NEWS IN BRIEF

Dominion, Volume 36, Issue 25, 24 October 1942, Page 8

NEWS IN BRIEF

Labour Day Travel

Travel by both bus and .private car will be restricted on Labour Day. No Wellington City Council bus services will be operated, according to advice from the traffic manager, Mr. A. Dowding. By a decision of the Wellington branch of the New Zealand Retail Motor Trade Association all Wellington petrol stations will close at or before noon.

Tram Stop Altered. Trams for Karori on and after next Tuesday will stop in Bowen Street opposite the War Memorial and not in Lambton Quay as at present.

Sunday Band Performances. The Ist Battalion Pipe Baud will give a performance at the Botanical Gardens and the Band of the Ist Battalion, Wellington Regiment (C.W.0.), will play at Oriental Bay tomorrow at 3 p.m. Fatal Accident.

C. W. Hobbs, a nightwatchman, of 25 Tennyson Street. Petone, aged 70, suffered head and facial injuries when he was struck by a taxicab iu'Waterloo Quay, Wellington, about 11.15 p.m. on Thursday, and was run over by another taxi while lying on the road. He died while being taken to hospital by the Free Ambulance. Derelict Cars.

No regulations have been gazetted yet in connexion with the problem of derelict motor-cars, which block some streets night and day. The Minister of Transport promised prompt action over six weeks ago. Since then the Commissioner of Transport has communicated with the town, clerk of Wellington in connexion with the regulations, so it is expected that these may be brought down at any time.

Defect in Day’s Bay Road. During the last southerly storm the waves, at high water, reached almost up to the road line at Day's Bay. At one part, not far from a point opposite the entrance to Wellesley College, the side of the road which slopes down to the beach was washed away, leaving a gap of about six or eight feet, close to the bitumen pavement. This has been guarded by a barrier of oil-drums for some time, but the risk of an accident; to motor-cars remains.

Military- Defaulters. For failing to report for military duty, George Johu Cleary, labourer, was sentenced to two mouths’ imprisonment by Mr, Stilwell, S.M., iii the Magistrates’ Court, Wellington, yesterday. Edward Hutchinson Hargreaves, for the same breach, was sentenced to 14 days’ imprisonment. Reginald Thomas Clarke, journalist, who stated he was now prepared to serve, was remanded for a week and handed over to military control. For changing his name, Keith Clifton Holyoake was fined £2 and costs 10/-.

Women’s Auxiliary Air Force. Regulations similar to those gazetted last week constituting W.A.A.C.’s as part of the Army have been issued in connexion with the Women's Auxiliary Air Force. They actually constitute the W.A.A.F., and declare it to be part of the R.N.Z.A.F. The new regulations, which are entitled the Women’s Auxiliary Air Force Emergency Regulations, 1942, make necessary provision for such part of the Air Force law as is deemed' appropriate 'to apply to the women’s organization. There is also a proviso for granting commissions in the W.A.A.F.

Japanese “Enterprise.” A Te Awamutu business man last week received a wrapper off some canned goods, bearing the trade name of a battle famous in English history, and on it were the words “An Empire Product, specially packed for New Zealand.” In the corner of the wrapper, in minute letters, was: “Printed in Japan—litho, by - Printing Company, Tokio.” No doubt it was prepared before the entry of Japan, into the war. The recipient considers it another indication of Japanese imitativeness and trade “enterprise.” Tawa for Furniture.

Considerable interest in the use of tawa and other native hardwoods to replace Japanese oak and Australian hardwoods has developed, states the annual report of the State Forest Service. Tawa is being increasingly used for finishing, interior fitments and furniture. The'results of kiln-drying one-inch and twoinch stock, green from the saw, are reported to have been excellent. Treatment with pentachlorphenol in petroleum has proved a perfect protection against borer, and the tawa shows a most attractive grain.

Baptist Jubilee Offering. . At the Baptist Assembly in Christchurch it was decided to celebrate the diamond jubilee of the New Zealand Baptist Union by taking a thanksgiving offering during 1943. The amount aimed at will be at least £lO,OOO, the offering to be taken in conjunction With the normal self-denial appeal. The allocation of the offering will be as follows: —Indian Foreign Mission, £3000; Baptist Union fund, £1500; youth work, £1000; manse fund, £1500; reduction of church debts, £1500; church extension building fund, £l5OO.

Outstanding Boy Chess Player.' An outstanding boy chess player has appeared in Christchurch competitions this season. He is Mervyn Stewart, aged 14 years. The annual report of the Canterbury Chess Club pays tribute to his ability, stating that “he made phenomenal progress by advancing from class 9 to class 3 since February this year.” The report continues: “Stewart's play.is still showing rapid improvement, and in spite of his youth (or perhaps because of, it) he is likely to be one of the leading players in the coming season.” Besides being awarded the trophy for the most improved player, Stewart won the Hart Memorial tournament played over tne season, winning the monthly aggregate five times.

Neuro-Surgeon for Dunedin. Major Murray A. Falconer has been appointed neuro-surgeon to the Dunedin Hospital, states a Press 'Association message. He is at present specialist to the St. Hugh's Military Hospital. Educated at the Otago Boys’ High School and Otago University, he went to England in 1934. He was a surgical research scholar at the Mayo Clinic, U.S.A., being nominated by the British Medical Research Council. He was the first student to be nominated by the New Zealand University for a Nuffield Fellowship'at Oxford, where he specialized for three_jears in neuro-surgery. He is a son of Dr. R. A. Falconer, formerly medical superintendent of the Dunedin Hospital. A Governinent grant enabled the appointment to be made, and Major Falconer s services will be available to other centres. Message from General Smuts. Appreciation by General Smuts of his election as an honorary member ot the Royal Society of 'New Zealand is conveyed in a letter from his private secretary to the Royal Society. Hie Royal Society of New, Zealand has such a distinguished scientific record, and many of its members are and have been outstanding ornaments of science. The General remembers specially his dear old friends Richard Maclauriu and Lord Rutherford,” said the letter. "The association of South Africans and New Zealand tt'oops as comrades on many a batt.etielu in this war adds to the General’s pleasure in this welcome honour, which .he assumes must be largely inspired by a desire to emphasize this comradeship in arms of our two countries, a comradeship which is surely making its notable contribution to that final Victory to which we are all ardently looking.” University Control. Important proposals relating to university control came before a meeting of the Otago University Council this week, and after discussion further consideration ■o o' enable them to tie circulated among: members. The district court of convocation submitted a scheme for the improvement of the constitution of the council. Under this scheme it is proposed that the cojiueil should consist of 18 members appointed as follows: Two by the Governor-General, one by the Director of Education, two or three by the Professorial Board, six by the convocation. one by the city council, one by the teaching staff other than the Professorial Board, one by the High Schools’ Board, one by the students and two to be co-opted. The proposals, in effect, would mean the elimination of representatives from the Otago Hospital Board, one each from the Otago and Southland education boards, one each from the primary and secondary school teachers and from school committees.