LOCAL & GENERAL.

Wairarapa Daily Times, 22 February 1935, Page 4

LOCAL & GENERAL.

At the Pahiatua swimming sports J. Barnes, of Masterton, was second w the 220yds handicap, and was unplaced in the 66 2-3yds handicap, though he won his heat.

The Kaituna-Fcrnridgc Women’s Institute garden party, which was postponed from last Saturday, will bo held to-morrow, weather permitting, at the residence of Air and Airs P. R- A\ rich, “Elmwood,” Upper Plain.

L. Hack, of Masterton, has been included in the field to meet the English half-miler, J. Y. Powell, in the 880 yards event at AVellington to-morrow. The meeting at which the visiting Brittisli and Finnish athletes will appear promises to provide one of the finest athletic attractions seen in Wellington for a long time.

Fireman 11. Braggins, of the Alasterton Fire Brigade, has been selected to represent Alasterton at the Blenheim demonstration. In addition to being a delegates, Fireman Braggins will also be one of the judges. Up to this year Fireman Braggins has played an active part in demonstrations, big and small, for the local teams, and. has always assisted with the training. This occasion, is the first for many years on which the Alasterton Fire Brigade has not had a team to compete at the demonstration.

Splendid progress is being made with the training of the boys at Penrose under the Employment Committee’s scheme and many of the lads appear to bo adapting themselves to the work remarkably well. Yesterday, for instance, they engaged in ploughing operations, even a six-horse team being brought into use. To-day will be devoted to lectures. This morning Mr S. Freeman, of the Agricultural Department, spoke to the girls on fertilisers and also on pastures, while this afternoon, the Government poultry expert, Mr F. C. Brown, will have something interesting to say on poultry management. At the recent meeting of the Man-, agement Committee of the Methodist Children’s Home there were present: — Messrs J. IT. ITandyside (chairman), A. IT. Danicll, W. 11. Judd, IT. S. Tate, the Bov. J. Cocker (secretary-manager), Bevs. G. F. Stockweli, V. B. Jamieson; Mesdames J. Cocker, J. Elliott and A. Pragncll and Miss Benton. Mr Cocker reported that during the past year 11 boys and girls had left the Home and that satisfactory reports had been re■ceived of their work. Friends had generously offered hospitality to the boys and girls during the holidays, with the result that they had all been out of the Home and the members of the staff had also been able to take an enjoyable holiday. One of the boys had become a pupil at the High School. Mr Cocker also reported that Mr Walter Churchill, a member of the first family admitted to the Home, had been married. The committee decided to send Mr Churchill their hearty congratulations. A letter was received from a Palmerston North firm of solicitors stating that under the will of the late Mr John Wakeliam a sum of £250 had been left to the Home. Many gifts, it was reported, had been received during the Christmas season, the income being £233. This included Christmas collections in a number of churches.

The Knox Sunday School picnic, which was arranged for to-morrow, has been postponed, on account of the unfavourable weather report, until Saturday, 2nd March. The judging at the Waingawa Works of the porkers entered in class 245 at the Masterton Show (two porkers, 60 to 801bs. dead weight) took place yesterday. Messrs Thomas Bortliwick and Sons donated a cup for this class, to bo awarded on their judging at the works. The winner of the trophy receives a miniature cup. The results are: Pen No. 37, W. R. Daysh 1 (second at show); E. A. Tozer 2 (unplaced at show); J. Williams 3 (first at show). In regard to the woolpack complaint, Sir Alexander Roberts, chairman of directors of Now Zealand Woolpack and Textiles, Ltd., said that a vast improvement has been made in packs for the 1935-36 season. Samples submitted to the New Zealand Woolbrokers’ Association were definitely approved by that body. Admittedly the packs were made of a hard fibre, flax being a hard fibre, but he contended that the fibre when cut would not fly any more than jute fibre.

A meeting of the Masterton West School Committee was held last night, Air S. E. Taylor presiding in the absence of the chairman, Air J. Y. Gordon. There were also present: —Alessrs Y. E. Jones, W. Batty, E. R. Rogers, .T. A. Russell and the headmaster, Air L. J. Alark. Accounts totalling £25/9/7 were passed. The headmaster reported a roll number of 260 at the Alain School and 80 at the side school, making a total of 340. A great deal of sickness was prevalent. Alessrs L. J. Alark (headmaster) and W. A 7. Aladden (secretary) were appointed trustees of the school’s special Savings Bank Account. The headmaster reported that the swimming sports had been postponed on account of sickness.

“It is felt that the past year marked a new era in the history of the association,” states the annual report of the Wairarapa nigh School Old Boys’ Association, which is to be presented at the annual meeting next Monday

evening. The association was revived last June, since when it has made steady progress, the membership having greatly increased. The growth of the Wellington branch of the association, which is becoming very strong indeed, is also mentioned in the report, which states that “the association has never had the backing of a constitution.” This question has been given much consideration, with the result that a constitution has now been drawn up. The matter of incorporation has also been fully discussed by the present executive which recommends it. The report also states the present finances of the association are in a. healthy position, there being a credit balance of a little over £l4. “With a position such as this it will be possible to do more toward furthering the aims of the outgoing committee eventually to place the association on a stable basis.” Dissatisfaction expressed in some quarters at the delay that has taken place in liberating and distributing in the Wairarapa the insect enemy of the white butterfly, pteromalus puparum, appears to have been shared by that insect itself. At all events pteromalus puparum has come to the Wairarapa on its own. account, spreading southward from Hawke’s Bay, where supplies were liberated in 1933 and 1934, and is now present in many parts of this district. While pteromalus puparum appears already to be well established throughout the district, some thousands of the insects have been entrusted by the Department of Agriculture Entomologist, Air J. Aluggeridgo, to Mr S. Freeman, Fields Inspector. These supplies will be distributed to the best advantage to a number of farmers who have offered to co-operate in the campaign against the white butterfly. Air Muggeridge, who made a tour of the Wairarapa yesterday, is of opinion that with these additional liberations, pteromalus puparum will be well established in this district by next season. The enemy of the white butterfly is a small insect, not much bigger than a sandfly. Laying its eggs in the clirysallis of the white butterfly, it takes heavy toll of the succeeding generations of the larger insect during the summer season.