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Evening Star, Issue 23968, 20 August 1941, Page 6

At the meeting of the City Council on Monday night permission was granted for the holding of a meeting in September by the Dunedin branch of the Society for Closer Relations with Russia in tho Town Hall, not in the Concert Chamber, as previously recorded.

Relatives or friends Avishing to have access to tho raihvay station on Sunday morning AA’hen men on leave Avill be returning to their respective camps by special train, leaving at 11.10, arc notified by the Army authorities that a pass must be obtained from the registration office at tho Drill Hall. All applications for station passes must be accompanied by a soldier’s leave pass, Avhich will be stamped to slioav that a station pass has been granted. Mr Justice Kennedy Avas engaged in the Supreme Court all yesterday afternoon and again this morning hearing further legal argument in connection Avith a application to the court for an order directing an umpire to state a case in respect of the conditions of a deal involving a city hotel between Frederick George Duncan, solicitor, and Thomas Francis Mackic and Eileen Mackie, hotelkeepers. Mr F. B. Adams appeared for Duncan in support of the motion, Mr A. G. Neill for the Mackies (the lessees), Mr W. J. Meade for Young Bros, (the assignors), and Mr J. S. Sinclair for Ernest Howland Burton (the umpire); -When the coAirt rose for luncheon to-day the case Avas still proceeding. The Council of the University of Otago, at its meeting yesterday afternoon, received notification from the Perpetual Trustees that under the will of the late Mr John Sidey the sum of £IO,OOO had been bequeathed to tho University, subject to life interests which had uoaa' expired. The chancellor (Mr W. •). Morrell) said that the bequest had become due oAving to the death of Mr John Sidey’s daughter, Mrs Adam, the last person to hold a life interest in the legacy. Mr Morrell added that the University had reason to be grateful to the late Mr Sidey and to its late chancellor. Sir Thomas Sidey, whoso AA-ord no doAibt Avould have accounted for a great deal in the matter. It AA’as a wise decision Avhich stipulated that the legacy was for tho general purposes of the University. The letter from the Perpetual Trustees Avas referred to the Finance Committee for a report. A reminder to business folk and others that much trouble could be avoided by obsendng care in making out cheques Avas given by Mr Justice Callan in the Supremo Court in Auckland in sentencing a man who had admitted forgery and uttering that involved altering a cheque for £2 3s to one of £l2 3s. His Honour said that if people making out cheques folloAvcd tho wise and prudent advice given by banks in printed form on the backs of cheque books such offences as this one could be avoided. The banks advised their customers to Avnte both figures and numbers in cheques as near tho left-hand edge of the blank spaces as possible, and to (ill out tho space, so as to guard against the fraud of altering tho figures and numbers. Holders of cheque books were also Avarncd against giving blank cheque forms to strangers.

Growing in popularity' both as a. beverage and a dessert fruit, supplies of New Zealand grapefruit arc now on the market in good quantities (says the Auckland ‘ Herald ’). For dessert purposes the fruit is ripened on the tree, and the quality now coming forward is first class. The earlier fruit has been popular for marmalade-making. The current season’s crop is estimated at 50.000 bushels, of which approximately 110.000 bushels come from the Auckland distinct. The remainder come from Whangarei and Tauranga.

A pohutukawa tree at the Maungakiokie golf course at One Tree Hill has now been in bloom for a whole year (says the Auckland ‘Herald’). The tree, which is about 10ft high and is in a sheltered position, is believed to be a type usually found only in the Kermadec Islands. Most of the blooms arc on the side which gets the morning sun, and as the flowers die new buds form.

Many forecasts have been made when the war would end, including the prediction of an Indian woman in Wellington that the war would end in November. Another has been added by a Christchurch man who is making his claim on precedent. This particular man has been called up for overseas service, and after ho was sworn in lie remarked to the attesting officer: “ Well, mister, this war should soon be over now. I should know, because I’ve never held any job in my life for more than two months.”

The * Taranaki Herald ’ entered its 90th year last week. Since it made its appearance on August 4, 1832, it has never missed an issue. Present wartime restrictions on paper recall an incident in 1855 when the firm was so desperately short of paper that the news was printed on odd scraps of green paper. The ‘ Taranaki Herald ’ has been a daily since May 14, 1877.

The distinction of being the first New Zealand soldier of the present war to be invalided home through sickness, and to have again been passed as fit for overseas service, has fallen to a Morriusville volunteer, Bombardier P. B. L. Cubitt, of Lome street, Morrinsville. After 11 months spent with the New Zealand Forces in the Egyptian desert, Bombardier Cubitt was invalided homo in January last. Following a period of leave, his recovery was rapid, with the result that he again donned khaki. He has since been medically examined and posted to an artillery unit for service overseas.

The Russians, it is said, regard the letter G as one of ill-omen. The words Germany, Goobbels, and Goering begin with G, and as there is no H in the Russian alphabet and as the letter G is used instead, “ Hitler ” becomes “ Gitler.”

The fact that the King at the conclusion of his recent visit 'to the Fleet gave the order to “splice the main brace ” is a reminder that rum is still included among the rations of Jack Tars. Ruin was first issued to men of the Royal Navy serving with West Indian squadrons, and at one time the daily allowance was unbelievably generous. Soldiers of the last war who remember in what microscopical quantities the rum (often further diluted by unauthorised water added by someone who had sampled the jar in transit) was doled out, may find it hard to believe that in the first half of the eighteenth century the daily allowance for each man on the West Indies Station was half a pint; and it was the “ real Maekay,” raw and fiery with a tremendous kick. Such an allowance was bad for both discipline and health, and- in 1740 Admiral Vernon ordered the rum should be well diluted with water. The Jack Tars resented this fiercely with many curses on the head of “ Old Grog,” as Vernon was called by his men from his habit of wearing a” boat cloak of grogam, a coarse cloth made of silk and mohair. Before long the admiral’s nickname was transferred to the diluted rum, and grog it has remained ever since.

The introduction of further species of parasite to combat the white butterfly is intended, according to the annual report of the entomology division of the Department of Scientific and Industrial Research. “ Reports have come in during the season of the presence of white butterfly in various localities, and in many cases severe damage was alleged,” says the report. “It has not been possible to investigate the position in every case, but when possible an examination was made, and in practically every case damage thought to be duo to the white butterfly was due to the presence of the diamond-back moth. There arc places, of course, where the butterfly is able to increase to serious proportions, but fortunately those are very limited, and as a rule the parasite is able subsequently to overtake its host. It is felt, however, that the introduction of further species of parasites should bo undertaken, and in this connection we hope to receive supplies of A panicles rubecula and Compsilura eoncinnata for the coming season. In the past small supplies of Apantelcs rubecula have been received, hut unfortunately success in establishing a colony was not realised. Both of these parasites should prove helpful in reducing the butterfly in those localities where the present parasite is less effective.”

At 11.39 this morning the Dunedin hire Brigade turned out to an automatic false alarm from the premises of J. Hatt-ay and Sons Limited, Crawford street.