NEWS OF THE DAY

Otago Daily Times, Issue 26628, 26 November 1947, Page 4

NEWS OF THE DAY

Maternity Services Emergency Representatives of the National Council of Women and of the Mothers’ Clubs of the Plunket Society met yes terday to discuss arrangements for the public meeting to be called by the Mayor, Mr Cameron, on Monday, to consider the local position in regard to maternity services. “After examining the questions to be discussed at the meeting,” said a statement issued afterwards by the representatives, “we are more than ever convinced that this is an emergency regarding which all Dunedin women should be concerned, and about which they should be fully informed.”

Appearance of Wasps Wasps have been noticed in some Hamilton gardens during the past fortnight and the weather has been ideal for them. The wasps that have already made their appearance this season are mainly queen wasps on the look-out for suitable places to establish nests. The numbers are expected to increase appreciably by the end of next month. Chapter of Accidents To miss an early launch bound for an island in the gulf, to lose a pound note, and finally to fall overboard from a launch, which she caught later in the day. was the experience of an Auckland waitress one day recently. When the young woman fell from the launch a naval officer dived to her assistance, and supported her until both, were rescued. Theft of Flowers An unusual way of impressing upon two young persons, a man and a woman, that the flowers in the Palmerston North esplanade were not to be picked was adopted by Mr A. A. McLachlan, S.M.. in the Police Court at Palmerston North, when the couple were charged with stealing flowers from the reserve. He ordered that they hand over to the police 10s each, the' money to be sent to the Horticultural Society. Gulls at Lauder

A large and increasing colony of black-billed gulls (Larus bulleri) has been nesting each year along the shingle banks of the Manuhenkia River near Lauder. A correspondent says that the nests are made of twigs and two or three eggs have been laid in each; This is the usual practice also with white-fronted tern, which spend most, if not all. of their lives inland, following the plough and living on offal. Black and red-billed gulls are commonly seen in Dunedin, but the latter nest along the coast. Insurance Liabilities

Referring to the increasing number of motor accident claims which were being handled by insurance companies. Mr G. R. Ritchie, chairman of directors of the National Insurance Com pany. said at the annual meeting o. shareholders yesterday that so far the efforts of the authorities to control the careless and reckless motorist had met with little success. There had alsc been noticeable during the past two years a serious increase in the number of large -fires, and while a definite cause could not be assigned for this, it was a possible indication that the favourable fire loss cycle of the last few years was coming to an end. Centennial Ball

Preliminary arrangements are now being made for a centennial fancy dress ball to be held in the Main Town Hall on April 16. Members of or-, ganisations in the city are being invited to take part. Dressed in period costumes and arranged in. tableaux, they will portray events of historical interest. It is some years since r fancy dress ball was held in Dunedin and the event will no doubt attract wide support. Costumes, colour, mask? and pageantry should make the ball an outstanding event in the long list of centennial festivities that are being held for the entertainment of city residents and visitors.

Sheep for Nelson , After discharging cement at Castlecliff this week, the Anchor Company’s coastal motor-ship Alexander will load 1000 wethers for Nelson. It will be the first ( occasion on which she has loaded sheep at Wanganui for many years. Before the war. however, the Alexander made many trips to Wanganui with sheep from Pelorous and Queen Charlotte Sounds. During the summer months she sometimes made several passages in succession and occupied slightly more than 24 hours for the round trip. The Alexander is well known on the New Zealand coast and was a steamer before being converted to a motor ship. Pipe Bands Invasion Something in the nature of a Scottish invasion of Invercargill will take place this week-end, when the Caledonian Pipe Band of Invercargill will begin its fiftieth jubilee celebrations. On Saturday a big spor.ts meeting at which there will be running, cycling, dancing, women’s marching, and a gymnastic display; will be held at Rugby Park,, and on Sunday there will be a pipe band display, at. which 11 pipe bands from Otago and Southland will perform. The bands present will include the Dunedin Highland. Burns. Milton, Gore, and Invercargill Caledonian. which will all give drummajors’ displays, and the Balclutha. Wyndham. Browns. Waimatuku. and Mataura Bands which which play selections and give marching displays. Jubilee Park Incident The masked man who menaced a woman with a knife in Jubilee Park last Friday morning—or another man almost identically dressed —was seen in the park shortly before midday yesterday. This time he was seen by an elderly man and was standing behind a tree just off the track from the Maori road to Serpentine avenue. When he became aware that he had been seen he made off into the undergrowth. The incident was reported to the police and the description of the man, who was said to be wearing khaki dungarees and a slouch hat, resembles that given by the woman he frightened on Friday. Police investigations are proceeding. Shopping Hours

The custom in New Zealand most different from what he was used to in America was .the closing of all shops at 5.30 p.m. each day, said Professor W. L. Badger, American expert on the production of salt, who is visiting New Zealand at the invitation of the Government, in an interview at Christchurch. In America .there were usually as many people on the streets at midnight as during the day. and it was possible to shoo at any time. “ Because the shops in American cities are open long hours does not mean that the people necessarily work more than 40 hours a week, but where there is the custom the shoos remain open." said Professor Badger.

toi rings watches ana Peter Dick, jewellers 30 Liuneciin.— Aclvt jewellery, tr> Princes street