LOCAL AND GENERAL

Wairarapa Times-Age, 2 August 1939, Page 4

LOCAL AND GENERAL

Vital Statistics. The vital statistics for Masterton for July, with the figures for July. 1938. in parentheses, are as follow:—Births 22 (15); Marriages 4 (5); Deaths 18 (11).

Clean Health Sheet.

Despite the weather conditions. Masterton is at present experiencing a clean health sheet, stated the borough inspector, Mr T. A. Russell, to a “Times-Age" representative this morning.

Cows Killed by Lightning. The coldest and wildest weather in living memory has been experienced in Northland during the past few days, and light falls of snow have fallen in some parts of the middle north. Eight cows owned by Mr Les Bennett, at Whareora .near Whangarei, were killed by lightning during a storm on Monday night.

Record Percentage of Failures. A record percentage of failures among applicants for motor driving licences was reported to the Napier Borough Council by the chief traffic inspector, Mr A. M. Oliver, in his monthly report. Thirty-one tests for drivers’ licences were made during June, he said, and of that number 13 failed to pass. Of the 18 who were successful three underwent their second test.

Wairarapa Charity Ball. The annual Wairarapa Charity Ball will be held in the Municipal Buildings. Masterton, tonight. An energetic committee of ladies and men completed the decorating, etc., of the hall last night and their work has provided a scene of beauty. The debutantes will be presented to His Grace Archbishop O’Shea at 8.45 o’clock. Visitors are expected from all parts of the Wellington province. A Distressing Duty.

“I wish that somebody had my job when it comes to sentencing prisoners,” said Mr Justice Blair, in the Supreme Court at Palmerston North.

"It seems to be the worst and most distressing of the somewhat multifarious duties of Judges. I have now been a few years on the Bench, but I cannot get used to this business of sentencing prisoners, and never shall. That is not only my experience, but that of every other Judge.” New Comet Seen.

Advice has been received by the Carter - Observatory, Wellington, from Melbourne, that a new comet has been observed, in that part of the eastern sky which rises in New Zealand just after dusk. To be exact, it is located at present in the constellation of Grus, just south-east of the planet Mars. The planet is of magnitude seven, that is one magnitude smaller than can be discerned with the naked eye. At present there is no indication of whether it will brighten or wane. It has no tail, and at present it is rushing with great rapidity it the south.

No Certainty of Meteor Shower. Those hoping to see the meteor shower predicted by astronomers to take place this week should look in the eastern sky, after 9 p.m., on Friday, to have the greatest chance of observing it. But if they expect to see the sky ablaze of shooting stars, they stand about the same chance of doing so as of winning an art union, said the director of the Carter Observatory. Mr M. Geddes, in an interview yesterday. All that astronomers could say was that the circumstances would be such that there was a possibility of it. There might be a spectacular display, but more likely not. Military Recruiting.

There was now not the slightest doubt that all units in the district would exceed their peacetime establishment, some by considerable margins, said Colonel E. Puttick, officer commanding the Central Military District, yesterday. During the week the strength of the Territorial Army in the district had increased by 209 and, excluding officers, was now 5168. This was 249 men more than the peace-time establishment of the district. In addition a further 282 men were awaiting medical examination. Fourteen of the units were over strength and five under strength. The Wellington West Coast Regiment, with a strength of 544, required, 87 men, and the Taranaki Regiment, with 547, required 84 men. Road Impassable.

According to Mr M. Locke, patrol otTicer of the Automobile Association (Hawke’s Bay), the Napier-Taupo Road is impassable because of further heavy falls of snow yesterday. Mr Locke traversed the road yesterday morning jto the farthest point that could be reached, and he reports that Te Pohue and Titiokura are the worst sections. Drifts arc nearly a foot deep on the road, and the cold is so intense that the surface is frozen to such an extent that graders cannot function. It was still snowing when he left Te Pohue at 3 o’clock yesterday afternoon, and he does not consider that traffic will be able to get through today. The Hawke's Bay Motor Company’s service car. equipped with chains and special tyres, took 2£ hours to travel from Titiokura to Te Haroto, a distance of 12 miles, and the service car from Wairoa, after repeated attempts to get through, turned back.