News Of The Day

Northern Advocate, 28 November 1939, Page 4

News Of The Day

Whangarei Croquet. Results of competition games in the Whangarei Croquet Club were: Stars, Mrs Connell and Mrs H. Wilson beat Mrs McPhee and Mrs Clarke; buttons, Mrs Rumbal and Mrs Gunthorpe beat Mrs Stevenson and Mrs Norwood.

Rocket Postal Service. Cuba is the first country in the world to have a rocket postal service. From a correspondent at Havana, Mr T. Conaghan, of Whangarei, who is a keen collector, has received several copies of the Cuban 10 cent air mail stamp overprinted with the words: “Experimcnto del Cohete Postal, Ano De 1939.” “Cochete” means rocket. The rocket postal service commenced as recently as October 16, the correspondent not knowing where it was to be directed —to the moon, sun or one of the stars. The first experiment was conducted just outside the city of Havana. “It seems to me that Cuba will do anything just to issue a new postage stamp and take a little money from the pocket of the poor collector,” Mr Conaghan’s friend writes.

Broadwood Wants a Bank Better banking facilities are required by the business people of Broadwood. This subject was brought up at the annual general meeting of the Hokianga Chamber of Commerce by Mr E. M. Kingdon, who stated that the Broadwood branch of. the Chamber had received a letter from the executive stating that the time was not opportune for a move to be made. “I consider this is a matter for the banks themselves to decide and not the executive of the chamber,” said Mr Kingdon, “and I hope that when the subject is brought forward again, the executive will allow the request to go forward. There is a lot of business in Broadwood, and better banking facilities are badly wanted.” Lady and Pram Fall in Ditch. To see a lady disappear into a trench followed by a perambulator was the experience of people sheltering from the rain in Kamo Road yesterday afternoon. Borough workmen had knocked oil a few minutes previously from their work of preparing for the laying of an electrical cable. When a girl dismounted from her bicycle to seek the shelter of the verandah, Mrs F. Moore, Cross Street, stepped back on to the narrow crossing left at the shop entrance. There was no mound of debris to mark the side of the crossing, and Mrs Moore fell backwards into the hole, still holding on to the handle of the perambulator. The perambulator fin-, ished in almost an upright position,] the live-month-old baby being thrown \ into the hood, and thus escaping scri-j ous injury. Mrs Moore, who in falling; into the trench came in contact with \ stone, received bruises and a ricked] neck. Others, seeing her predicament,] assisted to retrieve the pram, and Mi’s] Moore was able to return to her] home. *

Buy your Xmas presents at Henry Wilson's, where dependable goods can| be bought cheaper than elsewhere. See window and Interior displays of handkerchiefs, napery, novelties, silk underwear, hosiery, ties, shirts, fancy socks, etc. Sets of silk underwear a speciality

Keen Ambulance Members. Every member of the Men’s Senior Division of the Whangarei St. John Ambulance Brigade was accounted for at the annual inspection last night. Three officers and 30 members were persent, four were in military camp, and from each of the remaining four absentees, one of whom was in hospital, a letter explaining the circumstances of non-attendance was received. I s * * N. Wairoa Patriotism. The patriotic appeal made tin Dargaville last week resulted in the sum of £Bl 18/- being collected. Eighty members of the Northern Wairoa Returned Soldiers’ Association unanimously supported a resolution favouring compulsory national service. Free military passes for soldiers in camp, or, failing that, a Hat rate in order that those whose homes were a long distance from camp should not be penalised, were also favoured.

Price Problems. New Zealand is not alone in being perplexed with price ranges in war time, even neutral Cuba being affected. Writing to Mr T, Conaghan, a stamp-collecting friend in Havana states the war had raised the price of sugar and with it the price of every other commodity, making living more expensive. Several of the most prominent businessmen were in gaol and under arrest for raising the price of food and other articles. “Tin's Government,” the writer states, “does not stop, to think before acting, and, as a consequence, our packing firms arc having to sell lard and other imported items below their actual cost, or face arrest for not doing so.”

Whangarei Bowling Competitions. Consideration was given at a special meeting of the Whangarei Bowling Club last night to playing percentage fours in place of championship fours in club competitions, but it was decided to continue with the championship fours for the present. The majority of the members considered that* as the championship fours competition had commenced, it should be continued, but that the playing of percentage fours should be considered when the championship fours competition was completed. For percentage fours, members would have to be classified, which would take time/ and it. was thought that, even if this competition were to be brought in, play could not commence till after the holidays.