LOCAL AND GENERAL

Timaru Herald, Volume CLIII, Issue 22474, 8 January 1943, Page 4

LOCAL AND GENERAL

“Nothing at All" A reservist wearing soldier’s uniform, when appealing for release from camp at a sitting of the No. 2 Armed Forces Appeal Board in Hamilton, was asked what he was doing in the Army. His reply, “Nothing at all.” was hardly what the questioner expected. The reservist added that he had been in the Army four months. Pilfering From Restaurants "Teaspoons and knives walk away, and when we are able to replace them, which is not often, the replacements disappear almost at once," stated the manager of a firm of Wellington restaurant proprietors. The theft of cutlery was causing grave concern, and in the tearooms under his control wooden spoons similar to those sold with ice creams were now provided. Cost of Polar Bear A donation of £65 from the Auckland Zoological Society, to cover the cost of the polar bear recently imported from Sydney for the Auckland Zoo, was acknowledged with appreciation by the City Council. The chairman of the Parks Committee, Mr J. L. Coakley, said the society had assisted the zoo on a number of previous occasions. 112 Trout Caught in a Week Visiting anglers were numerous in Temuka during the Christmas and New Year holidays. A number of Visitors to the motor camp were on angling bent, while others stayed at the various hotels in the town. Two anglers from Dunedin, Messrs C. and D. Arnold, experienced a successful stay, their bag for the week being 112 trout. The fish were of a good average weight, and in the pink of condition. Absenteeism from Schools The prevalence of absenteeism from schools was mentioned at a meeting of the Auckland School Committees’ Association. A suggestion that it was advisable to appoint a truant officer, with authority to visit places of entertainment during school hours and to question children of school age there, was approved. The matter will be discussed with the Auckland Headmasters’ Association. Milk Box Thieves Milk box thieves were active in several parts of Auckland during the Christmas period and caused considerable inconvenience. Bread boxes also received attention from thieves. In many cases the absence of money in the boxes was construed by the bakers as meaning that no bread was required and they acted accordingly. In one instance the thieves were not content with stealing money left for milk, but also took the jug. A Patient Cleric? A variation of the old story of the bride or bridegroom left waiting at the church occurred at a church in Canterbury recently. On this occasion, it was the curate who was left waiting. After going to the church and getting everything in readiness, the curate was struck by the absence of the group of people which usually congregates outside a church prior to a wedding. After waiting two hours, he telephoned the caterers for information, to discover that he had mistaken the date and that the wedding was fixed for the next day. Raincliff Road Patrolled At crossroads, bridges, and other points where motorists might encounter difficulties along the Raincliff road, Scouts were pasted to give direction to motor traffic yesterday. The Scouts also assisted in the catering arrangements at Pioneer Park. The Scouts had arranged to break camp yesterday, but at the request of Major P. H. Johnson they remained for a further day in order to assist in the organising work connected with the gathering of representatives of local bodies and farmers which met their Excellencies, Sir Cyril and Lady Newall, at Pioneer Park. Vice-Regal Professional Touch In planting two young totara trees which were about 6ft high, at the Pioneer Park, Raincliff, yesterday afternoon, their Excellencies, Sir Cyril and Lady Newall, showed a professional touch. They handled the spades with dexterity, and, with the assistance of their son Francis, were careful to <ramp down each spadeful of earth after it had been placed in position round the young trees. Anticipating this planting some time ago. the trees were specially boxed so that they could be planted out at this time of the year without damage. Clothing the Natives The old-fashioned way of many missions of dressing their natives in ugly black and white garments is condemned by the Melanesian Mission in the Solomons, according to two nurses who have arrived in Auckland from the mission field. “We encouraged the natives to wear bright colours, which they love, and only little clothing,” said one of the nurses. “Actually we had to do this, because we could not get clothing easily to give them and if they wore anything above their waists they got wet and would develop chest troubles through not changing their garments. Consequently, we encouraged the girls just to wear short skirts, and with their brown skins they looked far better and more natural. Western clothes do not suit them.” Mines Washed Ashore A few weeks ago an enemy mine was washed up on the west coast of the North Island near Ruapuke, south of Raglan, and since then three more enemy mines have been similarly washed ashore within five days, one at Bell Block (North Taranaki), a second near Mokau Heads, and a third near Albatross Point, on the south side of Kawhia Harbour. Naval parties were quickly on the scene, and the task of disconnecting the explosive from the detonating charges was safely accomplished, though with considerable risk and difficulty. When one of the mines was exploded the men engaged took cover about 500 yards away, yet such was the force of the explosion that they felt a very severe concussion, which was also felt at Te Maika and Taharoa, several miles away. Hard-Hitting Batsman The risk of damage incurred by motorists who park their cars close to cricket grounds was proved in Dunedin during the Otago-Southland match at the north ground. The boundaries for the main pitch are comparatively short, and more than once during the game cars, pedestrians, and nearby house frontages were in danger of being hit. A Southland batsman, noted for his hard-hitting, twice sent the ball flying over the pavilion, and on the second occasion it crashed through the side window of a motorcar which was being turned round. Landing on the back seat of the car, the ball bounced up and broke a window on the opposite side. The motorist’s concern now is whether to seek damages from his insurance company or from the organisers of the cricket match or whether he will have to foot the bill himself.