NEWS OF THE DAY

Gisborne Herald, Volume LXXIV, Issue 22341, 28 May 1947, Page 4

NEWS OF THE DAY

New Surf Ski Arrives A double surf ski has been landed at * Gisborne and will be in use next season by members of the Wainui Surf Life-Saving Club. Club members have become proficient in the use of the single skis and the new ski will be a useful addition to the existing ski. plant of two new singles and one practice model. The double measures 16ft. by 3ft. 6in. and is the first of its type to be introduced into any of the East Coast dubs from Tauranga to Hawke’s Bay. National Savings All post offices in the Gisborne district, with the exception of Motu and Tokomaru Bay, were successful in gaining .their national savings quotas last week. The full year’s quota of investments has been gained by Te Araroa and Tikitiki, thus making four such successes in the Gisborne district since April 1. Last year the Tikitiki area did not gain its annual quota, but this year the quota has not only been, reached, but it is the first office in the Gisborne district to double. i.ts quota. The investments in the district last week totalled £4200. Scrutinising Signatures “When a bank cashier pays out a cheque which has been forged, who stands the loss?” asked -Mr. Justice Fleming of a witness during the hearing of a case in the Supreme Court in Christchurch. The witness answered that it depended on the circumstances, but usually the bank paid. Bank employees became so used to signatures that they could tell forgeries from genuine ones. Thev had certain warnings, such as hesitancy and the general appearance of the person signing, which put them on their guard. In replv to a question by His Honour, he said" that a forger usually drew a signature. Otago Centennial. The Otago centennial celebrations will begin in February next. Throughout the centennial months there will be displays, sports events and conferences. A procession, which is intended to reach the standard of a Nice or Los Angeles display, will depict the history of Otago. One hundred floats, 16 bands, and probably 1000 persons wilL take part. Special illuminations will be turned on in Dunedin the dav before the procession February 23. A pyrotechnic exhibition will be staged by the famous Crystal Palace firm that gave London its victory display. The chief feature of the proposed centennial musical year will be a seven-night Fencing Wire Shortage “Fencing wire is probably the biggest problem in the Rehabilitation Department is up against in settling returned servicemen on the land,’ said the Minister of Rehabilitation, Mr. Skinner, at Aranui. “Fencing materials are harder to obtain than during the war. Wire is made by the' Broken Hill Proprietary and similar big concerns in Australia and other parts of the world, which have not enough fencing wire for themselves. Neither Australia. Canada, nor any other country is going to export a commodity of which’ it is itself in need, so until the position improves, we shall just . have to go on picking up small lots of wire here and there.” Radio Teleplione Calls No congestion had been experienced on overseas radio telephone links and j all recent calls had been completed with little delay, it was stated by the chief postmaster. Mr. S. E. Oppenheim, in a letter received by the Auckland Chamber of Commerce council. At times, he said, atmospheric conditions interrupted radio communication, but the normal service was good, especially to Australia and America. The service to the United Kingdom was the least satisfactory, but the department was arranging the installation of new equipment, which it was hoped would be in operation in 1949. A member of the council said he agreed that the service to Australia and America was satisfactory, but that to the United Kingdom, whch was satisfactory before the war, had deteriorated. State Flats in Auckland. Finishing touches are being put to some of the 45 fiats in the Symonds street State block, Auckland. The first 15 to be occupied have not yet been allocated to tenants. Connection with the power supply is being made in. some of the flats. With this work done they will be handed .wer by the Housing Construction Department to the State Advances Corporation for letting. Attractively painted in shades of green, cream or peach, the fiats are notable for the amount of cupboard space they provide. Floors are being sanded and given a ■ permanent hard wax surface with special machines. Sealing wax is first worked into the floors with a light dye giving a little colour to the natural wood. A special wax is then spread over the floors, left for 12 hours, and then highly polished and hardened by the machine. The result is a fine, durable surface, which will not take any further stain or varnisn, season of nrand cmera.