LOCAL AND GENERAL

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXXVII, Issue 23850, 28 December 1940, Page 6

LOCAL AND GENERAL

Waikato Children's Camp A party of 130 children from the King Country and Waikato left Hamilton by bus yesterday for a holiday at Port Waikato. They will he entertained by the Waikato Children's Camp League until January 14, when their places will be taken by another party of juveniles. Shortage of Pipe Cleaners Although of minor moment to nonsmokers, a shortage of pipe cleaners is causing some colicern in the city among those who prefer a pipe to cigarettes. Most tobacconists have been sold out of this small but necessary article for some days and hold out little hope lor further supplies in the near future. Broken Finger Ignored In trying to catch a high ball hit by P. Bright during a cricket match at Hamilton against Public School old boys, at Seddon Park, Hamilton, yesterday, Dr. H. E. Annett, of Matangi, broke the middle finger of his left hand. Ho continued playing, however, and when bowling took three wickets for 26 runs. Tribute to the Press Describing the care with which the Leader of the Opposition had to choose his words, Mr. S. G. Holland told a meeting of National Party supporters in Christchurch that he had never had to record a complaint about misreporting in all his speeches since he entered politics five years ago. He said the newspapers and the reporters richly deserved to bo paid a tribute. Few Cars on Roads The great difference between the happy holidays ol a few years ago, when it appeared as it every New Zealander owned a car, was noted by a Hotorua motorist returning about dusk on Christmas Day. In the CO miles between Cambridge and Rotorua only 11 other cars were seen on the road, and on the road through the Mamaku bush, only one other car was seen travelling toward Rotorua. Laurel Wreath at Mast To celebrate the marriage in Auckland to-day of the third officer of an overseas British ship now in port a laurel wreath will take the place of a flag at the foremast of the. ship at eight o'clock this morning and will remain there all day. It is an old naval custom to hang a laurel wreath at the foremast on such occasions and the vessels of several shipping companies have adopted it as a way to honour their officers on their wedding days. Christmas Day Missed Because the American Clipper of Pan American Airways crossed the International Date Line, between Canton Island and Noumea, on Christmas Eve, those aboard missed Christmas Day altogether this year. In a moment the Clipper flew from Christmas Eve to Boxing Day, and Christmas celebrations were over at Xoumea by the time the flyingboat alighted there on Thursday afternoon. An informal celebration was held, however, to mark the unusual experience. Interest in Flying-boats Proof that the public of Auckland still takes a keen interest in the flyingboats of Pan American Airways and Tasman Empire Airways, Limited, was forthcoming yesterday, when a Clipper and a Tasman machine arrived from overseas within about an hour of each other. Several hundred motor-cars were parked in the vicinity of the air base and on the heights above it, and a large crowd of people watched the Awarua and the American Clipper alight on the harbour. Busy Streets

With the opening of the shops yesterday the main streets of the city presented an animated appearance which was in direct contrast to the comparative quiet of the previous two days. Housewives were busy replenishing supplies and a, certain amount of belated gift shopping was also done. In the afternoon many holiday-makers from the country were promenading in Queen Street, and in the evening tramcars carried heavy loads cityward and there was considerable stir and bustle as people hastened to places of entertainment. Mariposa's Cargo An unusually large cargo of 1325 tons for Auckland arrived yesterday morning 011 the .Matson liner Mariposa from San Francisco. The cargo comprises the last of the fourth period imports from the United States of America and is considerably greater than the normal amount carried by the Matson liners for Auckland. The Mariposa also brought !)78 bags of mail for New Zealand and had 213 passengers, 63 of whom disembarked here. When the liner leaves at four o'clock this afternoon for Sydney and Melbourne, about 2(30 passengers will embark. Watersiders' Bonus The Lyttelton waterside workers received a bonus on Christmas Eve under the new system of co-operative working on six overseas vessels. While the amount was not divulged officially, it was stated that about £SOO was being paid out, this including about £IOO paid by the Railway Department to men working for it. Some of the men are said to have received £3, representing up to lOd an hour in addition to their ordinary scale of wages. The bonuses were most acceptable to the men, in view of the slack time that has prevailed on the Lyttelton waterfront during the past two weeks. Cricketing Friendships That the Brnbin Cup annual cricket match between Auckland and Wellington junior representatives is more than a mere sporting fixture, and is instrumental in establishing very cordial relations between the players, is shown in their associations off the field. This year Wellington players visited Auckland, and in common with the established custom the home players each "billeted" a visitor and assisted in entertaining them. Both teams were guests last night at a city picture theatre and will also enjoy outings over the week-end. That these happy relations are conducive to forming lasting friendships has been demonstrated in past years. Church Union The opinion that there is need for the Churches to draw closer together and to co-operate in doing their work more efficiently in this country is expressed by the Outlook, the organ of the Presbyterian Church, in an article discussing the proposals for union of the Presbyterian, Methodist and Congregational Churches. "The Churches ought to get together," it says, "because it is part of the Christian faith that God's family is one family. Not only would it set a good example in wartime, but it would be a benefit to all the Churches from the point of view of efficiency and economy. Now, having been publicly asked to converse and negotiate about union, we hare to return an answer."