NEWS IN BRIEF

Dominion, Volume 37, Issue 237, 4 July 1944, Page 6

NEWS IN BRIEF

Scarlet Fever Ninety cases of scarlet fever were notified in the Canterbury health district last week, ns against 74 in the previous week. Tile district medical officer of health, Dr. J. 11. Blacklock. said it was not proposed to.close the schools. There was nothing to indicate that the disease was being spread through the schools. —I’.A. A Polish Anniversary. Tomorrow will he the first anniversary of the death of General Sikorski, the notable Polisii soldier and statesman. In memory of him the Polish Hag will be flown at. half-mast over the offices of the Polish Consul-General in Wellington. Decorated By Sweden. The King of Sweden has conferred the honour of Chevalier of the Order of Vasa First Class on Mr. Wililam Machin, Vice-Consul for Sweden,, Christchurch, ami Mr. Joint Sutherland Ross, ViceConsul for Sweden, Dunedin.

Swans’ Eggs for Pulping. The Waimate Acclimatization Society decided at a recent meeting to make application to tlie Department of Internal Affairs for permission to collect swans' eggs for (milling, and to suggest that thousands of the eggs of the small gull could be collected at small expense.

Second Bat- to D.S.C. The Acting-Prime Minister has been advised by the Admiralty that Ihe King lias approved the award of a second Bar to the Distinguished Service Cross held by temporary Lieutenant George •lames Macdonald, R.N.Z.N.V.R., who is in command of a motor-torpedo boat flotilla. Fatal Crossing Smash.

.Struck by a train at Lindisfarne railway crossing yesterday morning, Mr. William Scully, an employee of the reserves department of the Invercargill City Council. was killed instantly. He was driving a tractor with a plough attached. He was 4(5 years <}f age and married, with a wife and two children. —P.A.

Man Knocked Down By Lorry. When he was knocked down by a lorry at the corner of Buick and Jackson Streets, Petonc, at (i o’clock last evening, Frederick Waderhuld, tallyman, 7 Queen Street. Petone, received severe head injuries. He was taken to the Wellington Public Hospital where his condition last night was reported as serious.

Supply of Petrol. Lil tie petrol has been required by Wellington motorists so far this mouth, and there has been small difficulty in meeting the new requirements regarding the’endorsement of coupons. The difficulty of supply to those who want their petrol in tins has yet to be met, specially to those whose car tanks have run dry before reaching a petrol station. Fire in Cinderella Club. Five which had apparently been caused by a cigarette smouldering on a cushion, broke out on the first tioor of the Westport Coal Company's building, occupied by tile Cinderella Club, in Lower Taranniki Street, shortly after 5.30 a.m. yesterday. Five machines from the Central Station at'ended, but the lire was soon under control. Damage was confined to a cushion, two forms, and one wall. Tennis Ball Supply. The New Zealand Council of Sport has received advice that (5000 dozen synthetic tennis balls are being imported from Canada and sufficient rubber is being re.leased for the manufacture in New Zealand of another 5000 dozen. There is every possibility of nearly twice the number of balls being available during the coming season titan was the case last year.

Butterfly Collection. Classification and arrangement, of more than 10,000 moths and butterflies in the Canterbury Museum was completed during the year, reported the acting-director. Mr. R. S. Duff, in his annual statement presented to the Canterbury College Council. The collection xvtts described as probably the most representative in New Zealand, lacking only 1300 described species. Seventeen of the specimens were unique. Dehydrated Vegetables. Dehydration of vegetables for shipment to the Pacific has begun at. the Internal Marketing Division’s factory at Riccarton. Many lons of dehydrated vegetables, it is expected, will be ready for shipment in the next: few months when the factory reaches full-scale production. The Riccarton factory is the first vegetable dehydration plant set up in the South Island, though there are two similar factories in the North Island. Americanisms. Even the natives of the Solomons bad borrowed the American “yeah” and "OKay,” said Pastor Wilbur Clark, a missionary ou furlough from the Solomon Islands, at the Christian Businessmen's Association luncheon yesterday in Wellington. And whereas a certain description of Samson would have been given in tlie usual pidgin English, the speaker said much surprise was caused when a native teacher referred to him as “this guy Samson!’’

Launch Wreckage. The engine and part of the hull of the Tort Chalmers, fishing launch Hope, wrecked off the mouth of Lake Ellesmere on June 9. was found ou the beach at Bii-dling’s Flat on Sunday. Employees of the Wairewa County Council engaged in lowering the level of the lake dragged the wreckage up beyond high-water mark with the aid of horses. The engine is in fairly good condition, but the propeller has been torn off the shaft, which is beut almost iu the shape of a barpin.—l’.A.

Uniforms for Merchant Seamen. At a recent meeting of the Overseas Seamen’s Gift Commitj.ee in Wellington, Mrs. M. 11. Chatfield spoke of tlie desirability of the provision of uniforms for merchant seamen. She said it would give them self-respect and better recognition, quoting letters from Mr. I*. Noel Baker, Lord Leathers, Lord Chatfield, Admiral Dunbar-Nasmith, Lord Bledisloe, ami tlie New Zealand High Commissioner's Office, which conveyed a considerable amount of approval of the idea. Clergy in Philippines. News has been received that four Mill Hill Fathers —Fathers J. Jackson, J. Timmons, S. Deegan, ami J. McCann—are interned in tlie University of St. Thomas, wliere there are.about 4000 internees. There are some fifty Mill Hill Fathers altogether in the I'hillipines. and it is believed that others arc witli those rcjiorted to be confined to the UniverI sity. Of the fifty some belong to neutral countries and are allowed their liberty, up to a point. Amazed the Americans. Speaking nt lite Christian Businessmen’s Association htneheon in the E.S.U. rooms. Wellington, yesterday, Pastor Wilbur Clark mentioned a church of 1000 people which extended a. welcome to representatives of Hie American forces in the Solomons. A group of natives tiled in front of the audience and sang "The Star-Spangled Banner”—sang it in beau-tifnlly-blendcd parts, "and." the speaker added, “did more Hum tlie Americans conld do themselves—-they sang all threc verses from memory I"

Unpolished Soles. Because of continued decrease in the number of skilled operatives in the footwear industry arrangements have been made, as from July ,1. for the soles of fill footwear other than women’s to he finished without, polisii. On women's wear one-colour finish will lie allowed. The remainder will lie left in their natural state. Tlie industry has been asked also lo avoid, wherever possible, the coving of heels with leather or fabric, using lacquer instead. It is staled that immediately tlie manpower position justifies it, the usual standards will be resumed.

Angling- Vixlcr Fire. An incident: of the Italian campaign lias been rehited in a letter. "In occasional pools in the Volturuo River there is a kind of mountain trout,” be writesi ‘’They are about six inches long and as skinny ns Italians. On the hank were some ‘pukka’ Englishmen, complete with rods, baskets, gall’s and knee-high waders. We were asked to stand back from the edge and not to make a noise. They were casting with flies, but Italian fish apparently want something more substantial. .lust as we were going away a crowd of Maoris eamo Io the other side. • alinly si ripped off. threw a couple of hand grmoides into the pool and divetl in to I'olleei five little fish. They were dressed ami away down the river before the anglers recovered frbm (heir cou-sp-rnat.icm.’’