GENERAL ITEMS

Nelson Evening Mail, Volume LXXIII, 2 December 1940, Page 4

GENERAL ITEMS

Significant Message Inability of the German censor to appreciate an English idiom resulted in a significant message being sent in a letter from a prisoner of war in a Nazi prison camp to his parents. The letter, received in Hastings, read: “Dear Mother: We are being well fed and clothed here, and very kindly treated by the Germans. Tell this tc all our friends in the Army and Navy, but, above all, tell it to the Marines.”

Wild Goat Menace The presence of herds of wild goats or the slopes of Te Aroha Mountain was reported at a meeting of the Te Aroha Chamber of Commerce. It was stated that the beasts, which were introduced to combat the blackberry, was now causing great damage to fine blocks of native bush. It was decided to bring the matter to the attention of the Minister of Internal Affairs, the Hon. W. E. Parry.

Gift to British Firemen Responding to a toast at a recent smoke concert at Kumara, the president of the United Fire Brigades’ Association of New Zealand (DeputySuperintendent A. J. White, of Greymouth) paid a tribute to the work of the firemen in London and other British towns which have been raided by enemy aeroplanes. He announced amid applause that the New Zealand United Fire Brigades’ Association, with the cooperation of the Prime Minister (the Rt. Hon. P. Fraser) and the Minister for Finance (the Hon. W. Nash), was sending to London firemen a good sum as a Christmas present from the firemen of New Zealand, as a token of their esteem for the heroic self-sacrifice made in recent months by London fire-fighters.

Airmen and Car Conversions Criticism of a section of the men at the Royal New Zealand Air Force Station, Wigram, for the prevalence of unlawful conversions by them of motor-vehicles was made by the Magistrate and the police, when a case was heard by Mr E. C. Lawry, S.M., in the Magistrate’s Court last week (reports “The Press”). Defendants both pleaded guilty to the charge of conversion. “This type of offence is very prevalent among the men at the aerodrome,” said Detective-Sergeant J. McClung, who explained that the men took a motor-cyclae, valued at £7O, and belonging to Keith Garrack, from Centsurus road, Cashmere. They had an accident, and damaged it to the extent of £2. “It is very common for cars to be taken near Wigram and brought into town, or taken in town and found near Wigram,” he added. “You will not get the slightest consideration from this Court, neither you nor any of the other young men out there who are playing the fool,” said the Magistrate, when one man asked for the suppression of his name. “The Air Force authorities don’t want dishonest men out there, so they don’t mind what is done with them,” Detective-Sergeant McClung said. “But the law doesn’t call it dishonest, by some extraordinary quibble,” Mr Levvey replie. Each man was convicted and fined £lO, in default 21 days’ imprisonment. They were ordered to make good the damage to the machine.

Swimming Instruction Speaking at the opening of the Vogeltown School baths at New Plymouth, Mr G. H. Davey, the headmaster, stated that before any child attending the school could embark on a course of swimming instruction, its parents had to sign a certificate stating that the child could keep its head under water to a count of 20 and blow bubbles while doing so. Equipped with this familiarity of water, an average of only five lessons was required to teach the child its first strokes in swimming. Last year, 15 out of 16 pupil learners could swim 40 feet after their first five lessons, while some became proficient in only four/lessons.

Letters to Soldiers While addresses of letters to soldiers still cause mailroom officials at the Post Office some trouble, a new error has arisen on the part of some senders —in their interpretation of the recent air mail concession (states “The Press”). Quite a number of people, a reporter was told, had mistaken the application of the 9d air-mail rate, which was for letters (up to a halfounce) to New Zealand and Australian soldiers, sailors, and airmen serving with fighting forces, anywhere overseas. Apparently misinterpreting this limitation, numerous persons were posting letters under this rate to Canadian and other soldiers, to A.R.P. workers, to othere engaged in semi-mili-tary services and even, in some cases, to civilians. Since the recent report on faults in addressing letters and in packing parcels, there had, it was stated, been an improvement. Each day, hcwever, postal officials continued to have extra work thrust on them through address errors —unnecessary details, incompatible details, and the omission of necessary particulars. Some of the letters still failed to bear the echelon number, and some the soldier’s name, rank, or number. Some bore, unnecessarily or incorrectly, such details as “G.P.0., Wellington,” “Aidershot,” and “London.” Of those with incompatible details, the most common example was the naming of a unit not existing in the echelon specified. Requirements, which had not been changed, were soldier’s name, rank, and number, his unit (full details), and echelon number.

“Heavy smoker. Sir?” asked a passenger aboard the Christchurch-Dun-edin express, addressing his vis-a-vis, who had just “obliged with a match.” “Pretty fair,” laughed the other, “four or five ounces a week.” “By Jove!” was the reply, “if I smoked all that I’d be a nervous wreck in a month!” “What sort d’you smoke?” queried No. 1. He named the brand. “Ah! that’s American and like most foreign brands, rank with nicotine It wouldn’t do me. I smoke New Zealand Navy Cut. Wonderful stuff! Hardly any nicotine in it. Con’t hurt you however much you smoke. Cheaper than imported and better, too You see. it’s toasted. That cuis out the nicotine. The manufacturers? National Tobacco Co.. I believe. My preference is for their Navy Cut No. 3. Beautiful flavour. And won’t harm the tongue. Other brands of their? (all toasted) are Riverhead Gold, Desert Gold, Cavendish and Cut Plup No 10 My tobacconist tells me he sells more of these goods than any other. All toasted, that makes them absolutely safe.”* At McKay's! Kabe Silk Pyjamas, tailored coat style, short sleeves, in pencil stripes. Spots and attractive Floral Stripes, S.W., W., 0.5., 14/6 and 14/11* House Smocks at McKay’s! Fresh Floral patterns, cross-over and Artist styles Short and long sleeves From 10/6 to 17/6.*

A community sing and dance in aid of the Lower Moutere Women’s Institute funds will be held on Wednesday evening in the Jubilee Hall, Lower Moutere. Messrs T. Simpson and G. Burk will lead the singing with Mr J. Brown at the piano. 21/- Frocks! Special value in Floral and Plain Silk Frocks. S.S.W. to Wm.’s fittings. Don’t miss this Special. 21/at McKay’s.*

Order of Confirmation At the Cathedral last night the Bishop ministered the Order of Confirmation in the presence of a large congregation. Forty-two boys and 33 girls were presented by the Dean as Vicar of the Cathedral Parish. Marlborough A. and F. Show A profit of £BO from the Marlborough A. and P. Show is disclosed in an interim statement of receipts and expenditure which was presented at last week’s meeting of the Association (reports the “Express”). This figure is somewhat smaller than last year’s profit, which amounted to £ll3. The total of receipts this year was £784, compared with £733 last year, while items of expenditure totalled £704 and £620 respectively. Dear Lettuces Lettuces were very dear in Wellington on Saturday. The best were 8d each (retail), and inferior sorts from 4d to 7d each. “If they are that price in November—the flush of the season—what are they going to be at the end of February?” asked one outraged woman in a Chinese shop. The shopman only smiled, and shrugged his shoulders. “Welly dear in market —not enough lettuce come,” he commented briefly and to the point. It is understood that the price lettuces brought on Saturday was the highest for many years as far as Wellington is concerned. What Shags Eat The stomachs of 199 shags shot in a year in the South Island contained 644 trouts, three eels, 18 lampreys, 16 perch, three flounders, and 21* bullies. Figures were prepared for the council of the South Island Acclimatisation Societies by Mr H. G. Williams, of Dunedin, and presented at last week’s meeting of the council (reports “The Press”). Most of the shags were shot in Otago and Southland, but there were a few in Nelson, South Canterbury, and the Lakes District. The length of trout varied from two inches to 16in inches. This biggest trout was found inside the only shag shot at Lee stream, near Dunedin. Mostly the trout averaged between seven and 10 inches in length. The lampreys were all at least a foot long, and the longest was 16 inches. The longest perch was seven inches and the average size was four inches. Only three shags had eaten flounder, and these were at Pourakino, Southland. At Waiau, Southland, 33 shags contained 105 trout; at Lowburn 16 shags contained 94 trout; and at Mimihau and Dipton Creek 20 shags had eaten 100 trout.

Examinations During Air Raids In writing to friends in Christchurch a young New Zealand doctor on the resident staff of a London hospital says that during the first day’s papers when he was sitting for his M.R.C.S. and L.R.C.P. there were no fewer than six air raids. Students taking the examination had been told to take no notice of the sirens, as there were roof-watch-ers who would warn them of any danger. The information had just been given when a heavy bomb exploded 200 yards away. Students continued their work and no further “incidents” occurred. In the hospitals this young New Zealander finds that patients are very good during air raids, and many sleep through them. A few days before he wrote four 5001 b bombs and a land mine exploded near his hospital. The mine exploded first and broke a quantity of glass, and each time the bombs went off loose glass fell out of frames.

New Zealand Art It was originally announced that the Centennial Exhibition of New Zealand Art would be opened in Nelson in November or December, but the trustees ot the Suter Art Gallery have now been informed that the collection will arrive from Blenheim on the 3rd February, and that the showing dates will be from Saturday, Bth February, to Wednesday, 19th February. Mrs Murray Fuller, who has rendered such great services to Art in New Zealand, is in charge of the Exhibition.