LOCAL AND GENERAL

Chronicle (Levin), 14 January 1948, Page 4

LOCAL AND GENERAL

Elderly Man's Death Mr. ' Robert Wilson, an elderly man, of Whakatane, who was .visiting Dunedin for the New Zealand bowling tournament died suddenly in his sleep on „Monday night. Death was apparently from natural causes. Snow On Egmont A light fall of snow on the upper slopes of Mount Egmont accompanied a return to cooler temperatures tliroughout the province during the weekend. It was the .latest summer snowfall recorded for many years. Heavy rain showers, however, -soon washe'd away mqst of the fall. Grass Fire . High grass in a sectlon between "The Chronicle" office and Ward's cycle shop, Oxford Street, Levin, caught fire this niorning. ' Though the alarm was not sounded, the fire engine arrived at the scene and, under the' direction of Superintendent W. S. Salmons, hoses were used to spray the walls of adjacent buildings and keep the fire in check. Millions For Hospitals Since the first New South Wales State lottery was drawn — in August, 1931— tens of thousands of Australians have collectively received financial windfalls from Lady Luck to the tune of about £24,750,000 in lottery prize-money. Iti that period more than 1530 lotteries have been drawn and exclusive of all prizes and expenses there has been a profit' of more than £14,250,000, most of which has been directed to hospitals and cha-rities. Recprd Apple Prices With the new retail price of 26s a case announced yesterday Hawke's Bay apples have reached the highest price on record. The wholesale "price has been fixed at 21s 9d a casey-.and consumers will pay 9d a pound in the shops. The new price is a result of the removal of subsidies and follows an agreement between the New Zealand Fruitgrowers' Federation and the Government. It is expected that the price will fall when Gravensteins begin to mature next week. Captnre Of Ruapekapeka Pa\ One hundred and two years ago, on January 11, 1846, Ruapekapeka Pa, the last stronghol'd of Hone Heke and Kawiti, in the northern war of 1845-46, was captured by British-troops. After Imperial solpas at Okaihau and Ohaewai, Sir diers had unsuccessfully attacked George Grey, who was then Governor, organised a large force to attack Ruapekapeka, "The Bat's Nest." During a heavy bombardment from the Governor's men, Heke retired with his force to the bush. It was discovered next day that the pa was weakly held and it was captured without resistance. The fall of this fortification ended the war. Bad Road For Punctures Gonsidered one of the worst roads in the district for punctures, the road leading to the Wanganui Airport has just been swept by the Public Works Department's magnetic truck. In a lehgth'of one and a-half miles, the truck picked up 88 pounds of iron and steel, most of which would be capable of causing punctures. Trucks conveying rubbish to the dump- on Landguard Bluff drop pieces of metal and other foreign objects on the road and these are churned up into small pieces which cause punctures. Of the 88 pounds of metal picked up- there was a large proportion of nails, screws, bolts, and pieces of cars. The truck will be based in wanganui for about fiye weeks, durihg which time it will sweep the main road to Patea, the road to Marton, and highways as far north as National Park.