LOCAL AND GENERAL

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXXVII, Issue 23781, 8 October 1940, Page 6

LOCAL AND GENERAL

Gift to School Tho bequest of an astronomical telescope and a micro-polariscopo to tho committee of the New Lynn primary school is made in tho will of Mr. James McCaul, who died on September 17. The testator has provided that tho instruments are for the use and instruction of the pupils of tho school. . Conversion of Bicycles "Wo experience a lot of trouble in recovering bicycles which have been converted," remarked Sonior-Sergeant Daly in the Otahuhu Police Court yesterday when a case was being dealt with. The senior-sergeant stated that since July 4 to date 17 bicycles had been reported missing in tho district. All but three had been recovered. British Children at Hamilton Five more children evacuated from Britain have arrived at Hamilton from Wellington. T-hey were met on their arrival by relatives in the district with whom they will live. They are some of tho children brought to tho Dominion under private arrangements with assistance from the Government and from the Child Welfare Officer in Hamilton, Mr. E. W. G. Thorpe. Young Stock at Zoo Good progress is being made by tho eight erju chicks which were hatched at tho Auckland Zoo on Friday and they are now able to make short exploratory excursions from their nest. Tho zoo emus have not been the only ones to rejoice in tho ,past few days, however, for a pair of pigtail monkeys have become tho proud possessors of a lively youngster which is also thriving. Production ot Munitions

"Tho management and staff have certainly done a splendid job of work in tho production of munitions," said the Minister of Defence, tho Hon. F. Jones, after visiting the Colonial Ammunition Company's factory yesterday. The Minister was shown over the works by Mr. John Whitney, and he said the expansion of output that had been achieved reflected the greatest credit on all concerned. Measles on the Wane Tho number of soldier patients being discharged from the Waikato Hospital is now exceeding the number of measles cases being admitted, and yesterday there were 61 patients in tho institution, as against 100 last week. Two or throe patients are coming in daily from Cambridge, To Aroha, and Ngaruawahia camps, . but tho majority of those in hospital are rapidly recovering, and tho position is improving daily. Tanker in Dock - On completion of the repairs necessary after its collision with the Armadale in Cook Strait on July 31 the tanker 010 Jacob went into dock yesterday. Tho vessel will be cleaned and painted before it leaves tho dock to-morrow. The work of restoring the damaged bows, was done while the tanker lay alongside tho Hobson Wharf, the stern being weighted down to bring the crushed plates of the stem out of tho water.

Emergency Precautions The view that all local bodies concerned in the Auckland metropolitan emergency precautions scheme should have direct representation on the central executive was expressed in a resolution adopted by the Otahuhu Borough Council last night. In accepting liability for financial commitments, the council decided to submit this suggestion to tho Auckland authority and request that it be given effect to if provision had not already been made.

Access to Saleyards On tho recommendation of its Works Committee, tho Otahuhu Borough Council decided last night to undertake repairs to Saleyards Road from Portage Road to tho entranco to tho yards. The condition of this stretch of road, over which pass scores of stock transports weekly, has been tho subject of many complaints by farmers and stock agents for several years. In reply to a question, the Major, Mr. C. R. Petrie, M.P., said it was intended to recondition the road surface.

The American Elections The election for tho United States Presidency will be held four weeks from to-day on November 5. The date is fixed as the first Tuesday after the first Monday in November of the year preceding that in which the Presidential term expires. The contest is between Mr. Roosevelt, who is standing for a third term, and his Republican rival, Mr. Wendell Willkie, although there are several other minor candidates. The election will attract even greater interest than usual throughout the world, and particularly in Britain and the Empire, at tho present juncture of tho war.

Unusual Military Offer Military demands tako many and varied forms, but none so unusual has previously been noted as the appeal at present being made for the aid of a patriot living near Auckland who wants a bridge built on his property. Bridge-building is part of the territorial training, and to provide real experience for tho members of the First Field Company, now in camp at Avondale, tho authorities have offered to construct a bridge for anyone who will supply tho materials. An offer is also mado to fell and saw timber for any land owner who will permit it to bo used for bridge construction practice.

New Territorial Units A largo number of officers and noncommissioned officers, and prospective officers and non-commissioned officers, who recently completed an intensive course of training ivith tho Ist Battalion, Auckland .Regiment, aro hoav established in camp at tho Army district school, Narrow Neck, For tho next two months they will take a special course in. preparation for being posted to the two now infantry battalions being established as a result of the expansion of the Territorial Forces. Those men drawn in tho recent ballot who are finally drafted to these units may expect to be called to a tbreo months' training courso starting in January.

Welcome to Children j "Wo have been touched by tho kindness of tho peoplo of Now Zealand toward these children," said tho Bev. H. A. Hayden yesterday, when speaking of tho welcome given to tho party of British children, which arrived at Wellington on Friday. A number of these children are now in Auckland and Mr. Hayden said that when travelling north on the Main Trunk railway partics of soldiers were seen on the station platform at towns whore the train stopped. In every caso the soldiers loaded the children with sweets, and at 0110 station-residents arrived with great bunches of flowers and distributed them among ' the' ' children.' ' 'These kindly actions were greatly appreciated by the children.