LOCAL AND GENERAL

New Zealand Herald, Volume 78, Issue 24040, 11 August 1941, Page 6

LOCAL AND GENERAL

Calling-up Cancelled Notices cancelling the calling-up of 28 reservists in the Northern Military District who were drawn in recent overseas or territorial ballots appear in the latest issue of the Gazette. In each case it is shown that the reservist is not at present eligible for the force for which he was drawn. Wheat Germ Bread Consumption of wheat germ bread in New Zealand is now fairly constant at 50,000 to 60,000 two-pound loaves a week, according to a report of the director, Dr. F. W. Hilgendorf, to the Wheat Research Institute. There had been no increase in the consumption of germ since February, and there was a slight decline in May, the report stated. School's Patriotic Effort Patriotic funds have been augmented by £IOO as the result of a fair held at the Onehunga primary school on Saturday afternoon. The fair lasted three hours, and a jumble sale, in which all the goods were contributed by the pupils of the school, was held. The fair was organised by the headmaster of the school, Mr. H. Binsted, and his wife, assisted by the staff and parents. Defaulting Reservists A total of 20 reservists from the Auckland area are required by notice in the current Gazette to report at the Drill Hall, Rutland Street, at 9 a.m. on August 21. Eighteen of the men were to have entered camp with the last Expeditionary Force draft which was concentrated on July 4 and 5, but they failed to attend both the mobilisation parade and also a subsequent defaulters' parade. Twelve men from other North Island areas are similarly required to report for despatch to camp. Telephone Booths Moved One of the clusters of public telephono booths outside the Chief Post Office was moved from its recess yesterday and placed on the pavement opposite the second cluster, by Tyler Street They will remain there temporarily until they can be transferred to a position in the basement on the north side of the building. The change is part of a scheme of reorganisation which includes the transfer of the posting panels from their present positions in the vestibule at the head of the main steps to others at street level. Week-end Rail Traffic Heavy traffic was handled at the Auckland railway station during the week-end, when in addition to normal, services a number of excursion trains were run. Over 400 passengers travelled by the special week-end excursion train which arrived from Wellington on Saturday morning and returned yesterday afternoon. A further 400 travelled by a special train yesterday to Huntly, where a football match and other attractions were held in aid of patriotic funds. The train returned last night. The usual Sunday excursion to Hamilton yesterday was well patronised, over 500 people travelling. The limited express to Wellington last night was fully booked. Prog From Australia A stowaway in a cargo of hardwood recently landed at Timaru, an Australian tree frog, nearly the size of a newly-hatched chicken, is now sojourning at the Canterbury Museum. Inspecting the hardwood Mr. R. B. Moorhouse, of the State Advances Department, found the frog fast asleep in a crevice in one of the pieces of timber. Like all the frogs of the temperate zones, it sleeps during the colder months, and even now, in a big glass jar in Dr. R. A. Falla's office, where a comfortable open lire burns, it is still too drowsy to take any notice of food. Dr. Falla is doubtful whether the frog could survive the cold of the South Island winter. If it did establish itself, he says, it would probably prove useful as an enemy of injurious insects. The j frog i 9 being kept alive, for observation of its diet and habits. i