LOCAL AND GENERAL

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXXVII, Issue 23626, 9 April 1940, Page 6

LOCAL AND GENERAL

Walked Through Glass Door Failing to notice a .plate-glass door in the Plaza Buildings, Queen Street, last evening, Miss Gertrude Ellis, aged 29, of 12(5 The Drive Epsom, walked right through it. shattering, the glass and suffering extensive lacerations. She was taken to the Auckland Hospital in a St. John ambulance.. Her condition last night was not serious. Recruits for Camp Contrasting with last week, when a number of details were sent to the various training camps, only a few recruits are expected to be mobilised this week. A small party, consisting of bandsmen and a tailor for the second echelon, left yesterday for Trentham.. Another detail, for the 2nd General Hospital, will leave next Tuesday for the same camp. Physical Training Course All officer, Captain T. P. Laffey, and five sergeants from Papakura left for Trentham by yesterday afternoon's express to undergo a special refresher course in recreational physical training One of the sergeants was the former professional wrestler "Lofty" Blonrfield, who is to report to the district school at Narrow Neck ior instructional duties when the refresher course is finished. Social Security Payments A total of £11,638 was received from the Social Security Fund in February by the Auckland Hospital Board in respect of the institutions under its control. There were 2620 claims for hospital benefits, which aggregated £11,058, while application was made for 40 maternity benefits, which amounted to £379. In addition, 164 claims on tho War Expenses Account for soldiers who received hospital treatment represented £369. Neutral Ship's Colours Evidence of the precautions being taken by neutral shipping against mistakes in identification is shown in the array of Netherlands flags painted on ! the passenger stealer Tasman, which | arrived at Auckland yesterday from the East. The Tasman sports more colours than any other neutral vessel which has visited the port. In addition to those painted on the sides and on the decks, a largo board showing the Netherlands colours has been hung high above the poop with electric lamps on each side for floodlighting. Steamer Tasman's Arrival Very rough weather between Port | Moresby and Noumea and for two days j after leaving the latter port was ex- ' perienced by the South Pacific Line's I passenger steamer Tasman, which | reached Auckland yester.'.'ay. No dam- : age was caused. Of the 102 passengers, j33 were for New Zealand ports, 16 | were for Australia, and 53 were JavaI nose returning to Batavia. The only livestock for Auckland was a male Siamese cat which had been ordered by the Auckland Zoo. The zoo at present has two females, but no male Siamese cats. | Parcels for Soldiers Many members of the public wishing to send parcels to members of the New Zealand Expeditionary Force are sending them to the Auckland Metropolitan Patriotic Committee under the mistaken impression that the committee is handling their distribution. This was the case only with the recent special appeal for parcels conforming with a list of items prepared by tho National Patriotic Fund Board. Since the appeal has 1 now been concluded, the committee is no longer collecting parcels, and all private ones should bo sent in the normal manner through the post office, with postage prepaid. Relaxation After Battle Radio sets provided one of the principal forms of entertainment and relaxation for members of the crew of H.M.S. Achilles during the nervewracking wait for tho return of the German raider Admiral Graf Spec after the battle of the River Plate. This observation was N tnade yesterday by Commander D. M. L. Neamo, second in command'' of the Achilles, during an address to the Auckland Rotary Club. I:Ie said the men rigged up their sets all around the decks, and had odd lengths of aerial wires erected .everywhere. "In fact, at times the old ship looked like a Christmas tree," he added. Radio for Air Services The building programme for the permanent radio station at Tamaki for ocean services is now proceeding apace. A start has boon made 011 the construction of the concrete building to contain tho transmitting plant and offices, and a contract has been let for the housing of the sjtaff. The housing contractors are G. Allen Windsor, Limited, and they arc to build seven houses for married employees and their families, and also quarters for six single men. Plans for the Musick Memorial, which will comprise the receiving station and administration headquarters, are now in the final stages, and it is likely that tenders will' be invited this month for tho construction of the building.

Rural Housing Construction A suggestion that the men employed hv the Public Works Department in constructing military, camps should litter,bo transferred to building suitable rural homes to relieve the need for farm houses was made by the Hon. E. E. Lark, M.L.C., at a meeting of the Auckland District Council of Primary Production yesterday. "The organisation could easily be made to go further and assist the rural community, at the same time providing greater inducement to men to return to the land." said Mr. Lark. The Government had not yet approved any major schemo for rural housing, but it realised the necessity for it. said Mr. R. 13. Tonnent, director of primary production, who was at the meeting.

Wages Paid by State Wages subsidies amounting to over £'loo a week are being received by the Auckland and Suburban Drainage Hoard in respect of SG men employed under Scheme 13. Twenty-two of these men are engaged on the extension of the reinforced concrete stonnwater culvert in the Reinuera district, designed to improve the conditions in the gully between Orakei and Upland Roads. This work is nearing completion. Of the remaining men, '24 are employed on works in Meola Creek and 10 in Oakley Creek. In each case the watercourse is being widened and deepened, and the banks are being faced with stone. There is sufficient work here to keep the men employed for a further 1.2 months. The Government is paying a subsidy equal to the standard rate of wages, which range from £4 13s 4d to £5 3s 4d per man-week.