LOCAL & GENERAL.

Wairarapa Daily Times, 29 December 1931, Page 4

LOCAL & GENERAL.

After being practically quiescent for two seasons, fireblight lias made its reappearance in the Wanganui district. Ireland is ono of the less depressed of countries, the price of living is lower, and many people are migrating there from England. The annual Christmas ball at Ihuraua proved one of the most successful and enjoyable functions held in the district. The Arcadian Orchestra supplied delightful music. The repeated encores bore witness to the success of the orchestra and the pleasure it occasioned. A ladies’ committee provided a dainty supper.

Some time ago the Masterton police were advised that a sum of money, about £IOO, in notes and gold, was missing from the residence of Mrs T. Scott, 91 Worksop Road. It is now reported that the money lias been found in the house, evidently having been mislaid, and not stolen, as at first surmised by the owner.

The Sunday School’s ahinua'l Christmas Tree, held in the / Mauriceville West hall, was much enjoyed by all present. Games, singing and recitations were indulged in until Father Christmas arrived and distributed presents to all children. Attendance prizes were presented to Una and Joyce Larsen, Nola Freeman and Linton Forsberg.

Two young men, Messrs. Trevor Hume and Bernard Doughty, both of ririnoa, had a remarkable escape fiom death in a motor accident in the Lower Valley at about 4.30 o’clock on Saturday afternoon. They were travelling in a sports two-seater driven by Mr l-lume. At a sharp turn on the road between Ngakonui and Summer Hill, the car got out of control on some loose metal and went over a forty foot bank with an almost sheer . drop. Somersaulting as it fell, the vehicle landed at the bottom right side up, with burst tires bearing witness to the force of the impact. Mr Doughty suffered severe head injuries and showed little •change in condition until last night, when lie was reported to be improving. Mr Hume, though less severely injured, was rather badly bruised and knocked about. Both were taken to Dr. Webb’s Tiri Hospital at Martinborough. MiDoughty is a brother of Mrs E. W. B. I-lornabrook of Cornwall Street, Masterton.

' “Everyone knows that the coal trade must start advertising on a large scale,” said Mr Gordon Selfridge to the members of the Coal Trades Luncheon Club. The above appeared in the leading article of “O’Connell’s Coal and Iron News,” and went on to say that the public is a great malleable mass that can be hammered into burning more coal as easily as eating more fruit, providing the battering ram of publicity is wielded to good effect.

The steamer Breeze, which was extensively damaged when she went ashore at'rort Robinson, on the Canterburv Coast, on December 13, bus been abandoned to the underwriters, who intend to dismantle the ship and ■sink the hull. The damage to the hull and keel is more extensive than was at first supposed and the cost of repairs would be more than the value of the vessel. The company will carry on with the Calm, Gale and Storm and replace the Breeze with a aew ship later.

As a precaution against earthquake damage, the fine building occupied in Opotiki as headquarters of the Bay of Plenty Electric Power Board is at present being extensively altered. Many tons of bricks have been removed from the heavy parapets which surround the whole structure. The alterations will take several weeks to complete, and as a result the building, which is a particularly massive one, should be in a very much better state to withstand heavy earthquake strains. An endeavour is being made, as far as practicable, to preserve the artistic appearance of the building. t The enormous increase which has taken place in Hawke’s Bay this year in respect to ensilage conservation is most noticeable in some of the backcountry districts, states the Telegraph. Ensilage stacks and pits are this year to- be seen in areas where, a few seasons ago, ensilagfe was never heard of, and there is no gainsaying the fact that silage represents one sure way of alleviating in .some degree the back country farmers’ feed troubles. Amongst the keenest advocates of ensilage are the Mlaori farmers about the province, and it is pleasing to see them fully alive to the possibilities of this wonderful crop.

“I gather that you do not hold with unions,” said Mr J. H. Salmon to a debtor who appeared in the Magistrate’s Court at Wanganui recently. Evidence showed that he was some £6 in arrears with his union fees. The debtor stated that he had five children, the eldest of whom was 20 and was at the University in Wellington. On an average it was costing him 32s 6d a week to keep his son there. Counsel for plaintiff said lie thought that there was no reason why the debtor should not pay his union arrears if he could keep his son at University. An order was made by the Magistrate. That there were a few months ago at Porirua Mental Hospital 147 ex-ser-vice men patients paying the greatest penalty of war that a man can suffer —loss of reason —will come as a chock and grim reminder that the aftermath of war is still with us. It falls within the activities of the Wellington Returned Soldiers’ Associa-tion as champions of the Digger to pay fortnightly visits to this hospital . and together with the Red Cross Society to provide comforts in the way of cigarettes, tobacco, sweets and literature to these sufferers. Unfortunately this number is increasing as the strain suffered during the Great War becomes more and more evident with the advancing age of the Digger. . These visits and comforts are greatly appreciated by the Digger patients, as they bring a little ray of light into their darkened lives. At the Mangatainolca sports, the piping and dancing events resulted as follows: —Marches: J. McKenzie I, M. McKenzie 2, E. Smith 3. Laments: J. McKenzie 1, M. McKenzie 2, A. Richardson 3. Strathspeys and reels: J. McKenzie 1, M. McKenzie 2, A. Richardson 3. Irish Jig, open: G. Smythe 1, D. Both well 2. Irish Jig, 12 years and under: C. Henderson 1, J. Lee 2, D. Adsett 3. Clog dance: P. Berry 1, H. Lee 2. Highland Fling, 16 years and under: J. ILee 1, June Scott 2, G. Reid 3.. Highland fling, 12 years and under: J. Lee 1, J. Scott 2, J. Taylor 3. Highland fling, 10 years and under: C. Henderson 1, C. Burke 2. Sword dance, open: G. Smythe 1, H. Lee 2, D. Bothwell 3. Sword dance, 16 years and under: J. Lee 1, Jean Scott 2, June Scott 3. Slieauntriublis, open: 11. Lee 1, ■G. Smythe 2. Slieauntriublis, 12 years and under: J. Lee 1, J. Taylor 2, J. Scott 3. Highland reel, 16 years and under: J. Lee 1, Jean Scott 2, K. Hopping 3. Hornpipe, open: Hazel Lee 1, D. Bothwell 2.

Rooms to let. Section for sale. Fur necklet found. Lost scarf advertised for. Ice cream measure for sale. Messrs. O. Smith, Ltd., advertise special bargains in our wanted known ■columns.

All women love the delicate frag ranee of No. 65 Lavender Water. Possesses unique refreshing properties, From 2/6 to 22/6. All chemists. *