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Evening Star, Issue 25618, 19 October 1945, Page 4

It is officially stated that the new interisland ferry' steamer now being built to replace the Wahine at the end of next year will be equipped with radar. .Experiments carried out recently on the Rangatira with _ radar were most successful, but it is not known when the present ferry steamers will be fitted with this equipment.

Four decorations of the American Legion of Merit were conferred at an investiture at Rongotai yesterday. The recipients were Air Vice-Marshal L. M. Isitt, degree of commander; Air Commodore M. W.. Buckley, degree of commander; Air Commodore G. N. Roberts, degree of legionnaire; and Colonel C. W. Salmon, degree of officer —all for exceptionally meritorious conduct in the performance of outstanding service to the Government of the United States. , The ceremony was performed by Rear-Admiral Paul Hendron, commander of the South Pacific force and area, and the awards were made in the name of the President of the United States, who had personally signed the citations. There was a parade of 200 airmen, and among those present were the Minister of Defence, Hon. F. Jones, the Hon. W. Perry, M.L.C., and highranking officers. Charged on remand in the Police Court to-day with failing to report for military service, Alan Boyd Abbott, a seaman, was convicted only by Mr H. W. Bundle, S.M., the magistrate adopting this course after lie had been informed by a representative of the Army authorities that Abbott had been in the mercantile marine between 1942 and 1944, and that his explanation that lie had not received the notice calling him up for military service was probably correct. ‘ We think it is very poor sport that t.hase glorious animals should be thrashed as they are to provide amusement and fun for the public,” said Mr H. P. Bridge, president of the Canterbury Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals, at the annual meeting, when •he protested against the undue use of the whip in trotting races, and similarly against the use of the whip and spur in galloping races. He said he thought this was a matter which should be made the subject of immediate legislation. Overweighting of racing whippets and alleged starving and harsh training were criticised by other members.

The. notifications of infectious diseases in Otago for the week ending to-dny were as follows:—Scarlet fever, four cases; pulmonary tuberculosis, four cases.

The granting of exeat and finance permits to enable medical students to study in Australia or Britain was raised by Mr R. M. Algie (Itemuera) in a notice of question to the Prime Minister in the House. Mr Algie referred to the inability of the Otago Medical School to provide training for all the students who wish to enter the medical profession, and who were able to pass the prescribed entrance examinations. Mr Osborne (Onehunga): Why not a school in Auckland?—Parliamentary reporter. Attacks by eels on wild ducklings have been evident on the West Coast. Recently a farmer, who had been puzzled by the disappearance of previous broods, noticed nine new-hatched ducklings swimming in n pool near his home. He paid a visit to the pond that night, and found that there were only four' left. The next day there ■was none. Apparently all the ducklings had been pulled under the water and swallowed by eels. A collection of Japanese firearms for the Auckland War Memorial Museum was brought back from Ocean Island by Sir Albert Ellis, 'of the British Phosphate Commission, when he returned from a visit to the island. The weapons included a rifle and bayonet,, a revolver, a signal pistol, and a long Japanese sword. Sir Albert said that the Australian troops quickly disposed of the Japanese weapons they found when they landed. ’ A happy, if humorous note was struck by Mrs Stanley Brown at a welcome home to returned servicemen at, Invercargill when she was called upon at a moment’s notice to speak to the servicemen. “ I speak on behalf of the unemployed,” she said. “ Your coming home has put many women patriotic workers out of work! But” she added, “ we are so glad to be unemployed.” Under the will of the late Mr William Daniel MeKellar,. of Dunedin, delivery clerk, the following public bequests have been made: £SO to the Lodge Otago Kilwinning 417 s.c.; £IOO to the Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals. The rest of the estate goes to a relative, at whose death the residuary trust fund, together with all accumulations, will be equally divided amongst the following: The Dunedin branch of the New Zealand League for the Hard of Hearing; the Jubilee for thoBlind. Auckland; the Otago and Southland Division of the _ British Empire Cancer Campaign Society, for research work in Dunedin; and the Presbyterian Social Service Association at Dunedin, towards the upkeep of the Orphanges at Dunedin and at Anderson’s Bay. The value of the whole estate has been sworn for probate at under £7,000. The late Mrs Emma Lumb, of Dunedin, widow, under her will bequeathed her entire estate, which has been sworn for probate as under the value of £BOO. to the Central Mission Home at Company’s Bay, to be used for general purposes.

Mr Justice Kennedy has granted probate in the following estates:— William Daniel MeKellar, delivery clerk, Dunedin; Emma Lumb, widow, Dunedin; Percy Benjamin Corlce draper, Dunedin; Moses Parr, retired miner, Kaitangata; James Burns, retired farmer, Balclutha; Patrick O’Brien, retired surfaceman, Woodside; Margaret Jane Munro, widow, Mosgiel; Etlieline May Stewart, spinster, Dunedin; Alice Benfield Gillies, widow, Dunedin; Minnie Ethel West, spinster, Oamaru; Isabella Meikle, widow, Oamaru; Annie Jane Notman, spinster, Dunedin; and Nathaniel Manhire, commercial traveller, Dunedin.