In the News

Southland Times, Issue 24227, 10 September 1940, Page 8

In the News

Motorists’ Discourtesy

The discourteous practice "of some motorists in failing to slow down while passing cyclists was referred to by Mr A. J. Campbell at a meeting of the executive of the Automobile Association (Southland), which was held last night. Mr Campbell said that cyclists were often injured by stones flying up from the wheels of cars passing at a fast speed. “It is only common decency to slow down,” said a member. It was decided to bring the matter to the attention of members of the association.

Slow Progress One of the giant bulldozers of the Public Works Departmeht which have been in use in land clearing in the Western District was brought through the city yesterday for transfer to another locality. Slow progress was made by the big machine on the sealed surface of the roads traversed because the steel caterpillar plates would have seriously damaged the bitumen surface. It was necessary, therefore, for the machine to travel entirely on wooden' planks, and a small gang of men was kept busy fti moving the planks over which the bulldozer moved.

Bread Deliveries Cease

Because of the necessity for conserving petrol, the delivery of bread in Bluff has ceased. The two bakers at the port recently made an arrangement to cease deliveries on an agreement being reached that Invercargill bakers should not send more bread to the port. A saving of one penny for a two-pound load of bread has been effected for customers as a result of the new arrangement whereby purchasers carry their bread home.

Mosquitoes In Egypt “They call this place over here the land of sunshine, sand and sore eyes,” says a member of the 2nd New Zealand Expeditionary Force, who is now in Egypt, when writing to his mother in Invercargill.. The soldiers, he said, had to sit and sleep inside their mosquito nets in the tent to prevent their being eaten alive with flies. “The flies are the best alarm clock I know,” he said. “They are up before us, and we get up at 5 o’clock.” Parking Space

A suggestion that the Invercargill City Council be asked to provide a parking space for vehicles near the Southland. Centennial Museum which is ■to be erected was put forward by Mr D. J. Wesney at the meeting of the executive of the Automobile Association (Southland) last night. Mr Wesney suggested that the Invercargill Tennis Club and the Northend Bowling Club be approached and when their support was obtained that a delegation wait on the council. The suggestions were adopted.

Association Congratulated “Please accept my sincere congratulations on the success of your efforts to maintain your membership figures at full strength,” stated Sir Stenson Cooke, secretary of the Automobile Association (Great Britain), in a letter which was received by the executive of the Automobile Association (Southland) at its meeting last night. It was the executive’s last meeting before the annual meeting. “This is indeed something you will be able to look back upon with real pride when the forces of evil arrayed against us are smashed, and we are free again to resume normal activities in the great cause of motoring. May that time come very soon,” added Sir Stenson.

Something Easier Speaking at the annual conference of the New Zealand Fruit Growers’ Federation in Wellington, Mr T. C. Brash mentioned that one of the delegates to a provincial conference for many years had retired from fruit-growing because of his age—more than 70. This grower had looked round for something easier, and eventually decided on dairy farming. A.A. Patrol At Gore

The executive of the Automobile Association (Southland) decided at its meeting last night to establish a patrol at Gore. Mention of the growing importance of Eastern Southland was made, and members considered that the patrol would be of considerable assistance to motorists. Dog’s Predicament Chasing a cat underneath a building in the business section of Opunake, a dog had a remarkable escape from drowning recently, and, as it was, it had to show more than the usual amount of canine intelligence and endurance to save its life. For more than 15 hours the dog was at the bottom of a 20ft well in fairly deep water. When a rescuer dug under the foundations he discovered the dog had fallen into a disused well, the location of which had previously not been known, while carcasses floating in the water at. the bottom indicated the fate of several cats. The dog had dug its way behind a pipe running down the side of the well. When a fruit case attached to ropes was lowered to the level of the water, the dog was persuaded to jump in and was hauled to the surface. Prisoner In Germany Major C. W. Kimbell, R.A.M.C., is a prisoner of war in Germany. Advice to this effect has been received by his uncle, Mr H. G. Livingstone, of Christchurch. The message adds that Major Kimbell is in good health. He is a son of the late Mr A. H. Kimbell, former Under-Secretary of Mines. Major Kimbell went to France with the British Expeditionary Force, as a surgeon, and was left behind at the evacuation of Dunkirk. Major Kimbell obtained his degree at the Otago University, and for a time was on the staff of the Christchurch Public Hospital, leaving that position to take a post-graduate course in London, where he obtained the degrees of F.R.C.S. and M.C.O.G. Major Kimbell has a brother, Dr N. Kimbell, who is a medical officer in the Royal Air Force, with the rank of flight-lieutenant. Gifts of Produce “There is a considerable amount ,of incongruity in this country’s offering produce to the United Kingdom when I at the same time we are borrowing | millions of pounds from Great Britain i for carrying on the war,” stated a letter from the Prime Minister, the Rt. Hon. P. Fraser, received at a meeting of the council of the Auckland Chamber of Commerce. The letter was forwarded by the secretary of the Associated Chambers of Commerce, which had written, to the Prime Minister asking the Government to act in the matter of making a gift of produce.

Pamphlets For Air Recruits An official summary of Air Force history, law, organization and administration is contained in a pamphlet issued by the Royal New Zealand Air Force to recruits who have some time to wait before being posted to training schools. The articles are prefaced by an appreciation of- the records and traditions of the Air Force and an explanation of the motto “Per Ardua ad Astra,” interpreted in the service as “Through the Skies to Glory.”