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Evening Star, Issue 24082, 31 December 1941, Page 6

There will bo no publication of the ‘ Star ’ to-morrow—New Year’s Day. . The Prime Minister, Mr Fraser, has despatched tho following message to Air Churchill in reply to his Christmas greetings from Washington: “ Your seasonal message received with very deep appreciation. Aly colleagues and I cordially extend to you every good wish and all good fortune for the New Year. Days of difficulty and disappointment may lie ahead of us all, but we have no doubts that tho tide will turn and that under your inspiring leadership and President Roosevelt’s, the cause of tho democratic nations will ultimately triumph. Though New Zealand is now within the theatre of war, the people face the future with all confidence, and l I can assure you that they will meet all dangers and perils with a fortitude and courage equal to that of their kinsfolk in the British Isles.” “ The fire was fought and put out more in sorrow than in anger that good boor should bo .so abused,” said the commander of a Glasgow fire-fight-ing unit, which with beer extinguished a fire caused by a Nazi raider. At tho time of the fire an adequate water supply was not available, and a lead was taken from a huge vat of beer in an adjacent brewery. Rumour has it that the restrictions on rail travel for distances in excess of 100 miles have been, or aro about to be, lifted, but the Railways Department advise that no official intimation has been received as to when the emergency measure might cense. The special office in tho vestibule of the Dunedin Railway Station dealt with a good number of applicants yesterday, but the line of waiting people this morning had dwindled down to an odd one or two by midday.

“ Watching 40 to 50 Italian prisoners being brought in after the capture of Gazala, I saw one bearded, swarthy prisoner pushing a bicycle,” writes John Hctherington in a despatch to the Sydney ‘ Sun,’ dated December 10. “ When the group reached a road after crossing the rough desert, he mounted. A New Zealander guarding the prisoners made the Italian dismount. and said: ‘You walk; I’ll do the riding!’ Jumping on tho bicycle he pedalled slowly behind his charges with all the dignity of a rajah.” What Jig described as ” some word to bring good cheer and steadiness and courage in these strange and disquieting days,” was given by the Rev. W. Bower" Black to a large congregation in St. David's Presbyterian Church, Auckland. They should have confidence in their cause, he said, and the cause of the nation and its allies. It was not enough that their cause should bo worthy—they should be worthy of their cause. In the sharpness of the present crisis there was a tendency to be fearful and full of forebodings, and there was need to be reminded of the gallantry of the common people of Britain. Sew Zealanders were proud to come from their stock and to inherit the same spirit, and they must show it when occasion arose. Greater than property, greater even than life itself, was the spirit of the people, and that spirit could be maintained only as lives were based upon God. Let them keep the faith and stand by church fellowship in these days, not being afraid of a few dark streets. A story of the resourcefulness of an Army Service Corps sergeant in the Western Desert is told by the official war correspondent with the Expeditionary Force in one of his despatches: ‘‘He is one of those Heaven-sent men you liud in the Army.” ho writes. “ He can make anything. His latest contribution is a steel guitar made from an old bully-beef box. four lengths of thin wire, the end of a tobacco tin, and a few nails. It is a real Heath Robinson affair, but, believe it or not, it makes music.” A tribute to the cleanliness of her chimney was paid to a Christchurch householder recently. Upon lighting a fire in the evening the lirst clouds of smoko brought tumbling down a swarm of bees, which had apparently lodged in the chimney. Although, as could be imagined, the sudden appearance of the bees created much excitement and alarm, the householder had the presence of mind to open a window, and the bees, which displayed no aggressive tendencies, made their escape without more ado Approximately T2O State houses, most of them at Orakei, are untenanted because they cannot be supplied with electric power. In most cases the tenants are anxiously waiting to enter. The Auckland Electric Power Board, through the courtesy of the Christchurch Municipal Department, has borrowed a quantity of cable to connect up the majority of the completed houses, and the shipment, which left Canterbury three weeks ago, is awaited in Auckland. Considerable interest is being shown by members of the 2nd Battalion of the Scottish Regiment in interplatqon and intercompany boxing bouts which are being arranged every Saturday night at Forbury Park. The purpose of the contests is to develop interest, culminating in the staging of regimental champion-' ships and possible competition with local amateurs. There is no lack of contestants, and no fewer than 17 men from one company will bo taking part in this week’s milling. All weights, from fly to heavy, are being catered for. The 19th Company, National Military Reserve, Oamaru, is to be mobilised, and will be located at Oamaru. Mobilisation is to take effect as from January 10. The exact location has not yet been decided. In the Police Court this morning, before Messrs S. Owen and J. F. Himburg, justices. Konrad Salomonsen, for whom Mr C. J. L. White appeared, was charged with having deserted from his ship at Dunedin on December 12. Senior-sergeant Vaughan said that the accused had married a few months ago, and on the last occasion his ship had sailed from this port he had failed to rejoin her. Salomonsen, who, said the senior sergeant, is a prohibited immigrant, was remanded in custody until Monday next, an application for bail being refused.

A circular addressed to all friendly society members by the secretary (Mr \V. H. Masters) and associate secretary (Mr 11. E. Sligo) of the Friendly Societies’ Medical Benefits Association, contains the following intimations: — “ Members who signed cards under the Social Security (Medical Benefits) Regulations. 1941, or capitation scheme, who desire to have the services of any of the doctors here listed [23 in all], may cancel the contract made by notifying the Department of Health of the intention to cancel such contract, which will become effective 14 days following acknowledgment by the department of such cancellation notice. _ The lodge secretary will then be notified by the member, who must produce the department’s notice of cancellation. The secretary will then issue a card entitling the member to medical services as prescribed therein.” Tomahawk had an unusual visitor during the recent squally weather, a large sea elephant being washed ashore on the,beach there on Monday last. The mammal has apparently had a severe buffeting about, and for the last few days has lain high and dry on the beach. Unlike some other visitors of his kind, he is far from being tame, and shows no signs of welcoming the approach of strangers. Rail traffic during the last few days has considerably slackened, with the express trains carrying lighter loads. Owing, no doubt, to the reorganisation of the interisland express steamer service at short notice, the connections at Lyttelton have been delayed from time to time, and the south express from Christchurch has been kept behind time frequently, and is also running behind time to-day. The seaside trains were well patronised over the week-end, but the short-distance trips during the week have been carrying only a fraction of the traffic experienced in normal times. Petrol restrictions have been responsible for a greater number of residents in the outlying suburbs patronising the suburban trains, and it is expected that there will bo little change in this connection as long as the present emergency lasts. ‘‘ This is undoubtedly a case for the Price Tribunal,” remarked a local resident to the * Star ’ to-day. “ Strawberries which I saw priced in a fruiterer’s shop yesterday afternoon at two shilling and threepence a pottle were early this morning marked up at three shillings and eightpence. They appeared to be the same strawberries, for a distinguishing mark on the pottle in question was the same as on the one in the shop window yesterday.” On making an inquiry into the position at a fruit auction market, the ‘ Star ’ was informed that dessert strawberries realised from two shillings and threepence to two shillings and ninepence a pottle at this morning’s sale, which was over by about 10 o’clock. It was not known as to whether the Price Tribunal had any jurisdiction over the retail sale of strawberries or not,.