LOCAL & GENERAL.

Wairarapa Daily Times, 30 June 1936, Page 4

LOCAL & GENERAL.

The price of gold in London yesterday was £6/18/84 an ounce. A children’s plain and fancy dress party will be held in the Parish Hall on Saturday, 4th July, from 2.30 to 5 p.m. In London yesterday U.S.A. currency, in relation to sterling, -was quoted at 5.02 5-8 dollars and French currency at 75 13-16 francs. The Okarito Five Mile Beach Gold Dredging Co., Ltd., reports that the wasli-up for the week ended on Saturday was 13 ounces for 130 hours ’ dredging.

Leaving the Snow River Camp, in the Takaka district, for the Anatoki hills on 27th April last, Allan Cameron, gold prospector, has not been heard of since, and an intensive search which was carried out for him has now been abandoned. Mr Cameron, in his search for gold, set out from the camp on his lone quest, with only sufficient provisions to last him a few days. The whole countryside where it was thought lie might be was thoroughly but.unsuccessfully combed by search parties, all of which have since been recalled. The missing man’s mother is Mrs J. Stuart, Main Road, Day’s Bay’, Wellington.

Tavo American sailors Avho missed their ship, the Mariposa, Avh.en she sailed on Saturday afternoon, and avlio Avere rescued from the harbour, Avere charged in the Auckland Magistrate’s Court yesterday A\itli drunkenness,- The police said that the men arrived at the Avharf just in time to see the ship sailing. One fell into the harbour and the other drved to liis assistance. Both Avere rescued with some difficulty. Arrangements had been made by the company to send the men to America by the Golden State Avhich left yesterday. Both defendants were convicted and ordered to pay costs and taxi hire.

OAving to an urgent public engagement, the Minister of Public Works, Hon. It. Semple, Avill be unable to leave Wellington to-day for Motueka, Avhere 'he proposes to address a public meeting regarding the action of the •Motueka branch of the Noav Zealand Workers’ Union in condemning the re-cently-made Public Works agreement. The Minister has postponed his visit until to-morroAV, Avhen he Avill leave for Nelson by aeroplane and address a meeting at Motueka in the evening. Mr Semple Avill return from Nelson on Thursday and the folloAving day Avill leave by train for Auckland. His visit to that city will be brief and subsequently ho Avill travel to North Auckland to inspect the abandoned Dargaville railway.

Mr. John Farrell, representative for J. C. Williamson, Ltd., arrived in Masterton yesterday to complete arrangements for the production of “Fresh Fields,” to be staged in the Regent Theatre on Thursday, 9th July.

The following runs have been arranged by the Wairarapa Paper Chase Club : : —4th July, Waiteko; 15th July, Mr R. D. Perry’s, Matahiwi; 18th July, Carrington; 25th July, point to point, Morison’s Bush.

With a piece of string tied tightly round his throat and thence to the foot of the bed, Charles Frederick Williams, aged 76, married, was found strangled at Picton yesterday morning. The discovery was made by his landlady when she went to call Williams. The deceased left a note indicating his intention to commit suicide.

The body of a single man, Rangi Gage, aged 24, was found on Saturday in a vacant section in Ellis Street, Franlrton, with a gunshot wound in the head and with a shotgun clasped in one hand. The deceased was a- labourer employed at Te Awamutu, and early in the evening had visited friends in Frankton. Shortly after he left a shot was heard.

A resident of Khandallali, John Arthur Meek, aged 36 years, was found dead in a bath at his home at an early hour yesterday morning. Mr Meek went to the bathroom for the purpose of having a bath before retiring shortly before midnight on Sunday, and half an hour later the discovery of his death was made. He was living with hi® parents, Mr and Mrs Edward Meek, Whitu Street, Khandallali.

A somewhat. serious accident which resulted in five persons being admitted to the Balclutlia Hospital occurred near that township early on Sunday morning when a car returning from a dance and containing three men and three hospital nurses swerved over a bank in avoiding pedestrians. A. B. Daw-on received head injuries, C. Barnett injuries to the back and ear, Nurse de Beer a broken leg, Nurse Lind a facial injury, and Nurse Carson a minor injury. The- condition of all the patients is satisfactory. The Hon. F. Jones, Postmaster-Gen-eral, stated yesterday that a return of radio licences in force on 31st May demonstrates further substantial increases, particularly in the number of listeners ’ licences. The grand total, has now reached 200,369, which is 40,697 greater than at the corresponding date last year. Receiving licences total 197,988, having increased by 40,480 and there are in addition 1076 dealers’, 870 experimental (amateur), 2 experimental research, 5 special, 407 free and 21 broadcasting licence®. It is interesting to note also that the rate of increase in radio licences has accelerated during recent mOnthsr. Between 31st March and 31st May last year listeners ’ licences increased by 5019. This year the corresponding increase is-6.149.

“The question of whether the Government places a duty or imposes an embargo on imported coal will be determined by the attitude of gas companies and users of bituminous coal,” .said the Minister of Mines (the Hon. P. C: Webb) in an interview yesterday morning. The Minister expressed strong dissatisfaction with the attitude of graingrowers "who used imported coal for their threshing machines while enjoying full protection for their own industry. “It seems incredible to me, ’’ lie said-, ‘ ‘ that a specially protected industry such as wheat-growing should continue to make fairly extensive use of coal which pays no duty. There is not an element of excuse for the use of imported coal in threshing machines.” Gas companies had come a fair distance towards the meeting of the request that, they should use New Zealand coal exclusively, but ho was not satisfied with their response. He knew of consumers who could use still larger quantities of New Zealand coal and upon their attitude would depend the question of what action the Government would take in connection with imported coal. Early on Saturday morning a number of members of the K (Wairarapa) Squadron, of the Legion of Frontiersmen, under the leadership of Lieut. Wright, proceeded by car to Wanganui to - attend the annual legion conference at that centre. The conference was opened by the Deputy-Mayor, -who expressed his -pleasure in seeing such a fine body of men, representing an organisation standing .for self sacrifice and service to the community. Following the conference the annual reuni n was. held, Whore musical items and various reminiscences made the evening pass very quickly. On Sunday morning 120 Frontiersmen assembled at Victoria Hall for a church parade’. Marching to St. Hill Street, tho Legion linked up with tlie band, St. John Ambulance Brigade, and other kindred units. Headed by the band, the parade marched along the avenue .to the Anglican, Church, where a • special Frontiersmen service was held, and the presentation of colours took place. Later the parade proceeded to the War Memorial, on which was placed a wreath from the Legion.

The Mariposa,, from, Auckland, arrived at Suva this'morhing at 8.30 c ’clock.

The Wellington Education Board lias made the following appointments: — Miss R. E. Edge, of the relieving staff, Waingawa, as sole teacher. Mr F. Dyer, sole teacher, Te Wliarau, to assistant, Clyde Quay. Miss C. G. Smith, assistant, Karori West, to assist, Greytown. Miss M. P. Mile's, sole teacher, Rongokokako, to assistant, Newtown. Mrs C. R. McFarland has been appointed sole teacher at Ihuraua.

The building of the Mohaka viaduct, the biggest task to be undertaken in the reinstatement of the East Coast railway, lias been started. Spanning the Mohaka Gorge for a distance of 908 ft., and at a height of 310 ft. above the river, this huge steelwork trestle will be the largest railway bridge in the Southern Hemisphere. Providing no unforeseen difficulties occur,'it -will take from 12 to 14 months to build, and when the work is well under way about 60 men will be employed, skilled in this particular class of work.

“Most people in New Zealand die between 35 and 40, then they live on as corpses for another 40 years,” declared the Rev. John Paterson, of Wanganui, when speaking to a youth meeting at St. Andrews’ yesterday.. He spoke of mental and spiritual decay, of ’ those who lost the spirit of adventure, stopped learning, and lost their grip of life. “For God’s sake, if there are any of the older people here who 1 died at that age, let Him take hold of you and resurrect you. The greatest encumbrance to life are these dead people who won’t get buried,” added the speaker. A record of over forty-one years of cm linuous service in the New Zealand Police Force will be concluded to-no rrow when, at liis own request, Mr W. G. Wohlmann, M.V.0., 1.5. Q., Commissioner of Police, will retire. Now that Mr Wohlmann’s three months’ leave of nhsrrce, since he actually relinquished official duties, has expired the Government will probably take early steps to appoint a permanent head of the Police Force. It is believed that Mr D. Cummings, Superintendent of Police at Welling! m, and formerly of Masterton, is certain to he announced as Mr Wohlmaiui’s ruccessor.

The Minister of Railways (the Hon. D. G. Sullivan), accompanied by Messrs G. 11. Mackley, General Manager, A. W. Wellsted, commercial manager, and G. G. Stewart, publicity manager, arrived at Tauranga. on the rail-car Maahunui at 8.40 o’clock on Sunday night/ having left New Plymouth at 8 o’clock that morning. The journey was made via Stratford and Whangamomona and stops were made at several stations en route, where crowds gathered. The actual running time for the journey of 310 miles was nine hours. Yesterday the Minister and a party proceeded to the railhead at Taneatua in the rail-ear,' thence by motor-ears' to Opotiki and Whakatane, returning to Tauranga last evening. They leave to-day for Tham s and Rotorua.

Members of the Hawke’s Bay Woolbrokers’ Association attended a dinner held at the Hawke’s Bay Club in Napier on Friday evening in honour of Mr A. T. Spain, who is retiring from the position of manager of the New Zealand Loan and Mercantile Agency Co., Ltd. Several speeches were made, and Mr J. S. McLeod, who presided, presented Mr Spain with a golf bag and a set of steel-shafted clubs. A gift of a silver fruit dish was also made to Mrs Spain. At the end of 48 years of service to the New Zealand Loan and Mercantile Agency Co., Ltd., Mr A. T. Spain will retire to-morrow from liis position as manager of the Hawke’s Bay branch. He has served the company in Oamaru, Feilding, Masterton, Gisborne, Napier and Hastings.

Fulfilment of the Labour Government’s pre-election promise to cancel all interest on earthquake rehabilitation loans is promised by the Prime Minister, the Rt. Hon. M, J. Savage. Prior te the election the previous Government agreed te charge ne interest on these loans for the next three years, but, in response to representations which were made to him, Mr Savage prior to 1 the election said in reply to a letter from Mr Barnard, the member for Napier: “I am definitely of opinion that a Labour Government could not do less than to (1) make all rehabilitation loans! to private persons wholly free'of interest; and (2) free the Napier Qity Council from its present liability to repay £IOI,OOO owing to the Government in respect of a loan made to the council for the purpose of restoring public services.”