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HomeMy WebLinkAboutThe Wingham Advance-Times, 1941-09-18, Page 7Thurs., September 18, 1941 WINGHAM ADVANCE!-TIMES PAGE SEWf ,.....I......'?$ "Every dirty, well wd honestly done, is a contribution tv victory.” S The Prime Minister of Canai A Mechanized Army Serving YOU Mechanized and motorized units—-these make tip the modern army. You have often policed Bell line crews with their trucks along the highway. Those too are mechanized, motorized units, each with a highly skilled crew; each completely equipped with tools, power, material. In an emergency they can he mobilized *— quietly, quickly, efficiently — to repair the havoc wrought by storm, fire, or flood. The equipment they carry - standardized apparatus of many kinds —- makes pos­ sible the speedy restoration of vital service. Preventive maintenance, preparedness, experience, and skill — these all serve to ensure that your message will get through with minimum delay in any emer­ gency—a vital contribution to the country’s war effort. FLYING OVER ONTAR­ IO WITH AUSTRALIAN STUDENT OBSERVERS By Hugh Templin I sat in the secretary’s office at the No. 1 Air Observer School at Malton -and wondered what would happen next. Things always seemed to turn ■out that way when arrangements had been made for me to fly in an R.C.A. F. plane. If there-, wasn't a thunder storm, there was something else. The ■day’s thunder storm.had already pass­ ed and the sky was clear, >but orders bad become mixed up. On the other side of his desk, J. A. .Munroe, secretary-treasurer of the •school, was keeping the telephone busy and now and then someone came hurrying in with a correspondence file •or other information. It was obvious enough what had happened/ A phone call from the Training Command at Toronto had informed me that all arrangements were made. Meanwhile, a sudden call had taken the manager of the Malton Huron&Erie Debentures 5 *3 to 10 years $100 or more & Huron&Erie MORTGAGE CORPORATION London St. Thomas Toronto Windsor Chatham Hamilton A. H. McTAVISH, B.A. Teeswater, Ontario Barrister, Solicitor, Notary Public and Conveyancer Office: Gofton House, Wroxeter every Thursday afternoon 1.30 to 4.3'0 and by appointment. Phone ~ Teeswater 120J. YOUR EYES NEED ATTENTION Our 25 Point Scientific Examin­ ation enables us to give you Clear, Comfortable Vision F. F. HOMUTH Optometrist Phone 118 Harriston MONUMENTS at first cost Having oiir factory equipped With the most modern machinery' for the exe­ cution of high>class work, we ask yoy to see the largest display t of monu­ ments of any retail factory in Ontario. All finished by sand blast machines. We import all our granites from the Old Country quarries direct, in the rough. You can Save alt local deal­ ers’, agents* apd middleman profits by seeing us. * E, J. Skelton & Son Bt West End Bridgt-WALKERTON School to Montreal and no one else knew anything else about the arrange­ ments. As we waited for word from To­ ronto, the big Avro Ansons out on the runway roared away. It was two o’clock and time for them to go out' on their afternoon "exercises,” Flying Officer McLeod tried to be consoling. It was a rough day, he said and I wouldn’t enjoy it. He rememb­ ered one newspaperman who went up in a plane on just such a day. He wasn’t up five minutes till he was sick, and his trip was a total loss—and so was his lunch. Besides, the exercise for that day wasn’t the most interest­ ing kind. The student observers would be trying to make out a course as though they were flying blind, above the clouds. Another day would be more interesting and would provide better flying conditions. There seemed to be nothing else to’ be done. It was a quarter after two now and I hadn’ heard a plane go for five minutes. The night flight would­ n’t leave till nine o’clock and might not return till two in the morning and I would have 60 miles to drive home after that. I had work to do the next morning and two members of the fam­ ily waiting for me in the city. There seemed to be nothing left to do but to come back again. The Delayed Flight Suddenly things began to happen. Flying Officer McLeod had gone out but he came hurrying back. "Everything’s O.K. We’ll have to hurry, though.” We trotted across the road toward the hangar. On the'way he explained that one plane was delayed by engine trouble. Spark plugs. I might get to it in time. A quick trip to the pilot’s room, where I was fitted with parachute har­ ness—two straps over my shoulders and one around each leg, all 'kicked to­ gether in front of my stomach. The day was hot, so I left my coat behind and went in my shirt sleeves. Another dash across the runway to the place where the twin engines of Avro Anson No. 6037 were turning- over smoothly and noisily now. The pilot was already in his seat. Hasty introductions to the two student ob­ servers, K. Allin and R. Evrit, both of Melbourne, Australia. That was in­ teresting. Two fine young fellows. I shook hands with them, - "It’s hot!” I said, just by way of making conversation. It was a stupid thing to say because so obvious. The thermometer said 95 degrees. “We like it,” one of them replied, rather surprisingly. They were in shirt-sleeves too, with the same kind of parachute harness. Later, Pilot Joselin said: "The Australians just eat up this kind of weather.” A little door was open up on the side of the plane, and I climbed in. One of the Australians fastened my safety strap, a quick-release type that was new to me. Allin took his seat be­ side the pilot and Evritt in the seat behind the pilot. I was in the back scat, opposite the door, The plane began to move at once, down the broad runway. We passed a silvery Trans-Canada plane, fast coming in and turned into the wind and in a few seconds were off the ground, heading westward into a 25- milc wind, An “Exercise” Flight One of the Australians had repeated the warning that the flight might be a rough one, but I did not find it so, particularly after we had climbed above a thousand feet. There large planes fly much more steadily than the small open-cockpit planes in which most of my previous flying had been done. . . wwUp In front, on the left, sat Pilot jocelin, two or three rows of instru­ ments in front of him, holding on. to a wheel that looked like the steei mg wheel of an automobile with parts of it cut away. Beside him sat one of the young Australians. In front of him, under the dash, was a. hole into which he crawled from time to time, so that he could lie flat on his stom­ ach in the nose of the plane and read the drift indicator, showing how much the plane was being blown off its course by the wind. Directly behind the pilot sat the other Australian student. He was do­ ing his “exercise” for the day. On a table in front of him lay a map with no towns;, roads or landmarks, except the outlines of the Great Lakes and here and there, circles, with an arrow marking the compass variations—not much help to a visitor from the other side of the world. On the table lay his simple instruments, a triangular ruler, a few pencils, a circular card with rows of figures and the name, Somebody’s Rapid Calculator. Beside him* was a compass and up in front two dials, one indicating the engine speed and the other the altitude above sea level. I sat in the rear seat, directly be­ hind the student with the exercise, but wih my view to the front partly cut off by the-wireless instruments, work­ ed by remote control from the pilot’s seat* Occasionally, I saw the dials turn and the wavelength indicators change, but of the messages which passed through them I knew nothing. In front of me was a table, on which I was able to write in my notebook. Some Towns Easy to Identify The Avro Anson is noted for its visibility. There are windows all around.' It has even been likened to a flying greenhouse. The rear seat was opposite the huge wing, but it was easy to see the landscape below and behind. The sky held many clouds and the shadows mottled the landscape below. The air was hazy and ten miles was about the limit of visibility, After we climbed to 4500 feet, we were up in the lower layer of clouds. Occasion­ ally one would drift past almost close enough to touch. The heavier clouds, holding a hint of thunder, were high­ er. Two or three times we ran into rain but I couldn’t see it out on the wing. Only the odd- singing of the propellers and the drops on the front windows showed me the difference, . I hadn’t any idea whether I would know where we were from nearly a mile up in the air. I couldn't see the compass, but the sun shone most of the time, giving a rough idea of the I directions. There wasn’t any doubt about the first town. Acres of green­ houses shone in the light, as we circled over Brampton, gaining height. I im­ agine it would make a wonderful tar­ get, day or night. If I had been able to lay my hands on a stone, I could hardly have resisted the temptation to drop it overboard on these glass roofs. We headed west after that, and the Credit river, dirty even from that height, was the next landmark. Then a little village that worried me until I decided its mill ponds were like those at Alton. Then came Orange­ ville,. I was nearer home now and I knew most of the landmarks. The provincial highway to Arthur, straight as a ruler, gleamed in the sun for miles till it crossed the Grand River. The lovely Hockley Valley lay ahead. The hills looked almost flat, but the road by the river was plain enough, By that time, I had the toad map out of my brief case, and from then on, was never lost. We passed south of Camp Borden, over the great Hol­ land marsh and the tip bf Lake Sim­ coe, and down beside Yonge street to King, then in a bee-Ihie for Malton. There, the students changed places and we went around another circle, slight­ ly farther east, but tn sight of Bramp­ ton, Caledohe Lake, Orangeville, Au­ rora, and down to the shore of Lake Ontario near Malvern. A 'turn to the west brought us over the eastern sub­ urbs of Toronto, The flight over Toronto was inter­ esting, Out to the left was the Wood­ bine race track, then the harbor with a freight boat steaming across the Bay. The skyscrapers looked like tall toy buildings. To. the north, the reservoir shone as all the other ponds had done. We parallelled Dundas street out to West Toronto. I saw, a mile below me, the schoolyard where I once tried to teach a girl to skate. All large buildings were easily seen. It took about six minutes to cross Toronto, from the eastern suburbs to the Hum­ ber river at Weston. We circled the great Malton airport slowly, watching other planes coming in and finally, with a clear runway, came down to earth without a bump. From the delightful coolness of the upper air, we stepped out into the heat again. The students checked their maps with Pilot Jocelin, and I sub­ mitted mine. It was just two rough pencil marks on a road map but he seemed surprised that I had been so close to the real route. Most people, he said, got completely lost in the air unless they had some training, , , There was time for -conversation now. The Australians had been six. weeks at Malton. Another six and they would go to Jarvis to learn bombing and gunnery with® practice bombs and real machine guns. It wouldn’t be long till they were flying over Germany. „ I----------------_ PHIL.OSIFER OF LAZY MEADOWS .. . By H. J. Boyle ‘ THE OAT-BURNER We went to church last Sunday with a horse and buggy. As the radio daily blared forth encouragement to save gasoline and when every newspaper glared at us with an advertisement calling attention to he need for saving gasoline, we became deermined at Lazy Meadows to trade the “gas- burner” for the "oat-burner” and we did. Annabelle, the original, old, grey mare who has been doing light duty as a third horse ever since we became so accustomed to using the car that we forgot her, was surprised. Placid­ ly grazing in the east meadow on Sat- day night, she looked us over, much Gn the same way that a doctor would when he felt that perhaps the sun had torched some vital spot imyour 'head, as we led her up to the barn. Her hid-e was sleek from the inactivity of the past few weeks but we curried and combed her until she fairly glistened. Then came the task of salvaging the buggy from the driving shed. There was a nest of eggs under the seat and 'Biddy, the little red hen, put up a terrible fuss when we discovered her adding* to her secret hoard of eggs. The mice and the birds for some time m-ust have been carting away the lin­ ing of the buggy seat because, when we felt it,' the collapse which resulted ' made it look something like a pancake with a hollow spot. How truck accumulates in a buggy or a cutter in a shed! Bolts and nuts looking like a pile of scaly rust in an old, honey pail. A half bag of minerals bought for the cattle and forgotten. A' cake of rock salt we had intended taking to the grass farm early in the season. Two old bridles that needed mending but which were never taken to the harness-maker. A pile of hay­ fork rope we planned on splicing after it broke early in the season. Two balls of binder twine we had forgotten about. Several picture frames and an excellent photo of a bewhiskered an­ cestor that nobody seemed Able to identify. A patented fire extinguisher that a slick salesman sold us but which we had forgotton to ask the instruc­ tions for, and which in all probobility wouldn’t work anyhow. Two or three empty bottles, souvenirs of Uncle Josiah’s visit to us, when we tried for days to find his cache of "snake-bite oil.” A pound of tobacco—-the raw, leaf variety which we purchased one time because it was so cheap and we figured we could save money by cheat­ ing the manufacturer out of his profit for curing it. One pipeful had been enough! The smoke was dense enough to make disinfectant. We pulled and tugged and jeerked and yanked. In the process there were so many discoveries that it took some time to remember where all the articl­ es came from. Finally, pulling out the three new grain bags which we had been so certain were returned to Neighbor Higgins, we were finished. Where did we pile them? Well, you see the cutter was handy and it was’nt over half full of other rubbish so wc Just piled it all in there. Besides, the Indians say it is going to be an open winder and we probably won’t heed the cutter anyhow.. . • • * Patricia Ann looked positively frightened when we were finally load­ ed up In the buggy. Rounding the curve going out the laneway, the bug­ gy took a sudden lurch and it was dis-, covered that one of the'Wheels was partly 6ff. In the process of trying to put it back on, it was discovered that t FOR SAIF BY— STAINTON HARDWARE I Brantford Roofing Company/ Limited > BRANTFORD ONTARIO • The Quality pf Brantford Roofing Products has resulted from 36 years of Can­ adian experience in providing roofing materials especially designed to meet our own climatic conditions. During these? years, the quality and dependability of /Brantford Roofs has been proven under. « severe tests pf varied weather conditions* For a beautiful, permanent fire-resistant and weather-proof roof, specify—Brantford Asphalt Slates. Sold by Reliable Dealers Everywhere 'the wrench had been lost. With black, greasy fingers and the aid ot a stone and a chisel the nut was finally put in place. Then it .was discovered that a the cap for the hub was lost. Groping through the dust with greasy fingers we picked up at least a half pound of dirt. This had to be removed and we used the most of the coal-oil out of the lamp doing it, Off we went. Annabel jogged for a few steps and then decided that if we were crazy enough to hitch her up, she would take her own sweet time about getting to church. There was no bug­ gy whip and in the process of trying to break a willow gad off at the creek one foot slipped and went down with a squishing, oozing noise into the mud and water. With one pants leg decorat­ ed with a ring of mud 1 finally clamb­ ered back in. If you could only sec the look of amazement that seemed to spread over the faces of motoring neighbors as they passed us! If you could only see our faces as we took each rolling cloud of dust! Annabelle seemed determined that this business of going to church on Sunday with her as bower would not be continued. She paused to munch at each patch of grass in the centre of the road, and when there was no grass in the centre of the road after we. caame to the county road, she wandered off the side—all efforts of the willow gad to urgfe her forward being of no avail. It seemed that everybody that went to church was on hand to greet us when we arrived. They laughed and they chattered. Mrs. Phil glared at me, as she tried to restore her black dress to its proper color. Each time that she stroked, a cloud of grey dust belched forth. Patricia Ann had lost her pea­ ches and cream complexion for a muddy-grey one. My blue suit was,al­ most white, and still adorned with a mud fringe on one leg. Neighbor Hig­ gins came out smiling and put his hand on the dashboard and it collap­ sed inward. I heard a strange meowing noise and looked around in time to j see a kitten poke its head up from be-; heads handled carefully to prevent tween the folds of the top . . and An- j bruising. A dry day when there is no nabelle was tied all by her lonesome | rain lodged in the heads should be in the shed that in my boyhood failed to hold the horses of the congregation. But we’re sicking with the “oat-burn­ er” ^nonetheless. USEFUL HINTS ON STORING VEGETABLES All vegetables intended for storage during the winter should be grown to full maturity, otherwise they cannot be expected to keep well. For the storage of onions, a cool dry cellar, with the temperature not over 40 degrees at any time, is ideal, and when the onions are not piled to any great depth, shal­ low slatted crates or shelves will be found satisfactory. Particularly in dis­ tricts where the growing season is short, onions may require some help to ripen. As soon as the tops of a few plants fall over, all the tops should be bent down. This checks the flow of sap and causes the bulbs to ripen. A few days later the plants should be pulled, and if the weather continues fine, the onions should be turned over occasionally until the tops are fairly well dried. They should then be’cut off and the onions spread in the open or in slatted crates. When dry, they .nay be placed in storage for the win­ ter. With regard to squash and pump­ kins, on no account should they be ex­ posed to the least frost. As soon as the rind is firm enough to prevent piercing by the finger nail, the fruit may be taken from the plan!. Pump­ kins and squash should be stored in a dry place at a temperature of from 40 to 50 degrees. At’ all times they should >be handled as carefully as eggs. The slightest bruise, even though not noticeable, Is likely to cause decay in storage. When large quantities are to be stored, slatted shelves should be used to that he frui may not be piled on top of one another. For storing cabbage, all the outer leaves should first be removed and the chosen for storing in a dry cool place. If there is good circulation in the store-room, the heads may be piled in. several layers. Small quantities may­ be pulled without cutting off the heads, and suspended from a joist in the cel­ lar. The roots may be left on but all the outer leaves should be removed. Carrots, beets, and parsnips should be kept very cool, and be well dried before storing. Potatoes keep well in. a dry place with the temperature be­ tween 30 and 40. DISEASE FREE HENS MEANS MORE EGGS infection, state Sock Products; Department o£ .birds in the the The urgent demand for eggs from Britain and the increased prices should encourage farmers to give closer at­ tention to their poulry flocks. Disease control is one of the most importan factors in profitable egg production, and every practical precaution should be taken to prevent officials of the Live Division, Dominion Agriculture. Over-crowding of poultry house is dangerous from standpoint of disease. A minimum of three and a half to four square feet of floor space should be allowed per bird. Attempts to house more birds than, can be accomodated are sure to result in increased disease and serious loss­ es. Pullets and older birds should be penned separately. As a further precaution against dis­ ease, the poultry house should be given a thorough cleaning in the autumn. The equipment in the pens, also the walls, should be scrubbed with hot water and. lye. After the scrubbing has been completed, a liberal application of whitewash, to which has been added a good commercial disinfectant, will aid further in providing sanitary, dis­ ease-free quarters. Broken weather the harvest season is an opportune time to undertake such tasks. " WHY DIDN’T F GET MY COAL EARLY 7 1 "Munitions, which are being shipped in ever increasing VoTurh^must nave the first call on our mnsportation• tvstems. find there 'will be less space available in future for purely Civilian goods , explained J» McG* Stewait, Coat , t ZEistratorof the Wartime Prices and Trade Board-, ’W J ' delivery may not be powfrta fa ’