NEWS OF THE DAY

Taranaki Daily News, 19 September 1940, Page 6

NEWS OF THE DAY

Old Eel Weir. A photograph of the old eel weir on the Waiongona River taken in 1887 has been presented to the Taranaki museum by Mr. I. Faris, Inglewood. Conccrt at School. An enjoyable concert arranged by Mr. J. Dobson and Mr. J. S. Hatherly, resident masters, was held in the gymnasium of the New Plymouth Boys' High School on Monday night. Assisting artists were Messrs. A. Ramsay and B. Venner and Miss E. L. Dowling. Economising in Papcr. It is one of many returns that could well be cut out for economy in the use of paper, remarked a member of the Taranaki Education Board yesterday when a letter was read from the Education Department asking whether the board considered it necessary that a certain return should be forwarded. Volunteer Badges. A fresh supply of volunteer badges has arrived at the New Plymouth army office and is ready to be issUed. The badges are available for men who have been passed as fit and have not been called up and those who have enlisted but have been rejected for medical reasons. Books for Arnied Forces. Receipt of two cases of books, comprising about 200 books and 400 magazines, was acknowledged by the National Patriotic Fund Board in a letter received by the New Plymouth library committee. The librarian, Mr. A. L. Low, also stated that a large number of books had previously been sent to the military camp at Wanganui. P. and T. Staff Effort. The secretary of the Taranaki Provincial Patriotic Fund, Mr. F. P. D. Jefferies, Stratford, has received another instalment of £12 for the fund, from the Post and Telegraph Department staff of Taranaki. The contribution, which is the second made by the staff. was provided by a percentage salary levy. The department's employees in Taranaki have now contributed £24 to the fund. Medal for Fireman-Soldier. Fireman E. Coleman, who is serving with the New Zealand forces in Egypt, had been five years in the New Ply- ■ mouth Fire Brigade before he enlisted. At the morlthly practice of the brigade on Tuesday evening, Mr. A. Boon, superintenderit, presented Mr. F. Coleman with the medal awarded his son for that period of service. Mr. Coleman himself is actively associated with the brigade in his capacity of secretary of the fire police corps.

Dominion School Shields. Five schools in the Taranaki education district are to be asked to submit reports on the agricultural work done during the year, the reports to be referred to Mr. J. McAllister, chairman of the manual committee, with a view to nominating the schools to represent Taranaki in the Dominion competitions for the Henry Lane Shield and the Stewart Wilson Cup, it was decided at yesterday's meeting of the Taranaki Education Board. Rabbits More Numerous. The absence of many young men on active service has resulted in rabbits being left in peace. In large tracts of land in the northern part of the Waitemata county they are to be seen irr considerable numbers. In districts regularly visited by sportsmen the rabbits generally come out only at dawn and dusk, but in the hill country of Helensville they now appear at alll hours of the day. The fact that .22 rifle ammunition is at present unobtainable gives the rabbits a further opportunity to go unmolested. College Tower Adorned. A strange garment adorns one of the spires of Victoria University College. It was placed there during the hours of darkness by someone fired by the story of the umbrella and beer bottle which was on the tower of Auckland University for some days before being removed at great trouble and expense by men from a building contracting ftrm. Although the spire on the- north-eastern corner of the Victoria College library wing is not high, it is situated at the end of a very steeply sloping slate roof. Fire Emergency Corps. The monthly practice of the New Plymouth Fire Brigade on Tuesday evening was attended by 30 members of the emergency corps appointed under the Emergency Precautions scheme. Mr. L. Hartley, deputy-superintendent, said last night that he was very pleased with the men's work. They were all keen to make themselves efficient and since the war began four of them had actually left the corps to fill vacancies in the brigade. At the previous monthly practice the fire police drilled with the brigade. School Library Service. Eecause of the value of the New Plymouth and rural districts' school library service in providing a training ground for reading and the use of the library the New Plymouth Borough Council is to be asked to include special accommodation in the new library building so that supervision and control of the service can be undertaken by the librarian. The suggestion was made by the school service committee and passed on to the library and museum committee, which has decided to forward the proposal to the borough council.

Cycling to School. Some attention should be given to the Education Department's regulation governing accommodation for cycles, which pointed out that no provision should be made for cycles unless the distance travelled was over mile. stated Mr. C. H. Moore. architect to the Taranaki Education Bpard, in his report to the board yesterday. The cost of cycle sheds at schools was very heavy and if investigation were made it would probably be found that many children cycled short distances. An additional cycle shed had been erected for about 20 cycles at Waitara, Mr. Moore reported. Bomb Victims Fund. No arrangeme.its had yet been made for a Taranaki fund for sufferers in London air raids, commented the chairman of the Taranaki Provincial Patriotic Council, Mr. E. R. C. Gilmour, yesterday. The question would be discussed when the council met at Stratford next Monday to consider every aspect of the appeal to be made by all provincial councils. A contribution of £5 5s has already been made towards the relief of air raid victims by Mr. H. H. Moller. New Plymouth, ar.d the Mayor of Hawera, Mr. L. H. ClapLam, is arranging to open a fund in that district. Ingenious Check to Runiour. A political sub-editor of an English national daily paper tells how, when the invasion of the Low Countries began in May last, rumour after rumour swept through his office, and the next morning's news became a reflection of the previous night's jitters. He wrote the following headlines: "Rumour decontamination headquarters— Old rumours rendered harmless— New rumours critically examined." When he pinned these on his desk they attracted considerable attention and were copied not only by other members of thc staff. but by outsicters a:; well. The schcme proved very successful in checking Ih'cipient rumotirs,