LOCAL AND GENERAL

Te Awamutu Courier, Volume 64, Issue 4559, 13 April 1942, Page 4

LOCAL AND GENERAL

A number of local men over 46 years of age, who entered camp with the National Military Reserve, have been discharged from further service. At the Te Awamutu Court this morning a number of civil cases were dealt with. Messrs G. A. Empson and W. C. Savill, Justices of the Peace, were on the Bench. The District Coroner (Mr W. Jeffery) on Saturday morning opened an inquest concerning the death of Cecil Lees, of Kihikihi. After formal evidence of identification had been given, proceedings were adjourned sine die, pending a post mortem examination. For purposes of the overhaul of lines, the Te Awamutu Power Board to-day advises that power will be cut off in the mid-Ohaupo district on Thursday next. Generally this is the area from the Main Highway extending westward to near the railway crossing on the Paterangi road. Information was received this morning by the Waipa Gun Club that the War Cabinet, sitting at Wellington on Saturday, decided to declare a close season this year for imported and native game. The reason given is the necessity for conserving all possible ammunition for military purposes. Meetings of householders will be held throughout the district on Wednesday evening next for the purpose of electing school committees for the .ensuing term. Chairmen and secretaries are cordially invited to post in or ring up (telephone 28) reports covering these gatherings. In consequence of the altered conditions due to the war, it is now improbable that the intention to “start on their own” a number of occupiers on the Wharepapa Block will be deferred, at any rate for this season. A number of workers on the various Land Development Blocks have been transferred to defence construction works in various parts of the North Island. Further representations will be made to the Main Highways Board through the Public Works Department by the Executive of the Automobile Association (Taranaki) regarding the deterioration of the New Ply-mouth-Auckland Road. Members were dissatisfied with the explanation that the Department had no men, no plant and no money to do anything to improve the highway and commented at a meeting at New Plymouth last week that the road had always been the Cinderella of main highways and was becoming in very bad order. Speaking of the Labour Party Conference at Wellington at Easter-time, which he attended on behalf of the Waitomo Labour Representation Committee, Mr T. H. Kelly, of Arohena, stated that there was a greater spirit of unity in the party than ever before and those people who fondly imagined that the party was divided were frightfully wrong. The reports of the Prime Minister and his colleagues were all well received and Mr Fraser’s declaration of a 100 per cent war effort met with unanimous and hearty endorsement. An invalided officer who served in Libya, Greece and Crete states that the New Zealand drivers have gained a great reputation for their driving ability. “They have an extraordinary sense for night driving without lights,” he said. “The leading truck of a convoy on a narrow road in northern Greece got over the edge, and, if the driver had tried to back it, it might have capsized. Instead, he turned it down the slope, crashed through a wire fence, then ran along the paddock, and at a suitable spot drove through the fence again and up on to the road, resuming his place at the head of the column, which was not delayed at all. It is this kind of quickthinking that has made the drivers’ reputation.” “I appeal to every loyal New Zealander interested in the growing of vegetables to develop his activity to the utmost during the crisis through which we are passing, so that there will be a sufficiency for those who are doing the work and the fighting,” said Mr Roberts, M.P. for Wairarapa, addressing a meeting of produce growers in Pukekohe. Mr Roberts is chairman of the Vegetable Production Committee, which was set up by the Government recently, and is fostering a campaign for the increased production of vegetables. So far, he said, the committee was advocating greater production of six lines—potatoes, onions, carrots, swedes, parsnips, and pumpkins. To maintain present production was not enough. It was at a National Military Reserve Parade, and the corporal (states the Christchurch Star-Sun) was giving instruction in the estimation of distance for range finding for rifle shooting. He pointed out the corner of the cookhouse, informing his men that it was 400 yards away. Then up spoke a rear-rank private, who said it would not be more than 126 yards. An argument developed, the upshot being a bet, the value of which was small, though the odds were greatsomething like a match to a packet of cigarettes. The distance was stepped out, and proved to be 127 paces! The explanation of this remarkable feat of range-finding may lie in the fact that the private happens to be an expert bowler, plays senior cricket, has been a hockey representative, has taken a prominent part in lawn tennis, and has won several golf championships. Best for Coughs, Colds, Influenza: Woods’ Great Peppermint Cure.