NEWS OF THE DAY

Otago Daily Times, Issue 24492, 28 December 1940, Page 6

NEWS OF THE DAY

TNDICATIONS that Dunedin people have been travelling just as freely this Christmas as in recent years are given by the figures compiled by the train-running staff of the Railways Department. Between December 20 and 26 there were more than 14,000 outward passengers, compared with just over 13,000 in the • same period last year, while inward travellers numbered 10,434, more than 1000 above last year's figure. These totals are exclusive of some 2500 men who reached the city on board troop trains. Traffic on the city transport system has also been heavy, and has been well sustained over the past week. The three, peak days were last Friday and Saturday, and Tuesday (Christmas Eve), with the takings on each day in the vicinity of £IOOO. Observation trips received their heaviest patronage on Christmas Day.

War Funds Benefit As a result of a successful carnival held at Lswrence on Boxing Day, the sum of £250 was taken for the Otago Spitfire and London Relief Funds. When all expenses are deducted from this total, it is expected that over £IOO Will be handed over to each fund. Good Will and 111 Will

Speaking of the traditional Christmas message, "Peace on earth, goodwill towards men," Archdeacon Bullock, preaching at St. Peter's Anglican Church, Wellington, said there was justification for believing in an alternative reading, "Peace on earth to men of good-will." That implied that there could be no peace for men of ill will, and justified us in carrying on the present struggle for justice and right. While there was ill will there could be no peace.

A Split Bank Note A split Reserve Bank 10s note was intercepted in an Auckland bank a few days ago. The police were promptly notified, and shopkeepers and the public generally were warned to examine notes coming into their possession. This aspect of counterfeiting is not new The quality of the paper used in banknotes enables dishonest persons possessed of skill carefully to separate the back from the front and negotiate them as' whole notes. Dominion Soldiers' Resource

One way of obtaining a free railway ride is described by a New Zealand soldier serving in Egypt in a recent letter home. During a period of leave he and a fellow-soldier set out on a bicycle trip but conditions proved very unpleasant and both. hot. tired and dusty, were glad to board a train They then discovered they did not possess sufficient money to pay their fares, but, when the guard arrived, they produced a couple of laundry tickets with all the assurance of men accustomed to travelling on special passes Fortunately for them, the guard spoke no English and accepted their " tickets" without demur.

Illegally on Ship Charged with boarding a ship at the Dunedin wharf without having obtained a permit under the Shipping Safety Regulations, 1940, John Albert Cormick, aged 18 years, appeared in the City Police Court yesterday before Mr J. C. Willis. J.P., and Mr W. Cooper, J.P. On the application of Senior Sergeant Vaughan, who said further inquiries had to be made, as Cormick had been arrested only at 5 o'clock that morning, a remand was granted till this morning. Bail was allowed in the defendant's own recognisance of £lO. Road Accidents

During the 12 months ended October 31 no fewer than 3008 of New Zealand's fleet of motor vehicles managed to come into collision with something or other, while another 468 came to grief by driving off the road or in some similar way. These accidents involved the deaths of 202 persons (153 males and 49 females), serious injuries to 1949, and minor injuries to another 2465. As the total number of motor vehicles in New Zealand is roughly 320,000, these figures* indicate that during the period under review approximately one motor vehicle in every 92 was involved in an accident of some sort.

Souvenir from England Among the many interesting souvenirs sent by soldiers overseas to relatives in the Dominion is the tail-piece of an incendiary bomb which has reached Christchurch. About six inches in length, it is made of a light aluminium alloy. There are four fins and part of the container which held the incendiary mixture. The metal has obviously been subjected to a terrific heat as it is badly twisted and fused. The note which accompanied the bomb had a familiar ring about it, saying that it had been dropped near a camp in England with others of its kind. "No damage was done and there were ho casualties" the note concluded.

Municipal Organ Recital The city organist, Dr V. E. Galway. will give an after-church recital in the Town Hall to-morrow evening, when visitors to the city will welcome an opportunity of hearing the organ. The programme, one that will appeal to all shades of musical tastes, consists of items which have been particularly favourably received at recitals during the year. The items are as follows: "Fanfare" (Waters), Gavotte from "Iphigenia" (Gluck), Prelude and Fugue in G (Bach), "In Springtime" (Hollins), Introduction and Allegro (Guilmant), Ayre and Gavot (Thomas Arne), "This England" (Wood), Entr'acte from " Rosamunde " (Schubert), and Overture to "William Tell" (Rossini). There will be no charge for admission.

Exchange of Petrol Coupons Brisk business in the exchange of petrol coupons (states the New Zealand Herald) is being done among Auckland motorists, many car owners being willing either to reduce their running during the present month or to mortgage their future .notoring for the sake of obtaining . adequate fuel supplies for their holidays. Thus motorists whose holidays are in December are often willing to exchange January coupons for those negotiable this month, and others who will have their leave in the New Year are only too pleased to make the exchange. Some owners, unable to find others with whom they can exchange coupons, nave gone to the length of advertising, with a view to making possible their holiday tour. Provision for Invalided Soldiers

A decision to request the Minister of Health, Mr H. T. Armstrong, to_ forward the necessary order authorising the Auckland Hospital. Board to take possession of any lands and buildings required for hospital accommodation was reached by the b°ard at a recent meeting. It was stated that the orfaer was required in view of the fact that at any time sick or injured returned soldiers might arrive from overseas. The chairman, Mr Allan J. Moody, said the Health Department must know that soldiers could be expected back for treatment at any time, and the necessary buildings must be available at need. The board did not want to take over other hospitals or any other building to-morrow or the next day, but it had to be in the position to be able to take them if and when it had to do so.

To Save Others' Lives Behind the official confirmation of the award of i D.F.C. to Pilot Officer W. H. Hodgson, son of Mr H.. Hodgson, of 241 Macandrew road, lies a story of gallantry and - brave regard for the safety of others. Some time ago there appeared in the Otago Daily Times a cable message describing how a Hurricane pilot refrained from baling out of his blazing machine because he realised it would crash on a thicklypopulated London suburb. By skilful manoeuvring the pilot managed to keep the flames way from the fuselage of his plane and land it in open country. This heroic deed was performed by Pilot Officer Hodgson and it is probable that it was for this act that he was swarded the D.F.C. Since then he has taken part in engagements in which his squadron of 12 has been called upon to break up enemy formations of as many -is 300 planes. A Crew's Gratitude

Gratitude for assistance given them by carpenters, foremen and waterside workers on the Auckland waterfront was expressed in a letter received by the Auckland Waterside Worker?' Union from the crew of a ship which was. torpedoed and sunk. The crew of the ship was recently in Auckland and received gifts of clothes and other assistance from the men mentioned. The letter is as follows:—" We, the members of the crew, wish to thank every one of you who so kindly subscribed for our benefit. We assure you that we deeply appreciate what you ha've done, and sincerely hope, given the opportunity, to repay the kindness shown to us. Once again we thank you, and hope to have the pleasure and good fortune to meet you all again under different circumstances." The seamen's pay ceased at the date their ship was sunk, and they received only their war-risk bonus of about £5 a month, said Mr A. Girven, secretary of the Auckland Waterside Workers' Union. The men were shipped home as destitute British seamen, he said.

60,000 Cable Messages A statement that approximately 60,000 cable messages for soldiers overseas were lodged during the week before Christmas was made by the Post-master-general, Mr P. C. Webb. The response to the request for early lodgment of Christmas cablegrams had been good, he said, but some delay would be inevitable because of the large number of messages. Mr Webb said that such a volume of traffic was unprecedented in the history of the cable station in Auckland, and because the Government and ordinary commercial traffic had been particularly heavy during the last few weeks, the cable circuits owned and operated by Cable and Wireless, Ltd., were heavily congested. Special arrangements were however, being 'made by the Cable Company to cope with the position, but with such a huge number of messages to transmit over circuits already heavily congested some delay must be expected in the disposal of the cheap-rate messages It might be mentioned that Cable and Wireless, Ltd., were almost wholly responsible for the concession granted by way of the free transmission of the addresses of soldiers' cablegrams.

Vocational Guidance

Every boy and girl who left primary schools in Christchurch city and suburbs and Lyttelton this year was personally interviewed by the Christchurch Youth Centre to receive the centre's assistance in the choice of vocations. This tremendous task, Which has not been previously undertaken anywhere in New Zealand, and which involved the compilation of individual records (states the Christchurch Star-Sun) has just been completed. Almost 1500 children were interviewed, in addition to the many consultations with parents where a change of children's plans seemed desirable. Last year, it was stated, officers had gone round the schools and addressed the children with the same general aim—helping in the choice of future school work and vocations. That system had not worked very satisfactorily from the centre's point of view, as such visits were ephemeral, and had last year proved rather disappointing in the results achieved.

Particulars of excursion fares and train arrangements in connection with the Wyndham races on January 1 and the Oamaru races on January 2 are advertised. Particulars of train services to Wingatui in connection with the Dunedin Jockey Club's races to-day are advertised.

A Frank Anderson, surgeon dentist, visits Middlemarch, Waipiata, and Patearoa, Thursday, February 6; Ranfurly, Friday, February 7; Oturehua, Monday. February 10.—Advt.

Coffee foi oreakiast. Ordei from your grocer a tin of " Bourbon," the coffee of quality Instructions in every tin. Prepared by Durie's. coffee specialists 32 Octagon. Dunedin.— Advt.