Untitled

Evening Star, Issue 23831, 11 March 1941, Page 6

Application to erect one electric advertising sign was granted with the adoption of the General Committee’s report by the City Council last night. Surprising as was the indication that the black-out has not influenced at least one optimist, the clause was passed without comment. Permission to light tlie sign will no doubt require patience.

Information has been received by the ‘ Star ’ that the man who performed the courageous rescue in the surf near Lawyer’s Head on Sunday afternoon was Mr K. Ball, who resides at 56 Magdala street, Tainui, and is employed as a tram conductor. It is understood that Mr Ball’s plucky effort will be brought before the notice of the Royal Humane Society. A supplementary Gazette was issued last night declaring Bulgaria to be an enemy country for the purpose of the Enemy Property Emergency Regulations and the Enemy Trading Regulations. Tho provisions arc identical with those declaring 'Rumania to bo an onemy country for the purposes of those regulations. Yesterday was wash day, and a loss in the city water storage was only to be expected. However, this turned out to bo less than anticipated, amounting to 510,000ga1. The draw-off for, the 24 hours ended 8 a.in. to-day was considerably under that of last Monday, the respective figures being 4,357,000 gal and 5,036,000ga1. Comparative inflows wore 3,847,OOOgal yesterday, and 3,566,000 gal a week ago. In stove this morning were 03,096, OOOgal. The other day a professional man in Invercargill asked his wife: “Did you ever lose anything?” She thought and then replied: “Only one thing, a tennis championship modal in Nelson three and a-tialf years ago.” Thereupon her husband produced the medal and handed it to her. Behind the recovery of this trophy was a, little story of honesty and consideration. When the medal was lost it was picked up by a girl living in Nelson. Being unable to find tho owner, she put it aside and it was forgotten. When the family moved to Auckland her father came across tho medal, which bore only the name of the winner, the date (1922), and tbo championship for which it was awarded. Ho made inquiries from the New Zealand Lawn Tennis Association in Wellington, found that the winner of the medal had been living in South Canterbury when she won it. Pursuing his inquiries to Timaru, he learnt that tho player had since married and removed from tho district. He asked more questions, found her present name and address, and sent tho medal hack to her husband. The recipient of this long-lost hut not forgotten medal was, naturally, extremely pleased to recover it, and she was also impressed by the care which a man in Auckland quite unknown to her had taken to locale the owner..

A hedge fire at 32 Gloucester street occupied the attention of the. City Fire Brigade at 11.40 last night. This morning, at 10.29, there was a rubbish fire in Avon street, at the corner of Littlebourne road.

The way in which the Maoris are assisting to increase production greatly •impressed the Hon. P. K. Paikea, who has completed a tour of Bay of Plenty districts. “On Matakana Island,” Mr Paikea said, “ there 'are 1,200 acres under maize, grown as a special war effort, and in addition, heavy plantings of potatoes, kumeras, and pumpkins.” One paddock of maize was IGO acres in extent. Too much credit could not be given, he stated, to all who were assisting with the effort.

An unexpected compliment from the /Bench was earned in the Supreme Court at Auckland by a woman who was petitioning for divorce. Her evidence was •given in a clear and distinct voice, without prompting from her counsel, or departure into, irrelevancios. As the petitioner was leaving the box, Mr Justice Blair said; “ Thank you. You are the first parson I ever heard that gave an intelligent account of a legal separation.”

Postmarks reminding citizens of their duty in aiding the war effort, especially in connection with national savings, are familiar enough in Auckland, but many Australian firms, on their own initiative, are now following the example of the authorities by stamping slogans on their correspondence (says the Auckland ‘ Star ’). A letter was received in the city this week from an Australian investment company, on which had been rubber-stamped: “"Silence saves lives and ships.” The idea is one which might be well adopted by New Zealand firms. Tho introduction of sex education in •the school curriculum was urged by a deputation from the Auckland 'School Committees’ Association at a meeting lof tho Auckland Education Board. Speakers said the question had been exercising the minds of association members. It was appreciated that 1 many teachers were opposed to the project, but the authorities should face their responsibilities. Suitable lessons icould bo printed in the ‘ School Journal.’ Such education was give in other countries. Tho chairman (Mr W. J. Campbell) said the board would consider the representations, but he. pointed out that the final decision lay with the department. ■ A somewhat indefinite position exists in regard to medical students and war service, and Government clarification of the position is being sought by the Otago Medical Students’ Association. None of the students has any desire to avoid any responsibilities so far as military service is concerned, but there is the question whether it might not be more in tho country’s interests for training to be completed. It is understood that the policy of tho National Medical Committee (which includes the Director-General of Health) is to seek exemption of behalf of students who have completed two years of their course, and there does seem a possibility that this will be the ultimate ruling; In tho meantime, however, students called in the overseas ballot are uncertain whether they should appeal or not; they are facing conflicting desires to complete a chosen career and to do their duty to the country. A statement from the Government clarifying the matter would bo welcomed. A paragraph in the ‘ Star ’ last night referring to a record catch of white butterfly caterpillar from a South Dunedin cabbage plot has drawn information from a M’ornington resident which proves that the caterpillars are by no means disposed to make their homes solely on cabbages. This householder states that the caterpillars are so thick as to be in the nature of a plague, but the unpleasant part of .'this particular visitation is that the creatures are to be found crawling thickly about the eaves and walls of the house. Many have found their way through open windows into rooms, and others line the sashes, where their fate, on the closing of a window, may bo imagined. It is well known that the butterfly will lay its eggs in almost any convenient spot, ■but this appears *to be a signally bad case where the side of a house has been ■selected as a mass breeding-ground.-The need for a public warning to visitors to ocean beaches against handling any ■unusual-looking canister they might find washed up on the shore was suggested by a member of the Paraparaumu Home Guard during a discussion at the last parade. It was pointed out that a mine might he washed up on any of the beaches and if tampered with by inexperienced persons grave results might follow. He thought a public warning should he given by the Government that in the event of anything resembling a mine being found the fact should be reported at once to the nearest police station or post office to enable them to get in touch with responsible officers. Another member said he had seen a warning notice in a post office, but others who visited the post office daily said they had not noticed it, and agreed that a more effective warning was desirable. The officer in command thought the suggestion was good, and undertook to pass it on. Tho fourth appraisement of wool in Dunedin for tho 1940-41 season began this morning, there being an offering of 20,253 bales for inspection. It will probably take until Thursday to complete, after which the appraisers will go to Invercargill for tho final offering of the Southland district. y

It is expected that the art union for the thoroughbred yearling colt War Effort, which was presented to the National Patriotic Fund Board by Mr It. A. Smith, of Wninawa, in aid of the patriotic funds, will produce a net financial result slightly in excess of 2,000g5. The art union will he drawn at 11 o’clock to-morrow morning.

The fiftieth animal meeting of the Dunedin Burns Chit) will bo held in the Y.W.C.A. Assembly Hall on Wednesday, March 26.