Lengthy Delay.

Manawatu Standard, Volume LX, Issue 161, 7 June 1940, Page 6

Lengthy Delay.

No express or passenger trains are likely to run on the line between Stratford and Taumarunui before the end of tlie winter. Snow At Raetihi. Itaetibi experienced its first fall of snow in 1940 on Wednesday morning, when residents awoke to find the "round dressed in a wlute blanket about an inch deep. Nearly four inches of snow fell at Horopito. Home Defence.

Called to their posts at 12.30 a.m. on the first day of the war, more than 150 men of the ’ Second Anti-Aircratt Group, New Zealand Artillery, are doing an important home defence job quietly and under service conditions far less amenable than those obtaining in the mobilisation camps. Prisoner On Altmarck.

One of the British seamen imprisoned oil the German ship Altmarck and daringly rescued by H.M.S. Cossack, off the coast of Norway, was 19-year-old Noel Beaven, of Wanganui. His ship was one of the Admiral Graf Spee’s first victims, and he was transferred to the prison ship only about a week before the German raider met her end off Montevideo. Postal Officers’ Loyalty. The fact that, \of 11',777 employees of the Post and Telegraph Department, 1035 had enlisted for war service was mentioned by Mr 11. Sheen, of ’Wellington, senior inspector of the department, whop speaking at the jubilee reunion of the Auckland section of the Post and Telegraph Employees’ Association. He said 332 of the 453 members attached to the Military I'orces were overseas, 126 were attached to the Air Force, 62 were on naval duty, and 50 were serving on home defence. —Press Association.

Social Security Benefits. An assurance that no reduction in the benefits under the Social Security Act would be made because of the war was given yesterday by the Minister of Social Security (Hon. W. E. Parry). “The Social Security legislation will he kept intact,” said Mr Parry. “I feel that the men who have gone overseas believe that the benefits which either their parents or dependants and others are receiving are part and parcel of the country’s security, and that any interference with the benefits would be unjustified.”

Bridge at Rangiotu. The construction of a new bridge over the Oroua River at Rangiotu was advocated by the ManawatuOroua River Board at its meeting yesterday. On the motion of Mr H. J. Lancaster, it was decided to ask the Main Highways Board to erect the bridge, plans for which have already been approved by the River Board, as soon as possible, as it would provide 75 per cent, more waterway in time of flood than the present structure. Mr Lancaster said that the present bridge acted as a dam in time of flood, and he referred to its bad condition. Spread of “Sixth Column.”

When an employee of a large Auckland commercial establishment a short time ago founded a 'movement that lie flamed the “Sixth’ Column” he had little idea that it would spread beyond his fellow workers. To-day, however, it is almost a recognised institution in Auckland, and a body of the same name has been formed in Australia and already claims a huge following. The Australian movement has achieved such proportions that an official warning has" been administered to it not to take the law into'its own hands in dealing with members of the “Fifth Column.” In Auckland a well-known public figure lias accepted the post of president, and lie made considerable reference to - the .movement and. *ts ideals at a recent meeting. .

Giant Potato. A Dakota potato/grown by Mr W. Gaby, of Geraldine, weighed 41b 9oz, which is believed to be a record. Shipping Hampered. Because of the Wairoa River changing its course vessels have not been able to enter for the past twelve months. Record Tasman Crossing. A record Tasman flight 1 of 7 hours 32 minutes was made yesterday by the flying-boat Awarua when travelling from Sydney to Auckland. Songbirds Disappear. Balclutha aviarists have suffered lately from the depredations of a thief, who operates at night after the household has gone to sleep. Several aviaries have been completely' robbed. The birds stolen comprise chiefly'- canaries and budgerigars. Maori Religions.

Of the European denominations, the Church of England possesses the largest following among the Maoris, nearly' 25,000 acknowledging this designation, according to an official survey.', There are 11,300 Roman Catholics, 5700 Methodists, 5250 Mormons, and 1100 Presbyterians. There are 586 adherents of the Hauliau religion and more than 5000 followers of the Ringatu creed. Filip To Recruiting

The latest recruiting figures for New Zealand, which are those for last week, show that 40,804 men have enlisted, of whom 22,918 have been posted to camp and 2971 await medical examination. Of those already medically examined, 27,916 . were classed fit, 5757 permanently unfit, and 1868 were in reserved occupations. Last week’s enlistments were the best since the initial call for men. , > Ancient Censorship.

Censorship is no new departure. Investigations in Italy have shown that it existed in the time of the Roman Emperors, Tiberius and Domitian, and the Emperor Augustus suspended publication of the “acta senatus” which recorded the proceedings of the Roman Senate. Excavations at Ostia Antica have recently resulted in the discovery of some fragments of the “acta diurna,” a chronicle published daily in Rome from 131 B.C. till the fall of the then Roman Empire, and which became the official gazette under Julius Caesar. Church Adherents.

A return compiled from the 1936 census, showing the religious adherences of the people of the Dominion, has been issued. Nearly 5 per cent, of the people—7l,3o2 in number —took advantage of the statutory right to decline to make a declaration. The return shows that 40 03 per cent, of the population (600,786) are adherents of the Church of England, 24.7 per cent. (367,855) belong to the Presbyterian Churches, 13.1 per cent. (195,216) are Roman Catholics, 8.1 per cent. (121,012) are Methodists, and 1.7 per cent. (24,703) are Baptists. Next on the list came Brethren, with 17,086 adherents.