NEWS AND NOTES

Wairarapa Times-Age, 22 July 1939, Page 9

NEWS AND NOTES

VARIOUS ITEMS OF INTEREST. Letting the Reel Out. “Cross-examination is like fishing—you must let the reel out sometimes.” said Mr Justice Callan to Mr C. S. Thomas in the Arbitration Court in Christchurch when a medical witness, being cross-examined by Mr Thomas, began to give a long definition of a heart complaint. “The doctor is now choosing the waters in which ho will play,” his Honour said. Popular Ship’s Dog. A certain indication of the arrival in port at Auckland of the Union Company's cargo steamer Waimarino is the presence on the waterfront of the ship's dog, a large fox terrier named Skipper, which, for five years has travelled with the vessel on voyages up and down the Dominion coast. The dog is always the first ashore, and has gained a thorough knowledge of the city wharves. The present master of the Waimarino, Captain W. D. Cameron. said that even if the ship moved to a new wharf during Skipper's ab sence the dog had no difficulty in locating the vessel. Although a number of other Union Company ships arc simi lar to the Waimarino, the terrier never hesitated in returning to his heme. Real Enthusiasm. Seldom is the territorial asked to give more than one evening a week to training—and then, an evening's drill seldom occupies more than an hour anq a half. Real enthusiasm was displayed by the original members of the Can terbury Yeomanry Cavalry, who in 1865 paraded every evening in order to obtain the utmost efficiency. There were no tramcars in those days. There were two ways of going to drill —by riding a horse or by “Shanks pony.” The enthusiasm of the “old-timer” is all the more commendable when it is remembered that in those days he had to pay an annual subscription for theprivilege of belonging to the Canterbury Yeomanry Cavalry. Court Warms its Hands.

“You will forgive the inconvenience and delay; but the Court finds it must adjourn to warm its hands, otherwise it will be impossible to hold a pen,” said Mr Justice Callan during a sitting of the Arbitration Court in the Supreme Court building, Christchurch, the other day. “The Court now has some idea of the difficulties the Court and counsel have to put up with in Christchurch,” said Mr C. S. Thomas, who was appearing for the defendant in the case being heard. “It is disgraceful,” he said. “We are either on the equator or in the arctic zone.” The Court adjourned and for a few minutes officials and witnesses huddled over the heaters and fireplaces in the room. Coverdale’s Bible.

An old medal in the possession of a Remuera resident is a rather quaint reminder of past religious controversies. It ws struck in 1835 to mark the 300th anniversary of the completion of Miles Coverdale’s translation of the Old and New Testaments, comprising the first complete English printed Bible. The obverse shows Coverdale seated in a Gothic chair at a table on which lie pens, ink and a Bible with rays of light proceeding from its pages. On the floor are a padlock and a broken chain. On the reverse of the medal are a Bible bound round with a chain and the inscription: “Great Britain under the dominion of the Church of Rome. The Bible and the Bible alone is the religion of Protestants.”

Building for Volunteers. A gymnasium costing £l.BOO is being erected by the Morrinsville Physical Culturq, Club, which for five years has been carrying on boxing and wrestling classes in leased premises. The carpenters employed on the building receive assistance every Saturday from working bees of club members, among whom are a number of building tradesmen. All the- money for the building has been raised by means of deben - tures of £5 each. The Morrinsville Borough Council has expressed its support of the club by remitting the building permit fee. and business firms have made substantial donations of material, while the architect gave his services •free. Value of Military School.

The building up of New Zealand's home defences has proved the value of the Southern District Military School at Burnham. Here, within a few miles of Christchurch, training is going on all the time. The school, as modern and as well equipped as it is possible to make it is turning out men who have receive expert tuition in modern mili tary methods. The recently formed 6th Draft of the Territorial Force Special Reserve (the popularity of which may be gauged from the fact that there is a large waiting list for possible vacancies) has now settled down to its work and is fast attaining a high degree of efficiency. A tactical course for infantry and artillery is also in progress at Burnham, and the men taking part are fast becoming proficient in this interesting work. Submarine Bell for Gardens.

A bell presented by /the Admiralty, and formerly in use on H.M. Submarine L2l, has arrived in Christchurch to be used as a closing bell in thcBotanic Gardens.. The curator, Mr J. A. McPherson, said that, while sending seeds of native plants to Viscount Bledisloe, he mentioned the question of a suitable closing bell. Viscount Bledisloe wrote to the First Lord of the Admiralty, placing the request before him. He received a letter from Sir Richard Carter, Permanent Secretary to the Admiralty, stating that the only bell available at the moment was one from H.M. Submarine L2l. Arrangements were made through the High Commissioner’s Office tor the despatch of the bell, which had arrived with a letter from Sir Richard Carter.

Effect of Import Restrictions. "It is not easy to sell goods with the former advocates of free spending now urging everyone to save; but the problem of replacing stocks sold is even more difficult,” states an article in the July issue of the "New Zealand Draper, Clothier, and Boot Retailer.” "No one knows exactly where he stands in the matter of supplies of goods, either from local or overseas sources.” Reserve funds overseas from the sale of exports had been disappearing rapidly. but not because the Dominion was importing too many everyday household requirements, for these formed only a small portion of the total imports, it continues. "In spite of this fact the Government became panicky and rushed to stop almost all imports except their own requirements, and business has been thrown into the worst confusion which has existed in our century as a British country.”