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Evening Star, Issue 24333, 23 October 1942, Page 2

Referring to the Government's decision to allow a Christmas remittance of £7 10s to he sent to men overseas in addition to the £3O a year allowed, the secretary of the Treasury (Mr B. C. Ashwin) said that the money could be sent through the normal remitting channels, but the, bank lodgment slips must bo marked “Christmas remittance.” Such remittances must he lodged by November 24.

An amendment to the Licensing Act Emergency Regulations was gazetted to-night,- making provision for licenses to continue in force in cases where the licensee might ho unable to observe his obligations as the result of the Government’s taking over portion of his establishment or through some agency beyond his control. For instance, he may bo unable to provide meals or accommodation owing to the occupancy of part of his premises for war purposes. The amendment also extends the powers in the principal regulations to cover cases where the occupancy is for any Government purpose, such as mental hospital purposes consequent on an earthquake rendering a hospital uninhabitable.

At last night's meeting of the Otago Harbour Board it was decided to invest £10,709 in the second Liberty Loan.

On more than one occasion this week there were threats of rain, but these failed to come to anything,' leading to a cynical belief that “something is biding stored up for the holiday week-end.” Last night, when conditions looked very threatening, it seemed as if the break was to come before the holiday, but once again, so far as the city was concerned, the threat was abortive. However, heavy rain set in in the Oamani and North Otago districts last night, and was continuing this morning. It had then crept further south, some rain falling the other side of Mount Cargill, with an occasional skiff in the city, increasing at noon to soaking rain. While holiday-makers will not relish rain this week-end, there is lio doubt that it is a necessity in the North Otago farming areas, where extremely dry conditions have prevailed tor many months. Tire effects of the rain of a few weeks ago have now been dispelled, and the response on the part of pastures and crops was not as great as had been anticipated, particularly inland. Labour week-end very rarely puts up a completely fine record, and at noon to-day the outlook for the week-end could not be thought a very bright one, especially as the glass was maintaining a level at which anything might happen.

The local Churchill auction—the first of three to be held in the Dominion—was concluded in the Otago Art Society’s rooms yesterday afternoon. The good, .standard" of prices which was being realised in the morning was maintained in the afternoon, and in most instances the donors of the - many and varied articles fonvarded should be pleased with the reaction of buyers. The two tlavs’ sale realised the sum of slightly more than £SOO, which will he paid into the Otago Provincial Patriotic Council’s funds. The effort must be considered a 'very successful one from all angles.

The Railway Department advertises in this i:sue particulars of time-table alterations ’to through express and night express trains, also 9.0 a.nv. Dunedin-Oamam and Catiins River branch trains as from Tuesday, October 27. 1942. Particulars of special train arre.'-gements in connection with the Gore races to-morrow are aiso given.