ITEMS OF INTEREST

Hauraki Plains Gazette, Volume 53, Issue 32412, 27 March 1944, Page 3

ITEMS OF INTEREST

I I Family Living In Garage | The seriousness of the housing position in Nelson was emphasised by the Mayor. Mr E. K. Neale, at a meeting of the City Council. He supported his , complaint by the following instances: A family with four small children liv-ing-in one room, and now-given notice to vacate; a family living in a garage; a family still living in an old house, the roof of which was blown off in the recent gale. “The position is just as desperate here as anywhere,” said the Mayor. I Old Coin In Change • An unusual coin, an 1526 one-shill- j ing piece—was recently passed as , change to a Rangiora resident. One face bears the head of George 11, showing a left-side profile and the inscription “Georgius II del gratia 1826.” The reverse has a crowned lion surmounting a large central crown. Below this is a rose, thistle and shamrock emblem. The surrounding inscription reads. “Britanniarum rex fidei defensor.” The impressions are clear and the milling on the coin is still sharp. Sports Instruction by Film That all sports bodies should go ahead with the preparation of material to be used in sports instructional films when film was obtainable after the war was urged by Mr H. W. Rogers at the meeting of the Canterbury Council of Amateur Sport recently. Air Rogers instanced the film produced by the Canterbury Hockey Association in co-operation with the Education Department as an example of what could be accomplished in this direction. The film had been in circulation only two years, but last year the number of teams in secondaiy schools had increased from six to 48 and in primary schools from 10 to 46.Shortage Of Sports Gear Perturbed at the present shortage of gear for winter games, the Canterbury Council of Amateur Sport is urging the Government, through the National Council of Sport, to see that sufficient equipment is made available to keep winter games going. Mr A. T. Bell said he had been surprised to learn that boys’ football boots were not obtainable and that no more were being made. Mr Bell said it was wrong that children should be forced to play football in ordinary boots, the toe and heel plates of which could cause serious injury. Muttonbird Season The prospects of a good season for muttonbirds are reported to be excellent. Mr A. Leader, a well-known “birder,” visited one of the islands in the yacht Southern Lights recently and, saw evidence of what should result in a splendid season for the muttonbirders. In his opinion the season promised to be one of the best on record “In view of the meat rationing this news should he welcome to everybody,” said Mr Leader. The season for catching opens on April 1, and the parties of birders will probably leave for the islands about the middle of this month.

Aeroplanes Take Yeast A practical example of wartime cooperation applied to civilian use was given last week when Wairoa was completely isolated by both road and rail from Napier and Gisborne, says a Press Association message. Word was received early in the afternoon by the Rationing Controller that Wairoa was out of yeast for breadmaking-, and unless supplies could be got through no bread would be baked. Immediate contact was made with the Air Department, which co-operated in arranging air transport. As there is no landing ground at Wairoa the yeast had to be packed in special containers which could be dropped from the air. The yeast was made up into three packages and delivered at the airport for immediate despatch from Auckland. Within an hour of the receipt of the original message the yeast was on its way to Wairoa by plane.