LOCAL AND GENERAL

Chronicle (Levin), 2 August 1947, Page 4

LOCAL AND GENERAL

Chimney Fire Although only a chimney fire, the sounding of the fire siren about 8 p.m. last night signalled a diversion for late night shoppers and the residents of Weraroa. The chimney was one in the residence of Mrs. E. Webber, Mam Road, Weraroa, and when the brigade arrived a long trail of sparks was issuing from it. The outbreak'was extinguished with wet sacks. Shunter Killed A railways employee died at Invercargill yesterday as the result of injuries suffered during shunting operations in the yards. He was Mr. John Robert Kelly, aged 32, of Invercargill. While working on a rake of trucks Mr. Kelly's foot became caught in the points and before he could get clear two trucks erushed his legs. Mr. Kelly was a returned serviceman and leaves a wife and five children. Worthy Tribute "I think that Mr. E. B. Levy, of Palmerston North, is one of the most capable men in the Dominion and his evidence on pastures would be extremely valuable," said Mr. C. C. Holmes, of Otaki, when he Was speaking at a meeting this week of the Manawatu executive of the meat and wool section of Federated Farmers, on the proposed Royal Commission on the sheep industry. Flying to the Races No mere car and boat trip would satisfy four members of the Middle Districts Aero Club when they wished to visit Christchurch for the races. ' Yesterday morning they took off in the club's Percival Procter for the South Island for a day at the track. They were Messrs J. Bremner (Taihape), R. D. Ross, J. Bowman and S. D. Hammond .Hunterville). They expect to return to Palmerston North tomorrow morning. "Miss New Zealand" Quest A suggestion that Levin might have a candidate who could be sponsored for the "Miss New- Zealand" quest announced last week by the Royal Society of St. George in Wellington has been made by the society's president, Mr. Hunt, in a communication . to the Mayor, Mr. H. B. Burdekin. The object of the quefct is to assist in providing food for Britain. Mr. Burdekin has suggested that if any organisation desires to sponsor a candidate, itcommunicate with him and full details of the campaign will then be obtained.

Deteriorated Lands A recent tour of the Manawatu had convinced him that the hill country was going back and back and immediate steps to arrest the deterioration in lands was imperative, said Mr. C. C. Holmes* at a meeting of the"' Manawatu executive of the meat and wool section of Federated Farmers this week. The reasons he suggested were the lack of men and material and the high cost of everything. The farmers of the Dominion, he averred, were in no position to compete with the secondary industries from the wages point of view and, .although there was a great deal of deferred maintenance, he thought that only about three per cent. of them had any financial reserve.