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Evening Star, Issue 24293, 7 September 1942, Page 2

I am told that tho incendiary bombs used by the Japanese weigh about three pounds (writes our London correspondent). They are fitted with an instantaneous fuse, and burst on impact, scattering incendiary pellets up to at least 50 yards from the point of bursting. The pellets are made of rubber impregnated with phosphorus, and are a little over an inch in length and an inch in diameter. On igniting they give a flame from -tin to 6in high. Sand smothers tho pellets, but if water is used they have to bo collected, as they ignite again when dry. The Japanese arc assiduously but not very adroitly wooing the Australians by radio. A recent broadcast in English from Batavia began: “Ladies and gentlemen of Australia, tho most beloved people in the world arc at liberty to listen to our honest broadcasts and reflect on their own misgivings.” Again: “ Australia should realise that she is at last given tho opportunity to break off the bondage of British influence and reject interference from the U.S.A. Australia may now realise her legitimate claim to independent existence and prosperity only as a partner in the programme of co-prosperity in East Asia.” In a broadcast in German from Tokio the Japanese Premier, Tojn, stated that Japan’s attitude to Australia was “ not hostile in the true sense of the word.” Japanese operations against Australia ■ would depend to a largo extent on the Australian Government’s attitude. A further declaration from Tokio, however, was: “ Australia, despite her size, is a mere stray sheep.” Anyone who has met the Aussies will agree that they are pretty tough mutton.—London correspondent. Tho following men have loft to join Camp Details at a northern military camp:—W. R. Keelo, J, A. McKay. J. H. Rodgerson, C. H. Sandom, andl R. W. Stuart. Shelter trenches which have been built along the foreshore provided! children during the term holidays with a novel playground. The trenches were just the thing, from their point of view, in which to play soldiers—and they did. One result of a fortnight’s freedom in these trenches has been that a fair amount of damage has been caused. Tho sides have been partly, and in one or two instances, completely, broken down, and the trenches piled up with this wreckage. In the event of a sudden emergency quite a few of these trenches would not he of much use and no doubt the children’s enjoyment of the past fortnight will mean extra work for a few men who will be required to repair the damage. To-day was the last day of the primary school term holidays, the secondary schools having another week to go. Apart from a few cold days in the first week tho children have had one of the best spells of weather tho August holidays have ever provided, and they were able to take full advantage of being outdoors. An indication that the holidays have ended was apparent at the railway station this morning when both the north' and south' expresses were rushed by more passengers than for a long time. The majority of these were women and children who were returning to the more normal routine with obviously mixed feelings. Complete agreement has been reached in regard to the new Dominion Storemen and Packers’ award. This aw.ard, which will operate for 12 months from Friday, September 4. allows for an increaso*of 2s <3d a week for senior storemen and packers, and Is 6d for juniors. In stores where one storeman is employed and ho is solely responsible for all inward and outward goods : he shall bo paid not less than £5 10s a week, inclusive of cost of living bonuses. The award also provides for an animal holiday of seven working days in place of the present week.

On the strength of reports from Hitler’s musical spies, the Berlin I’hilharmonic Orchestra, the Gestapo ‘ Abfceilung Kunst ’ (Department of Art) arrested the well-known pianist Wilhelm Backhaus after his return from a concert in Budapest (reports ‘ Cavalcade 1 ). Remarks which he'made concerning Hitler and the Nazi regime to Hungarian friends were repeated after the musical spies had returned from their concerts in the Hungarian capital. To prevent a public scandal Goebbels intervened and Backhaus was released from the prison at tho Gestapo H.G. in the Prinz Albroch Strasse, Berlin. But ho is no longer invited to play before Goering’s guests at Karinhall Palace, as formerly. Famous conductors Furtwangler and Oswald Kabasta are among Hitler’s musical spies.

Described as ouo who had been a housekeeper to a man aud became his third wife six years before his death at the age of 65 years, a widow made application to the Supreme Court at Auckland for further provision from her husband’s estate than was allowed under his will. After having ascertained her circumstances both before and after the husband’s death, Mr Justice Fair refused the application, remarking that it would appear that the provision made ensured the applicant being in much tho same circumstances as before the husband’s death. The will, said His Honour, seemed to him to bo a fair and reasonable one that made adequate provision for the widow, and also discharged testator’s moral obligations to his family by an earlier marriage. It had also to ho considered that the applicant was not in tho position of one who had been a life-partner fo tho testator, and had helped over a long period of years to build up Ins estate.

One Government department that appears to bo keeping up well with its work in spite of all difficulties is the Income Tax Department, and taxpayers have begun to receive the annual reminder of its existence with the arrival of their assessments. These are heavier all round this year, for, although there has been no change in the basis of assessment since the previous year, the surcharge for the War Expenses Account, which is calculated after normal taxation has been assessed, has gone up from 15 per cent, to 33 1-3 per cent. Income which has been taxed at its source, and is therefore non-taxahle as far as the individual is concerned, is also used in a now way to raise the basis of assessment of other income. Good progress is being made with the drilling of the New Zealand Petroleum Company’s Devon well at New Plymouth, and the depth has been increased by 453 ft in the last fortnight, according to the company’s official report. The well is now G,o73ft deep, with the bottom in hard mudstone with streaks of grey sand. The rate of drillj ing has been about twice os fast as it was at the Midhirst well, whore more difficult formal ions were encountered..

An Army order ordains' that the ■wearing of the patch “ Now Zealand ” by soldiers is now confined to personnel who liavo been posted to and served with a unit of the N.Z.E.F. ,in the Middle East or the United Kingdom, and also to personnel of hospital ships, staffs on transports, and liaison staffs while actually engaged on such duties. They will cease to wear the patch immediately on transfer to other units or ditties in New Zealand. The patch will not be worn by members of the Pacific section of the N.Z.E.F.

“ Now that table potatoes have been liberated for seed purposes, there comes the question of how best to propagate so as to get the largest possible crop,” says a statement issued by Mr J. C. McDowall, Taranaki president of the Royal New Zealand Institute of Horticulture. For crops cultivated at military camps or by tbe home grower, the following method is recommended: — (1) Select sound seed. (2) Remove each eye with not more than one square inch of skin, about one-eighth inch thick, attached. (3) Place these eyes on damp river sand or very well washed sea sand in a shallow box. (4) Cover lightly with sand and stand in a warm, moist place. (5) After about a week when root development is plant out in a permanent position, with about three sets in each group. Normal cultivation then follows.” Mr McDowall emphasises that the above method is not suitable for large-scale production, but says that plants propagated in this way are more virile than those from sets with a large piece of potato attached. The potato from which all the eyes have been removed may, of course, he used for food. Kiwis have been observed in increasing numbers by the ranger of the Arthur’s Pass National Park, it was reported at the annual meeting of thepark board. Another rare bird which lias been seen is the beautiful little rock wren. As part of its campaign to protect the bird life in the park, the hoard asked the Internal Affairs Department to instruct its deer cullers not to take dogs into the park. The secretary (Mr R. H. Bell) reported that this request had been acceded to by the department. Replying to the Hon. Sir R. Heaton Rhodes, who asked if the deer and chamois menace was being kept in check, Mr Bell said it was a general complaint by shooters that they could not find any to shoot. The annual report stated that more than 600 deer and chamois had been destroyed by permit-holders, and rbont 200 opossums had been trapned on the West Coast side of the divide.

An Association message from Wellington says that as from the end of September no further half-yearly radio licenses will he issued, and a full year’s license only will be available. The reason is the shortage of staff. An automatic false alarm called the Central Fire Brigade to Messrs Thomsons’ factory in Crawford street at 3.18 p.m. yesterday. A gorse lire at Green Island caused the local brigade to turn out at 7.13 p.m. The South Dunedin machine attended to n chimney fire in Philips street at 7.49 p.m.