LOCAL AND GENERAL

New Zealand Herald, Volume 79, Issue 24178, 21 January 1942, Page 6

LOCAL AND GENERAL

Boy's Dangerous Prank A motorist driving down Valley Road, Mount Eden, had a narrow escape when an arrow fired by a boy standing on the footpath entered his car. The shaft was a home-made one, but was sufficiently heavy to have damaged an eye. Actually it grazed the driver's neck and fell into the back of the car without striking the other occupant. Teaching Staff Depleted The problem of maintaining an adequate teaching staff, which the Wanganui Education Board has found progressively difficult under war conditions, has been accentuated by the general mobilisation of the military forces. Of the board's teachers, 59 are on active service. A matter which is causing concern is the staffing of country schools, particularly those with sole teachers. Black Swan Over Rotorua An unusual sight witnessed over Rotorua at dusk on Monday evening was a formation of black swan flying over in a straight line, almost evenly spaced. Circling the town area, they moved into a V formation, and made in a southerly 'direction. The black swan was plentiful in the Hamurana district about 25 years ago, but according to an old resident this is the first time they have been reported over Rotorua for a considerable time. Vegetable Supplies Several lines of vegetables in season auctioned at the City Markets yesterday were in heavy supply and sold at appreciably lower prices than those ruling last week. Green poas, beans, swedes, lettuce and carrots were plentiful. Island kumaras and local cucumbers in good supply met with a keen inquiry. The quantities of potatoes have not increased, new season's selling at per. Ib. Cabbages were available in good quantities and prices eased. Re-examination of Recruits Medical re-examination of men rejected from' previous ballots for military service are at present being conducted at the drill hall in • Rutland Street. Some have undergone remedial treatment and a number have been posted to units. In addition, about 1000 Auckland area men previously graded as unfit for military service are having their cases reviewed. They include not only single men but also married men who enlisted in the early days of the war. Seamen at Prayer Half a minute's silent prayer is the rule at the Flying Angel Missions to Seamen at nine o'clock each night, when the broadcast chimes of Big Ben are heard. The scene last night was impressive, with merchant' seamen from different lands and a sprinkling of Naval men, standing with bowed heads for 30 seconds, at the request of the chaplain, the Rev. H. K. Vickery, who suggested that each man might devote his thoughts and prayers to his family, wherever they might be. Demand for Fruit Local fruit met with a keen demand at the City Markets yesterday. Apples are now coming forward in more plentiful supplies, dessert linos being specially favoured. Very heavy quantities of tomatoes were offered, best lines meeting with fair competition but poorer quality lines were difficult to clear. The inquiry for strawberries has fallen off owing to the plentiful amount of stone fruit available. Bananas and oranges were absent from the market. Raspberries and black currants in short supply brought good prices. Many Small Fires Machines from the Onehunga and Great South Road fire stations attended a call at about nine o'clock on Monday night to a small' fire at the premises of the Housing Construction Company at Penrose. No material darnage was done. An outbreak in a railway signal box at Penrose Junction yesterday was attended by machines from the same two stations. The damage was slight. Six grass fires were subdued yesterday in the Auckland metropolitan district. At Takapuna a pile of wood shavings ignited in the vicinity of some new State houses. One machine attended.