LOCAL & GENERAL.

Wairarapa Daily Times, 14 June 1933, Page 4

LOCAL & GENERAL.

In the championship huntavray event at the North Island 1 sheep dog trials J. D onnelly is Jack, 43 poin ts, Avas first; G. Thompson’s Hinkler, 42 points. 2; F. 'Gri.ee’s Smoko, 414 points, 3; and P. G. McKenzie’s Scott, 40 points, 4.

Playing in the Y.M.C.A. Billiards and Snooker competition last night ■the Soldiers’ Club defeated Daniells by 7 games to 3. The following are the results, Soldiers’ Club players mentioned first in every case: —Billiards 1 : — Rawlins lost 'to Williams; Bennett beat Marigold; Hope beat Allan; Bannister beat Learmontih; Diekason beat Mills. Snooker: Eawlins beat Williams; Bennett lost to Marigold; Hope beat Allan; Bannister beat Learm-onth; Dicka®on lost to Mills. Tomorrow night Oddfellows will play Carriers’. Hanging from one of the trees in the town belt, near Alexander Road, Kilbimie (Wellington), the body of a man, later identified as Robert Ruxton Letes, of 130 Owen Street, was found shortly before five o’clock last evening. The body was first noticed by .the caretaker of the town belt reserve', Mr Kettle, who communicated with the 1 police, and it was removed to the morgue. The man (apparently had been dead for about 24 hours. Deceased, who is described a,s a librarian, was about 60 years of age.

The Southland Electric Power Board yesterday decided to undertake a test case in the King’s Bench Division in London to ascertain whether it can make interest payments on its London loans in New Zealand currency. In the evegjt -of tire board succeeding, it will be freed from* the expense of the present exchange rate of 25 per cent. The legality of such action li-ad been (considered by tli© board previously, and it was at the request of the Minister of Finance that the decision to undertake a case was reached. It is understood that Sir- Gerald Hurst, K.C., will represent the board'.

Expenditure by the Masterton County Council during the past month on wages to unemployed relief workers amounted to £l4 76/4/6. The amount was mode up as follows: —Road works,, £2-S'4/2/6; farm works, £986/3/8; single men’s camps, £205/18/4. Since Ist April, 1933, the council has expended on wages to relief workers a total of £3012/13/9. A total of 320 men wer-ei engaged on relief works bv the county last month, as compared with 260 for the previous month. The men were as follows: —Road works, 7S; farm works, 138; single men’s camps, 104. A party of 20 men arrived from Wellington to-day and went into the Blnirlogiei and Stronvar camps.

Totara Lodge No. 3 United Ancient Order -of Druids met at Carterton on Monday night last, there being a large attendance including visitors from Stonehenge Lodge, Masterton. District President, Bro. J. Donovan, installed the newly-elected officers into office, and received a vote of thank's and appreciation for the able manner be carried out his duties. Three new benefit members were initiated into the Order, and one member accepted by clearance. pay and amounting to £lB/18/10 were passed, including one maternity allowance. All arrangements f-or the Jubilee 'social in the' King’s Theatre on Saturday, 17th June, were concluded, and four replies received to invitations. A large and representative gathering is assured. The District President, on behalf of the Lodge, presented a Past Arch Cellar and Diploma to P.A. Bro. Harold Hodder,

Authority was received, at ye-ster-d a yds. meeting of the, Masterton County Council, to proceed with the consolidation and preparation of the 365 chains •of the Wellington-Napier Main Highway (Opaki-Mt. Bruce section) in readiness for sealing , during the eoniing paving season. The Clerk (Mr J. C. D. •Mackley) said that-the •,chairman, Overseer and: himself had interviewed the District Engineer and certain proposal® for the work had been agreed upon and were to be submitted to the Main Highways Board. They had subsequentlv been informed that the -matter would have to stand over until after the meeting of the board next week. The amount of the preferential subsidy to be paid .would bo decided at that meeting. .Cr. 'H. 11. Mawl-ey said that the work should be proceeded with -as soc-n as possible in order to obtain the benefit of the winter rains. The chairman, Cr. W. I. Armstrong, said that it was only a question of •ascertaining what subsidy would be received. If it was £2 to £1 instead of £3 to £l, tli-e cost t,e the council would be increased by £3OO. It was resolved that the work be put in hand ns soon as authority regarding the amount of subsidy had been received.

A frost- of 5.6 degrees was registered in Master,ton this morning. . At the Wellington S.M. Court three Chinese charged with having k'ept premises as common gaming houses were fined £4O each.

A satisfactory industrial agreement has been reached in respect to enginedrivers and mechanics employed in the West Coast coal mines. The agreement will operate immediately and will continue iu force until the end of next January. The Ladies’ Auxiliary of the Y.M.C.A. will hold a .social afternoon at the Y.M.C.A. to-morrow afternoon. A very attractive musical programme has been arranged. An admission charge of 1/will be made. The proceeds will goto wards the local Y.M.C.A. funds.

The Crown will benefit to the extent of £S77 as a result of last Friday’s raid on the inten-Oolonial liner Wanganella, for, in addition to £727 in -silver which was found on board, and which has been forfeited, four men have been fined sums totalling £l5O for attempting to export silver coin above 'the value permitted by the coin silver regulations ofi 1931.

Motor drivers’ licenses in the Carterton district show a decline this year as compared with last year’s figures. In 1932 the Borough Council issued 364 licenses, and to date 224 as compared with. 228 at the same date in 1932. The Wairarapa South County Council issued ■a total of 727 licenses last year, to date 501. Compared with the same period in 1932, the figures were 1 573. The thickest fog experienced for many years obscured Christchurch on Monday might and held up all traffic considerably. 'Some motor drivers became hopelessly confused and left their cars until the conditions improved. After the theatre performances trams had to proceed at a snail’s pace through dense billowing clouds. There was a, large attendance at last night’s W.E.A. address by Mr C. W. Kerry, who continued his series of lectures on musical appreciation. Last night Mr Kerry dealt with the form and structure of musical composition. He held the attention of his audience throughout and his address was very much appreciated. Mr 11. C. Robinson presided. > - A Paris cable states that the annual meeting of the Suez Canal Company decided to ignore the demands to reduce the canal rates. The Marquis de Vogue, -in his presidential address, said that criticisms made by persons without qualifications or mandate were only misleading to the public.

A ■well-attended meeting of the W.C.T.U. was held in the Methodist Schoolroom yesterday afternoon. _ Mrs Jansen opened the meeting, a Scripture reading and prayer following. Two solos rendered by Miss Jones were very much enjoyed. Mrs Stockwell gave a very interesting and helpful talk on inward stillness. On the motion of Mrs Cocker,, seconded by Mrs Jansen, the following resolution was carried: — “That this meeting of the Masterton Women’s Christian Temperance Union is strongly opposed to any attempt to extend the hours of -selling intoxicating liquor and advocates the closing of hotel bars on half holidays when other businesses are closed.’ ’ The resolution was carried unanimously. Afternoon tea was served by, the social committee.

There was an .interesting story attached to the marketing of -one consignment of shorn fat lambs sold at the weekly metropolitan market at Addington last week. They were on account of Mr R. Ritchie, of Bruce Bay, and came from the furthermost southern point on the West . Coast, where lambs are fattened for Canterbury and overseas markets. They had travelled more than 330 miles. To bring them to Addington, Mr Ritchie had to drive them for two days, covering about 23 miles in -that time, and swimming them over three rivers, to reach Weheka. From Weheka they were conveyed 123 miles by motor-lorry- to Ross —-the railheadI—'and 1 —'and trucked from there to Ad-

dington. The greater part of a week was occupied in transit, and the cost was about 5/- a .head. The line comprised 158 head, and they were penned on Wednesday in excellent condition. At auction they brought from 12/10 to 16/7 a head, and the line averaged 14/3. Only four other lines in the market brought 'a higher figure. Information concerning the issue of working boots to relief workers, who have been engaged on rationed work under the No. 5 Scheme for a period of 26 or morel consecutive weeks, was received at yesterday’s meeting of the Masterton County Council from the Commissioner of Unemployment. The co-operation of the council in the distribution of the boots Avas also solicited. On the motion of the chairman, Or. Armstrong, it Avas decided' that the request be given effect to. The one hitch in the scheme, obserA’ed, Cr. Lee, AV-as that- relief Avorkers engaged under the farm schemes Av-er-e not given boots. The Clerk (Mr J. C. D. Mackley) said that aa’US not so. He bad been informed that men Avorking under the No. 5 Scheme avoulcL be given the boots first and the men from the farms would then be considered. Or. Lee said that a farm labourer had informt'd him that an application made by him for an issue of boots had been declined. Councillors considered Jha-t any -such discrimination Avas exeadnuely unfair and it Avas decided to investigate the position. n , l '■ '

A meeting of the'Masterton Ladies’ Auxiliary of the Navy League avus held yesterday. There were present: —Mesdames R. E. Mauns-qll, E. G. Eton, W. G. Lamb, S. J. Gill, T. Jordan, J. Y. Gordon, and the Misses McLaren, Cameron and B. Valla nee. Apologies for absence were receiA’-ed from Mc-sdames A. W. Don, S. R. Gawith, R. C. Drummond, H. Mackenzie .Douglas, A. Caselberg. About seventy garments Avere received for the relief df distress in Masterton and it Avas decided to hand tho Avonren’s and children’s clothing to the Taa'o Garment Society, and the men’s to the Salvation Army for distribution to necessitous cases. A circular Avas received from Wellington giving an 'account of the successful Navy Week 'held recently and' setting forth the aims of the Navy League. It was decided to obtain 1 a supply of circulars for the- information of members in Masterton. A circular from the Wellington branch stated that Captain Taprell Doriing, Avell-known as a Avrit-er of naval stories -under the penname of “Taffrail,” Avould be arriA-ing in Auckland on 19th December next and Avould be touring tli-e Dominion. Captain Doriing is one of the NaA-y League lecturers in England and the General Secretary had written to sav that some of the Ncav Zealand branches might like to arrange a lecture.

The Epiphany Social Club Avill hold a dance in the Epiphany Hall to-inor-.toav nigh-t. The rabbit industry lias now reached such a profitable basis in New. Zealand that it is no longer necessary to subsidise labour for rabbit trapping. The Masterton Football Club Avil-1 hold a dance in the Masonic Hall on Saturday next. The- music Avill be supplied by Minifie’s Orchestra.

Writing from Honolulu a Levin resident- says:—“We now have beer in Honolulu, not A'ery strong; a light lager, but it- Avill save a lot of hard drinking. There are no public saloons; the beer is sold in restaurants, grocery .stores and Avhoiesale houses in the same -way as tea and sugar are purchased by the puOli-c.”

An unusual case \A-as decided by Mr R. M. Watson, S.M., at the Feilding Magistrate’s Court yesterday. Hector Pearson, owner of a lorry, -and his two employees, 11. 13owe and W. Berring-t-on, Avero charged Avith a breach of the luav regarding AA-orldng on Anzac Day. Sergeant Angland stated that defendants’ tAvo employees had loaded lorries Avitli AAmol and driven to Wellington on Anzae Day. Defendants’ solicitor, Mr T. Pagan,* pleaded guilty for his clients, and said that all defendants were returned soldiers. They had no desire to be disrespectful to the day. They received the rush order to convey 100 bales to- Wellington to catch the Ma-ta-roa. It Avas very necessary for the oavuers of the wool that it should reach this boat. The Magistrate explained that the law took circumstances into consideration and fined each defendant £l.