NEWS OF THE DAY

Manawatu Times, Volume 65, Issue 270, 2 November 1940, Page 6

NEWS OF THE DAY

Clipping the Church. Every year in All Saints ’ Church the children of the parish on the Sunday after All Saints’ Day join in the ancient custom of “Clipping the Church” and children’s flower service. This will take place to-morrow at 11 a.m. Rabbits for Soldiers Rabbits formed part of the diet for members of the Wanganui National Military Reserve encamped at Kaitoke. A private with a pea-rifle was out immediately the company was dismissed for the day, and when he returned at dusk he was cheered by the company and “decorated” by the cooks. Armistice Day. A notification issued by the Government to-day invites the co-operation of citizens and the traflic controlling authorities in tho observance of two minutes’ silence from 11 a.m. on Monday, November 11, in commemoration of Armistice Day. It is suggested that where a service is desired it should take place at the local cenotaph or wav memorial.—Press Assu. Train Fatality Victims The widespread sympathy extended to the relatives of the late Messrs. J. C. C. McCubbin and C. J. Ritchie, the driver and fireman of the limited express who were killed in the railway accident at Mercer on Monday, was expressed at the funeral of the victims on Wednesday. A very largo crowd, including many present and past railway employees, attended the service held in a chapel in Hood Street, Hamilton. The majority could not obtain accomodation in the building, and the attendance overflowed into th<" street. Children Raise Pennies. The enthusiasm with which, school | children are entering into the Heart-to-Heart Patriotic Appeal, was demonstrated at a Palmerston North city school yesterday. A gala day was planned and managed entirely by a children’s committee andtlie result was a credit to all concerned. The children did not lack initiative. One lad raised a substantial sum by taking his horse to school and giving schoolmates rides at a penny each. Another, knowing how hungry schoolboys can get, went armed with slices of bread and a toaster. Rarity Demands Secrecy. “Publicity is a very powerful method of interesting the public in matters upon which the public may be uninformed. There are, however, some things which are better left unsaid. One of these is the locality in which a species of birds or of plants nearing extinction is to be found,” says Captain E. V. Eauderson, president of the Forest and Bird Protection Society. * ‘ Tho broadcasting of such information is only too apt to be U3ed by the collector as a means of acquiring rare specimens and thereby completing the extinction of the rare species.” curies and iviercy A plea by counsel to a jury that “the quality of mercy is not strained” gave occasion to Mr. Justico Fair to direct tho jury that, however desirable that quality may be, it was no part of their function to exercise it. * * The jury is very happily excused from taking that factor into consideration,” , said His Honour. “They are to weigh evidence and deal fairly and justly by tho accused, but to do no more. If questions of sympathy or mercy were taken into consideration, then there would have to be evidence upon the facts to determine the exercise of that l discretion; but there is no evidence of ‘ that kind before you, and you will bo good enough to exclude that appeal altogether from your sonsideration. ” Building in City. In October 20 building permits were 1 issued in Palmerston North, these rc--1 presenting an estimated total value of ' £11,329 as against 25 permits estimated > to cost £B7-12 for tho corresponding 1 month of last year. The figures for tho > month just closed wore made up as 5 follows: New dwellings, £10,026; altera- ‘ tions and additions to dwellings, £603; additions to business premises, £400; additions to public buildings, £300; ' total, £11,329. Thi3 gives an increase in value of £2387. “The last three ’ months have shown an increase in the value of permits issued on the corresponding period last year of no less a L sum than £6293 and it is pleasing to note tho sustained effort,” remarked ! Mr. H. H. Maekrell (building inspector) commenting on the above figures. | Boy Writes for Flag, j An Eltham boy, who, judging from his letter, is quite young, apparently be- ) lieves in going to high obicial quarters ! when he wants anything. Recently, he wrote to the Dcfenco Department, Wellington, asking tho department to send * him a New Zealand flag “for our flag pole which we have put up for our ? Empire.” His name 13 Brian Belcher. The letter came under the notice of . Lieutenant-Colonel W. R. Burge, deputy s Quartermaster-General, who, not having any flags at his disposal to hand out as - presents but feeling that lie would like . to do something for the boy, forwarded the boy’s letter to the board ’3 office. Now tho board’s secretary has undertaken to see what can be done. Thero - may be some person or organisation . with a flag to spare.