NEWS IN BRIEF

Dominion, Volume 37, Issue 198, 19 May 1944, Page 6

NEWS IN BRIEF

Poor Shooting

Shooting in the AVellington Acclimatization Society’s district at the opening of the season has been poor, according to reports recicved from th? society’s rangers. The reason, it was suggested, .was the calm and comparatively clear weather, and in the case of the Manawatu district, the drying up of lagoons in the ducks feeding areas. Thousands of ducks had found refuge in the centre of the Wairarapa Lake, it was reported.

Busy Month for Free Ambulance. In April the AVellington Free'Ambulance had 1758 calls to duty. Of these, only 177 were casualties, the rest being transport of medical and surgical cases to or from the hospital. The amoulanecs travelled a total of 12,283 miles during the month.

Free Ambulance Staff. Sir Charles Norwood (president). Mr. W. 11. Price (deputy chairman), and Mr. J. \\’. Jack (treasurer) have been appointed a committee to report on certain matters concerning the Free Ambulance bearer staff, brought before the board at yesterday’s monthly meeting.

Auckland Girls In Borstal. “It's a pity they eau’t keep them at Mount Eden,” said Mr. Stout, S.M., in the Magistrates’ Court, Wellington, yesterday, when sentencing an Auckland waitress, Shirjey Robertson, aged 23, to six months’ hard labour for escaping from the Point Baisweil Borstal Institution, cumulative with the sentence she is already serving. Accused had escaped once' before and the magistrate commented that the Auckland inmates seemed difficult to control.

Sporting Man Injured. Lucky to escape with no more than muscular strain to his back. SergeantMajor Alfred Jenkins, well-known in Wellington sporting circles, was taken to a military hospital yesterday morning after bis motor-cycle had been involved in a collision on the Western Hutt road. He was thrown against a pile of timber beside the road. Sergeant-Major Jenkins, whose sporting interests lie more specially in gymnastics, wrestling, boxing and baseball. is a prominent member of the present Army Soccer team in Wellington. American Magazines. Large numbers of four different American magazines are now on sale. These formed part of a shipment of many thousands sent to New Zealand by the United States Government to provide, reading matter for the American forces. As the number sent was far in excess of the needs of the American forces most of the magazines were made available to bookshops throughout New Zealand f or sale at prices fixed by the United States authorities. State Flats.

The first section of the new block of State flats on the McLean Estate, The Terrace. AVellington. is expected to be occupied next month. Meantime workmen are busy converting the lower of the two old wooden buildings on the property, recently used as a hostel for AV.A.A.F.’s and W.A.A.C.’s, into two flats for large families. These flats also will be ready for occupation next month. They will exist only till the construction of the second and larger section of the main block is proceeded with. It is not at present known when this will he. Import of Materials. Duck and denim materials and nan tronsering are no longer being procured by the Ministry of Supply. The Canterbury Chamber of Commerce has been advised by the Commissioner of Supply. Mr. F. R. Picot, that applications for licences to import these materials from Britain will now be considered from regular importers. Orders for denims and nap trousering can be placed direct with' the suppliers provided that they are sponsored by the Ministry of Supply. Drill material will still be procured by the Ministry of Supply. First Aid Kit. At the meeting of the Wellington Free Ambulance Board a new and muchimproved first-aid kit for the ambulance van, planned by the superintendent, Mr. R. Olen, was submitted to the board and earned their approval. At yesterday’s meeting a letter was received from the AVellington company which had made the new kit, stating that they were very pleased to donate the sample kit free of charge, as some small return for the valuable service the Free Ambulance was rendering to the community. They, did not do so with any idea of commercial gain, as their machinery did not lend itself to the manufacture of such kits. The president, Sir Charles Norwood, said that the gift showed that the service was being regarded by business and tradespeople as it should be. News of Alan Loveday. AVriting from London to his brother in AVellington, Mr. Leslie Loveday, formerly of Palmerston North, and father of Alan Loveday, the talented boy violinist, says that Alan spends three days each week at the Royal College of Music studying harmony, composition and pianoforte, as well as his violin practice, He recently played the Els« r concerto at a private concert in London, and wa§ thought highly of at the college. He was working very hard and improving all. the time. Ida Handel was the star violin soloist in London at the present time, but Albert Sammons (Alan’s teacher) said there was no one tb compare with Alan coming on to take the place of the older players. Mr. Loveday also mentions that Colin Horsley, the brilliant AVanganui pianist, was doing well and was broadcasting a good deal.

Resuscitators. At the monthly meeting ot the AVellmgton Free Ambulance Board yesterday morning it was conceded by all present that resuscitation plants should be added to the equipment of each van, so that when the occasion demanded it, and the staff was trained in their use, carbon dioxide _ might be administered as a means of saving life. It was reported by the superintendent, Mr. Olen, that a certain type of plant bad been brought before the superintendent for adoption. It would have cost about £lOO, and the president had offered to pay for it if it were approved. The superintendent reported that he had tested the outfit, and could not recommend it to the board. There was another plant much less costly and more efficient, which We thought might serve the purpose. The matter was left to the superintendent. Mr. M. Marks referred to the fine generosity of the president in offering to pay for the equipment.