NEWS OF THE DAY

Manawatu Times, Volume 66, Issue 143, 18 June 1941, Page 4

NEWS OF THE DAY

Rifle Destroyed A man who destroyed his .303 calibre rifle before he received an impressment notice from the Government, Iveir Hardio Samms, appeared in the Christchurch Police Court before Mr. E. C. Levvey, S.M., charged with failing to give notice of the destruction of the rifle t-o the authorised arms officer. Samms pleaded guilty and was fined 20s and costs.

Waikato River Dam. The new channel for the Waikato River which has been cut near Taupo in conection with the dam to regulate the flow of water from Lake Taupo to Arapuni is now completed. A small opening about 2ft. wide was made at the lower end of the cut on Friday night, and by this evening the new channel was filled to within 2ft. of the present river level for the whole length, of the cut. As soon as the full level is reached the top of the channel will be opened and the whole flow of the Waikato will then be diverted into the new course.

T.B. Among Maoris. A mobile X-ray unit for use among tho Maoris of Taranaki as a means ot detecting tuberculosis in its early stagey was advocated by the Hawera Hospital Board. A committee was set up to prepare a report for submission to a conference of Taranaki hospital boards. Reference was made to the number of cases of tuberculosis among the Maoris, members expressing the opinion that steps should be taken to detect the disease in its early stage, one member declaring that Maoris were “dying on their feet because they would not go to hospital.” More Moustaches.

Moustaches are spreading in Britain with the rapidity of a prickly pear plague. The fashion has been stimulated by the fact that a great number of Home Guards feel that they present a more soldierly appearance if they wear one. Army officers and men are encouraged to cultivate moustaches if they grow respectably. The R.A.F. lays down that a moustache should not extend beyond the corners of the mouth, but it "is a rule noticeable for its breach. The Daily Mail columnist Charles Graves says that women are also responsible for the ever-increasing moustaches because escorts look" manlier. The Swastika Touah,

A degree of callousness such as is supposed to be confined to those who wear the swastika and shout, “Heil, Hitler,” was exhibited by a Christchurch motorist. As the car approached a group of children playing in the street scattered, but a dog that had been sharing in their game lingered a moment to snatch up a stick. The motorist made no attempt to avoid the dog, and the wretched animal’s screams, as first a front and then a back wheel went over it, could be heard a quarter of a milo away. But the motorist drove straight on, while the injured dog dragged itself to the gate of fts home and there died. Lights Cut Off. Last week action was taken by the ordering of disconnection of lights and fittings against 45 shopkeepers in Wellington who had not observed the emergency lighting restrictions in a satisfactory manner and the list of those who are to be given notice this week contains another 62 shops, said the Wellington City Lighting Controller, L. B. Hutton, on Monday. “The sooner everyone takes proper notice of what is required and complies with the requirements of the regulations the better will be the result upon their convenience and possibly upon their pockets,” said Air. Hutton. “While a careful effort is being made by the majority of shopkeepers others have not endeavoured to comply with-the regulations and some have tried to walk round them. It becomes more than tiring.” Gold-bearing Sands. A message from Hokitika states that although the heavy seas of tho past week caused untold delays to industry and transport, the beachcombers at Bruce Bay were benefited to a great extent by the action of the heavy seas running along the coast. The heavy seas scoured away the main beach and exposed layers of black sand carrying heavy deposits of gold. The beach a. Bruce Bay is famous for its gold-bear-ing sands, and as soon as conditions moderate beachcombers will bo hard at work. They will reap splendid returns while the conditions permit. The gold is retrieved by washing the sand over copper plates. At the end of the day the gold is retrieved from the copper plate by applying quicksilver, which collects the gold. Later the quicksilver | is separated from the gold by smelting.