LOCAL AND GENERAL

Wairarapa Times-Age, 26 April 1938, Page 6

LOCAL AND GENERAL

» ♦ Waipukurau Earthquake A sharp earthquake shock was felt in Waipukurau at 12.45 a.m. yesterday. Wanganui Poppy Day. The total figures for Poppy Day in Wanganui and district are not yet available, but it is expected that the amount will exceed £3OO. Martha Gold Mine. A net profit of £100,427 is shown in the accounts of the Martha Gold Mining Co. (Waihi), Ltd, for the year ended December 31. This compares with £98,870 in the previous year. The directors have decided to pay a dividend of Is a share (sterling), making 2s a share unchanged for the year. Opossum Trapping. A close season for the trapping of opossums has been decided upon for this year, with effect throughout the Dominion. The decision of the Government is the outcome of the present depression in the fur trade, there being little or no sale for skins in the overseas markets, where, it is reported, exceptionally large stocks of skins arc held unsold by merchants. The Minister of Internal Affairs, the Hon W. E. Parry, stated at the week-end that an additional reason for the close season was that, with there being no market for skins, there would be the certain failures of trappers to recoup their licence fees and expenses if an open season were granted. A proviso in the decision come to covers the granting, on application, of permission to the occupier of a property to destroy opossums doing damage.

South Island Trunk Railway. Substantial progress is being made with the construction of the South Island Main Trunk Railway extension in the northern districts. Work is in hand over practically the whole route, a distance of 77 miles. The Minister of Public Works, the Hon. R. Semple, stated last evening that the work had been divided into two sections, the northern end extending from Wharanui to the Kahautara River, representing 471 miles, and the southern end, about 291 miles from the Kahautara River to Parnassus. KIATERE Harriers Dance. On Saturday evening the Kiatere Harrier Club held the opening dance of the season in the Arcade Hall. The gathering was a very successful one. visitors being from among other districts. New Plymouth and Wellington. The supper arrangements were in the hands of a capable ladies’ committee. The duties of M.'sC. were carried out by Messrs C. Bell and W. McDonald. The Blue River Dance Band supplied excellent music. In the afternoon the harriers and supporters gathered in full force at the showgrounds for the initial run of about five miles with a half mile run in. The competitors later gathered at the hall and enjoyed afternoon tea. W. McDonald won the run in, with A. Burns second and W. Burns third,

Aerodrome Activities. On Sunday Messrs M. L. Pirie and J. Register each flew from the Hood Aerodrome to Dannevirke, returning in the evening. Shooting Season. “The season for native and imported game this year will open next Monday, May 2. A two-month period for native game and three months for imported game will be observed, with a short session for pukeko from May 2 to 15. Sheep Farming in U.S.A. “Roosevelt is your Santa Claus — he’s helped all the world except the United States,” said Judge L. E. Armstrong, a Wyoming sheep-man, who is visiting New Zealand as a passenger on board the Franconia. He said that at present the sheep-farming business in America was in a bad way, hard hit by Australian and New Zealand competition. Rail Car and Cow Collide. A cow which was wandering on the railway line at Pigeon Bush on Saturday night, collided with a rail car. The latter was only slightly damaged and was able to resume its journey shortly after. The cow, however, had to be destroyed. No injury was suffered by the passengers. This is the second occasion within a month or so that a cow has been responsible for a rail-car mishap. Pattrick Memorial Fund.

The sum of £2O 13s 6d, contributed in Masterton and district to the fund which is being raised in order ot establish' a memorial to the late Miss A. Pattrick, former Director of Plunket Nursing, has been forwarded by the local hon. treasurer (Mrs S. L. P. Free) to the Dominion Treasurer of the fund (Mr E. W. Hunt), of Wellington. The form of the memorial is to be determined later, though the endowment of .a Karitane Hospital bed has been suggested. Any intending contributors to the fund who have not yet sent in their donations may still forward them to Mrs Free. Two Hundred Convictions. “Hello, I've heard that name before,” said the magistrate, Mr F. K. Hunt, when Daniel South admitted a charge at the Auckland S.M. Court on Saturday of having been drunk. He was fined £2, in default seven days' imprisonment. South denied a second charge of using obscene language, but was convicted and fined £5, in default 14 days’ imprisonment. “This makes 200 convictions against him,” said SubInspector Fox. The magistrate: “There is one thing, there is nothing like theft against him: only drink.”

Mauriceville School. A simple but impressive service, which will long live in the memory of those who attended, was held at the Mauriceville School, on Anzac Day, when Mr E. Cheetham addressed a considerable gathering of school children and their parents and friends. The customary Anzac hymns were sung and Richard Meredith read Psalm 46. The pupils recited verses from “To the Fallen” as wreaths were laid at the school memorial. Mr J. Milner presided in the unavoidable absence of Mr J. McGovern, chairman of the school committee. Too Often in Trouble.

Having put the measuring' rod of statistics on the young road users of New Zealand, the Transport Department has found evidence that they are keeping out or trouble a little more than they used to, but are still not careful enough. Figures relative to accidents.to persons under 20 years of age during the last nine months of 1937 have been issued, and seem to show a small general reduction in accidents to young pedestrians and cyclists, although a small increase in cyclist accidents occurred toward the end of the period. Motor-cyclists also became involved in more accidents toward the latter end of the period. The department estimates that when the statistics for the 12 months are completed, there will have been 1300 casualties, an average of 25 a week. It comments that, although the accidents to people under 20 are only 25 per cent, of the ■ total, “they are numerous enough to cause concern. Too many young people are acquiring bad road habits, which they will carry into adult life to increase the accident problem in later years.” Aviation Examination.

Mr R. L. McGregor, of Masterton. has received advice that he has passed the theory examination in connection with his B aviation licence. He will undergo the practical part of the examination at Wigram tomorrow. Par Foot column Provincial Page The Radio Ball, to be held in the Municipal Hall on Thursday next, offers unusual features for a thoroughly enjoyable evening. No expense has been spared to install a very efficient system to supply interlude music and a portion of the dance numbers. With Udy’s full orchestra of eight players, dancers will get all that could be desired of the best ballroom music. It will be of interest to the public to meet the guests of honour, as advertised on page one, who will be present from Auckland and Wellington, not to make speeches, but to meet the people personally.

Hockey at Wanganui. At the invitation of the Aramoho Ladies’ Hockey Club, members of the Excelsior Ladies’ Hockey Club (Masterton) journeyed to Wanganui last Saturday and were most hospitably entertained during the week-end by the Wanganui ladies and supporters. Masterton was left in torrential rain early on Saturday morning, but the further the party progressed the better the weather became, and pleasant sunshine greeted the visitors on their arrival at Wanganui about noon. The match between the respective clubs attracted a fair number of visitors, and considering that it was the first match either club had played this season, some very good form was shown. The first spell was very evenly contested, and ended with the score 1 all. In the second half, however, Excelsior got properly into their stride. Showing much better combination than their opponents, they eventually emerged victors by 5 goals to two, a score that would have been much more in their favour but for a wonderful display of goalkeeping by the Wanganui custodian. Sunday morning and afternoon were spent in sight-seeing, and the party returned to Masterton—and more rain—in the evening, greatly delighted with their outing A return visit by the Wanganui ladies will probably take place later in the season.

Cheshire is spending £lO.OOO this year in painting white lines on the roads.