In the News

Southland Times, Issue 24766, 10 June 1942, Page 4

In the News

Explosion off Sumner Shortly before 3 o’clock on Monday afternoon a telephone message was received from a resident on MoncksSpui, Redcliffs, that an aeroplane had apparently crashed into the sea about a mile and a-half from the New Brighton pier, states The Press. He reported that he observed an explosion on the surface ot the water and could see smoke or cloud of steam rise up. The crew ot the lifeboat Rescue II assembled at duty stations, and prepared the boat to put to sea, the skipper (Charles Bowman) in the meantime taking steps to hav the information verified from the aerodrome. As no verification was forthcoming the crew dispersed and awaited further intimation from the authorities. In the meantime, two aeroplanes could be observed circling above the spot ana a boat put out to the scene from Lyttelton. Up to a late hour in the evening no information was available about what caused the explosion which was seen by many people, including several members of the life-boat crew.

United Nations’ Day No military parade will be held in Invercargill for United Nations Day next Saturday. Last Sunday the Prime Minister announced that parades on tne largest and most comprehensive scale would be held and the people would have the opportunity in the larger centres to watch units of all services with the latest types of machines and weapons brought to the Dominion for the strengthening of our defences. it was learned yesterday that Invercargi would not be included in the centres covered by the Prime Ministers announcement. Rotary Comes of Age

This month the Rotary movement in. New Zealand is celebrating its 21st birthday. Reference to this important occasion was made in the District Governor’s monthly letter received at yesterday’s meeting of the Invercargi! Rotary Club. Because of the war it will be impossible to hold any celebrations, but the District Governor (Mr Will Thomas) suggested that the birtnday might be recognized in die following ways: by each club sending a letter of thanks th Rotary International; by issuing a “memorial” monthly letter containing a history of the movement in New Zealand and reminiscences of the early days of the first clubs at Auckland and Wellington; and by making a Dominion contribution to the Rotary International funds used for helping prisoners of war and Rotarians who have fallen on evil days through the war. These suggestions are to be considered by a committee of the Invercargill club. Fit Married Men The physical condition of Southland married men with children called .in the last two ballots for military service has been highly satisfactory, and a rather higher percentage has been passed as fit than in most of the previous ballots. The percentage of fit men in the country districts has been particularly high, but even in the city the returns have been fairly good. On occasions almost the whole of batches summoned together for medical examination were passed fit. Housewives ’ will probably claim the responsibility for this satisfactory position in the good 1 care that they have taken of their • husbands. • Killed With an Arrow 1 A local sportsman is 10/- richer by reason of his skill with the bow and ’ arrow (says The Christchurch Star- ! Sun). He was a member of a deer- ’ stalking party who spent a week-end in i the hills behind Hamner recently. His ’ companions who were armed with ! rifles, were derisive of the more anti- ’ quated weapon, and bets were laid 1 against his making a kill. However, he was the first of the party to hit the quarry, one arrow being sufficient to kill the animal at 50 yards. Arrows used in these expeditions carry a heartshaped head, which gives them a spinning flight, and materially adds to their lethal qualities. Used with a highpowered bow, experts hold that these arrows will kill a man at a range of 200 yards. The Modern Young Woman

“There’s no doubt about it; the modern young woman is standing up to this war,” said Miss M. B. Howard when she gave praise to young women applicants for jobs in the Railways Department who were interviewed by a committee of the Christchurch Women’s War Service Auxiliary on Saturday night. “They like paint and powder and lipstick, but by gum they’ve got ginger,” she said. One woman had told Miss Howard that she considered all women who had no children should, offer their services for some essential work so that men might be released for active service. “The time has gone by for sitting about,” this woman said, “and we have got to get into the work and do our part.”