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Evening Star, Issue 23696, 2 October 1940, Page 6

It happened at a certain camp near Auckland during the week (says the Auckland ‘ Star ’). The battery sergeant stood in front of the battery and asked if tiicrc were any leather workers in the company. The battery sergeant explained that he just wanted someone to do a bit of leather repair work, and still there was no answer. “ Now, come on,” he said. “ 1 know that at least there is one man in the company who put himself down as a leather worker. Which is he?” And then from the ranks a voice said: “ Please, sir, the leather worker has gone to another camp to be a cook!”

“ The Alaori never had any idea of distances from the pakeha viewpoint,” said Air T. Newton, Native interpreter, giving evidence in the Auckland Supreme Court, states the ‘ New Zealand Herald.’ “He never had a set idea of miles or chains or anything like that. He remembered his distances solely by the natural features.” in answer to Air Justice Fair, witness said the Alaori*did not use any measure of distance like a stone’s throw or a spear’s throw, but they would sometimes speak of the two arms outstretched to represent about 6ft. The Alaori never had any idea of an acre, he added.

“ Well, you can loss it overboard now. You won’t need it any more,” was the reply given to a three-year-old boy who told a man at the steamer express gangway that he had his gas mask (says the Christchurch. ‘ Press ’). This was the son of Air G. Maxwell Keys, who has just returned from England. Air Keys said that his son had the gas mask container, and thought the gas mask was in it. Proudly lie told the man at the gangway, when leaving Wellington last Wednesday evening, that he had his gas mask. “ I saw that the men there were moved when they realised that here was a little boy of three having to carry that thing,” said Air Keys.

Some suggestions to people in this country who have undertaken to receive British children into their homes were given in an address by Dr C. E. Beeby, Director of Education. The main points made by Dr Beeby wore that the children should be treated as members of the family and bo allowed to slip as quietly as possible into the family circle. Dr Beeby emphasised that nothing should be done that will tend to spoil them and lead later to unfortunate reactions, and that they should not be allowed to become the centre of interest to friends and neighbours who might want to hear from them a recital of their experiences. At the same time, he did not suggest repression; his suggestion was that the children should be allowed to talk or be silent on the subject as they wished without any prompting at all. He advised also the keeping alive in the children of the faith that some day they will be going bad* home. The speaker’s general advice was to treat the children with understanding and tolerance, and to provide for them the calm background pjf a normal, happy family life. After a preliminary test flight, the Honolulu Clipper made a short observation flight over Auckland early this afternoon with representatives of the various Government Departments, local bodies, and commercial firms. It is expected the Clipper will leave for America to-morrow.—Press Association.

There were no cases for hearing in the Police Court to-day. ■

When the news came through the cables that a bomb bad fallen on the London offices of the New Zealand Fruit Marketing Board members of the Dunedin Orphans’ Club wore concerned regarding the safety of Mr H. Turner, who js in charge of the operations there and is an ex-presidont of the club. When it was ascertained that lie and the staff bad escaped injury the secretary (Mr R. C. T. Evans) cabled Mr Turner: “ Congratulations as a bombdodger from Orphans.” The reply came back; “ Sincere thanks for cable. Midst the battle of London I send greetings to brother Orphans and wishes for successful closing night. Our chins are still up despite the foul deeds of the enemy. Ake, ake, Ida kaha. Harry Turner.” These messages were read by the president (Bro. Arthur MacDonald) at the meeting of the club last night and were warmly applauded.

The Prime Minister has advised the churches of the Dominion that where clergymen, men in Holy Orders, or regular ministers of any denomination, including Marist or Christian Brothers, home missionaries, or religious teachers. are called in a ballot the heads of their respective churches may lodge appeals certifying that the calling up of such men is contrary to public interest. Where theological students and students of the Marist Brothers’ training schools have been accepted by their churches for religious training prior to the outbreak of the war and are still continuing their religious studies, the heads of their respective churches may lodge appeals certifying that the calling up of these students for service is contrary to the public interest, Ap-, peals on conscientious grounds will be dealt witli On the merits of each individual case.

Severe rain squalls swept Auckland from the north yesterday, being accompanied at times by heavy rolls of thunder and flashing lightning. A house at Kohimarama was struck by lightning shortly before noon and a chimney was sent crashing to the ground. One of the brick pieces hit a tradesman, cutting his head. Telephone installations and many radio sets in this and the Remuera district were affected, and in numerous instances houses lost the use of their electric power. Building figures for September show a substantial decline over those for the same month last year. However, an increase of £5,000 is shown over the month of August last. Considering the times, they may be regarded ns quite satisfactory. Seventy-five permits were granted in September, and the value was £40,5-19, compared with 59 permits to the value of £35,530 in Angus!, and SI permits to the value of £51.589 in .September of 19.39. The total value of permits granted in the six months ended on September 30 was £189,722, compared with £310,549 for the same period last year.

The mayor (Mr A. H. Allen) has received from Chaplain Leslie C. Groves, who is attached to the 11th New Zealand Forestry Company, “ somewhere in Britain,” a letter of thanks for the gifts of comforts and goods which have been forwarded by the Otago Provincial Patriotic Council. All the goods arrived in excellent condition, wrote Chaplain Groves, and the troops of the company, who shared in the general distribution of the gifts, were very appreciative. As proof of the British manufacturer’s keeness to do business in spite of the war conditions which prevail, a ‘ Star ’ reporter was this morning shown a cable advising a local firm that a shipnievit of goods which had been lost when a certain vessel had been sunk was being replaced, and this within BO days of the sinking of the original consignment. The Railwav Department advertises in llii' issue particulars of ihe aliened ninmim of the goods train service on ihe Roxburgii branch on and after Monday, October 7.”