it preferred to take no immediate action until other classes of handicapped children whose claims for special assistance were relatively more urgent- had been met, states the "Press." The Department also advised that the. Director of Education (Dr. C. E. Beeby) would be pleased to discuss the whole" question on his next visit to Christchurch. Wartime Difficulties. "The importation of supplies from overseas has been hedged with many difficulties. We have been unable to renew our stocks of pupils' ties, hatbands, and badges. A consignment of science apparatus, representing two years' orders, was shipped from London, but was 'lost through enemy action'," said the principal, Mr. W. A. G. Penlington, in his annual report at the Hastings High School. "Stationery also has become scarce and expensive. Text-books, although they have risen considerably in price, are still available." Treasure Trove. Two maiden ladies who keep a suburban delicatessen shop near Sydney appear to have had more confidence in biscuit tins than in banks. They drew out of the bank £750 in notes, and one of them put the money in a biscuit tin—for safety. Next day the carter from the biscuit factory called for empties. The sister who had planted the notes in the tin went to see if they were still there. They had gone, tin and all. The police were called in and some pretty Sherlock Holmes work was put into the job. Twelve factory girls whose work is the removal of packing papers from empties were interrogated. All they knew was that the paper* were sent straight to an incinerator. Then began laboratory examinations of ashes and the unwrapping of papers from hundreds of biscuit tins. All in vain. Taking example from politicians, the police continued to "explore every avenue" represented by biscuit tins and factory hands. Two days passed, then the police received a telephone call. The money had been in a biscuit tin behind the shop gas meter. The hiding place had been forgotten.