NEWS OF THE DAY

Auckland Star, Volume LXXIII, Issue 117, 20 May 1942, Page 6

NEWS OF THE DAY

Sailors and Coins

A group of American sailors were discussing the values of their newlyacquired New Zealand coins, the designs of which were proving very puzzling to them. Suddenly one of them brandished a florin. "Say, look at this, buddies," he exclaimed. "I've got a chicken on mine." A Volcanic Bomb A Hemuera resident, when digging in his garden, seemingly free of stone, was surprised to come upon a heavy piece of rock. He thought from its peculiar appearance that he had unearthed a meteorite, and, under this impression and despite its weight, brought it to the Star office for further investigation. From the description given of the rock, Mr. A. W. B. Powell, acting-director of the Auckland Museum, identified It as a volcanic bomb. It is formed by lava solidifying in the air after being ejected from a volcano. The number of volcanic cones around Auckland show that at some early time there were volcanic upheavals on an extraordinary scale, and s'ome of the volcanic bombs would be hurled great distances.

No More 1 l-pint Bottles The Christchurch City Council has decided that, chiefly on account of the difficulties of staffing and the shortage of certain essential materials brought about by the war, the IJpint milk bottle shall be withdrawn from circulation. The chairman of the Milk Committee. Mr. Len McKenzie, stated that the management of the milk department had instituted Inquiries of its customers who Use the 11 -pint size, and the response to the request for their co-operation had been very commendable. It was stated that sales of milk in lj-pint bottles represented a very small proportion or the total bottle milk sales, but that the time involved in handling and checking was considerable, and a big saving could be expected as a result of the deletion of this size. One and a half pint tokens may be redeemed through the roundsmen, and no difficulty is expected in this connection. Makes You Laugh Wellington is not the only place where funny things happen during an K.P.S. air raid alarm practice. Dur ing a recent alarm in one of the Auckland marine suburbs some stretcher bearers, early at the station, put out the Red Cross flag as a sign that the .station was open and ready. One of the lady nurses arriving, promptly brought the flag in. So, for several times, the battle for the flag went on—in and out, until the lady explained that to fly their flag you required the permission of the Geneva Red Cross, which was then too late to obtain. This was a prelude, for a message then came in that a patient with a fracture lay at No. —, — Street. The stretcher-

bearers went out at the double to the number given and spotted their patient, an elderly old gentleman, kneeling down at the edge of the lawn. Without further ado they bundled the old gentleman on to the stretcher, popped on a splint, and within a few minutes were making for the aid post, taking the protestations and struggles of the gentleman to be due to the discomfort of the splint and the unequal heights of the stretcher-bearers carrying him. It was riot until he was safely "landed in the dressing station and had fought his way out of the splint that he was able to get a hearing and explain that he was a conscientious objector and would have no part in any war activity. The heads then discovered they had taken the wrong man, and the real patient was waiting all this time and voicing his opinion at the lack of organisation in pot getting him the dressing station sooner.

Women Taxi-drivers

A request has been received bv 1 committee of the Dunedin City Council from two taxi companies for permission to employ women drivers on alternate day and night shifts. The chief traffic inspector reported that the employment of women on day shift had been an unqualified success. They kept their vehicles clean and tidy were courteous 'to the public, and compiled with the rules of the road. In view of the difficulty in obtaining male labour, the committee approved of the employment of women on day and night shifts on the following conditions:—Women on night shift to be given selected work only; transport to be provided to their homes after work; the permission granted to be a special war measure and during the pleasure of the council. No Metropolitan Show From reasons connected with the war, there will be no Metropolitan Show in Christchurch this year. This was announced at a meeting of the Canterbury Agricultural and Pastoral Association by the secretary, M. E. Lyons. The meeting having reluctantly decided to abandon the show, various alternative suggestions, which included the holding of a show in other districts, were raised by members, but because of the difficulties of transport, accommodation and other problems, no action was taken to pursue them. It was agreed to hold the fat cattle and pig show in August. In reply to» a letter from the Royal Agricultural Society asking the opinion of the meeting on the question of a conference of Agricultural and Pastoral Associations this year, it was decided to recommend that no conference be held.

Wellington Tram Innovation A report on the effects of the removal of some seats from a number of Wellington tramcars in an effort to cope with the overcrowding problem was given to the Wellington City Council by the manager of the tramways department. Mr. L. B. Hutton. Fifty cars had been so dealt with, the greater number being combination cars, with an open section between the two closed compartments, he said. In these cars three seats were removed, thus providing standing room for 12 people. Only two letters, both of them aousive and anonymous, had been received by the department about the removal of the seats. The department had had scouts out feeling the pulse of the public. Though some people were Inclined to be facetious about the lack of seats, most agreed that they would rather stand than have to wait for a tram. It had also been found that men as a rule preferred to stand in the open section rather than sit in the closed compartments. Immobilising Cars

"Although army headquarters and the Transport Department must, or ought to, have at their disposal the records of what was done elsewhere in immobilising motor vehicles against enemy use, no lead has yet come to assist the motoring public," states the New Zealand Motor World. "Surely someone in authority somewhere has been seized with the importance of avoiding further delay, or indeed ; possible last-minute chaos. Automobile have been discussing alternative methods— some simple, some complicated and impracticable—and the expedients outlined have no doubt reached official quarters. Surely it is not necessary for a deputation to have to wait on someone or other to draw attention to such a vital wartime contingency. It is clear that the motoring public should receive definite and immediate guidance, and to that desirable end the motor unions have been asked to abroach arm.v headquarters."