News Of The Day

Northern Advocate, 10 December 1940, Page 4

News Of The Day

Military Appointment The following postings to the North Auckland Mounted Rifles Regiment are gazetted: Major W. F. Sefton, V.D., is transferred to the Reserve oi Officers, Class I (b), Area 3. Lieutenant J. L. Murdoch is granted the temporary rank of captain. The undermentioned Second Lieutenants (temporary) are granted the temporary rank of lieutenant: T. J. Minhinnick, G. W. Kendall.

Medical Board Results Medical boards conducting examinations of further batches of Northland men balloted for service found that 60 per cnet. of the men were fit. In Whangarei 88 men were examined, 52 being found fit while 30 were classed temporarily unfit and six permanently unfit. Twenty-three men were medically examined in Dargaville, 15 being passed fit, four classed temporarily unfit and four permanently unfit.

Oldest Airways Passenger Believed to be the oldest passenger to travel by Tasman Empire Airways, Mrs Jane Pope, of Ulster Street, Hamilton, returned recently from Sydney 'in the flying-boat Aotearoa. Mrs Pope flew to Sydney on her 85th birthday, October'27, thus enjoying the unique distinction of celebrating her birthday in both Australia and New Zealand on the same day. “No more boats'for me in future,” said Mrs Pope on her return. “I told the captain of the Aotearoa that I might go back in five years’ time.” ■'

Henry Wilson’s Xmas Fair and Sale is arousing extraordinary enthusiasm on account of the wonderful bargains being submitted. Wilson’s ordinary values are good. -Wilson’s values at sale time are irresistible. W 9

It’s a Totara

The screen that hid from view the Christmas tree given to inmates of the Tikipunga Orphanage last night was inadvertently pulled aside for a moment. Keen young eyes missed nothing. “What’s that?” a grown-up asked one of the boys. “A totara,” came the instantaneous reply.

New Zealanders Embarrassed.

Saying the New Zealand troops in England were treated “like lords,” a soldier writing to a Mangapai friend, said it was often embarrassing when elderly ladies came up in the street to say: “You are New Zealanders? Thanks so much for coming all this way to help us.” New Zealanders were also in great demand by autograph hunters. * # * * Derailment on North Line. The express from Opua and Whangarei arrived at Auckland yesterday 90 minutes late owing to the derailment of a waggon on a goods trafn at Rewiti, near Helensville. The express arrived at 6.55 p.m., instead of 5.29 p.m. Only slight damage was done to the track, and this was repaired to allow the express to proceed. * * * Closed-Door Conference. Representatives of dairy companies throughout the Northland district today attended a conference of the North Auckland Dairy Association in Whangarei. Several points affecting the dairy industry were on the agenda for discussion by the conference, which was not open to the Press. The No. 1 Ward representative (Mr A. J. Murdoch) was in attendance.

Schools Swimming Officer. In succession to Mr. R. L. MqNabb. late of Parakao School, now of Taranaki, Mr. Geo. S. Reid, 26 Fourth Avenue, has been appointed the official Educational Officer for Swimming for Northland. This position has existed a few months only, and is scarcely known among those interested in school swimming. Teachers and others interested in this work, including issue of swimming certificates, life saving, etc., should communicate with Mr. Reid at the above address. * * * * Kensington Croquet. Results of the Kensington Croquet Club competition games last weekend were: Mrs Stringer and Mrs Fraser retained the stars in the game with Mrs Nisbet and Mrs Johnson. For the buttons, Mrs Fairley and Mrs Smith beat Mrs Courtney and Mrs Simons. Mrs Andrews and Mrs I. Snow beat Mrs Woodbridge and Mrs McKay in a game for the brooches. The junior buttons were won by Mrs Fricker and Miss Hilford, who played Mrs Michaels and Mrs Tidswell.

Little Damage by Bombing

A New Zealand soldier who hitchhiked over 100 miles through the most bombed parts of England, remarked in a letter to a friend in Mangapai that, for the intensity of the bombardments, > comparatively little damage had been done. ‘‘For miles and miles you.see no scars at all. Then you would see two \or three houses demolished and in open fields hundreds of holes. It’s marvellous how little actual result the enemy has achieved,” the letter stated.