NEWS OF THE DAY

Otago Daily Times, Issue 24326, 17 June 1940, Page 6

NEWS OF THE DAY

Fire Brigade Calls A 'malicious false alarm called the City Fire Brigade to the corner of Egiinton road and Peel street at 10.40 a.m. on Saturday. At 5 o’clock the brigade attended a chimney fire at Waverley street. South Dunedin, and at 9.17 a.m. yesterday a call to a second chimney Are. in Cromwell street, was received. City Police Court In the City Police Court on Saturday, two first offenders for drunkenness appeared before Mr J. R. Bartholomew, S.M., and were each fined 10s, in default 24 hours’ imprisonment. Locomotive Leaves Ralls A slight accident occurred at the south end of the railway yards on Saturday when a locomotive left the rails while it was being towed by another engine. The derailed engine ran for some distance along the track before coming to rest, and after several attempts to replace it on the rails had failed, it was left straddling the rails until the necessary appliances could be brought into action to-day. Orphans in New Zealand The number of children,- under 16 years of age at the time of the last New Zealand census in 1936 was returned as 408,610. A recently published census return shows that one child in every 333 had lost both parents, one in every 45 its mother, and one in every 29 its father. There are 1218 children under 16 years of age whose parents were both dead, 9099 whose mothers were dead, and 13,949 whose fathers were dead. Weta in Slipper Finding a slightly -yielding obstruction in the toe of his leather slipper on a recent morning, a resident' of Lower Riccarton (says the Christchurch Press) was disconcerted to discover—when he had been walking about the house for some time—that his bare toes had been resting on a member of New Zealand’s largest and most ferociouslooking species of insect. Two inches long, with feelers, and legs of almost equal length, large reddish head with white, jaws, the visitor was soon recognised as a weta. The insects are very common on the West Coast, but are rarely seen in Christchurch. The popular West Coast name is “ taipo,” and entomologists know them as New Zealand wingless crickets. Dr R. A. Falla, Director of the • Canterbury Museum, who accepted the specimen for mounting, said ’ it had probably come from Dean’s Bush. Ready Response by Women In an article written by the general manager of the Wellington tramways (Mr M. Cable) he mentioned that with the increasing call for men for service overseas the management realised that difficulties would be experienced in maintaining the transport services, unless an adequate supply of young men below military age, or, 1 alternatively, young women, could be secured. Soon dfter 9 o’clock on the morning of publication of the article. Mr Cable was interviewed by the first woman applicant for a conductor’s job. She said she had acted in that capacity in England during the last war and was prepared to perform similar duties here. Other inquiries were made by women over the telephone. To all Mr Cable had to say that the time had not yet arrived for employing women conductors. It was only a contingency which might arise if the war were prolonged and there were a heavy drain on our man-power for war service. Decline in Hay Production The Journal of Agriculture, in an article urging increased production of hay and ensilage for winter feed, stated that grass growing has declined in this country. During 1935-36, a total of 453.000’ acres of hay were saved, the following season 425.000 acres, and in 1938 the total had fallen to 379,000. Corresponding figures for ensilage were 83,000 acres, 79.000 and 65,000 acres. By increasing the area, farmers could greatly increase produce exports, with plenty of win’er fattening. Persuasive Methods? Although it has been stated that no order has been issued for a general retrenchment of staff in Government departments (states the'"' Christchurch Star-Sun) it is understood that a number of young men of military age have been informed that their services are to be terminated shortly. It is also stated that some young men have received circulars calling attention to suitable units in the armed forces to which they may feel attracted.

Standardised Vegetables Standardisation is now reaching the vegetable world, and cabbages, lettuces, pumpkins, and ether produce from market gardens are faced with the prospect of having to conform with certain standards which will govern their price. It was stated at the conference of market gardeners in Wellington last week that it was expected the New Zealand Standards Institute would shortly be interesting itself in the formulating of standard grades upon which vegetables would be bought and sold. Producers’ interests would be represented on the advisory committee set up to deal with the matter. Horse’s “ Blitzkrieg ” The launching of lightning attacks on unprepared objectives is not merely a human failing, the habit having spread to horses (states the Christchurch Star-Sun). When Blue Abbey, ridden by his trainer, E. C. Parker, was passing the Hiccarton racecourse entrance recently he decided that a car parked by the side of the road would be better for a little “ beating up,” and delivered the attack with both his rear feet. His length and timing were perfect, shattering the windows completely. Blue Abbey himself was particularly lucky, because if he had been any nearer the car his legs would have been badly cut. The reaction of the motorist, who was luckily not in the car at the time, is not recorded. Prizes for Suggestions A scheme to invite suggestions from the members of the staff for the better working of the board’s business was approved by the Central Waikato Electric Power Board. A committee, consisting of the chairman, Mr T. Hinton, the engineer-manager, Mr J. R. Ellis, and the secretary, Mr H. J. Beeche, was appointed to consider the suggestions and to award prizes up to £1 for those regarded as satisfactory. Suggestions of outstanding value will be considered by the board, and higher prizes will be awarded if they are accepted. Tomato Juice Industry The possibility of establishing in the Dominion a tomato juice industry was discussed at last week’s conference of commercial growers in Wellington, and the Internal Marketing Department is to be consulted on the matter. It was stated that commercial production of the juice did not present any very great difficulties, although it required the best fruit without blemish or other defect. The chief thing was to build up a steady demand by advertising, and import restrictions on overseas products would help. Other countries had developed a big trade in apple and other juices, and what could be accomplished with one product could be done with an allied one.

“ New Zealand Frankness ” Remarks about the “ trash ” prominent in supplies of books offered some time ago for soldiers’ reading are apparently regarded in Canada as an example of “ New Zealand frankness ” —the three words used in the Ontario Library Review to describe comments by Mr E. J. Bell, librarian of the Canterbury Public Library, reprinted from Christchurch newspapers. The probable reason for, the Canadian interest in his remarks. Mr Bell said, was that a somewhat similar library work for soldiers was being undertaken there but the libraries were apparently of a poor type and the service was not organised there as it was in New Zealand.

Macaroni and the War Although Italy has entered the war against the Allies, the eating of macaroni (says the Wellington Evening Post) does not constitute any offence against the various enactments dealing with trade with the enemy and such like. But. of course, there is nothing to prevent the ultra-patriotic from refraining in indulgence in this dish. It is a curious coincidence, however, that just at the time when New Zealand declares war on Italy there should be gazetted regulations regarding the manufacture of macaroni. These regulations, like similar industrial regulations, lay down the necessity for obtaining a licence to manufacture macaroni, and “ macaroni ” is defined as including “ spaghetti, vermicelli, and similar alimentary pastes made out of any cereal, with or without other ingredients.” Clydeside and War The determination of the women In the humbler quarters of Glasgow to see the war through to a successful conclusion was commented upon by a Scotswoman who arrived in Auckland recently from Scotland. ‘‘The women are equally if not more determined than the men on the Clydeside, and are prepared to face all sacrifices,” she commented. Asked whether that represented the view of the Glasgow women who spent their afternoons in teashops in Sauchiehall street, the newcomer replied: “It may do; but I am referring to the plain womenfolk in the industrial districts, whose lot is hard and who have, dne would say little to lose in any fight. They will fight to the very end.” Undersea Post Office A letter received by an Auckland resident bears the curious cancellation, “ Sea Floor, Bahamas, May 6. 1940,” having been posted in the Williamson photosphere near Nassau, in the Bahamas. Recently the explorer Williamson opened to the public his glasscabined observatory at the bottom of the sea, built originally several years ago to enable him to study marine life, and the postal authorities soon afterwards decided to open a post office there. They are now selling a stamp on which appears King George VI surrounded by sea plants, and bearing the inscription, “ Bottom of the Sea, Bahamas.” To-night, at 8 o’clock, in the Returned Soldiers’ Hall, Sister E. J. Avery will deliver a lecture on how to regain and retain health. Sister Avery has travelled in many parts of the world studying Nature healing methods and Nature cures. Admission is free. A second lecture for women only will be delivered in the Central Mission Parlour on' Thursday. June 20, at 3 p.ra. This will also be a free lecture. The Wellington Competitions Society advertises elsewhere in this issue that entries for the 1940 annual festival of vocal, instrumental, elocution and dancing competitions will be closed in Wellington on Friday. Valuable prizes, shields and cups are offered for competition. Copies of the syllabus can be obtained locally from Begg’s, Ltd. , “ Wanderings in Gaul ” is the title of an illustrated lecture to be given by Miss Vida M. Barron before the Classical Association in the Museum lecture-room this evening. Coffee for breakfast! Order /rom your grocer a tin of “ Bourbon,” the coffee of quality! Instructions in every tin. Prepared by Durie’s, Coffee Specialists. 32 Octagon. Dunedin . Advt. . , . For rings, watches and jewellery, try Peter Dick, Jewellers, 59 Princes street, Dunedin.—Advt.