Delivery Held Up

Bay of Plenty Beacon, Volume 10, Issue 69, 6 January 1947, Page 8

Delivery Held Up

A man in England has just had a large packing case, with Chinese writing on it, delivered to his house. Inside was an exquisite hand-paint-ed teaset and an order given for it in China by his great-grandfather 100 years ago. An apologetic note enclosed said: “Due to regrettable occurrence of series of great battles involving warlike activity, delivery of china paid for by your highminded ancestor is slightly delayed.” ‘

Music In Factories

“From the age of swing music, we seem to have passed into the jive era,” states the Department of Labour and National Service, Sydney. “Hot music slows up production, and the position has been noted that ‘swing the lead’ goes hand it! hand with ‘swinging the tune.’ The ‘music while you work’ idea has not been the success it was hoped it would be, and the heads of the department are obtaining a report compiled by the Industrial Psychology Division on music in factories in New Zealand.”

An Old Parrot The age of the Mexican parrot which died recently in Auckland after becoming famous in the district for its talking, singing and general entertaining has been fixed by its owner at 65 years. The parrot was responsible for raising a large amount of money for patriotic purposes in two world wars, and was particularly popular at the naval base for its rendering of “The Merry Widow.” A deputation of Devonpprt children who knew the parrot as “Jimmy,” called on the owner, Mrs Lees, recently, to express their sympathy.

Edible After 22 Years

After standing on a shelf in an ornamental glass jar for 22 years, some English sweets of a type once well known in New Zealand, are still in excellent condition. Mr W. J. Mitchell, Christchurch, who opened the jar after buying the sweets in 1924, sent some of the contents back to the English manufacturers as proof of how they had withstood the passing of the years. The firm in reply says it believes some of the sweets are probably the last of their kind anywhere in the world. They contained Brazil nuts, which have not been imported for years.

Emergency Petrol Depots Some doubts as to what constituted an emergency under the Motor Spirits Retail Hours Regulations was expressed by members of the council of the Automobile Association (Canterbury). Petrol can be obtained after hours from approved depots only in case of emergency, and it was decided, in an attempt to clarify the situation, that a deputation, on which the Canterbury branch of the New Zealand Motor Traders’ Association should be invited to be represented, should wait on the Labour Department so that some definition of an emergency could be given.

Widow’s Wish Women in a higher age group than has previously been the case are now writing from England to the Mayor of Auckland, Mr Allum, requesting his help in their search for husbands. Latest is a 43-year-old “widow of many years” living in Surrey. She mentions that she is “very jolly-natured,” fond of good music, does not smoke or drink spirits and has never been inside a bar in her life. She knows all about farm work and would not mind meeting some nice New Zealand farmer. “I have a feeling in my heart you are going to help me, so please don’t disappoint me,” she says.