Ice-Cream Navy.

Manawatu Standard, Volume LX, Issue 242, 10 September 1940, Page 6

Ice-Cream Navy.

A motto lias been suggested for the Italian Navy. It is: “Stop me and sink one,” says “Peterborough” in the London Daily Telegraph. Masses of Freesias. Wide borders of freesias in two flower beds in the Square make a particularly fine exhibition at the present time, the blooms being at their best. In the evening, especially, the scent of the flowers Is most attractive. Preservation of Bush. A request that steps be taken to preserve an area of bush in the Akatarawas, part of which is at present being felled, is to he made to the Minister of Lands and Commissioner of State Forests by the Wellington Beautifying Society and other interests. Economic Survey. 'The general working committee appointed by the J.conomic Stabilisation Conference will resume its meetings tomorrow. The committee met on Thursday and Friday of last week, when it received statements and obtained information from departmental officials. South Island Main Trunk. Among work on which the pace had been slackened owing to the war was the South Island Main Trunk line, said the Minister of Public Works (Hon. 11. Semple; when opening the new traffic bridge between Tua Marina and Spring Creek. The line, however, would be finished and operating early in 1942. Good Honey Season.

In common with other forms of life, the bee colonies are favourably influenced by the mild conditions, and are already busy with raising 'new broods as well as storing honey, writes the “Manawatn Standard’s” Rongotea correspondent. There has been an abundance of nectar from flowers, with little necessity to resort to artificial feeding. There are prospects for a splendid honey season. Family’s War Service. Six of the sons of Mr and Mrs E. Thompson, of Maeroa, Hamilton, are serving with the Forces. One, Richard, is with the First Echelon in Egypt, two, Walter and Albert, are with the Second Echelon in England, and a fourth, James, is a member of a railway unit with the Third Echelon. The fifth, Frederick, has joined the Fourth Reinforcements, and the sixth, Bushy, is in camp with the 7tli Medium Battery at Claudelands. Anzacs of the Air.

The bravery of Now Zealand airmen and tho courageous part they were playing in the Royal Air Force was emphasised in an address by the Minister, of Defence (Hon. F Jones). Already, lie said, 29 decorations had been awarded New Zealanders lor deeds accomplished in the air. The Distinguished Flying Cross, one witli a bar, bad been received by 22 New Zealanders, three had received the Distinguished Flying Medal, three the Air Force Cross, and one the Croix de Guerre. The Minister said that there were now about 1000 young men from this country serving with the Royal Air Force, and it could be depended upon that there would he many more brave deeds by the Anzacs of the Air.

Nearly Swallowed a Pearl. While eating oysters in a restaurant in Pahiatua recently, a customer was amazed to discover that lie had nearly swallowed a perfectly formed pearl. Pea Seed For Britain.

Field and garden peas for the production of seed are to, be grown this season on 500 acres of the Hcretaunga Plains and the crop will be exported to Britain.

Road. In view of its strategic importance, the question of putting the NapierTaihapo road into order as a wartime measure is to be taken up by the Hawke’s Bay County Council with the New Zealand War Council. Railway Mishap. The Limited express arrived in Palmerston North over an 'hour late last night because of a dislocation of schedules caused by a slight mishap to an engine which was out of service and was being towed by a goods train, in the vicinity of Waikanae. Chinese Boxers.

Two Chinese boys appeared in the ring at the first annual boxing tournament, last evening, of the Marist Brothers’ High School, the tournament being staged in the Opera House. Both showed plenty of dash in their exhibitions and gave good accounts of themselves.

Cost of Aeroplanes. In view of Empire contributions to funds for the purchase of planes, the periodical the Aeroplane gives the following list of costs in pounds sterling: Spitfire, £6000:; Hurricane, £4500; Blenheim bomber, £17,000; Wellington bomber, £25 000; and Sunderland flying-boat, £50,000. Memorial Avenue.

Inquiries are to be made by the Wellington Beautifying Society as to whether a section of the new coastal road from Plimmerton to Paekakariki can be set aside as a memorial avenue for planting in trees. The chairman (Captain S. Holm) commended the idea, and said there should be some avenue where people could plant trees as living memorials.

Teaching Appointments. The Wanganui Education Board announces tile following additional teaching appointments at the Palmerston North Intermediate School : Woodwork and metalwork instructors, Mr C. C. Brain (Christchurch) and Mr C. B. Dredge (Palmerston North Technical College); domestic science instructresses. Miss C. It. Montgomerie, B.HSc. (Napier Normal Training School) and Miss D. J. Anderson (Palmerston North Manual Training Centre). President and Ambassador. An Englishman who has recently returned from Washington tells of a conversation between Lord Lothian and President Itoosevelt on the day the Belgian Army surrendered'. Said Lord Lothian to Mr Roosevelt, “It looks pretty bad here in Washington, doesn’t it?” The President agreed. “Almost as bad,” continued Lord Lothian, “as it did on the day of Bull Run.” “No,” corrected the President, “almost as bad as it did when the British burned the White House.” Concern Over Petrol Restrictions.

The following resolution was passed unanimously at the annual meeting yesterday, of the Manawatu Petrol Resellers’ Association: That this association views with grave concern what appears to it to be a lack of appreciation by the Government of the real position of petrol in the economic life of the Dominion, a lack of any clearly defined constructive policy to assure availability of supplies in essential quantities, and a lack of candour in the Government’s statements regarding the restrictions. Nazi Propaganda. “New York, Boston, and central cities of the United States are in a state of ‘jitters’ as a result of the flood of German propaganda that is reaching America,” said Mr Edgar Anderson, of Brantley, Sussex, who arrived at Auckland to spend six or eight months in New Zealand. German propaganda, aimed at keeping America in a state of nerves and out of the war, was pouring into the United States. Many people believed it, and it was spread by paid agents among tlie 2.000,000 or 3.000,000 Germans included in the population of the country.