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Manawatu Standard, Volume LX, Issue 211, 5 August 1940, Page 6

Sculling Anniversary.

Saturday marked the thirty-third anniversary of the winning of the world sculling title by W. Webb, of Wanganui. This was the first time the title had been won by a New Zealander and the event created much excitement. He beat C. Towns on the Parramatta River, Sydney. Slow Mail from Europe. Much mail from Europe is almost as long in coming to New Zealand as in the days of sailing. A mail from Qopenhagcn was received by one Wanganui business firm last week, the post marks showing that some of it had been posted on December 21, delivery to New Zealand taking seven months.

Waikato’s Dry Month. An exceptionally dry period was experienced in tbe Waikato during July, only 1.99 in. of rain being recorded in Hamilton, as against the average of 4.83 in. Old residents state that they cannot recall so little rain falling in July. There were numerous frosts, as much as 17.3 degrees being registered on one day, but the majority of the days were fine. ■ Road Closure Opposed. Keen dissatisfaction with the proposal to close the Packakariki Hill road was expressed at a meeting of the Makarn-HuttValley provincial executive of tbe Farmers’ Union. It was folt that settlers on the road would be most up,justly penalised if the road were to be closed and that from the point of view of defence it was essential to keep open this alternative inland route.

Mishap to Express. Through a minor derailment while entering Whangamarino station, on the Main Trunk line, on Saturday morning the Limited express from Wellington was held up for several horn's, arriving at Auckland at 1.20 p.m. instead of at the schedule time of 9.30 am. A troop train following was similarly held up and arrived in Auckland 15 minutes later. No one was injured, and little damage was caused. Schoolboy’s .Death.

After ten months in hospital, fallowing an accident in a school gymnasium in New Plymouth. Geoffrey Oswald Bartrum, aged 17, died in the Wanganui Hospital on Saturday. He was a pupil at the New Plymouth Bovs’ High School and was exercising in the school gymnasium last year when he fell and injured ■ his neck. Although the neck was broken, hopes were entertained that he would survive.

Military Training. Officers ,and n.c.o.’s of the Queen Alexandra Mounted Rifles, Manawatu Mounted Rifles (motorised). and Wellington East Coast Mounted Rifles will go into camp on the Wanganui Racecourse on Wednesday, August 14, for two weeks’ training, after which they will proceed to Tauherenikau to complete their course. The men of the Wellington Infantry Battalion will then go into camp on the racecourse at the end of August. Humour in Italy’s War.

As the war in Afrioa is supplying welcome news of successes, so it is supplying welcome touches of humour, notes “Janus” in the Spectator. Two are provided in the Times telegrams. One was the novel and agreeable achievement of British raiders into Libya in capturing an Italian general in full uniform in the act of driving his wife to a maternity home, where she expected soon to have a baby; she will have it in an Egyptian maternity home now. The other was in a message from Aden which told how during a British raid in Abyssinia “the entire bazaar was praying throughout the raid not only that nothing should fall on them, but also that maximum damage should be caused to the Italians.” Whoever the deity to whom the petitions were addressed, both, it is. satisfactory to know, were fully answered.

False Fire Call. At 7.28 o’clock on Saturday evening tho Fire Brigade received a false call to the corner of Featherston and lluahinc Streets. Winter Grass Fire. About 4000 acres of tussock country in tlio GJenroy district, Canterbury, wero burnt during last week in the biggest grass fire seen in tho locality for 25 years. Hard Grounds. Rugby -football grounds are most unusually hard for this time of tho year, as one of the referees who officiated ill a match on Saturday found to his discomfort. His studded boots proved to be irritating after the match had progressed some time, and lie refereed the last part of it in his stockinged feet.

New Lawn Strip. A commencement has been made with laying the further areas of lawn made available in the garden enclosure opposite the “Manawatu Standard” premises by the removal of the aviary and tho growth about what was formerly the duck-pond. Neatly fitted “flags"’ of turf are being laid to provide a lawn in a short space of time. New Rotorua Hospital. Following tho visit of Dr R. A. Shore (assistant-Dircctor General of Health) and engineers of tho Public Works Department to inspect sites in Rotorua, it is expected that the preliminary steps will shortly be taken to erect a new sanatorium. It is understood that tin's will be preceded by a building, possibly of a temporary nature, to be used as a military hospital, therapeutic treatment once again playing a large part in the recuperation of New Zealand soldiers. Cyclist Hurt. A fractured collarbone and injuries to the bead were suffered by Miss Frances O’Callaghan, of 213 Ruahino Street, when sho was involved in a collision on Saturday evening with a motor-car driven by Mr D. F. Meehan, of Rangitikei Line. Miss O’Callaghan, who is a member of the X-ray staff at the Hospital, was cycling out of the Hospital grounds when- the accident happened. She was admitted to the institution and to-day her condition was reported to bo considerably improved. Recruits’ Examined. Only two recruits for active service and one for home defence were examined at the sitting of the medical board in Palmerston North on Friday evening, there being, however, 45 Territorials of Queen Alexandra’s Own Regiment from Pohangina and Rangiwabia for examination. The recruits were Messrs L. M. Seymour, M. A. Lamb (activo service) and H. G. LengWard (home defence). At the next sitting of the medical board, on Wednesday, 102 Territorials of the Manawatu Mounted Rifle Regiment will be examined. On Friday next the remaining 20 men for. overseas service will he before tho doctors, as will also GO members of the Medical Corps.