LOCAL AND GENERAL

Timaru Herald, Volume CLIII, Issue 22475, 9 January 1943, Page 4

LOCAL AND GENERAL

Bullet in House Another case of a bullet from a rifle striking a house has occurred at Takapuna. While a resident was standing in his bathroom a came through a joist four inches by two inches near the window, struck the edge of an open door and hit a wall. By that time it was practically spent and bounced back to the floor at the man's feet. It appeared to be of .303 calibre. War Pensions War pensions arising out of the present wax' numbered 4999 in September last, their annual value being £457.366. War pensions (1914-18) cost £1.617,481, plus £102,000 paid outside New Zealand, for the 12 months ended March 31. These figures are given in the Abstract of Statistics. How to Live Rent Free How to live rent free was described in an interview by Private Rita K. McCarthy, Hastings, who has been invalided home after service overseas. She said that when she saw for the first time old native Cairo, with its bazaars, she thought it had been bombed, as the roofs of the native houses were broken and open to the sky, and pieces of masonry were lying in the streets. She wondered why these conditions were allowed to continue, till she was told that as long as a part of a roof was open to the sky, a native may live in a house rent free. Work of Women Porters Railway officials of long experience have commented on the excellent that has been done in Dunedin during the holiday period by the girls engaged as porters. "Although this was the first time the girls have had to cope with a Christinas rush, they did a wonderful job," one official said, "and appreciation of their efforts has been expressed by many members of the public. Twenty girls are employed as porters at the Dunedin Station, and during the holidays they have had the assistance of 12 boys from secondary schools whose work has also given rise to favourable comment. Large Sum of Money Found The guard in charge of one of the railcars running on the West Coast was recently astonished to find, wedged in one of the seats, a large sum of money, reported to have run into three figures. Railway officials were even more 1 astonished when no one reported | having lost the roll of notes. From some particulars obtained, however, officers were able to trace the owner, who had apparently given the money up for lost. Judged by the position in which the money was found, it had evidently been wedged deeper into the edge of the seat over a period of possibly three days. Tank Battalion Magazine The First Army Tank Battalion is responsible for air outstandingly good military publication, called "The Black Beret,” to mark the first anniversary of its establishment. Profusely illustrated, the pictures giving an excellent idea of the life and duties of the battalion in camp and on field training, the booklet also contains a vivaciously written history of the development of the unit. Some of the pictures of the battalion are most graphic in showing the conditions experienced in its first winter work. Striking the note for this particular collection is one entitled, "Anybody seen my tank?” It shows several Valentines buried to their turrets in snow. Jill of All Trades There are some interesting and unusual trades to be found in the British W.A.A.F. A list of them as seen in an official publication—there are 50 of them—would mystify the layman, for the Royal Air Force has a passion for Initial letters, and by such letters are the various trades listed in official publications. “D.C.0.” is a comparatively new trade. A “D.C.0.” Is a "dental clerk orderly,” and, as such, does the clerical work of the R.A.F. dentist. But, actually, the "D.C.0.” has advanced beyond the stage of book-keeping or standing by while the dental officer puts a patient through his paces. She is now able to undertake such a simple operation as scaling teeth. "Not Suitable for Broadcasting” Listeners to the news .service from the national stations at 1 o’clock recently heard what was obviously a lip in the announcer’s room and something which, in the language of the Parliamentary announcer, would be classed as “not suitable for broadcasting.” Reception of the news from London was poor, and for this reason part of the bulletin dealing with the assassination of Admiral Darlan was read by a New Zealand announcer before a recording of the news was played. Between the announcement and the playing of the recording a voice was heard to say, apparently referring to the assassin: “We’ll give him i putty medal, mounted in bronze.” Tribute to London Women “What these people can stand up to in the way of work is amazing,” writes a New Zealand airman in a letter from London. “I've seen women in the Midlands and the North paddling down the dull drab streets their hair full of bits and pieces thrown off from the machines, their whole bodies suggesting fatigue brought about by hours of toil in the factories and the mills, but their steps never falter; if they did some one would have to go short. Talk about heroines, there are millions of them right here in the heart of the country. They have made up their minds that they won't stand for this Hitler guy. That’s why that Hitler guy hasn't a chance. No power on earth can break the spirit of these women, and these women are the soul of the nation—“the decrepit British islands’ —so decrepit I’m afraid that the Germans will have to change their meaning of the word, because here it means strength, faith, determination and invincibility.” Maori Relics Found A number of Maori relics found in the Southland County and forwarded through the clerk of the County Council (Mr H. C. Gimblett) have been given to the Southland Museum. A particularly interesting specimen is a stone adze of a type common in the North Island, but very seldom encountered in the South Island. It was found at Myross Bush by Mr A. R. Dawson. Two stone chisels found at Forest Hill have been presented by Mr W. Norman. The other exhibit is a fern root beater found on a gravel beach in the Mataura river at Gorge Road. Another interesting exhibit is a sample of the first tobacco manufactured and sold in New Zealand. The tobacco is contained in a brightcoloured calico bag and is labelled “Gold Pouch Smoking Mixture,” and is probably two ounces in weight. It was first put on the market more than 20 years ago, but it did not enjoy very great popularity at the time and some years elapsed before New Zealandgrown tobacco began to enjoy the popularity it does at present. The sample was presented by Mr Frank McManus.