LOCAL AND GENERAL

Wairarapa Times-Age, 4 September 1940, Page 4

LOCAL AND GENERAL

National Patriotic Fund. The donations received to date by the National Patriotic Fund Board total £156,293. War Expenses Fund. The interest-free loans and donations for war purposes in New Zealand now total £2,544,178.

Import Licences. A statement that (lie task of preparing schedules for the fifth import licensing period was now being completed was made yesterday by the Minister of Customs, Mr Nash. "We are pushing ahead with the work,’ he said, “but it will take some little time yet to finish.”

Cyclist Injured. An accident occurred at 6.15 o’clock last night in Queen Street, when a cyclist, Mr Charles Leonard Needham, of Michael Street, Masterton, was knocked down outside Green's Service Station by a car driven by Mi- Arthur Owen Byrne. Mr Needham received head injuries and after being attended to by Mr Byrne and Dr Archer Hosking was taken to his home.

College Old Girls. last night at the home of Misses G. and M. Pither, the College Old Girls spent, a most pleasant evening. There was a fair attendance of members and an enjoyable time was spent in talking knitting and sewing. Several musical items were given. Supper was served by the hostesses. Members are reminded that the next evening will be held on Tuesday, September 24, and the secretary will advise later where it will take place.

Loyalty Urged. Yugoslavs in New Zealand and Australia were urged to remain loyal to their country of residence in a broadcast from Belgrade on Sunday. The broadcast, which also conveyed greetings to the people of Australia and New Zealand, inaugurated a special series for Yugoslavs abroad. The Consul for Yugoslavia in Auckland, Mr J. M. Totich, has been informed that the programmes will be transmitted to New Zealand at 6.30 p.m. daily on 15 metres shortwave band.

Animals Under Fire. The reactions of animals to bomb explosions during air raids in Britain are described in a recent letter received by an Auckland resident. It states that horses show the greatest alarm and are nervous and unsettled for hours after explosions in their neighbourhood. Cows display a less marked reaction, while sheep reveal an enviable placidity. They are to be seen grazing quietly within a few minutes of bomb bursts in their paddock.

Charity Ball Tonight. The annual Charity Ball will be held in the Municipal Hall tonight commencing at 8 o’clock. The presentation of the debutantes to his Grace Arch-* bishop O’Shea will take place at 8.45 o’clock. A number of soldiers from camp will be present and a special effort is to be made in the direction of giving them an enjoyable time. Two orchestras will supply the music and the M.’sC. will be Messrs V/. Orange. B. Iveson and J. Hunter. The Camp Commandant has sent an apology to the ball officials as military duties prevent him from being present. However about fifty soldiers will be present and arrangements are to be made to find them partners.

Elephant Fish for Museum. Well known on many parts of the New Zealand coast, and in Australia, but seldom seen by Wellington people, one of the most grotesque-looking New Zealand fishes is the elephant fish. A large example, three feet long and weighing 201 b, was caught recently by a fisherman casting his line from the rocks in Palliser Bay, and was’sent to the Dominion Museum. A cast has been prepared for exhibition. As its name indicates, the elephant fish has its head extended in the form of a trunk or proboscis, but the shape of this appendage more resembles that of a boot than of an orthodox elephant’s trunk. It is a curious-looking fish in other respects, for its body is much the shape of a shark’s, smooth and scaleless, and is coloured metallic silver-grey, with greenish black blotches. It is closely related to the shark.

Christmas Parcels for Soldiers. The aim of the National Patriotic Fund Board, through each of the 11 provincial patriotic organisations, is to have available by the end of this month sufficient parcels to enable one to be given at Christmas to every New Zealqnd soldier, sailor, and airman serving overseas. To accomplish this 30,000 parcels are required. The Wellington provincial patriotic district’s quota of the 30,000 parcels required is 6100. The contents decided upon for the parcel include 11b of plum pudding, but citizens are not being asked to supply any pudding for the men overseas. The reason is that it is essential that plum pudding be specially packed. Accordingly, it was suggested to the provincial patriotic councils by the National Patriotic Fund Board that the puddings be purchased from the firms specially catering for such goods. This has already been done by the Wellington Provincial Patriotic Council.