LOCAL AND GENERAL NEWS

Patea Mail, 3 January 1940, Page 2

LOCAL AND GENERAL NEWS

Those intending to travel overseas should make a point of communicating with Messrs C. F, Milhvard and Co., Wanganui, who will furnish them with full particulars witli regard to fares,, tailings etc.

A French papery Lo Journal revives u report that Hitler is suffering from

cancer. It says that a throat specialist, Professor yauerbruch, who is understood to have visited Hitler three times during October, diagnosed cancer and informed Goering and Goebbcls that Hitler could only live IS months at the •most.

The dilference between travelling by air and steamer was illustrated recently, when a local resident journeyed from Wellington to Nelson and back, the steamer journey taking 11 hours, and the return journey by air just :15 minutes.

His Worship the Mayor, at the request of the. Defence Authorities, is convening a public meeting for Friday next to consider what steps shall bo taken, to assist in the . campaign for recruits for the second and subsequent echelons of the Special Force.

In the final of the men’s doubles handicap at the Hawoni tournament on Saturday, E. F. and S. W. Cousins beat M. Dickie and L. McCarthy 9 7. In the men’s singles M. iDickic beat C. S. AVylds (owe 15) 12 —.10,

The Great War was the cause of the coining of several new words, some of which have since become firmly estab■is'liod in the everyday vocabulary, rhe'prcseut war, although as yet young is likely to follow suit, “Punch” has already coined an excellent word for the pamphlets dropped from planes —“bomphlets,” this being Mr.' A. P. Herbert’s invention in his “Mein Pamph. ” A word which has apparently come to stay is “Vackies, ’ a much easier word than “evacuees.”

.A sharp surprise was in store for a Hastings butcher when t o went to secure some tools from the box under the seat of his delivery van. Although the van had been in constant use for a long period and had, in fact, been used extensively the same day, the butcher, to Ins astonishment, found beneath the scat a rat with an accompanying horde of eight little rats scarcely more than a day old. The nest had boon made from the stuffing of the upholstered seat, and a very comfortable nest it was—until the butcher found it. The mother rat succeeded in escaping, leaving her eight squealing bailies to the tender mercy of the outraged van owner.

“The true function of food,” said the best with a laugh, “is to prepare the palate for tqbacep, so lunch being over .suppose wo adjourn for a Whiff‘l I can’t offer you a cigar—-don’t smoke them. .But I can give you a pipe of (lip; best —something to write ■ home about!” The guest filled: and lit up. Bdeuce, Presently he said: “Phis baccy of yours is really flue, old man, what is it?” “N.Z. Cut Plug No. 10 (Bullshead),” replied the host, “thought you’d like it. There’s nothing better—or so flood —to my mind. And it’s so harmless! It is toasted.” “What difference docs that make?” enquired the guest. “All the difference, my boy. It extracts the nicotine from the tobacco and makes it as pure as rock crystal.”- The guest (a pommy), eagerly noted the names of the five toasted brands: Navy Cut No. 3 (Bulldog), Cut Plug No. 10 (Bulldog), Cut Plug No, 10, Cavendish, Riverhead Gold and Desert Gold—“for future reference,” as ho said. “Hut have a caro when buying,” counselled the host, “there are some rotten imitations about!” There are.