LOCAL AND GENERAL

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXXVII, Issue 23618, 30 March 1940, Page 10

LOCAL AND GENERAL

Mail from Australia The Mntson liner Monterey, which loft Sydney for Auckland yesterday, will arrive on Monday morning with a consignment of 197 bags of mail. The Monterey is carrying 362 passengers, ol whom 183 will land here. When she sails for S/m Francisco, via ports, on Monday afternoon, a further 108 passengers will embark at Auckland. Duke's Fortieth Birthday

The fortieth birthday of tho Duke of Gloucester, third son of the late King George V. and Queen Mary, falls tomorrow. The Duke's visit to Iscw Xealand toward the end of .1934 and the beginning of 1935 is still fresh in the memories ol many. He married on November 6. 1935. Lady Alice Montagu-Douglas-Scott, daughter of the Duke of Buccleuch. Gestures of Respect

The Auckland Zoo, Chamberlain Park and reserves on which Sunday play is usually permitted, will be closed tomorrow as a mark of respect to the late Mr. Savage. The Auckland War Memorial Museum will he closed in the afternoon, and all petrol resellers who give service on Sundays have been asked by the Allied Motor Traders' Association to close their premises from 2 p.m. to 4 p.m.

Heavy Ambulance Duties Nearly fiOO miles were covered yesterday by St. John Ambulance drivers, one of the busiest days for some time. For the greater part of the day all 10 ambulances were on the road, some of them on fairly long runs to collect medical patients bound ior both the public and private hospitals in the city. One patient was brought from le Awamutu. another from Silverdale, and a third from Hobsonville. Few of tho patients carried were accident cases, and of those few practically all were for injuries of a minor character.

Demand for Flowers A widespread desire among the general public to pay personal tribute to the memory of Mr. Savage is demonstrated by an unusually strong demand for cut flowers. In some city shops yesterday there was an almost continuous sale of red, gold and white flowers, especially varieties suitable for making wreaths. In anticipation of the demand retailers laid in large stocks, and consequently all lines ol good flowers at the City Markets yesterday were keenly sought and high values were realised.

An Unexpected Greeting An unrehearsed incident occurred during a complimentary gathering for members of the second echelon in Hastings. The Mayoress. Mrs. G. A. Maddison. presented gift parcels to the troops who were present, and as the men lined up 011 the stage their names were called ami they were given a hearty handshake by Mrs. Mark!ison. One of the recipients of gift parcels, however, was a member of the Maori Battalion, and he accompanied the handshake with the traditional Maori greeting of rubbing noses. / Economies in Petrol

If the rationing of petrol has caused embarrassment in industry, it has also impressed the principals of a number of firms with the fact that there are economies which they might have effected years ago. '"lt took the fuel restrictions to teach us that we were wasting pounds in useless or duplicated car running," stated a member of a suburban firm of motor engineers yesterday. "Where we were once using two heavy vehicles, the motor spirit rationing has shown that the work could have been done with the same efficiency by using a single light van."

Preparation for Death A Timaru resident, Mr. Hugh Martin Henderson, who died last week at the ago of 85, prepared for death just as calmly and thoroughly as if it was an important business appointment. Some years ago he purchased a plot in the Timaru cemetery and commissioned a stonemason to erect a headstone. This is the inscription on the stone: —"In lov ing memory of Hugh Mart if. Henderson. born Carnoustie. Forfarshire. Scotland. November 7. 1854." The task ot the stonemason will now be an easy one. for all he will he required to do will be to carve the words "Died March 19. 1940."

Tribute to Soldiers Two members of the second echelon received a pleasant, surprise when dining in a Duin'din restaurant. The men were in'uniform and were engaged in eating their meal when an elderly stranger, in civilian clothes, came to their table, and, picking up their check, walked away. A few moments later lie returned with the chock, now marked "Paid." and gave it hack to them with the remark: "That's something I can do. anyway.'" The gesture was sufficient to prove to the men in uniform that thev have the sympathy and support of those whose years will not permit them to share the work of active service.

Two Minor Fires Three calls wore answered by engines from e.ity and suburban lire station* yesterday. Machines from the Great South Road and Onehunga. stations answered a call to the factory of Booth. Mac Donald and Company, Limited, at Penrose, at 5.-I I a.m., when the supports of an outdoor electric motor caught fire. Little damage was done. The second call was to a shed of hay in Waimoni Street. Point Chevalier, shortly after 5.:50 last evening. A machine from the Point Chevalier station attended, and the outbreak was rpiickly extinguished. Another eall which involved engines fioing down Queen Street shortly after 8.30 p.m. proved to be a false alarm. Lawyers in Army

The interest of solicitors who join up for service overseas will be protected under a scheme which has been drawn up by the Canterbury District Law Society. This involves the handing over of the practice of a solicitor who has enlisted to another practitioner, who will keep separate records in respect to his own and to the soldier-solicitor's clients. A stipulated portion oi the profits earned in respect of the practice taken over will be reserved for the man serving overseas, and his practice is to be restored to him on his return to New Zealand. In a statement, outlining the operation of the scheme, the society says it is expected that it will present little difficulty in actual working. It represents an attempt by those solicitors who, for various reasons, are unable or ineligible to serve in the armed forces to make* some real, contribution on their part for the protection oi those who do serve.