NEWS OF THE DAY

Gisborne Herald, Volume LXVIII, Issue 20648, 26 December 1941, Page 2

NEWS OF THE DAY

Express Delayed The Wellington - New Plymouth express was delayed about an hour and a half on Tuesday because two wheels of a car were derailed on the Wangaehu bank, near Baker’s crossing, 15 miles south of Wanganui. The mishap occurred as the express, hauled by two engines and consisting of nine cars and a van, was apptoaching the summit of the steep gradient. The train was travelling slowly, and no damage occurred, to the rolling stock or permanent way. Absent Without Leave Four Territorials who arrived at Gisborne from Woodville military camp on Wednesday morning were taken into custody by the police later in the day, it being alleged that they were absent from camp without leave. They had their Christmas dinner in the lock-up, and although this fell somewhat short of the meal they apparently intended having at home, the victuals provided by the police authorities were supplemented by titbits from the home tables. They were returned to camp to-day.

Haymaking Held Up Haymaking and shearing operations have been held up for the past week in the Dannevirke district. High winds, which at times have reached strong gale force, accompanied by heavy rain have not only stopped work in the hay fields, but in some exposed positions have scattered the cut hay or piled it against fences. “Busier Than Ever’’ “We are busier than ever,” said a Wellington photographer, “because in addition to wedding groups and photographs to be sent as Christmas presents, we have been taking a terrific number of soldiers, sailors and airmen. It is noticeable, too, that a fair number of women in uniform are having their photographs taken.” Harvesting of Flax Crop The harvesting of the experimental flax crop at Opaki has been delayed' through the unseasonably wet weather of the past few days, and will now probably be completed in the holiday period. The crop has become slightly over-ripe during the past week, and will be harvested as soon at it has been subjected to 24 hours of good drying weather. Brilliant Chinese Student Warm praise was given to Wesley Yee Jack, a Chinese student at the Ashburton Technical High School, at the break-up ceremony. In his four years at the school .he had gained 24 first.prizes and four second places in his class examinations, it was stated. So brilliant was he considered that representations had been made to the Consul-General for China, who was now endeavouring to place the student in a suitable-position where he could make use of his talents for his . country. Disliked Wet Grass Fear of getting their feet wet, which prompted two detainees at the Strathmore defaulters’ camp to disobey lawful orders, resulted in them both being sentenced to two months' imprisonment with hard labour. The charges, heard before Mr. W. H. Free-: man, S.M., at a special sitting of the Rotorua Magistrate’s Court, are the first brought under the national service regulations. The accused were James Thomas Beswick, aged 27, and James Walter Corbett, aged. 31. Both pleaded not guilty. Boys Help on Farms Because of war conditions a large number of Nelson College pupils were not present at the annual prize-giving ceremony. This was explained by the principal. Mr. Searle, who explained that 200 boys from the College were to work on farms during the holidays and many were required immediately. Others were staking the places of fathers and brothers called into camp with the National Reserve. “Since the acute labour shortage was.brought about by a national crisis the least we could do Was to allow the boys to go as soon as their examinations were over,” said Mr. Searle. Quiet Christmas Eve Although large numbers of people were in town on Wednesday evening, Christmas Eve was a quiet one, as is usual in Gisborne, and the police, traffic officers and special traffic officers had little trouble in regulating the crowds, whose behaviour gave no cause for complaint. The only arrests made were during the day, when two Maoris were taken to the police station, one being dealt with on a charge of having been found' in a state of intoxication while in charge of a motor car, while the other will face a similar charge when he appears before the court on Monday. Christmas in Hospital The staff of the Cook Hospital rose to the occasion with its usual energy to give the patients in the wards their share of the Christmas spirit, and every ward was gaily decorated for the annual celebration yesterday. An unusually large number of visitors passed through the wards, and keenly admired the results of the nursing staff’s work in decorations suitable to the season. The highlight of the celebration was seen in the children’s ward, where normal restrictions upon the number of visitors were relaxed, and a large gathering saw the distribution of gifts from a handsome Christmas tree to the younger patients. Special menus were provided for all classes of patients, in accordance with the usual Christmas practice at the Cook Hospital.

Christmas Eve Presentation A happy Christmas Eve function took place in Mr. W. Barrington Miller’s suite at the Masonic Hotel, when members of the executive of the Gisborne Thirty - Thousand Club, headed by the Mayor, Mr. N. H. Bull, president of the club, and Mr. Jas. Chrisp, the chairman, called on Mr. Miller to extend to him the season’s greetings and wish him good health during the ensuing year. Messrs. Bull and Chrisp spoke for the ThirtyThousand Club, and Mr. Miller was presented with an adjustable table from the members of the club, the speakers making reference to the great debt of gratitude the town owed to Mr. Miller for his many generous acts. When replying, Mr. Miller referred to some of the incidents in his early career in Gisborne.