NEWS OF THE DAY

Auckland Star, Volume LXXIII, Issue 122, 26 May 1942, Page 4

NEWS OF THE DAY

Fish Supply Still Short The great shortage of fish through , bad weather and other causes appears to be general throughout the Dominion. In an endeavour to keep up the supply, several varieties not generally known to the public are Being offered. It is stated that there are a number of species of good food value which could be more widely availed of. Discovery of War tie used to have a departmental manager's plate on his door. He had lots of friends. Now he is doing something for the war effort, a useful something, driving cars and trucks. Occasionally he puts on overalls, when the load is dirty. He doesn't mind. What does upset him Is the foolish pride of some of his "friends." Coming across him in overalls they don't see him —at least, not to nod to. "It took the war and my overalls to find those fellows out," says Bill. Bequest to Navy League Mr. R. Darroch, secretary of the Wellington branch of the Navy League, has acknowledged receipt of a legacy of £25 bequeathed to the WelUngton branch under the will of the late Mrs. John Ballance, of Wnnganul, widow of the Hon. John Ballance, Prime Minister of New Zealand 40 odd years agp. Mrs. Ballanco was an original member of the Navy League and an annual subscriber up to her death some seven years ago, and took a very great interest in the educational work of the league. Growing Vegetables The Auckland Hospital Board has received a letter from the DirectorGeneral of Health, Dr. M. H. Watt, recommending all public institutions Immediately to make the necessary arrangements to ensure that they are self-supporting in vegetables, particularly in regard to potatoes and root crops. Mr. G. T. Parvln, one of the members of the board, in conjunction with the board's head gardener, has been making Investigations, and has prepared a report for consideration. Soldiers Keen to Learn Esperanto An appreciation of the practical uses ot Esperanto was becoming apparent among members of the forces, said Mr. V. J. Leek, president of the Wellington Esperanto Society, a visitor at the last meeting of the Karorl Esperanto Society. During the week, ne said, two soldiers and an airman had asked If It could be arranged to have them taught Esperanto while in camp. Fortunately the society had expert* enced members in practically every camp In New Zealand, and It was suggested that an effort should b<? made by these members to arrange B for those interested.

New Hospital Block Satisfactory progress continues to be made with the erection of the new hospital block at the Infirmary grounds at Epsom, although It will be some time before it will be ready for occupation. Nearly a hundred men are employed on the work. New Flags for New Plymouth Russia's flag, a yellow hammer and sickle on a red ground, was flown for the first time at New Plymouth when it was displayed with other Allied bunting at the civic reception to the Prime Minister. In the evening it was one of the flags behind the platform at the Trades Hall during addresses to war workers by Mr. Fraser and LleutenantGeneral E. Puttlck. On that occasion, too, the Chinese Republic emblem made its first appearance in the town—a white star on blue, in the left-hand top corner of a red flag. Cottons and Cannons In a recent address in Auckland, Archbishop Averill referred to churchmen who had been created canons of St. George's Church, In Jerusalem. During the Great War the Turkish soldiers in that neighbourhood heard rumours of these canons, and, suspecting sabotage, commenced to ransack the church and grounds, looking for what they thought were the cannons of St. George's. Needless to say, their search for either type was rather fruitless, as the majority of the venerable gentlemen who bear the title are in other places throughout the world. South Westland Storm A storm which swept South Westland this week is stated to have been the most serious for many years, with heavy flood damage to roads and property, states a Greymouth correspondent. At the Mahltahi River crossing to the Bruce Bay settlement, some 200 ft of the dual road and tramway bridge serving the milling operations and the community has been carried out to sea as the result of a cloudburst in the Bannockbrae Hills. The power station serving the Bruce Bay sawmill and the residents was covered by a large slip almost to the roof of the power house. All electricity is cut on and the mill is idle. A ferry is being established at the crossing. Because of the impossibility of replacement of the electric plant, which is eni tirely out of sight under the slip, a steam plant is likely to be substituted. The mill has been cutting a ■ big output of about 150,000 super- , ficial feet a month, principally white i pine. There were further slips on . the Greymouth-Westport coastal road • at Twelve Mile, ana the road was ' covered with boulders and debris. 1 Another slip occurred at Sandy » Creek, about half a mile on the ! Greymouth side of Twelve Mile, but ♦.he road was cleared. ••». *