NEWS IN BRIEF

Dominion, Volume 36, Issue 22, 21 October 1942, Page 8

NEWS IN BRIEF

New Ration Books A total of 11.485 new ration books were issued in Wellington yesterday he second day on which they were available to the public. Of this .number, 0380 were •issued from the temporary office in The Dominion” building.

Student Christian Movement. Subject to the confirmation _ ot the Methodist conference to be held in Christchurch in February, the Kev. K - Thornley is to relinquish Ins duties as minister of the Mnranui Church to become chaplain of Victoria University College in the interest of the Student Christian Movement.

Rotary Patriotic Appeal. It was announced at yesterday s Wellington Rotary Club luncheon that the club’s patriotic appeal bad been closed with a total of £1174/8/-.. The president, Air J. P. Phillips, complimented his predecessor in office, Mr. A. Crammond, on the excellent work he had put into the effort, and which had helped so materially toward the success achieved.

Two-Tone .Motor Homs. The Wanganui E.P.S. Central Committee is to approach the National Service Department with a suggestion ‘that tin. use of two-tone warning devices be prohibited for all motor-vehicles other than fire engines. A report from the superintendent of the Wanganui lire Brigade stated that many motor-vehicles were tilted with such devices and as a consequence the fire-engines were not given the right of way.

Hotelkeepers’ Duties. A warning that the new regulation requiring licensees of hotels to keep a book recording the time and date ot sales of.liquor to lodgers after hours must be observed was given by Mr. Morlmg, S M., when dealing with two defendants in the Magistrates’ Court, Auckland, recently. The magistrate said that there must he no laxity in this regard, and any further breaches of the emergency regulation would be met with heavier penalties. One defendant was fined £1 and costs and the other £3 with costs.

Noise Barriers. To eliminate as much noise as possible from the southern half of tbe Wellington Town Hall building during the work of repairing and strengthening the big hall, it is intended to build temporary interior walls across the main corridor on both levels, immediately south of the main stairway. The'barrier, it is hoped, will absorb a good deal of the noise created by the pneumatic aids and the fall of masonry which is expected to accompany the exploratory work in both halls and the main stairway section of the structure.

Dog Gives Fire Alarm. Referring to a fire which had occurred at Wainiate recently, the chairman, Mr. G. Dash, informed the South Canterbury Power Board that the loud barking of a dog had aroused his master, with the result that an early call had been given to the fire brigade, which had extinguished the outbreak, and little' damage had occurred. Mr. Dash added that in recognition of the services rendered by the dog it should be permitted to roam the streets of AVaimatc without a leash and be perinited to ignore the by-law.

Labour Day Holiday. The observance of the Labour Day holiday on the West Coast by essential industries is stated to be causing a great deal of concern and uncertainty among both management and men, for so far no clear indication has been given as to whether these industries are entitled to close down for the day. When invited to give a ruling, the district manpower officer, Christchurch, Mr. Gl G. M. Mitchell, stated that a definite instruction had not been received and he had communicated with the Controller of Manpower, Wellington. New Aeroplane Detector. The ability of many dogs to identify their owners’ motor-cars by the sound of their engines when they are still a considerable distance away is common knowledge, but an instance of even keener intelligence on the part of a dog is related by Sapper Johnston, who is attached to a New Zealand engineering corps in the Middle East, in a letter to his parents in Portobello. Sapper Johnston states that this dog, a small terrier of no particular breed, can distinguish unerringly between the sound of an Axis aeroplane and a British machine. When an Axis aeroplane is approaching in the distance, Sapper Johnston writes, the terrier sets up a loud and excited barking, and it is then time to bolt, for cover, while if the machine is a British one. the dog is quite undisturbed and remains silent. Second-hand. Bricks.

In many eases where it is possible the old bricks from earthquake shattered Wellington premises have been cleaned up and used again in the re-build-ing. In some instances where specially strong cement mortar has been used the cleaning process is scarcely worth while because of the difficulty in separating I lie mortar from the bricks, but in other cases the bricks arc fairly easily cleaned and made usable. This has been the case in the Traffic Office, opposite the Town Hall, where the western wall, reduced to the level of the first floor, has been wholly rebuilt with old bricks. The whole of the exterior wall, on three sides of the building, is now being strengthened with a stout baud of reinforced concrete. It is expected that repairs to this building will be completed by the cud of the mouth.