LOCAL AND GENERAL

Greymouth Evening Star, 17 December 1940, Page 6

LOCAL AND GENERAL

Freight hauled through the Otira tunnel, from Westland to Canterbury, last week, amounted to 14,954 tons, as compared with 14,347 tons in the corresponding week of last year and 14,266 tons in 1938.

In the course of a discussion at the Napier Compensation Court on the basis used to arrive at a valuation, Mr. F. W. Furkert, a former Engineer-in-Chief of the Public Works Department, gave an expert’s definition 6± “contingencies.” He said: “After you have thought of all the things that you can think of, then you put on something for the things that you can’t think of!”

According to the Abstract of Statistics, the average prices for admission to cinemas in the Dominion are as follow:—Auckland 14.8 d, Hawke’s Bay 17.0 d, Taranaki 15.7 d, Wellington 16.1 d, Nelson 13.7 d, Westland 15.3 d, Canterbury 15.8 d, Otago (Otago portion) 15.6 d, Otago , (Southland portion) 15.2 d. Disregarding differences in admission prices, for adults and children and for evening and matinee performances, the average price of admission has been calculated by dividing total admission receipts by the total number’ of paid admissions.

At a meeting of the District Committee of the Women’s War Service Auxiliary, held at Greymouth yesterday, the secretary reported that the enrolments to date total 80. Enrolments are now being taken for a bicycle corps, and all girls who can ride a bicycle are invited to join, so that they may take advantage of the classes which are to commence in February. Mrs. J. O’Brien was appointed as representative of the Auxiliary on the Emergency Precautions Committee, and Mrs. L. McGlashan was appointed deputyrepresentative.

“In the last war, I am told, the deserts of Africa were almost plastered with mouldy cakes and puddings,” paid Lord Galway, Governor-General, when speaking at the meeting of the Hawke’s Bay Provincial Patriotic Council in Napier. His Excellency pointed out that in the last war amateur packers had not made a success of their work, and often wrapped chocolate in handkerchiefs, with the result that this portion of the package was a sticky mess by the time it reached the desert and had to be throwrf away. “On the whole, the work in this war has been carried out very well and the contents of the parcels are arriving in splendid order,” he added.

Although it is no part of the functions of the Wellington Man-power Committee to decide such matters, an unusual position was revealed in a ruling sought of the committee by an employers’ representative, (reports “The Post”). He told the committee that the firm had appealed successfully in respect of a young employee who had been drawn in the first ballot for Territorial training. Some days afteithe appeal was heard the young man disappeared and it was later found that he had gone into camp in spite of the result of the hearing. The firm had to fill the vacancy ,as best it could. When the employee' completed his Straining he asked for his job back, and '.was told it would have been all right jf he had entered camp with the firm’s consent, even after the appeal, but as it was, he had, in effect, “sacked” himself. Was that the proper course for the employer to adopt? the committee wafe asked. “I think that probably you were perfectly sound, and that it was just common sense,” remarked the chairman (Mr. M. F. Luckie), “Mind you, I am not giving that opinion as chairman of this committee.”

Come to White’s this Xmas time for grand values in fashion goods. Have you seen our gift Summer Coats? These are the best thing offered anywhere in New Zealand.—White’s Corner, your Fashion Centre.—Advt.

A new delphinium called Pink | Sensation, is now being shown in Invercargill. The flower, the export of which is now prohibited from England, reached Invercargill through a Christchurch horticulturist who has a friend in England. The new bloom attracted much attention at the Invercargill Horticultural Society’s rose show last Friday.

Waikato Maoris and natives from other districts said farewell to the Governor-General (Lord Galway) and Lady Galway at Ngauawahia yesterday. King Koroki presented an address for King George VI., in which was expressed the earnest prayer of the Maori people that through the dark clouds of war would presently emerge the rays of Divine inspiration that would light the path to victory.—Press Assn.

The strange effect that an examination such as the university entrance examination, had on some households was condemned by Miss A. Eastwood, principal of the Southland Girls’ High School, at the annual prize-giv-ing last week. When girls from some households sat for matriculation, not only the examinee, but the whole family, worked themselves up to a state of nervous strain and excitement, Miss Eastwood said. This was, in her opinion, a very harmful state of affairs.

Financial membership of the New Zealand Returned Soldiers’ Association last month was 32,953, compared with 25,674 in November last year—an increase of 7279. Last month’s membership figures for the centres were Auckland 4185, Christchurch 3664, Wellington 3426, and Dunedin 2888. According to a report to the Christchurch executive last night, nine men invalided home from Egypt have since joined the association. Christchprch membership by yesterday was 3701, compared with 3812 last year.

According to superstition, 1941 has great chances of being luckier than 1940, as the combination of the thirteenth day of the month falling on a Friday (both the day and the number being unlucky) only occurs once in June, whereas this year it happened twice, in September and December. Holidays next year are: New Year’s Day, a Wednesday; s St. Patrick’s Day (March 17), a Monday; Good Friday, April 11; Easter Saturday, April 12; Easter Monday, April 14; Easter Tuesday (bank holiday), April 15; St. George’s and St. David’s Day (bank holiday, April 23), a Wednesday; Anzac Day (April 25), a Friday; King’s Day (June 2), a Monday; Dominion Day (bank holiday, September 22), a Monday; Labour Day (October 27), a Monday; St. Andrew’s Day (bank holiday, December 1), a Monday; Christmas Day (December 25), a Thursday; Boxing Day (December 26), a Friday. Summer time starts at 2 a.m. on the fourth Sunday in September and ends at 2 p.m. on the fourth Sunday in April, 1942.

“In my time we had to pay 1/6 a week for our education,” said Mr. R. Wild, of the Canterbury Education Board, when he spoke to pupils of the Christchurch South Intermediate School ■at the annual display of work yesterday. “I am very much afraid that too much is being done for you, and that things are too easy for you. I was thrashed only once when I was at school, and then 1 was flogged till I fainted for spelling coffee with one e. The result is I have never spelt coffee with one e since, and I have always had the greatest respect for my teacher. I want you boys and girls to be thankful for the specially good teachers you have here, and I want you to make the most of the splendid opportunities vou have to get a good start in life.” By the time Mr. Wild had seen round the school and had seen the work that has been done in 18 months by the pupils, he had changed his mind and admitted that there was ample proof that they did things for themselves. “The most hopeful and satisfactory result of our visit,” he said, “is .that in everything we have seen and heard there is evidence of selfreliance among the pupils and staff of this school.”