NEWS OF THE DAY

Otago Daily Times, Issue 24416, 30 September 1940, Page 4

NEWS OF THE DAY

'THE cruel and wanton actions of four youths on' Saturday resulted in the death of a wild duck and deprived a clutch of newly-born ducklings of their mother, making their chances of survival extremely doubtful. The duck was one of two which have nested in the willows on the banks of the Leith near St. David street, and only recently had brought out a clutch of ducklings. The duck was swimming on the Leith on Saturday afternoon when four youths passed, and they amused themselves by throwing stones at it from the bank. One or more of the missiles found their.mark, and the duck was seen by a woman who lives nearby floating down the stream, feebly endeavouring to reach the bank before it finally died. Such callous attacks, especially on a bird which is protected during the mating season, cannot be too strongly condemned. ,

Shining Cuckoo Returns The distinctive note of the. shining cuckoo was heard by a Maori Hill resident yesterday morning. These birds usually visit New Zealand in the early spring, and while they have been heard in the North Island recently this is the first report of their presence in Dunedin this season.

Calves Born with Earmark* A heifer on a property near Whakatane has given birth to twin calves, and each of the offspring has the earmarks of the mother. Had there been a single calf, with a single earmark, the occurrence would have been peculiar enough, but for twin calves to be marked on both ears, although it is understood to have been known before, is a freak of Nature. The mark consists of a "U" out of the tip of the ears.

" No Longer Free " "I am a native of the Free City of Danzig," said a witness in the Magistrate's Court at Wellington a few days ago. He added that he came to New Zealand in 1908. The magistrate (Mr J. L. Stout, S.M.): "It is no longer a free city." Counsel (Mr T. P. McCarthy): "That is what I have told him."

Territorial Ballot The drawing of the names of 16,000 men by ballot to provide 6000 for the territorial forces was completed on Thursday,' the third day of the ballot. It was anticipated that four days would be required, but the good progress made reduced this period. On Tuesday 4800 names were drawn and 5650 on Wednesday. Notices are to be sent to the men concerned by the time their names are gazetted on Wednesday.

Holiday Allowance At a special meeting of the Otago General Labourers' Union held on Saturday a resolution was carried protesting against the actions of the Dunedin City Council and the Government in refusing to pay the proportionate holiday allowance to the subsidised workers now being called up for military service. It was also decided that the secretary should forward a copy of the resolution to the Dunedin City Council and the Minister of Labour,, Mr P. C. Webb.

Hymn of Hate Wanted " We heard in the last war about the hymn of hate they used to sing in Germany," said Sir Ernest Davis when addressing meeting of . representatives of the Lady Galway Guild in Auckland. " I have never had any hate in my heart against anyone up to the present, but I hate with all my heart and soul this Hitler gang, and I think it is time we had more hate in our community. I would sing a hymn of hate now and I would like someone to compose one."

Ration Card for Great Dane " We were pressed to buy cats, dogs, monkeys, fowls, ducks, rabbits, gramophone records, ties, hats, suits, cabbages, crockery, watches, fruit and thousands of other articles. One very enthusiastic vendor tried to sell me a Great Dane; it was a beautiful dog. When I told him I got just enough food for myself he said quite earnestly that I would be able to get a ration card for it. Needless to say, I did not buy it." That was an experience related by Corporal Howard Frost, formerly of Eltham, and now with the second echelon in England, of a visit to the famous Petticoat lane at London while on leave recently. He describes the incident in a letter just received by his parents in Eltham.

Municipal Organ Recital The programme offered by the city organist, Professor V. E. Galway, who was assisted by the vocalists, Miss Marion Gubb and Mr Raymond Wentworth, with Miss Marion Jeffery as accompanist, was well received by the large attendance at the Town Hall recital last night. Items which aroused particular enthusiasm were "Prelude and Fugue in B Flat Major" (Bach) and "Peace Heroique" (Cesar Franck), a number which was specially requested. The major work of the evening was Symphony No. 6 "Allegro " by Widor. Professor Galway also played "Ave Maria" (Brahms), "Canzona" (Wolstenholme), "Nocturne in G Minor" (Chopin) and a brilliant modern piece, " Crown Imperial" by Walton.

Tribute to Great Aviators

To complete the link between Sydney and New Plymouth, and to pay tribute to two aviation pioneers who first connected the cities by air, a composite photograph in memory of Sir Charles Kingsford Smith and Mr C. T. P. Ulm is to be sent to the New Zealand Club in Sydney. It is a collection of photographs with " Smithy" and his co-pilot, Charles Ulm, photographed at Bell Block Airport, in the centre. Another picture shows their famous plane, the Southern Cross, passing Mount Egmont on her historic arrival from Australia. The other pictures are a series of views showing the great demonstration at the Bell Block airport on the landing of the Southern Cross. The inscription on the picture is " New Plymouth Never Forgets."

Music Scholarship The creation of a capital fund of £2400, to be known as the Centennial Festival Music Scholarship Fund, which would be under the control of Auckland University College, was decided upon at a meeting of the metropolitan executive of the Auckland Provincial Centennial Council last week. It was suggested that this sum would give a return sufficient to maintain two scholarships annually of about £4O each. The suggestion arose when the disposal of the profit of £BOO from the recent Centennial music festival was under consideration. To ensure the establishment of the fund on an adequate basis, this amount was augmented by a grant of £I2OO from the Auckland Metropolitan Centennial Account. This carried a Government subsidy of £4OO, making a total of £2400.

Spiritual Values That people should not rely only on material resources, but that they should not overlook the spiritual factor in the overcoming of the crisis with which the British Empire is faced, was urged by the Bishop of Aotearoa, the Rt. Rev. F. A. Bennett, in an address which he delivered at a gathering arranged under the auspices of the Hawke's Bay branch of the English-speaking Union. Britain was certainly on the side of righteousness when compared with Hitler and his Nazi doctrines, but could we honestly go into the presence of God and appeal to Him for guidance and assistance? Bishop Bennett asked. Where were the majority of our people on Sundays? Unfortunately, a very small proportion were to be found in church. That, he said, was a real problem, for it meant that a young nation was growing up in civilised paganism. "Let us all do our utmost to bring the nation back to God," he said. " Our real solid foundation is faith in the living God. It would be tragic if, after the wonderful way in which God has already answered our prayers and blessed our Empire, we should continue to rely only on our own material resources." Religion in Schools

■"All.Christians will,welcome the decision of the Wellington Education Board that the schools under its jurisdiction are to begin their work each day by repeating the Lord's Prayer," states the Outlook, the official journal of the Presbyterian Church. "This is not only an indication of the way in which men in their hours of need turn to religion, it is also a significant indication of the realisation, which has been growing slowly but surely over recent years, that the non-sectarian basis upon which our State education system was built was never meant to be considered as non-religious, This is the contention which we, in line with most responsible citizens, have held for many years, and it has given us great cause for thanksgiving that one by one the educational authorities have been brought to see its justice. The majority of our State schools, now have a period in which simple Bible teaching is given, and a large number of them begin each day with a period of worship. This has been a great achievement, but we cannot remain satisfied until every school in New Zealand has at least this measure of religious instruction."