NEWS OF THE DAY

Otago Daily Times, Issue 26179, 15 June 1946, Page 6

NEWS OF THE DAY

Current Ration Coupons The current tea and sugar'coupons, Nos. 33 to 36, may be used until July 7. The value of each is 2oz for tea and 12oz for sugar. Butter coupons Nos. 33 to 35 will remain valid until July 7. The value of each is Boz, the four-weekly ration being ljlb. Expectant mothers, nursing mothers, and persons who have reached the age of 70 years are entitled to an extra jib of butter for the four-weekly period ending on July 7 on production ot coupon No. 33. Coupons may be used only when the corresponding numbers in the ration book are available. Meat coupon No. 33 is negotiable until June 30. The total value of these coupons is Is 6d in the case of adults and 9d in the case of children, the H and J coupons each having a value of 3d. i ne current hosiery coupons are X2Ol and X 202.

Regional Planning Council The annual general meeting of the Otago Regional Planning Council will be held in the Council Chamber on Tuesday. Representatives from the City Council and Drainage Board will be appointed at meetings of these bodies on Monday night.

Increase in Mail Matter There was an increase of 108.900 in the number of letters passing through the postmarking machine at the Cmei Post Office last month compared with the total for May, 1945, the respective figures being: May, 1946. 983,200; May, 1945 874,300. The figures for last month showed an increase over the total for April of 311,000.

Arrival of Relief Force The Empire Pride, which carried the New Zealand personnel to relieve the members of the New Zealand occupation force at present serving in Japan, arrived at Kure on Wednesday, stated the Minister of Defence, Mr F. Jones, last night. The voyage (says a Press Association telegram) was without event and the troops were m good heart. The ship berthed on Thursday and the troops moved to their stations yesterday.

Smash and Grab Raid A valuable camera was stolen from the window of Webb’s photographic supply shop in Auckland in a smash-and-grab raid in the early hours of yesterday morning. A big plate glass window, behind which a variety of cameras were on display, was shattered with a heavy wrench, which was later found on the pavement, and one of the most expensive cameras was taken. The police night patrol car was called to the scene (says a Press Association) telegram, but found no trace of the thief, Gaming Commission

It may be some weeks before a Royal Commission inquiry is begun on racing and gaming. The chairman, Mr Justice Finlay, cannot be released until Mr Justice Smith, chairman of the Licensing Commission, is able to resume his seat on the Bench. When the licensing report, which is now being prepared, is completed, Mr Justice Smith will probably take a holiday. Although the Gaming Commission is required to report by August 31. the date may be altered by Order-in-Council.

Motor Testing Station The hours of operation at the corporation motor testing station have been given further consideration by the General Committee, which will report to the meeting of the City Council on Monday night that it has authorised the closing of the station on Saturday mornings. For some weeks, the report states the station has been closed on Monday mornings and opened on Saturday mornings for the convenience of motorists, but a tally taken disclosed that the attendant on Saturday has averaged 10. Since Monday last the station has been observing the following hours: Mondays to Fridays. 8 a.m. to 5 p.m.

Radar Station Incident “ When Britain was expecting invasion of the south coast by parachute troops, charges were laid under all radar stations so that they could be blown up if the necessity arose,” said Flight Lieutenant J. D. McKewen, R.N.Z.A.F., in an interview yesterday. Flight Lieutenant McKewen, who was a technical expert attached to Radar, recalled a hair-raising incident in this connection. At Beachy Head a new me-hanic noticed a pair of wires hang.ing down the wall. For a few days he wondered what these were until his curiosity got the better of him, and he put a “ megger ” (a piece of testing equipment) on the wires. Then when he turned [he handle the aerial disappeared over the cliff. Fortunately, no one was in the aerial cabin, but the explosion was heard at Eastbourne, two and a-half miles away.

Humanitarian Instinct

The humanitarian instincts of many people were aroused yesterday by the announcement in this column that a well-bred collie dog had been found straying in the city and that if the owner did not come forward a home was desired for the animal. Before 9 o'clock yesterday morning the telephone of the office of the Society lor the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals began to ring, and during the day messages were received from the owners of seven lost dogs and from no fewer than 30 other persons who were prepared to offer the waif a home. Some of these messages came from as far afield as Kokonga and Taieri Mouth and the remainder from the city, Port Chalmers, and Mosgiel. The ownership of the collie had not been estaolished last night, but at any rate the future of the dog has been assured. Woman’s Bravery

The Royal Humane Society’s bronze medal has been awarded to Mrs Edna May Tichbourne. of Tokomaru Bay. This recalls the gallant efforts she made to rescue two children in danger of drowning while bathing in the sea at Tokomaru Bay on January 15, 1945 Two schoolgirls named Collier and Malcolm were carried out beyond their depth by the' current. Mrs Tichbourne succeeded in bringing them within reach of other helpers, who waded in to assist. At that stage Mrs Tichbourne, exhausted and unable to swim further against the current, was herself carried out. beyond her depth. Constable W. R. Cooper, who has since been awarded a certificate of merit by the society, and Mr James Elliot went to Mrs Tichbourne's assistance, and the constable brought the exhausted woman to the shore.