NEWS OF THE DAY

Manawatu Times, Volume 66, Issue 186, 7 August 1941, Page 6

NEWS OF THE DAY

Education Board Election The result of the election in the north ward of the Wanganui Education Board has been announced, Rev. P. Wiltshire (Hunterville), formerly of Palmerston North) being tho successful jaudukue. The voting resulted: Rev. P. Wiltshire, 98 votes (elected); Air. A. S. Coleman (Marton), 76; Air. J. B. McKnight (Ohingaiti), 9. The vacancy was caused by the death of Air. L. A. Bailey (Mangaweka). Coincidence A young New Zealander who went through the Greek and Cretan campaigns has described a novel incident in a letter to his mother in Hamilton. To the surprise of a group of soldiers u Greek woman produced some New Zeuland photographs. One depicted a Maori haka taken on a barge at Ngaruawahia. On the back of the photograph was the name of the writer’s uncle, a Hamilton photographer. Coal Shortage in Hamilton. A definite shortage of coal is being experienced in Hamilton. A distributor said that supplies were being maintained for essential industries such as railways, dairy factories and gasworks, but household supplies were subjected t.n rationing, being restricted to one bag at a time. It was expected that with the approach of warmer weather, it would be possible to meet all requirements. Bird Month. Attention is drawn in Forest, and Bird, the official publication of the Forest and Bird Protection Society of New r Zealand, to tho fact that August is bird month, when the birds are cold and hungry and glad of feed. It is pointed out that where people have gardens with trees most of the birds can be encouraged by feeding, and that many species render good service by the amount of insect life destroyed. Possible Family Record What is possibly a family record in military activities was established at the Northern Military District School of Instruction at Narrow Neck recently when a father and three sons, all of whom hold non-commissioned rank iu the army, assembled to attend various instructional courses. The father is Sergeant-Alujor P. T. W. Blows, New Zealand Permanent Staff, and his sons are Gorporal B. O. Blows, New Zealand Temporary Staff, and Lance-Corporals R. E. and R. K. Blows, both of the Ist Battalion, Auckland Regiment. Appreciation ox Minute’s Silence Appreciative reference to tho New Zealand Parliament’s decision to observe a minute’s silence aw Big Ben strikes the hour of 9 p.m. has been received by the Speaker of the House of Representatives (Hon. W. E. Barnard) from Sir Waldron Smithcrs, a member of tne Douse of Commons and chairman of the Big Ben Gouncil, and Air. Tudor Pole, a founder of tho mo earnout in Britain. A cable message has beeu received from Sir Waldron Smitliers and Air. Pole stating: “Wei wish to express our heartfelt gratitude for the inspiring lerid given by your House on the historic inauguration of the Big Bt*n silent minute, it is much'appreciated by my fellow members iu the House of Commons. Warm greetings from the Big Ben Council.” Mobile Shower Baths

Among the minor discomforts that often have to be borne uy victims of air raids in Britain is lack of facilities for showers or baths. In an effort to overcome the problem, a well-known soap manufacturing firm iu England has put into service a number of mobile units, which are sent free to raided areas. For use by people whose homes have beeu bombed and who are unable to get a bath, these mobile shower-baths are in the form of a special trailer drawn by a car. Supplies of towels and I soap are carried in the car, while on the trailer is an oil-fired boiler of the Diesel type. Canvas screens can be erected alongside the trailer to iirovide three dressing sheds, and a central shelter accommodates four spray baths. Next Victim? Speaking on the European situation Inst month, Air. F. H. LaGuardiu, Alayor of New York, forecast that Hitler sooner or later would turn upon another pact-partner —Italy. “I predict now that there will either be a complete surrender or turning over of complete j control of the economy of Italy, or else 'he is going to treat Italy like he treated J Russia. That is just a party of a programme to dominate first of all Europe, | then to get Asia and Africa. I also predict that he will wind up by declaring war against himself. That is, < the German people will soon realise it his a fanatically obsessed leadership that is impracticable and unworkable, aside from being cruel and maniacal,” ,was his comment. Moa Egg Exhibited. What had been an almost perfect specimen of a moa egg was exhibited by the curator, Dr. H. D. Skinner, at the Otago Aluseuin rocently. Dr. Skinner explained that, except for perforation at one end, it was perfect when foqnd by Mr. G. Griffiths at the mouth of the Shag River last February. It had, however, been struck by a digging implement, and one shoulder had been taken off. The hole, which had been carefully bored at the large end, suggested that it had possibly been used to withdraw the contents for use as\foou. This hole also made it clear that moa eggs were used by the Alaoris as gourds, the egg being plnccd in a wicker basket with moss packed round it to prevent it breaking. * Busy-Bodies “Are you aware that So-andSo Blank, who was called up in the fourth ballot, is still sheltering under his father’s roof? If he is fit, why isn’t he in the army?” Letters like this, signed “Observer” or “Patriot,” or any other nom de plume, but seldom with the name of the writer, find their way almost daily into the mail of the Christchurch Army Registration and Records Office. And the answer has always been that the man in question is not fit, although to all outward appearances he has no physical disability. As one man pointed out that does not prevent armchair patriots or other busy-bodies from writing to the military authorities letters *to w r hieli they have not the courage to append their names and addresses.

Anniversary of Railway Link An epoch-making event in the history of New r Zealand, tho linking by railway of Auckland and Wellington/ occurred 33 years ago on Sunday. On August 3, 190 S, the last length of rail was laid in position, the scene being a point about 19 chains on the northern side of the Mangamii-o-te-no viaduct, a short distance south of the ATakatote viaduct, and half-way between Auckland and Wellington. The first train to pass over the line was a special train which left TV ellingtou on August 7, bringing to Auckland a Parliamentary party to take part in tho welcome to the American Fleet, which arrived on August 9. : Further work had to be done on tho permanent way, and the official cere- : I mony of driving tho last spike in the : line did not take place until November ; 6. The first regular service commenced 1 on February 14, 1909. i