LOCAL & GENERAL.

Wairarapa Daily Times, 19 January 1932, Page 4

LOCAL & GENERAL.

A large mob of about 4,400 sheep from the Orongorongo station passed along the Masterton-Carterton Road on Saturday on the way to the Waingawa Works. They were in charge of five drovers and had been on the road for a week.

The total rates levied by the Masterton County Council for the current financial year (1931-32) amount to £18,>894. Of that amount £7386, or 40 per cent., had been collected, leaving outstanding a total of £11,308. The position at this date last financial j eai (1930-31) was that of a total levy of £25,348, the sum of £15,552, or 61.7 per cent., had been collected.

Masterton County Council rates outstanding for the year 1930-3- at April 1, 1931, amount to £1319. Of this sum, £514, or 38.0 per cent., have been collected to date. It is anticipated that as a result of the action to be taken by tlio council, a. considerable portion of the outstanding rates, which amount to £BOS, would be collected.

While flying an Otago Aero Club Moth over St, Clair on Sunday, Pilot Burbridge was compelled by engine trouble to make a forced landing on the golf links, states a Dunedin Press Association message. The ’plane turned a complete somersault after touching, and tho pilot had a fortunate escape from injury. The wings and propellor of the machine were fairly extensively damaged. According to a Railways Department official, the traffic between Masterton and Wellington on Sunday last, when an experimental Sunday service was inaugurated, was distinctly good. Including people picked up at stations between Wellington and Upper Hutt, the morning train from Wellington took 113 passengers over the Rimutakas, and by the evening train 80 passengers left Wellington for the Wairarapa. From this side of the Rimutakas there were 82 passengers on the morning train and 147 on the evening train. The Railway Department official pointed out that the marked increase in the number who travelled to Wellington from the Wairarapa by the evening train compared with the number who came in the morning indicated that the Sunday service was appreciated. Evidently a number of people had gone to the Wairarapa from Wellington on the Saturday afternoon, staying the week-end, and had taken the Sunday evening special train back to Wellington. Without the special Sunday service this would not have been possible. 1

The Maunganui, from 'Wellington, arrived at Sydney at 7 o’clock this morning.

The Masterton County Council by advertisement in to-day’s issue, notifies unemployed workers engaged by the council, that owing to Friday, January 22nd., being a holiday no work will be available that day. Arrangements have been made so that workers will not lose any time on account of the holiday. Particulars are given on page one.

The results of the proficiency examination in the V T cllington district for the year 1931 were released yesterday, when the Education Offices reopened after the summer vacation. The private schools have the best record with 50.2 per cent, of passes, public primary schools are second with 67.9, junior high schools with 62.8 per cent., and secondary and technical schools last with 30 per cent.

Complaints of the treatment country districts are receiving at the hands of the Unemployment Board were voiced at a meeting of the Pahiatua County Council, when a circular from the board regarding its home gaidcning scheme for unemployed was under discussion. THe chairman, Mr. S, Bolton, said that the board certainly was not providing sufficient funds to meet the position locally, with the result that heavy demands were bein gmadc on charitable aid. It was time some steps were taken to compel the board to make adequate provision.

The circumstances of the death of a man who was missed from his home in February, 1918, and whose remains were found on a farm at Made Head, near Silverdale, Auckland, last month, formed the subject of an inquest by the Auckland Coroner (Mr. F. K. Hunt), states a Press Association message from Auckland. The remains were identified by a watch and gun as those of Peter Hansen, aged 57, a native of Denmark, who had been in New Zealand about ten years at the time of his death, and who farmed a property in the locality.

There was a good attendance of members and friends at a social gathering and dance held by the Ivuripuni Tennis Club in. the Orange Hall on Saturday night. The duties of M’s.C. were capably carried out by Messrs. C. Cole and L. Holtham. Excellent music was supplied by Mrs. H. Hills and Messrs. R. and I. Hills. Extras were played by Miss L. Hutchins. The Monte Carlo dance was won by Miss J. Tenner and Mr. R. Steer. Thanks are due to the ladies’ committee who were responsible for the supper arrangements. Discovered lying above the strongroom in the Christchur Tramway Board’s Power House in Falsgrave Street, Robert James Foote, a labourer, aged 41, was charged at Christchurch yesterday, before Mr. E. D. Mosley, S.M., with being found on the board’s premises without lawful excuse. Senior-Sergeant Fox asked for a remand, as the circumstances of the arrest were such that a more serious charge might be preferred. About 6 o’clock on Sunday evening a tram com duetor heard a peculiar tapping coming from between the ceiling and the roof of the depot. He investigated and found the accused there. The remand was granted. Foote pleaded guilty to the charge.

“The matter is under consideration —I should not like to say more than that —but finance puts any possibility of the re-opening of the depot at Wellington beyong question at the moment. ” This statement was made by the Commissioner of Police (Mr. W. G. Wohlmann( at Christchurch on Saturday, when he was asked whether any steps were being taken by the department to make up the deficiency in the numbers of the force caused by retirements during the past two years and by the increased work which the force had been required to do. Mr. Wohlmann agreed that an increase in numbers of officers would greatly assist the department in carrying out its work.

. A farmer whose property in Pukengahu is bounded by the Patea River .tells of a monster eel to be seen in that stream. After skinning a young calf some time ago, he placed the carcase in the river. In a few minutes there were 30 or 40 eels of various sizes, all fighting for a meal of calf-meat. As the farmer watched the eels at work a huge specimen “as thick around as the inflated tyre of a lorry” came down stream to investigate. This eel soon scored off the others. Seizing the carcase of the calf the eel proceeded to remove it whole to its “holt” in a large deep pool up-stream. During the journey the eel had a long rapid current to negotiate, but the ease with which it drew the carcase against the stream proclaimed its great size, weight and strength. It is thought that if this eel could be captured it would weigh upwards of 501 b. The veracity of this story is vouched for by the farmer who states that several were present who saw the performance from beginning to end.

About eighty passengers left Masterton yesterday by the 9.15 a.m. excursion train for Wellington. They were due in Wellington at 12.40 p.m., but owing to a mishap to the engine at Kaitoko they were unable to proceed further by train, and completed the journey in motor buses, arriving in Wellington about an hour and a quarter late. The engine was detached from the train at Kaitoke, and while it was moving along to take in water two ,wheels of the tender became derailed. Efforts to put the engine back on the rails was unsuccessful, and as there was no other engine under steam at Kaitoke the services of two motor buses from Petone were obtained to take the passengers into Wellington. Fortunately the mishap occurred at a station where refreshments were available, and the delay was not as irksome as it otherwise might have been. The passengers arrived in Wellington just before 2 o’clock. Subsequently the engine was got back on to the rails.

The New Zealand schoolboys at present visiting Sydney placed a wreath on the Cenotaph in Martin Place yesterday.

A slight but distinct earthquake followed by a very mild but prolonged tremor, was felt in Wellington at 11.4 last evening.

Jack and Fielden Luekins, of Waitakere,*thc two boys who left Swanson in two canoes on January 7, arrived at Thames last week and then went on to Paeroa. Both are well.

According to a London cable the Australian Press Association is authoritatively informed that the Irish suggestion of an earlier Imperial Conference is groundless. Ottawa is still the venue. Playing in a four-ball game on the Mornington links, during the week-end, W. 11. Steven holed out his tee shot at “Kaikoura” (177 yards). There vas a great gathering at the clubhouse aftei the round, when the time-honoured penalty was paid.

The Canadian National steamer Canadian Scottish, which reached Auckland last Wednesday night in ballast from Buenos Aires, to load wool for the United States and Canada, came via the Strait_of Magellan, a Very unusual route forest earners visiting New Zealand.

Another adjournment has been taken in the proceedings brought by the police against J. J. Robinson, printer and publisher of “The Red Worker,” for alleged sedition. Through illness, Robinson could not bo present yesterday when the case was called. Mr T. B. McNeil, S.M., granted an adjournment until February 8. Bail was renewed.

The executive of the Hospital Boards Association has decided to abandon the annual conference of delegate intended to have been opened in Timaru on February 3. This will avoid an expenditure of approximately £SOO. The decision followed an interview with members of the Government regarding hospital board finances, resulting m an understanding satisfactory to representatives of the boards. A six-roomed house at Pahiatua. owned by Mr. J. D. C. Crewe, was completely destroyed by fire at about 3 o’clock on Saturday morning. The occupants awoke to find the whole of the rear of the house in flames, and escape down the passage impossible. They made a hurried exit through a front window in their night attire, and were able to save nothing. The fire brigade was summoned, but faced a hopeless task. There was an insurance policy of £4OO on the house, and one of £2OO on the contents.

Charged with having killed a lamb valued at 15 shillings with intent to steal the carcase, William James Stokes was convicted and fined £lO m the Wanganui Police Court yesterday O. B. Hartwell, farmer, residing at Mosston, said that on January 1 he was looking at some sheep on liis property '.vhen he saw Stokes stooping over a sack. He ran away carrying a rifle. Witness later found the carcase of a lamb in the sack. Detective Murray said that the lamb had Veen shot and the bullet in the head cf the lamb corns;) .-ided with the one which would be fired by the rifleowned by accused. The magistrate said that lie was convinced that Stokes had killed the lamb.

An increase in rates of pay and a considerable number of alterations to the terms of the existing award weic sought by tlio Wellington Electrical Workers’ Union at a Concilliation Council meeting in Wellington yesterday. The Conciliation Commissioner, Mr. P. Hally, presided. The union was represented by Messrs. C. S. Cowic, A. Curlew, and H. Stowers. The employers’ representatives were Messrs. C. Camp, 11. Keenan, and G. Lauchlan. Mr. W. J. Mountjoy appeared as agent, for the employers, and Mr. H. Swindell acted for the workers. The business was taken in committee and at the conclusion of proceedings the commissioner said considerable progress had been made, although nothing definite had been arranged. He was hopeful that at the conference to-day the parties would be able to arrive at an agieeinent.

The steam yacht, Nalilin, in which Lady Yule and her daughter, Miss Gladys Yule, have come to New Zealand for fishing and sight-seeing, arrived at Russell from Hobart on Saturday. The Nalilin is 312 ft. long, draws 14ft. (tin., and has a cruising speed of 17 knotsh. Her cabins and general appointment are most luxurious. After Lady Yule and her daughter have fished at the bay they will proceed to Auckland and go on to Taupo for some trout fishing in the Tongariro River. In the South Island they will visit Mount Cook and then walk over the Te Anau-Milford track. The yacht will be waiting for them in Milford Sound, and in her they will visit Dusky Sound and Doubtful Sound, and then return to Wellington. Lady rule is the widow of Sir David Yule, of India, a merchant who was described as probably the wealthiest man in the British Empire.

Notice of motion that the Tararua Power Board considers the question of reducing its personnel to five members, one from each constituent district, has been given by Mr. W. Simpson. The matter will be discussed at the next meeting of the board.

A Roxburgh farmer who was in Dunedin the other day, said that lie was forced to sell big, firm cherries at 3d a lb —a price which merely paid the expense of picking and packing. In Dunedin he saw exactly the same kind of eherrie (perhaps they were from his own orchard) selling at 1/6 a lb. There certainly does seem an unreasonably big jump from 3d to 1/6, and even if this should indicate a sharply-defined and more or less isolated example of profiteering, a system of marketing which makes such a state of affairs possible should be investigated and overhauled.