LOCAL AND GENERAL

New Zealand Herald, Volume 78, Issue 24147, 13 December 1941, Page 10

LOCAL AND GENERAL

King's Birthday The 46th birthday of King George YI, falls to-morrow, although the official observance is held in Juno because of the proximity of the actual date to Christmas. The King ascended to the Throne on May 12, 1937, following the abdication of his brother, the present Duke of Windsor. Bomb-blast Precautions That Auckland is now near the war zone was brought home last night to shoppers in Queen Street, where at least four large firms have covered the plate-glass windows of their stores with strips of brown paper as a precaution against bomb-blast, as was done in Great Britain at the outbreak of war. The purpose of the paper is not so much to protect the windows as to obviate the danger of flying splinters in the event of bombs being dropped in the vicinity. Produce Strewn in Street Fruit and vegetables were strewn over the roadway at the intersection of Wellesley Street West and Albert Street about 2.30 p.m. yesterday when a motor-lorry and a tramcar came into collision. The impact dislodged cases of pears, plums, tomatoes, beans and other produce, and fruit rolled down the slope and littered the roadway. The lorry was practically undamaged, but the glass panel in the driver's cab of the tramcar was smashed. No one was injured.

Discovery of New Zealand The 299 th anniversary of the discovery of New Zealand by Abel Tasman occurs to-morrow. The first European to set foot in New Zealand, Tasman arrived at Westland, rounded Farewell Spit and anchored in Golden Bay. This inlet was named Murderers' Bay by the navigator, because four of his crew were killed by Maoris during the stay there. He next called at Cape Maria Van Diemen, which was given its name in honour of the wife of the Governor who had appointed Tasman on his mission. The Dutch made no attempt to colonise New Zealand and in their opinion Tasman's voyage was a complete failure.

Divorced Wife's Obligation "It is an obligation on the wife, on a divorce being obtained, to use her best efforts, according to her ability, to support herself," said Mr. Justice Fair yesterday when hearing an application for maintenance by a divorced wife against a husband who had Just remarried. His Honor said the fact that permanent maintenance had been agreed to when the parties_ separated was not a reason for imposing a lifelong liability 011 a husband to support someone who was quite able to support herself. However, that was not quite the position in the case before him, as the wife had a mother to care for, and he made an order for £1 5s weekly in her favour.

Girls' Patriotic Activities One of the most important activities being earned out by pupils of the Auckland Girls' Grammar School is work connected with the war effort, stated the headmistress, Miss E. M. Johnston, in her annual report at yesterday's prize-giving function. The sum of £127 had been contributed during the year to patriotic funds. Hundreds of garments had been knitted and parcels sent every term to the men overseas. The Mayor, Mr. J. A. C. Allum, who was present at the ceremony, congratulated the girls and stated that Iheir work in providing flowers every'* week for the Carrie Hostel was much appreciated by men of the services.

Patriotic Schoolboys Inroads into the time of pupils were made by the necessity to assist in patriotic drives for money, said Mr. F. W. Gamble, headmaster of the Mount Albert Grammar School, in his report at the annual prize-giving. While teachers were heartened by the spirit of selfless industry shown by the boys in this direction, the whole policy of using schools for swelling patriotic funds needed more careful examination than it had had in the past. Mr. Gamble added that he had endeavoured to keep the various activities within the school walls and he was more cheered by a few shillings which were the earnings of boys doing odd jobs than by the larger sums that came from direct amusement.