In the News

Southland Times, Issue 24534, 8 September 1941, Page 4

In the News

Prophetic Golf “Let’s hole in one and cause a sensation,” was the remark of a woman golfer as she took her shot at the short seventh (100 yards) on the Opunake golf links, near New Plj’mouth. Tim beautifully played shot landed the ball on the green about a foot from the pin and the sensation was caused when it neatly disappeared into the hole —much to the astonishment of the player. This feat was accomplished by Mrs H. W. Frank and it is believed to be the first time it has been done by a woman player on the Opunake links. Boot Factory on West Coast Application has been made to the Government for permission to begin a boot and shoe factory on the West Coast. If permission for it is granted the factory will be the first of its type on the West Coast, which previously has been almost solely engaged in primary industries. The West Coast Trades and Labour Council at its last meeting decided to support the application. Warning to Kite Flyers The dangers of kite flying near overhead electric lines is emphasized by the Christchurch Municipal Electricity Department in a statement asking parents and school teachers to warn children against the practice, and particularly to urge them to abandon any kite which becomes entangled with an overhead wire. There were two cases last week of children pulling hard at the strings of kites entangled in the 11,000-volt overhead lines. The department states that low-tension lines also have a very definite danger for kite flyers, and the only safe course is to avoid entirely all types of overhead electric lines. A wet kite string in contact with a live line may have very serious results for the child holding the lower end. Waitangi Maori Canoe The building which is being erected at Waitangi to house the large Maori canoe used in the Centennial celebrations is now nearing completion. It is about 150 ft long in the nature of a long passage with a large high room at each end. The passage-way will house the hull of the canoe, while the rooms at each end will accommodate • the high stem and stern parts. Heavy wire-net-ting is used for the walls so that when the canoe is housed it can be viewed. The canoe is now indifferently covered against the elements, and large cracks are showing in the hull. Manufacture of Salt Consideration is being given to applications which have been received for permission to commence the manufacture of salt in New Zealand, states the annual report of the Bureau of Industry. No unit has yet commenced production on a commercial scale, and it is therefore too early to ascertain whether the industry can be undertaken on an economic and profitable basis. The industry, however, has promise of being an important one to New Zealand, and would result in a considerable saving of overseas funds. Forgotten Men Members of the New Zealand Railway Construction Company somewhere in the Middle East consider themselves to be forgotten men, according to a letter received from one of the men by his brother in Christchurch. “We are on a railway job which looks like taking about five years to finish,” he said. “We are away out in the backblocks, and never get patriotic fund parcels. Some of us think that after the war has been over a long time, we will be remembered, but perhaps by that time we will have become permanently lost.”

How to Say “Auchinleck” The controversy over what General Sir Claude Auchinleck may or may not have said fills me, as a Scotsman (writes a correspondent in The Manchester Guardian), with wondering scorn as I hear it discussed in cafes, clubs, on tram-cars, on buses, in railway trains, and elsewhere. Not one of the controversialists but hashes up profanely the gallant general’s ancient and honourable name. To hear Auchinleck pronounced “Awkinleck,” “Otchinleck,” “Okkinleck,” “Owtchinleck,” and so forth, reminds me of the pitiful ■ attempts on General Wauchope’s name in the South African war, when the lamented Scotsman became “Walk-up,” “Watch-hope,” “Washup,” and what not. Will Englishmen never learn that most Scottish names, Marjoribanks. Wemyss, Home, and so on, have arbitrary pronunciations all their own, that are so many traps for the uninitiated? Auchinleck, when properly . pronounced, bears no resemblance, in the first half of the word, to the spelling of the first syllable, and readers of this note may henceforth display their superiority over the unlettered critic by referring to “General Affleck, which, after all, is quite easy to say. V for Victory

Another coincidence in the “V” symbolism: The rhythm, three shorts and a long, which is Morse for “V” and also the opening of Beethoven’s Fifth Symphony, is said by Aristotle to have been, one of the speech rhythms approved of Greek orators for concluding their sentences and to have been called “Paean.” Paean, of course, was also the name for a song of victory.

“Brass Hats” or “Red Caps”? Every soldier knows the difference between “brass hats,” those higher staff officers who live on the Olympian heights of the Army (or so it seems to the private) and “red caps, who are only military policemen. It is probable, however, that the confusion which gave rise to an amusing incident in Invercargill the other day was due to the fact that both “brass hats’ and “red caps” have some red about their uniforms. A young soldier was overstaying his leave from camp and his mother was, therefore, greatly perturbed at a rumour that a party of military policemen had arrived in the city. She had visions of her son being arrested and taken back to camp ignominously under arrest. Her relief was probably as great as her former fears when she learned that the supposed military police were really staff officers whose visit to the city was concerned with something more important than rounding up soldiers who were trying the old Army dodge of granting themselves a day or two of extra leave.

By Public Advertisement Government was difficult enough in a small country like this, but. it was going to be made still more difficult if notices of intended action could not be given in a clear form in a newspaper circulating in the district, said Mr Justice Fair in the Auckland Supreme Court. His Honour was discussing the notice given respecting meetings to take evidence on the North Auckland goods transport system and rates. He said the licensing authority had reasonably thought that newspaper advertisement was the most suitable form of notice, and quite sufficient. It might happen, as in the case under consideration, that some persons did not see the notice published, but if that method of reaching the members of the public failed, it must be generally due to their own inattention when it was a very large notice, as in the present case. He thought the method of newspaper advertisement was fair and reasonable, and as much as people concerned in special interests were entitled to expect