NEWS IN BRIEF

Otago Daily Times, Issue 24793, 18 December 1941, Page 2

NEWS IN BRIEF

•' “We have fevery sympathy with that kind of appeal,” said Mr H. B. Lusk, chairman of the No. 4A Armed Forces Appeal Board, at Palmerston North, when a solicitor explained that his client sought only a postponement of service so that he could finish contracts he had undertaken and sell his working plant. The request was granted. Touching faith in the present-day social legislation was shown in Invercargill a few days ago. A customer in one of the chemist's shops, after spending a considerable time in pricing Christmas presents, anxiously asked the manager if it would be possible to secure them on a doctors prescription. He was amazed when told that the benefits applied only to medicine. „ ... Wise housewives secure all their Xmas baking requirements .at ‘ The Big Store,” Milton. Quantity prices operate in buyers’ favour... "The time has come when roof watchers should be stationed on the roofs of all the principal buildings in Christchurch, particularly those in the central area, over 24 hours a day, declared Mr R. H. Webb, when members of the Manufacturers’ Association discussed the part business and industrial firms could play in emergency precautions. Mr Webb added that the experience of the United States, which had been caught napping by Japan, should provide a lesson in preparedness. 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 replaced. Your inspection invited. Mosgiel Drapers. A. F. Cheyne and C 0... . “In the patriotic effort it is the women who do all the work and we men do all the talking,” said Mr W. Grieve, chairman of the executive of the Southland Provincial Patriotic Council, at a civic function in honour of ‘ Voluntary Aids who have been selected for overseas service and of soldiers and naval men at present on leave in the city. “The amenities for men of the services are provided by the National Patriotic Fund Board, and the women are the real workers,” Mr Grieve added.

“ Drink and be merry ” this Christmas from a hamper procured at Crossan's Waterloo Hotel, Cavershain... A young Christchurch man recently had his bicycle taken, presumably stolen, from a right-of-way in the city. He inserted a “ lost and found ” advertisement in the Christchurch Press, but without result. The next evening it was repeated, and to his satisfaction a resident of Richmond telephoned to say that he had found on the river-bank opposite his hoifte a bicycle tallying with the description of the one advertised. The young man went to claim his property, and was told by , the finder that in the last two weeks he had picked up from the same place on the river-bank nine stolen bicycles.

An active colony of termites, the Australian white ants, which have appeared in the North Island during the last few years, has been located in native timbers at Karamea, north of Westport. The discovery was made last week by Mr A. D. Mercer, of Greymouth, fields instructor for the Department of Agriculture, while examinmg logs in the Granity Creek area, Karamea. It is believed that this is the first time active termites have been found in native bush in the South Islarfd,