NEWS OF THE DAY

Evening Post, Volume CXXXII, Issue 107, 1 November 1941, Page 8

NEWS OF THE DAY

Ancient Coin Found,

While working in the garden of the Westport Old People's Home, the master, Mr. G. Head, found a silver coin bearing the date 1384, which was easily distinguishable in spite of the coin's age. The coin must have been minted during the reign of. Richard 11. It had. apparently been worn on a watch chain and had broken off. A Westport jeweller said that it was of the purest silver. Mr. Head is endeavouring to have some of the lettering on the coin translated.

Wellington R.S.A. and Politics.

The opinion that it would not be in the interests of returned men to turn the R.S.A. into a political body was expressed by the Wellington executive of the R.S.A. at its monthly meeting, when considering the move made by the Auckland branch, to delete the words "non-political" from its constitution. In the R.S.A., it was stated, were men of all shades of political opinion, firmly united with one object on ly_that of the welfare of ex-ser-vicemen. It was unanimously 'decided to endorse the motion passed at the last annual general meeting rejecting any move to introduce politics into the association.

Tinted Meat,

Two Sydney butchers were prosecuted and fined for "doping" mince meat with sulphurous acid. The pleas in both cases were the use of chemicals to tint the meat an attractive colour. However, in future, coloured lights of a crimson shade will be used to impart the desired hue to mince, meat. This practice, said Mr. Frederick Dyer, of the Sydney Master Butchers' Association, was not uncommon. Slightly coloured lights were frequently used in butchers' shop windows, as yellow artificial light gave raw meat an unappetising colour. A slight reddish tint made the meat look more attractive.

Military Reserve Band.

For some time past plans have been under consideration for the formation of a brass band for the 2nd Battalion of the National Military Reserve (Wellington). The Committee dealing with the project now has sufficient instruments in sight to equip a full brass band. In addition to the brass band arrangements are also being made for a trumpet band of eight trumpeters and eight drummers. Lieutenant P. E. Cole, who organised and was responsible for the training of the four bands of the New Zealand Division in the Great War, has agreed to undertake the training of both these bands. Already a number of ex-bandsmen in the Reserve have applied for a transfer to the band, but additional players are required and bandsmen, or ex-bands-men, who are willing to join up are requested to enrol at as early a date as possible. They will be enlisted as members of the Reserve and will be subject to the same discipline as the rank and file and will receive the same rate of pay. Those desirous of joining the new band may enrol at the headquarters of the National Military Reserve, Winter Show Buildings', or the office of the R.S.A., Victoria Street, or on application to Major A. J. Nimmo, Willis Street, or Lieutenant J. H. Russell, 131 Featherston Street.

Underground Water Control,

A system of underground water control which has proved very successful in other countries is to be experimented with by the Public Works Department as a method of attack on the problem of seepage in Canterbury. An outline of the method was given to a reporter of the "Press" by Mr. T. G. Beck, district engineer to the Department. The system, said Mr. Beck, consists of the sinking of wells at suitable points, and the pumping away of the water which will flow into them from the surrounding land. The essence of the scheme was whether the area of land controlled by each well was large enough to justify the initial cost and maintenance. That in turn depended on the properties of the land in the transmission of water. Mr. Beck said no opinion on the suitability of the method for use in Canterbury-' could be formed until complete data j had been obtained from the experimental works. He could say, however, that it held out good prospects of success, since it had been the means of solving similar problems in other coun-' tries. It was widely and successfully used in the United States. The site of the first experimental area is a Canterbury College reserve four miles from Tinwald, in one of the districts most acutely affected by underground water. The contract for the sinking of a well 18 inches in diameter and 50 feet deep ha? been let to Mr. J. Stewart, of Dunedin, and he has made good progress with the boring. A six-inch bore is to be sunk as a "leader," for the larger bore to follow. The well will be lined with a perforated pipe to permit the free access of water.