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Evening Star, Issue 26029, 18 February 1947, Page 6

A 'few Zealand concert party leaves by plain) lor Australia this week to entertain J-Force and other units of the Commonwealth forces in Japan, reports our Wellington correspondent. It comprises William Yates, who is the leader aud a well-known entertainer ; Henry Rudolph, musical director; Miss Joyce Izett, soprano; Miss ‘ Sylvia Devenuie. contralto and comedienne; Miss Margaret Richmond, soubrette; Miss Zita Oyttrim, violinist, and vocalist. Making tliis announcement, the Minister of Defence (the Hon. F. Jones) stated that the party would be controlled by the Australian Amenities Service, which coordinates these activities. The Japanese tohr will' last 14 weeks.

The Waipori will leave the Wellington floating dock late this afternoon, but it is unlikely that the Wanganella will enter the dock until early on Wednesday morning. If conditions ■ are calm it is considered that the moving of the vessel will be comparatively simple She will be moved into position by the tugs and then, by the use of shore capstans and her own winches, will be edged into the dock.

A further hazard to bathing on the Napier beaches has developed with au invasion of Hawke’s. Bay by thousands of jellyfish drifting backwards and forwards along the foreshore in a wide belt. While some of the jellyfish are of a harmless species, others exude a fluid which, on contact with the skill, causes a stinging rash, not particularly dangerous, but nevertheless painful to the sufferer.. Although an invasion of jellyfish is au annual event in Hawke’s Bay, it is believed that this year they are present in larger numbers than visual.

Whether a swarm of bees that occupied a corner of a five-roomed house in Ford street, Qpawa, added to or detracted from the value of the house was discussed at a sitting of the Christchurch Urban Land Sales Committee. The Crown valuer (Mr J. Shaw) said that the bees were coiir stantly flying in and out of the hole that they had occupied, and they constituted a nuisance. The Crown representative (Mr D. G. Ward) said that builders knew from experience that once a swarm of bees took possession they were hard to dislodge. Even if they were driven out and all the holes blocked up, they would return and find some way of getting in. As against the view that the bees constituted a nuisance, it was suggested that they were an asset because of the potential value of. their honey. The discussion then lapsed without the committee coming to a decision about the merits of the presence of the bees. In a little over a week since the commencement of recruiting for the second relief of J-Foree in Japan, 31 applications for enlistmnet in the force have been received by the Army authorities at the Kensington Drill Hall. Medical hoards for the intending recruits commenced this afternoon. There have been several offers of service from former members of the Second N.Z.E.F., and medically hoarding them is not expected to be difficult, as their previous medical histories will be a useful guide. A woman who, it was alleged, told the police she believed she had been divorced from her husband., formerly an American soldier, was charged in the Police Court at Auckland with bigamy. She was Eleanor Amanda Landry, aged 27. According to the police, accused stated that her husband’s sister wrote stating that Landry had divorced her, and had completely forgotten her. Accused subsequently went through the form of marriage at Auckland on September 11, 1946. Accused pleaded guilty, and was committed for sentence.

Remits dealing with taxation are included in the agenda for the aunual conference of the New Zealand Manufacturers’ Federation, which opened in Wellington to-day. The review and amendment of the present graduated scale of company tax to adjust- the incidence of taxation and relieve the burden which falls on companies in the £3,000 and £B,OOO income group is suggested in the first clause of one remit from £he federation’s Taxation Committee. Another clause of the same remit suggests a review of depreciation rates generally; not merely the extension of the present special rates, hut the permanent allowance of more generous rates- in keeping with presentday expansion and accelerated improvement of industrial techniques. A reduction in taxation is also suggested in the remit, which says the simplest way of effecting it in the first instance would be the removal of the 15 per cent, war surcharge. While the English factories wore making every effort to meet export needs of cars and trucks, most American manufacturers were filling, home requirements first, said Mi W. Wilson, plant manager 'for the Ford Motor Company of New Zealand, who returned after nearly a year in Canada, the United States and Britain. Shortages of coal and steel were holding up production in North America and Britain. He said the demand for

■ai's was so great the. manufacturers were not troubling about changes in design. It was not expected.that there would be material differences for some time.

Believed to be the first New Zealand fishing vessel of its size to install a radio transmitter-receiver, the 47 ft seine trawler Choice 11. will shortly leave Auckland on a-fishing run up the coast, during which the wirejess will be tried under working conditions. It is hoped the wireless range will be 100 miles by day and 200 by night. Tlie building controller, Mr- G. W. Albertson, lias authorised the release of additional roofing iron to meet the heavy demand which lias followed the storm damage ■ in Wellington. The controller’s office was besieged yesterday by applicants for repair supplies, mostly for iron and tiles. The materials will be readily made available by the controller through merchants to applicants genuinely needing iron or other materials for repair work.

A Masterton Press Association message states that serious losses of stock are now reported as a result of the week-end storm. Mr J. Wilton, of Longridge, Gladstone, lost 600 newly shorn breeding ewes which perished in the storm. Other farmers report losses of from 10 to 50 sheep, and a small number of deaths in cattle.

Though the word “ shilling ’’ is usual in bids for that amount at a wool sale, occasionally “bob” gets an innirigs. One of a number of amusing incidents at the third Auckland wool sale came when the auctioneer made use of the word “bob,” thereby confounding a French buyer who, nevertheless, had a fairly good command of English. “ What’s ~he say?” he queried frenziedly. Auctioneer : “ A bob. I’m bid a bob.” A voice: ‘ Tell him to speak English.” There have been many instances of late of the daring, even cheeky attitude that has been adopted by all too ( many persons who have no respect for other people’s property. Another example oif the failure of many to respect the property of others was brought to notice in Hamilton. A businessman who had some second-hand bicycle tyres outside His shop with price tickets marked on them noticed the theft of one of the tyres some nine months ago. On a recent night as lie was putting other tyres back into his shop he found the tyre that had been taken nine months previously with the other tyres with a note attached. The note read: “ Wrong size. . . . Thank you.”

British railway cafeterias do not allow patrons to take cups of tea on to the stations witli them, said Mr O. G. A. Horne, at a .Wellington Rotary Club luncheon. On his recent visit to England he walked out with his tea. as is commonly done in New Zealand, but‘a waitress ran out after him and told him it was against the rules. “ They look after their crockery in England,” he said, “ but at least they don’t tie the cups to the counter with a piece of string, as we do with our spoons in some New Zealand refreshment rooms.”

A sharp earthquake was felt in \Vellingtou shortly before 9.52 last, night. Tt was more in the nature of a jolt than a prolonged tremor, it was sufficient to set lights swinging, hut no damage was reported. There is no record of the tremor being felt, in Dunedin.

A reminder that the sight of a man wearing formal attire may mean one of several things was given in Duneding one morning last week when a city barrister, pot usually noted for formality in dress, was met by a music teacher. The legal man evidently felt some explanation was necessary for he said: “ This morning I have a divorce case in the Supreme Court —hence the dark suit.” The music teacher also had his explanation that lie had to play at a wedding that morning—hence the dark suit. They departed on their separate ways reflecting that it was all grist to the mill.

At the conclusion of the sittings of the Arbitration Court this morning, the representative of the Dunedin and Suburban Butchers Employees’ Union. (Mr \V. W. Batchelor) announced that it was his last appearance in the court, and lie desired to thank the mem hers, for the attentive hearings which had always been accorded him. His dealings with the court and with the employers’ representative had always been enjoyable, and he appreciated the treatment he had received. Mr Justice Tyndall wished Mr Batchelor a very happy retirement, and said that he had always treated the court with courteous respect.

The French sloop Julien de la Grandiere is expected here this afternoon. Although this is a day later than her original schedule showed, as she was delayed by the violent storm in the Cook Strait area, the arrangements for the civic reception, concert, and dance set down for to-night have not been changed. The Dunedin French Club’s social for tlte crew, which was to have been held last night, will now be held n't the Caledonian Club to-mor-row night.