NEWS IN BRIEF

Otago Daily Times, Issue 24606, 14 May 1941, Page 2

NEWS IN BRIEF

" We have a gun so near to us that when it is fired it turns over the pages of my book," writes Mr J. V. Gibson, a former Palmerston North resident who is now residing in England and doing pharmaceutical work in different London and district dispensaries. "Once when 'Jerry' came over and dropped a high-explosive bomb near us the book jumped up and closed. I don't blame it —I got a scare," adds Mr Gibson.

Grandism (4423): For quality wines and spirits. The best value in the Dominion at the Grand Hotel Home Supply Store. Prices are going up... " It is not only enemy bombs we have to look out for in air raids, but what our anti-aircraft guns send up has to come down again," said Mr W. Holmes, the visiting British trade union leader, in an address. "My son had one of our own shells come down and bury itself 12ft in the ground beside his house. I have had several bits of our own shells come through the roof of my house." There was another thing in New Zealand besides the hills and lakes that reminded him strongly of Scotland, said Captain Morrice, one of the members of the medical staff of a British hospital ship who were guests of the New Plymouth Rotary Club. "As an Aberdonian," he said. " I have been very struck by the number of threepenny bits in circulation."

See the new season's Mantles. Frocks Coats. Hats, and Knitwear All the new styles and colours and at unbeatable prices Call early many cannot be reDlaced Your inspection invited Mosgiel's Drapers A F Chevne and C 0...

A disturbance, allegedly caused by a young soldier who disparaged the veterans of the Great War. took place in the public bar of a Napier hotel recently. It is understood that the argument became so heated that the man's older opponent made his departure and returned a little later armed with a double-barrelled shotgun and several rounds of ammunition. Realising the depth of feeling existing between the antagonists, other men in the bar intervened. The sequel came when the antagonists settled their difference over a rf.nnk and went their respective ways. Crossans Waterloo Hotel, Caversham. is the place to buy your next bottle of whisky, rum, etc... After an unusually mild winter last year, the Tongariro National Park has been unusually devoid of snow for. the past two weeks. There was a good fall several weeks ago, but most of that has gone, and the upper slopes -i Ruapehu itself are the only region.that are still snow-covered. The JacK of ski-ing. however, has been made up for by the ideal conditions for tramping and climbing. A good motor read extends about four miles up Ruapehu. and from its terminal the climb to Crater Lake and the summit is not difficult. On several days recently it was possible to see White Island clearly from the peak, while Mount Egmont could be seen even from the lew slopes at the back of the Chateau.

Wheii sending foodstuffs to soldier* overseas pack in airtight tins assupplied bv Dickinson Mytton, Ltd., 204 Crawford treet. nearlv opposite Otaso Farmers' Co-0p... A plate cf porridge with milk and syrup, two rashers of bacon with a fried egg, brown bread and butter, marmalade and half a pint of hot milk. Breakfasts on these lines were still the regular thing in England last February, and probably still are. Writing to a friend in Auckland, a Londoner states that his family is little inconvenienced by food rationing and price control, the worst shortage being sugar. Oranges, apples, bananas and nuts were unobtainable, while chocolate and sweetstuffs were becoming scarce owing to the sugar shortage Cheese was difficult to get, as it was reserved chiefly for manual labourers. Supplies of meat, baccn and eggs were then ample. Four youths, who unsuccessfully endeavoured to convert themselves into a brass band caused amusement in Rolleston avenue and Hagley Park in Christchurch on a recent afternoon. They came down the avenue in single file headed by a bass drummer who showed a surprising ignorance of the instrument. He was followed by three others playing battered brass instruments which wailed in amazing discord. The " band" turned over the Armagh street bridge into the park, followed bv a number of small boys and the supercilious smirks of strollers. As they disappeared among the trees, they managed three or four bars m tune, or perhaps it was just distance lending enchantment. In spite of any reported shortage in goods. Gray's, of Milton, have almost a full range of commodities... From Windsor stock sprang those mighty stags which are both the pride and pestilence of New Zealand to-day. The idea began with the late Prince Consort, who has left his mark on Windsor and all about it. He had two stags and four hinds caught up in the park in 1861 and shipped to New Zealand. They were 127 days at sea in the old Triton, but only one hind died. Their descendants are among the finest heads in the world.