NEWS OF THE DAY

Otago Daily Times, Issue 27572, 14 December 1950, Page 6

NEWS OF THE DAY

Pleasant Surprise

Two motor trucks pulled up in the grounds of Montecillo Home about 4 o’clock yesterday afternoon and boys from the Otago Boys’ High School jumped out. They assembled themselves into two groups—a choir and band—on the lawn, and without further preliminaries they proceeded to give a choral and instrumental programme that was as delightful to the patients at the home as it was unexpected. The informality of the occasion, the pleasing carol singing and silver band items, and the cheerfulness and goodwill of the boys struck a responsive note in the audience during the brief visit. The party also visited Talboys Home and other institutions in Dunedin.

.City Water Supply After a loss of 1,000,000 gallons in the 24 hours ended at 8 a.m., the storage in the Dunedin reservoirs stood at 118,666,000 gallons yesterday. There was a slight gain .in the inflow as a result of rain on Monday. Lost Pigeon

Mr P. W. Matchett, of Kaitangata, is seeking the owner of a homing pigeon which was found in a fowl run in Kaitangata on Tuesday afternoon. The bird is stated by him to bear a brand on one leg with the inscription B.M. 48-226. On the other leg is a rubber band. When found, it appeared to be distressed and hungry, but is now being cared for. Gift To School

• A cut-down engine and chassis of an English car is being sent from England to the King Edward Technical College, where it will be used in the engineering department. The addition to the workshops equipment will be a gift from the Austin Motor Company. The principal of the college, Mr J. V. Burton, told the Board of Managers last night that the presentation would probably be made in March, when the head of the Austin organisation in England would be in the city. Green Island Footpaths

The Green Island Borough Council has approved a tender of £IBB3 for the resealing of the footpaths along the Main South highway from the top of Look-out Point to the southern boundary of the borough. The tender now awaits the approval of the Main Highways Board, and this is expected by the council to be granted almost immediately. The contractors, the Fairfield Asphalt Company, will. have to have the job completed .by the end of March, so that an early start on the task is expected. Jewish Life In Dominion

A study of the New Zealand way of 'life, with particular reference to the part played in it by the Jewish community, is to .be undertaken by Mr Iser Goldberg, of New York, who arrived in the Dominion this week. Mr Goldberg, who represents Jewish Encyclopedic Handbooks Inc.,. New. York, is gathering material for inclusion in a handbook on the Jewish people which is to appear in three volumes. Two volumes have already appeared and the third is in the course of preparation. New Life Begun

A new life began in earnest for 34 European displaced persons who arrived in Auckland yesterday from Pahiatua camp. Quiety, almost subdued in manner, they went to their new homes and jobs. Doing as they were told, filling in forms when asked, anxious to please and almost helpless against the language barrier, these New Zealanders did their best to settle into the new surroundings quickly so that they could get on with the serious business of earning a living in a strange land. All are under a two-year contract to the Government to accept directed employment before they may seek jobs of their own choosing. Holiday Legislation

A recommendation to members of the Auckland Carpenters’ Union that the holiday period, December 21 to January 10, apply in the industry to all but those in exceptional circumstances was made by the union executive at its December meeting. A statement issued by the union says that the recommendation was made “owing to the growing incidence of abuse of the spirit of the Annual Holidays Act on the part of some employers and' employees within the building industry. The exceptional circumstances refer to hospitals or other' work governed by the public interest.” A spokesman for the union pointed out that it was contrary to the intention of the Act to collect holiday pay from one employer and then to enter Christmas employment with another employer.