Thefts From Shop.

Manawatu Standard, Volume LX, Issue 255, 25 September 1940, Page 6

Thefts From Shop.

Nearly £7O worth of moving picture cameras, a projector,, and films, hare been stolon> fi'om shop premises in Hastings. Mr Churchill’s Leadership.

“There is no question about the solidity of the people of Britain under Mr Churchill’s leadership; in fact, as a leader, he has ’stolen the show’ irom Hitler already,” said Dr E. B. Gunson iii’ an interview on his return to Auckland after more than a year in London. Final On Home Ground.

The parlance of the football field was. used in a letter from England to a relative in New Zealand, describing the military situation. The letter is from a Lancashire woman, and it runs on: “The French have defaulted and we are now in ;tho final—and it is being played on our own ground. Wo have never been beaten on the home ground; England is winning. Cheerio.” Turned to Good Account.

How a small boy in an English school turned to good account a piece of fabric from a wrecked German aeroplane is related in a letter received by an Auckland resident. The fabric was sent to the boy as a raid souvenior from Ins parents. Back came a letter of thanks and a statement that the sum of about four shillings had been raised by letting schoolmates spit on it at one penny a time. Life in Nazi Prison.

First official “casualty” of the war and a prisoner in Germany since the initial Royal Air Force raid on Kiel, Flying-Officer L. H. Edwards, formerly of Patea, is now learning to play the saxophone and speak French while interned in a castle in enemy territory, according to letter received by a friend at Hokitika. “Life in the castle,” he continues, “is much the same except that, now summer is here, w.e get plenty of outdoor exercise and sunbathing.” Meeting Housing Needs. “The State should taper off its house-building activities, particularly for houses at the present rentals, and consider the provision of much cheaper and smaller houses designed to meet the needs of that section of the community in poorer circumstances,” said Mr G. J. Leech, president of the Canterbury-Westland branch of the Real Estate Institute of New Zealand, at the annual meeting. Those people, said Mr Leech, the aged and infirm, disabled and otherwise, unable- to compete in the ranks of wageearners were the ones who needed help with housing.

Molotoff Breadbaskets. Recent cables have made reference to the use of Molotoff breadbaskets by the Nazis, in the Battle of Britain. This type of bomb Avas Russia’s contribution to modern ’warfare. They adopted tactics of plastering extensive areas in Finland, so thickly that, although no objective was actually aimed at, work and movement in areas surrounding important objectives w r as made impossible. The Molotoff breadbasket consists of a cylinder 7ft 6in long’and 3ft in diameter, which collapses in the air and pours out over a wide area up .to 100 incendiary bombs. Women’s Auxiliary Uniforms.

“Will there be uniforms?” was a question asked of Mrs H. Atmore, Dominion •! organiser, at a meeting held to elect a committee for the Women’s War Service Auxiliary in Palmerston North last evening. Mrs Atmore explained that a small badge, which could he bought cheaply, had been designed, and all members of the organisation could wear it. The Wellington committee was designing a uniform, which it was felt the Minister for National Service would approve, for girls who would participate in various branches, such as transport. Those belonging to these special branches would wear the uniforms.

Progress of Turakina Deviation. Two bridges, two station buildings, and the laying of the permanent way remain to be finished heforo the Tura-kina-Okoia railway deviation is ready for use. Work on the bridges is in hand and fairly well forward, but much has to bo done to the stations. The Spirit of London. An encouraging cablegram has been received by the representatives in Christchurch of a London commercial firm.- “Notwithstanding the annoyance of enemy bombings, London' business proceeding almost normally,” states the message. “Advise customers fully able deliver all orders.” This firm has its headquarters close to St. Paul’s Cathedral.

Imperial Goering. Tire correspondent of the London Times on the German frontier writes: As an outward mark of his newly created rank of Marshal of the Reich Goering will have on his marshal’s baton, at the upper end, a golden Reichsapfel, or orb, the former symbol ot majesty in the First Reich, so that it will look rather like a sceptre. The two crossed batons on Goering’s golden epaulettes will also carry the orb. Local Body Elections. In l’eply to an inquiry by the Minister of Internal Affairs as to its views on the question of holding the local body elections next year the Palmerston North City Cpuncil has decided that if the Government is satisfied that the patriotic and other war organisations built round the local bodies, and the New Zealand war effort generally, would not suffer by holding the elections, then they should not be postponed. News From Berlin.

Some. surprise may have been felt by the public at the appearance in the cable news of items emanating from Berlin, Rome or other centres in enemy and enemy-occupied countries and attributed to correspondents of British news agencies. It does not follow that British correspondents' are ab'e in war time to remain in enemy territory and send news to their headquarters; but some of the leading British agencies- have connections with United States agencies which enable them to continue to obtain news from enemy countries. Berlin Amuses London.

“This morning we have had some more choice items of news, with observation based on the Berlin telescope 600 miles away,” said a 8.8. C. commentator recently. “The latest broadcast, as reported from the United States,” he added, “declares that numerous pedlars are selling cocaine all through the West End to people whose nerves have been shattered by the German air raids. It is also stated that a large shipment of cocaine, disguised as wheat, arrived in a recent convoy. If 'you could see -London today you Avon Id be as amused as avc arc at these reports.” Motorist v. Bomber.

The Nairobi correspondent of the Loudon Times reoords an extraordinary nglit between an Italian bomber and a solitary British military motorist on a road in the northern frontier district. The motorist, Avho before the war Avas a Avell-known hunter, saAv the bomber approaching and 60on realised that it intended attacking him. The aircraft dropped one bomb, upon Avhich the motorist sought cover in 6ome bushes. The air attack continued Avith bombs and. machine-gunning, Avhile the motorist sniped at the aircraft Avhencver it came Avithin range. He saAv the machine-gunner standing in the cockpit and thinks that he disabled him, because after the sixth bomb the aircraft gave up the fight and flew away. The motorist, unhurt, resumed his journey by car.

Demands on Town Clerk's Time. At the public meeting held last evening to make arrangements\ for the production of “The Messiah” as a Centennial obseiwance feature, it Avas moved by Mr J. H. ltunniclcs that Mr J. R. Hardie, the town clerk, be appointed secretary to the committee in charge of the production. Mr Hardie pointed out that he had the secretarial Avork of the Zone D Patriotic Com mittee, Army, Navy and Air Force Club, British Children Committee, Home Guard Committee, and Reclamation of Waste Materials Committee to carry out. He therefore regretted his inability to undertake the position. Mr Hardie suggested that there must be someone attached to one of the city churches who could undertake the Avork. Mr A. Charles Avas subsequently appointed secretary and Mr Hardie appointed to the position of treasurer.

Guy Fawkes Celebrations. An appeal has been made the pupils of the Dominion Road School (Auckland) by the headmaster (Mr H. M. McCoAvan) that instead of buying fireworks for the celebration of Guy FaAvkes Day this year the money so collected should he donated to help in Avinning the Avar. The appeal refers to the danger to the Union Jack, the brave men Avho haA-e left NeAv Zealand to fight, the men in the fighter planes, and those in the Army and Navy, all sharing in the protection of peaceful home.s. The Empire requires money to replace planes lost and maintain damaged ones; it is wanted to repair the damage done and to succour the thousands avlio are in need and suffering through the cruelty of an unscrupulous foe. The appeal states: “I know that every boy and girl in this school Avould like to help to Avin the Avar. You can. Go and collect your money for Guy Fawkes Day, but this year hand over all of your collections to the school’s patriotic fund. Every boy and girl will bo supplied Avith a tin in which to put' the collections and on Tuesday. November 5, at 9 o’clock, these collections will bo deposited at the foot of the flag as you march into school.”