LOCAL & GENERAL.

Wairarapa Daily Times, 14 December 1927, Page 4

LOCAL & GENERAL.

■The junior tennis championship of St. Matthew’s Collegiate School for Girls has been won by Suzanne Collins, with Susie Michael runner-up. A final rebate of SUI per cow will be paid on all cows tested during the past four years in the Featherston Herd Testing Association (in liquidation). The Masterton County Council yesterday passed a resolution making an additional charge of ten per centum on all rates remaining unpaid after Friday, January 27, 1928. The District Engineer, Public Works Department, advised the Masterton County Council at its meeting yesterday that the council had power to stop motor lorries trading on Sundays as this practice was an offence under the Police Offences Amendment Act, 1924. The engineer pointed out that such a practice was reported from the Manawatu, now that the wool carting season was in full swing. Councillors agreed that there was very little such Sunday traffic in the Wairarapa.

At the swimming sports held in connection with St. Matthew's Collegiate School for Girls, Dorothy Clarke came first in the seniors and Josephine Rutlierfurd in the juniors. Next year the sports will be held on I ebruary 18.

A statement of rates submitted by the clerk of the Masterton County Council at the monthly meeting of the council yesterday showed that out of a total levied for the current year of £27,570 Is 9d, the sum of £11,420 His 2d had been collected to date, leaving £16,149 5s 7d outstanding. The Wairarapa High School and the Masterton Technical School will observe their annual speech day 1 unctions on Friday, when Dr. E. Marsden, Permanent Secretary to the Department of Scientific and Industrial Research, will be the principal speaker. The Technical School ceremony will take place in St. Matthew's Parish Hall at 2 p.m. and the High School function will be in the Municipal Hall at S p.m. Parents of the pupils and all persons interested in the schools are invited to attend.

Good progress has been made with the preparation work for the first coat in connection with the surface sealing of the To Ore Ore section of the Mns-terton-Weber Highway. To date 57 chains have been completed, leaving 20 'chains to finish. Seventeen chains on the eastern side of the Ruamahanga River have been sealed 20 feet wide on account of the river flooding the road. The balance of the work, on the western side of the river, has been sealed IS feet wide.

The evening sessions of mixed bathing commence at the Dixon Street baths to-night at 7 o’clock. The baths will be under the control of members of the Masterton Swimming and LifeSaving Club and similar arrangements to those of last season will be in operation. The club will hold its first evening meeting to-night, commencing at 7.30 o’clock. The events will be as follow: —Men’s 50 yards handicap; boys’ 25 yards handicap; intermediate boys 50 yards’ handicap; ladies’ and girls’ 25 yards handicap.

What makes and unmakes fashions in Christian names? How completely the name Emma has gone out. Perhaps the popular song, “Whoa Emma,” sung and whistled everywhere about forty years ago, had something to do with this, just as “Jemima” was killed when elastic-sided boots were nicknamed Jemimas. Percy is a name seldom given to boys nowadays; is it because seaside niggers always address one another as Percy? And Cuthbert? Since this was used as a taunt to fling at young men who got off going to the war, has it been shunned by parents? A dispute between the Waikato County Council and the Main Highway's Board reached a head at the county meeting yesterday. The difference between the two bodies has occurred over the maintenance of the Nga-ruawahia-Ohincwai portion of the Main ■South Road for which the County Council demands a subsidy of £3 to £l, while the Highways Board will only conic to an agreement on a £2 for £1 basis. The county stubbornly resisted the Highways Board’s demand for a larger contribution and decided yesterday, failing further satisfaction, to ask for a commission on the matter.

Important changes are involved in the reclassification of the First Division. of the Railways Department which has now been completed. All the positions have been advertised and these, it is understood, have been filled pending confirmation by Cabinet in respect of the higher positions in tinservice. The whole of the regrading scheme comes into operation in u of the provisions of the Government Railways Amendment Act passed during the session, which brought the Railways Department into line with other parts of the Government service with respect to classification, regrading. right of appeal, procedure following appeal, and constitution of appeal boards. The changes of importance made by the reclassification relate chiefly to the higher positions in the service, and are due for announcement shortlv.

“The long operative forces hostile to British farming, which received a passing cheek from the war, have since resumed their full rigour. The weather of this year has given their slow attrition a climax of abrupt disaster,” says the “London Observer.” “Its onset has no parallel unless in the memorable ’79, or in that earlier season which -rained away the Corn Laws.’ The ravages of flood and tempest are stupendous. Many a crop has sustained not merely damage, but obliteration. The labour of a whole season lnas been washed away, and the husbandman left with bare hands. It is a tragedy that will throw a host of cultivators bankrupt, leave much soil derelict, and- —what is still worse—strike despair deep into the hearts of a whole community.

The weekly meeting of the Claims Board of the Wairarapa Batriotic Association was held in Masterton yesterday. Mr J. M. Coradine presided, and Messrs D. K. Logan and K. R. Burridge also attended. Apologies for absence were accepted from Mr 11. Mortenson (Carterton) and Mr D. McGregor. Nine claims for sustenance allowances were granted to disabled soldiers or their dependents. An application for an advance to complete the purchase of a dwelling was referred to a branch committee for further investigation. With regard to the supply of Christmas gifts to the permanent cases of disabled soldiers in the Red Cross Hospital, Hobson Street, Wellington, it was left in the hands of Mrs J. M. Coradine to provide whatever she considered was necessary. The board decided to hold a further meeting on December 20 before adjourning over the holiday season. Children with worms restored to good nealth by WADE’S WORM FIGS. Safe, pleasant and reliable.*

A cablegram states that Captain Lalor has been released by the Chinese pirates and is now aboard a British gunboat.

In connection with the last Barnardo Homes box opening the Young Helpers' League members at St. Matthew's Collegiate School collected £lB/4/9. The last published report of the Ministry of Transport on railway accidents in Great Britain, which refers to the year 1925, states that only one passenger died as the result of an accident. The number of passenger journeys in the year, apart from season ticket holders, was 1,252,(500,000. Moreover, the average number of passengers killed in the six years ending with 1925 was between nine and ten.

Some welcome gifts for Christmas were made by the Auckland Racing Club yesterday. Ten pounds was voted for toys and comforts for hospital patients, £IOO to the Salvation Army, £25 to St. .John Ambulance, and £5 towards a Christmas Tree for mental hospital inmates.

The police authorities of Camden, Yew Jersey, as a means of aiding in the regulation of motor and pedestrian traffic, are installing loud-speakers in several of the most important traffic towers. The voice of the constable on duty can be heard above the din of motor horns and other street noises.

The National Ride Association of New Zealand has been advised that the New South Wales Rifle Association has decided to send a representative team to compete at the next rifle championship meeting at Trentham. is stated that the team will consist of twelvemen, and that it will be a particularly strong one. It is also hoped that a Victorian team will come over to compete.

To test the possibilities of imparting instruction to school children by wireless, the Education Department, by arrangement with the Radio Broadcasting Company, broadcasted a special programme from the "Wellington station, 2YA. between 2 p.m. and 5 p.m, yesterday, to selected schools, ranging from Whangarei to Invercargill. Head teachers will report the nature of the reception. The items were clearly received at the Master-ton. 'Central School, where a Departmental officer was in attendance.

In her annual report the principal of St. Matthew's Collegiate School for Girls (Miss Lazarus) . states:—The vicar (Rev. W. Bullock) has visited the school throughout the year, and has taken tiio various forms in rotation in scripture. We have studied the work as set out in the Diocesan syllabus, and we held our own examination. The winner of the senior prize is Dorothy Clarke, and the winner of the junior prize Mollie Iveson.

The advent of another "faith-heal-er" among the Maoris has created quite a stir in the settlements of this coast (says the Raglan paper). The new "prophet" visited Kawhia, and is reported to have effected several remarkable cures, his methods being of the mesmeric, order. The fact that his services are quite gratuitous also appeals strongly to the Natives, and he lias established a very favourable reputation.

The Railway Department is about to place in service a new parlour or “cruising” ear, for the benefit of parties of tourists wishing to spend a holiday under “cruising” conditions. The facilities now about to be offered feature the provision of a ear completely equipped for sleeping and tho preparation of meals—Jicing provision of a complete train for the purpose of short “cruises” by tourists —local or overseas —or large parties of members of clubs or societies. If the party desire to remain at a wayside station over a period they can do so. Where there is a suitable siding the ear can be shunted off the main railway line, and allowed to remain as long as wanted, within reasonable limits. The new ear will have one compartment with two single beds, two one-berth compartments, other shipping accommodation foY two, seating accommodation for eight, a lounge, kitchen, and bathroom. The charges will include meals, sleeping accommodation, and attendant's services. Push-chair wanted. Strong youth wanted. Studebaker ear for sale. Unfurnished rooms wanted. Cook-baker (man) wants billet. Young woman wants work by day. Annual general meeting of Afasterton Amateur Theatrical Society in A. and rooms on Alonday next at 8 p.m. Tenders are to be invited immediately for the rc-oreetion of tho Alastcrton Hosiery and Spinning Atills. Building will be commenced early in January.

The Lansdowne Ladies’ Guild 'will hold a sale of work and articles suitable for Christmas presents in Cosy entrance on Friday. Next Sunday will be a day of special Christmas music in Wesley Church. In the morning the children’s choir will render a number of solos, duets and choruses, and in the evening a strong choir will render “The Messiah’’ af the close of the evening service. Retiring offerings for the Children's Home will be received at both services. Considerable interest is being evinced in the Government ’s issuo of Post Otlice Investment Certificates which return good interest on the money invested. The certificates are being issued in £l, £lO and £IOO denominations repayable in one, two or five years and are obtainable at any Post Office Money Order Office in New Zealand. The interest on the respective amounts works out at 41 per cent., a per cent, and 5j per cent, on the purchase price according to the currency desired. To young people and those with thrifty inclinations this is a unique opportunity to make small investments at good interest. Full particulars are advertised in this issue.

Owing to the Opaki Rifle Club being unable to get a team together on Saturday next, the match against Feathcrston has been postponed until some time in January.

In connection with the annual sports of St. Matthew's Collegiate School the most points in the junior division were, secured by Peggy Sellar, with Mary Logan runner-up. The senior championship went to Alyson Webb and the junior championship to Margaret Alaee.