Wireless Listeners.

Manawatu Standard, Volume LX, Issue 140, 14 May 1940, Page 6

Wireless Listeners.

Figures released by the PostmasterGeneral show that the number of radio licenses has grown during the last five years from 152,808 to 345, 1 10. Copper Trail’s Yield. To assist the patriotic funds a copper trail competition has been instituted at Paraparaumu township and the beach. So far that at the beach end has returned more than £l9 and that at the township £6 11s. It is hoped the complete trail will yield £440. Aeroplane Passenger Fares. Referring to the fares for aeroplane travel across America, in the course of an address to the Palmerston North Rotary Club yesterday, Mr H. Williams,* of Feild.ng, said that they were cheap, only 105 dollars (about £25) being charged for the 3000-inile trip. The journey was completed in less than 23 hours. Delegates Recalled. The New Zealand Government has received advice from Geneva that, in view of the international situation, it has been decided to postpone the International- Labour Conference till later in the year. The date will be announced by the League of Nations. The New Zealand delegates, who are well on their way to Europe, are. being recalled.—Press Association. Marist Brothers’ Plight. No doubt tlie three schools of the Marist Brothers in Denmark, and the 15 teachers, will now come under the same “protection” as the Marist schools in Germany, states Zealandia, the Catholic newspaper. Before the Nazi attack on the- Church the brothers were nearlv' 300 strong in Germany, conducting 15 schools, with an enrolment of 12,000 pupils: - The Hitler regime closed all the schools and drove the brothers from tlieir, homes. Why Fire Engine Stopped. Producing a parcel during a meeting of the Patea Borough Council, Mr L. Austin (town clerk), declared: “This is the reason why the Patea fire engine has been giving trouble.” This parcel consisted of a quantity of sugar and a small bottle, the size of a flavouring essence bottle, which, it was stated, had been; extracted from the petrol tank, of the fire engine when it was being brought back from Hawcra after undergoing repairs' and having parts renewed. The articles were found by the mechanic who effected the repairs. Giant Emblem Preserved, Steps have been taken in Great Britain to protect the famous kiwi emblem, a huge landmark cut out of the chalk at Bui ford bv the New Zealand Forces who occupied Sling Camp during the Great War. A souvenir maga zine produced by the New Zealand Anti-Tank Battery now in training in England states that the emblem has been camouflaged, but is still being carefully weeded and preserved and will reappear' unspoiled when peace comes. Tlie body of the bird covers one and a quarter acres, the height is 4201 t and the length of the bill 150 it.

Keen To Enlist. < Keenness to enlist was .exemplified at Christchurch recently when a 36-year-old boy had his registration accepted. A protest was subsequently made and this lad will; liave to wait a lew years before he will be allowed to join up again. Proposed Taupo Railway.' Efforts are being made to arrange a visit to the ltotofua. district by the Minister of Public Works (Hon. R. Semple). It is hoped that Mr Semple will attend a meeting at Reporoa in connection with the proposal to revive the plans of the Taupo railway. Samoan House Bought. The Samoan fale, or native house, in the Government Court of the Centennial Exhibition lias been purchased by Mr H. J. Kelliher, of Auckland. It is understood that he intends to re-erect it oil the island of Puketutu, in the Mamikau Harbour, which lie bought recently. Stationery Shortage. Stationery of all kinds is reported to be in such short supply at Papakura Military Camp that officers who are ex. pecting drafts of men to enter camp this week have been reduced to canvassing business bouses and their friends in the city seeking even plain paper and envelopes. Deviation Road Criticised.

The state of the road being used as a deviation during the construction of the Longburn railway ramp was strongly criticised at a meeting of the Kairanga County Council to-day, when ik was decided to request those in charge of the road to make an immediate improvement. .' Career Over Bank.

Watching the car they had got out of to repair a puncture fall over a 300 ft banK was the experience of two Hastings men. They had the car jacked up, but let it down again witli the idea of moving it a little in the hope of loosening two nuts which gave trouble. Once they started to move the vehicle on the steep gradient it gained momentum, and the men were unable to stop it. Protected Birds Shot.

Five young men were charged at the Opotiki Police Court with shooting and being in possession of native pigeons. Numerous pigeons and tuis were exhibited in the Court and were said to be the result of a shooting expedition in the Waioeka hills. Mr E. L. \Valton, S.M., pointed out the seriousness of the offences, which, lie stated, must he stopped. Each of the accused was fined £5, with costs, 165.. Five single-barrel shotguns and a quantity of ammunition secured by the police were ordered to he confiscated. i Inspection of Stopbanks.

Having inspected the stopbanks of the Manawatu and Oroua Rivers, the Manawatu-Oroua River Board’s engineer (Mr H. R. Farquliar) stated today that the recent flood in the rivers had done no serious damage. What little damage had resulted was only in the lower reaches of the Manawatu and Oroua Rivers. The Oroua River’s banks seemed to have suffered more than the banks of the Manawatu. Large parts of . the banks of the Oroua slipped into the river during .the big flood in August of last year and consequently several portions of the stopbanking in the lower regions of the river slipped again during the flood of last week.

Historic Flags. The flags carried by small companies in New Zealand during the Maori Wars were of great importance to the people who made and used them in the early days of the Dominion’s history. Two such flags have recently come to the Alexander Museum; at Wanganui.'; The first was sent from Dargaville by Mr It. Gibson. It is a small hand-made flag of green silk embroidered and fringed with gold. It did not have very long service (186370), but it was the proud possession of the Aramoho (Wanganui) Light Horse. The other flag was also connected with Aramoho, and is a big red, white and blue one which was flown after the Battle of Moutoa, in 1864, by Mr John Walker, a farmer at Upper Aramoho.