NEWS OF THE DAY

Otago Daily Times, Issue 24825, 27 January 1942, Page 4

NEWS OF THE DAY

TPHE Mayoress. Mrs A. H. Allen, has -*• expressed her appreciation of the response to her appeal for soap bags for inclusion in the gift parcels for men on service overseas. She has announced that further supplies are required for inclusion in subsequent consignments of parcels. The size should be. approximately 8 inches by 10 inches. A number of seed bags of about this size has been received from country districts. They are admirably suited for the purpose, and further supplies would be appreciated.

Dunedin Wool Appraisal A wool appraisal is at present being conducted in Dunedin by a large team of appraisers. The wool has opened up in good condition, and there is a fair-sized offering. The appraisers made .a start with their work on Sunday, and hope to complete it by to-morrow.

Anniversary Days A notice in the current Gazette states that notwithstanding previous declarations -January 29 will not be kept as a public holiday this year by the Customs Department at either Auckland or Gisborne, the anniversary days of which coincide. The notice also covers all other New Zealand ports for the particular day on which the individual observance falls.

A Soldier’s Advice “It would be a much better idea if those people who are sending articles packed in tins to soldiers overseas were to seal the tins with adhesive tape instead of soldering them,” writes a soldier in Suva, to a friend in Christchurch. “Tins are very handy, and are also very scarce over here, and if they are soldered they are of no use afterwards, as they have to be cut to be opened.” Clutha M.P. in Camp

A member of Parliament is at present training with Home Guard officers in a Dunedin territorial camp. He is Major J. A. Roy, member for Clutha. Along with other officers, he is taking a week’s course of instruction in army organisation and administration. Four officers are trained at a time, and courses have been conducted for the past three weeks. The first and second parties included Invercargill officers.

Gifts to Scottish Battalion A presentation of a set of boxing gloves was made recently to the 2nd Battalion of the New Zealand Scottish Regiment by Home Guard officers from Invercargill in appreciation of the treatment extended to them _ while attending a course of instruction at the battalion’s camp. Another parly of officers who visited the camp for a similar purpose last week handed over a cheque for the purchase pf a trophy for the best rifle shot in the battalion. An Ancient Weapon

An ancient muzzle-loading flint pistol was recently handed to the military authorities in Dunedin. The owner was a man who was scmmoned to hand over his .22 rifle, and he jocularly remarked that the pistol might be of some use. But it is of little.value, even as an antique. About 18 inches in length, the weapon is in fair working order, although an attempt to fire it might quite possibly prove more dangerous to the user than the target.

Missionaries in Pacific Until Japan’s declaration of war, the Solomons, although subject to serious economic disability, wei'e remote from the fighting zones, states the New Zealand Methodist Times. They are now dangerously near the centre of the conflagration in the Pacific. The wives and children of our missionaries and missionary sisters in the areas have been evacuated and are now awaiting transport to New Zealand. The Missionary Board may be involved in additional financial obligations, but it is confident that the whole Church will rally to its aid, and help the families who are separted for the duration of the war.

Supplies of Early Apples There is no suggestion in Dunedin that fruit retailers are receiving supplies of early apples direct from the growers instead of through the internal marketing division, as is apparently the case in Christchurch. The position locally differs from that in Christchurch, where there are some growers close to the city. The bulk of the fruit sold in Dunedin comes from Central Otago, and is sent to the division’s depots there for railage to Dunedin. A good check is kept on the frqit in Central Otago, and there is little possibility of an v apples finding thpir way into shops in Dunedin direct from the growers.

Balloted Married Men The first medical examination for married men and 18-year-olds called up in the ballot last week will be held in Dunedin to-night. It is expected that about 100 recruits will be examined, this being the number so far notified to attend. The examinations, which will be held at the Dental School, will be conducted in alphabetical order, and the next issue of 100 notices calling men to attend the second medical board sitting on Thursday night will include about half the balloted men whose surnames begin with the initial B. In order to get through the 2000 recruits as quickly as possible, it is proposed to hold more than two medical board sittings a week. Efforts will be made to have four next week, probably on Monday, Tuesday, Thursday and Friday nights.

Soldiers’ Scottish Celebration The Burns anniversary was celebrated in traditional style by the members of the 2nd Battalion of the New Zealand Scottish Regiment at a Dunedin military camp last night. Christchurch officers, wearing kilts, took a main part in the ceremonies. Five large haggises were borne to the table by the tallest officer and territorial in the battalion, both being about six feet four inches. Many of the troops sampled haggis for the first time. Bagpipes, of course, played their rightful role in the ceremonies, while the Scottish sword or claymore was also much in evidence. One of these weapons, owned by an officer, is a family heirloom over 100 years old. It was used in the Black Watch Regiment in Scotland and also in the Crimean War “ The Grandfather Stakes ” " I feel that I should tell you something about myself,” said Mr D. C. Davie Independent Monetary Reform candidate for the Tcmuka by-election, at his opening meeting at Temuka on Saturday evening. “I should tell you this in view of the fact that my opponent Mr J. Acland, is a popular young man, and it is well known in the district that he has came from fine pioneering stock. In the range of snow-capped ranges which overlook the Canterbury Plains there is a Mount Davie. That was named after my father’s father, Cyrus Davie. Then in the northern part of this electorate there is a district called Greenslreeu It is named after Charles Hawkins Greenstreet, who was my mother s father. Because of that I can say that I am running neck-and-neck with my opponent in ‘the grandfather stakes. Women for Farms

The possibility of women and girls being used in greater numbers for civil work and the prospect of farming being included in the industries concerned was discussed at a sitting of the No. 4a Armed Forces Appeal Board in Gisborne when some of the appeals from the country were adjourned until after May 31. “We wish to make it public." stated the chairman, Mr H. B. Lusk, giving decision on two cases. “ that our reason for adjourning these appeals to our first meeting after May 31 is because of the new regulations coming out in regard to essential and nonessential. industries, and the possibility under the regulations of some machinery being set up to enable labour to be found for dairy farms and other industries. We think it quite possible that part of the machinery will deal with the training of females to take over much of the work now being done by men.”