NEWS OF THE DAY

Otago Daily Times, Issue 26620, 17 November 1947, Page 4

NEWS OF THE DAY

“Abide with Me ” On the occasion of the centenary of the hymn “Abide with Me,” one of the most popular in the English language, several churches in Dunedin commemorated the event yesterday by singing the lovable old favourite. At First Presbyterian Church, the hymn was sung at both services, the Rev. W. A. Stevely taking the song as the theme of his evening sermon. The hymn was also the topic for the weekly talk broadcast over the main national stations last night. Written by Henry Francis Lyte, vicar of the English parish of Brixham, shortly before his death at Nice, France, on November 20, 1847, “Abide With Me,” in onerform or another, is included in most Anglican, Roman Catholic and Nonconformist hymnals. Memorial Service

Maori and pakeha filled St. Mary of the Angels Church, Wellington, at a requiem mass on Saturday morning to commemorate the death in the war of Maori servicemen. The Prime Minister, Mr Fraser, and members of the diplomatic corps were present in the congregation.

Schoolboy Pilot A 17-year-old schoolboy, who thinks flying is safer than driving, has 44 hours’ solo in Tiger Moths, Moths Junior, and Rearwins to his credit. He is Geoff. Stewart Henderson, a boarder in Parnell House, King’s College, Auckland. He was awarded his A pilot’s licence op June 4, and this was endorsed a week later. Endorsement enables him to carry a passenger. Seventeen is the minimum age for qualification for a pilot’s licence Beer by the Pound

North Island visitors to a conference at Hanmer Springs were curious, though incredulous, when on their return journey they were told- by the bus driver that they were about to pass the only hotel in New Zealand which “ sold beer by the pound.” Their curiosity was satisfied as they passed the Woodend Hotel. “ There’s the pub,” said the driver, and, pointing to the other side of the road, he added, “There’s the pound.” The visitors admitted that, the laugh was “ on them ” when they saw the local impounding pen for stock. . „ Atomic Ties

Strikingly coloured American ties, the design of one of which resembled the “explosion of an atomic bomb,” two Texan flags, and a Texan sheriff’s silver badge of authority were presented in Wellington by Mr Taylor Cole, president of the Junior Chamber International, to several prominent members of the New Zealand Junior Chamber of Commerce. Two of the recipients were each appointed honorary members of the Texas Rangers and of the Midland Chamber of Commerce, Texas, and a third recipient was appointed a sheriff of Wellington of allTexas Rangers. Varied Diet

If negotiations opened by a Portuguese firm for the export to New Zealand of tinned food are successful, housewives in the Dominion should be able to provide some unusual dishes. The Canterbury Chamber of Commerce has received a trade inquiry from the firm, which wants to export to New Zealand, among other things, canned fruits and fish, salted fish and canned shellfish. The firm also wants to send cockles and mussels, accompanied by Spanish sauce or olive oil in the first instance, or tomato gravy in the second. One item included in the list of exportable goods is “squids with ink.” The remaining items on the list are many, and vary from anchovies in olive sauce to beauty preparations and marbles. The Price of Fat

The information supplied to the Daily Times and published in an article on Saturday that the New Zealand price for the highest quality of tallow was in the vicinity of £37 was denied by a local business man who is engaged in the preparation of edible fats. He said that there had been an overnight rise of £2O per ton in March last, and the price npw payable for .the highest grade of edible fat was £4o per ton. He pointed out that fats were largely used in the manufacture of foodstuffs, and he claimed that if the New Zealand price were' allowed to rise to a figure approaching the overseas value, which was over £IOO a ton, the price of edible fat would approach the price of butter, and the cost of living would go up accordingly. Regulations Observed

When speechmaking had finished at the opening of the Port Nicholson Yacht Club’s season, a sturdy craft, Safety First, hove in sight of the boai, harbour, flying the pennant “ Conforming to Regulations,” between her masts. Every inch of her decks was packed high with dinghies, rubber boats, lifebelts, lifejackets, cork bells and ladders. Overhead the rigging was festooned with kapok lifebelts. As the craft berthed &' loud-speaker proclaimed that regulations were about to be issued by the Marine Department for the safety of small craft venturing into Cook Strait. It was thought that the Safety First, new y arrived 1 from Picton, would comply with at least 20 per cent. It was also announced that the skipper had not been able to secure all the emergency rockets required. Up till 1 p.m. he had procured only 250.