NEWS OF THE DAY

Evening Post, Volume CXL, Issue 58, 6 September 1945, Page 6

NEWS OF THE DAY

WEATHER FORECAST

Forecast to 5 p.m. Friday: Moderate to fresh northerly winds. Weather cloudy with rain probable tomorrow. Temperatures mild. Further outlook occasional rain. An anticyclone is stationary northeast of the North Island. A depression west of the South Island is moving very slowly eastwards and filling, j New moon, September 7. Temperature at 9.30 a.m., 52 degrees. Rainfall for 24 hours to 9.30 a.m., a trace. Rainfall from August 6 to date, 4.73 inches. . •High water today: 4.30 p.m.; tomorrow, 4.58 a.m., 5.25 p.m. Sun sets today, 6.1 p.m.; rises tomorrow, 6.37 a.m., sets 6.2 p.m.

Mount Ruapehu,

Reporting from Mount Ruapehu Mr. A. C. Beck, of the Geological Survey, telegraphed as follows to the Director (Mr. M. Ongley):—"Little change inside crater. Activity "moderate. Special Diet For Prisoners. A conference is being held between representatives of the R.N.Z.A.F. and the staff of dietitians- at Wellington Hospital concerning the requirements of released prisoners of war. Many of the latter, ft is believed, will be m need of special diet when released from the hands of the Japanese. Profitable Prize. Referring to the Finnish barque Pamir, which was seized by the Government in 1941 and has been trading since to the United States, the report to Parliament yesterday of the Controller and Auditor-General stated that tfye accounts for five voyages had been prepared tnd those disclosed an excess of revenue over expenditure of approximately £ 50,000. E.S.A. Membership. The total financial membership of the Wellington R.S.A. at the end of August was 8125. This includes 3951 members who have served overseas in World War 11, which reflects the increasing interest being taken in the association by returned service personnel of today. Accidents In August. Twenty-two people were killed in motor accidents during August, the worst record of any month since March, 1940, when the month's road deaths totalled 26. Eight fatalities occurred throughout New Zealand on VJ Day, three of the victims being pedestrians, three cyclists, one a motorcyclist, and one a truck driver. Five men were killed on August 6 in a levelcrossing smash near Napier, and of the remaining accidents during the month four involved pedestrians (including a small child), two motor-cyclists, another a cyclist, and two involved occupants of trucks. Peace Job for Jeeps. The jeep, characteristic war transport vehicle, is entering production in a peacetime version as a multiplepurpose farm vehicle and portable power unit. It has been tested, according to the "New York Times," in a variety of farm tasks, from ploughing, cultivating, threshing, and hauling to digging post holes, spraying orchards, and operating an electric light plant. Special accessories to be made available include a capstan winch, snow plough, and road grader attachments, spray painting equipment, and a belt-driven governor for use where constant engine speed, regardless of load, is required. £400 Safe, 3d Paid Willingly. It is right that there should be no expectation of reward for simple honesty, for virtue is its own reward; even so, tramwaymen who know the story (which is all tramwaymen) are surprised. A member of one of Wellington's mid-city firms had the misfortune to leave in' a suburban tram a zipped satchel. It was found by the conductor, but the passenger was beyond call. It was pretty heavy, and the contents sounded like loose money; the conductor and motorman unzipped the zipper and found that that was definitely so—a great deal of money. They guarded it with care and circumspection until they could hand it in as lost luggage. Excited inquiries came over the telephone to the lost luggage office and the loser was assured that all was well. When he called he made certain that all really was well, by counting up loose cash, cash in envelopes, notes, and cheques, amounting to between £400 and £500. Desiring to meet all correct obligations he paid, after inquiring if any fee was required, 3d for lost luggage service. And departed. Protecting Scapa Flow. One of the secrets of wartime construction in Britain has been revealed by the British Admiralty in the shape of a long causeway blocking the entrance by the enemy to the naval base at Scapa Flow in the Orkney Islands, and thus preventing a repetition of the U-boat raid in October, 1939, which caused the loss of the battleship Royal Oak. The wall, which was built by Italian prisoners and civilian labour, using nearly .1,000,000 tons of rock and concrete, joins south Ronaldshay, Burray, Lamb Holm, and Glimps Holm Islands to Orkney Mainland island, leaving the six and one-half-mile Pentland Firth between Scotland and South Ronaldshay as the only free water to the east until the northern tip of Orkney Mainland, 30 miles beyond. Greens Very Short Today. I Today and until Monday morning all the Chinese greengrocery and fruit shops are closed and Chinese growers are also taking a three days' holiday in celebration of the victory of the United Nations over the Japanese, and there has inevitably been an upsetting of household buying. While the European and Indian retailers are desirous of giving an efficient service to the community, said one of their representatives to a "Post" reporter today, they wish the public to know that there is at present a normal seasonal shortage of these commodities, and it is accentuated by the fact that a number of gardeners are observing the holiday in celebration of victory over j Japan, and consequently high prices J are ruling in the markets. Root veget- f ables are in usual supply for this time of the year, but greens are very short today. Midland Railway. The greatest need of his own district, and indeed of the whole of the northern end of the South. Island, said Mr H Atmore (Independent, Nelson), speaking in the Budget debate in the House of Representatives last night, was that the Midland railway should be completed, and Nelson connected up with the main line system of the South Island. There was, he said, a sap of 51 miles in the distance of 700 miles between Nelson and Invercargill. Of that gap, 19 miles had been formed and eight miles actually laid with rails, but a few years ago the Government took up those rails, and also the bridge girders, assuring the community that it was only a temporary matter and that they would be replaced. He said that Nelson was entitled to the completion of this work, which would remove the isolation from which it suffered. Day In Parliament. Discussion on the Budget was restricted in the House of Representatives yesterday, for most of the afternoon sitting was taken up with a debate on waterfront questions, particularly whether "sea-gulls" should be eligible for a bonus from contract profits. The Budget debate occupied all the evening sitting with the exception of a few minutes taken up with the introduction of the annual taxing Bill, which again this year contains no changes. The announcement by the Prime Minister (Mr. Fraser) of toe appointment of Lieutenant-General bir Bernard Freyberg as next GovernorGeneral of the Dominion, made at the opening of the afternoon session, was greeted with applause and the Leader of the Opposition (Mr Holland) expressed the pleasure that the whole country would feel at the appointment. He said the appointment was a recognition of a wonderful life of service by General Freyberg. This week two by-election victors have made their maiden speeches. • Mr M Ratana (Government, Western Maori) spoke yesterday afternoon, and the previous afternoon Mr. R. Walls (Government, Dunedin North) made his contribution The House adjourned at 10.30 p.m. until this afternoon.

The Governor-General, Sir Cyril Newall, decorating Brigadier N. W. McD. Weir (Wellington) with the C.B.E. at the public investiture

in the Town Hall last evening.'