LOCAL AND GENERAL

Wairarapa Times-Age, 28 April 1938, Page 6

LOCAL AND GENERAL

Case of Scarlet Fever. A scarlet fever case in Masterton was reported to the borough sanitary inspector this week. School Equipment Free. The Wellington Education Board at its meeting yesterday received advice from the Education Department that, in addition to the free supply of text books, the Minister of Education, Hon P. Fraser, has now approved of the-is-sue of geometrical instruments where necessary and classroom requisites to post-primary pupils whose parents or guardians are not in a position to afford their purchase. Trophies Cause 111-feeling. “There would be a much better standard of hockey in New Zealand if there were no trophies for competition,’ said Miss A. Yorston, replying to a suggestion by Mr D. E. Harwood at the annual meeting of the New Zealand Women’s Hockey Association that £lO be set aside each year for cups and trophies. "One has only to go to a tournament to see the bad feeling that has been created by the awarding of trophies. I should like to see them scrapped altogether.” Mrs H. Boulter pointed out that the All England Women’s Hockey Association had allowed the New Zealand association to retain the trophies in its possession only on the condition that they would not be replaced or added to.

Milk Bar at School. A novel scheme is in operation at the Riverton District High School, where a milk bar has been established and an appliance for mixing the milk installed. This was done with the permission of the Department of Education, on condition that the milk was pasteurised Pine Trees Bleed to Death. Settlers in the Lees Valley are concerned about a disease which is killing many of their pinus insignis trees. The affected trees bleed to death from no apparent cause. Although the disease attacks numbers of trees, it does not make a clean sweep through a whole belt, scattered trees escaping destruction. Examinations of affected trees have not given the Forestry Department any clue as to the nature of the disease, but it is thought that it is a fungoid growth. There have been isolated instances of the disease killing pine trees on the plains. Motorists’ Bargain. Parties of .Hastings and Napier residents caught on the wrong sides of the Waitangi Bridge when the collapse occurred on Monday afternoon, made a bargain which successfully disposed of the conveyance and over-night parking problems. Meeting on neutral territory, the new railway bridge, they discussed their respective positions and went back to their cars. A few minutes later the occupants of the car were seen to walk across the bridge and drive away in each others’ cars. A reunion will probably follow at a later and more convenient time, and the cars will then be returned to their correct owners.

Card Tournament. The Masterton Friendly Societies card tournament will commence on Wednesday, May 18. Use of Medicine. The increasing demand for medicine, not always in the best interests of the health of the community, was mentioned by Dr S. L. Ludbrook, giving evidence yesterday to the Select Committee on National Health and State Superannuation. “Surely the profession would not prescribe medicine if it were unnecessary?” said the Hon W. Nash. Dr Ludbrook: “Sometimes it is forced to. When a doctor enters practice, if he does not prescribe medicines he won’t get any patients.” (Laughter). Popularity of Badminton. Badminton has progressed to a remarkable degree during the past few seasons. The sport, however, has been handicapped by a lack of suitable halls, and associations have now to consider building their own halls. Last year Oamaru had the distinction of building the first real badminton hall in New Zealand. The Auckland association has a building scheme in hand, and the Wellington association has plans for a building estimated to cost about £lO,OOO.

Sport at Rotorua. “Examination of the reports of the conservator of fish and game and of the rangers shows that there should be some good sport available to sportsmen among the game birds of the Rotorua district for the shooting season to be opened next Monday,” said the Minister of Internal Affairs, Hon W. E. Parry, when referring in an interview yesterday to the prospects for the shooting in the Rotorua district this year. “Surveys of the wide area of the district have indicated that the birds liberated from the Ngongataha Game Farm after the close of last season have done well,” said the Minister. “Coupled with the information is the fact that there has been successful breeding among the birds liberated.” Firewood and Pumpkins. The flood waters in the Tutaekuri and Ngaruroro rivers brought to Napier’s back door the usual harvest of firewood, large quantities of which were washed up on Monday and Tuesday on the Marine Parade foreshore. Parties of men and boys were busily engaged with axes, carts and even motor trucks, collecting driftwood from the beach and transporting it to their homes. In addition to firewood, however', there was a rather unusual harvest to be gained by those who gathered on the beaches, for numbers of pumpkins, washed down from the farm lands through which the rivers flow, were deposited on the foreshore. Small boys staggering beneath the weight of pumpkins nearly as big as themselves provided a humorous spectacle. School Works Delayed.

- Complaints concerning delay on the part of the Education Department in carrying out school works claimed to be essential were made at yesterday’s meeting of the Wellington Education Board. It was decided to bring before the Minister of Education, Hon P. Fraser, the necessity of expediting the works. Mr A. Donald said it was unfair to the board to have to wait 12 months and more for replies to requests. Works were being held up without reasonable explanation, said Mr G. M. Henderson. The Minister had stated some time ago that money would be made available for necessary school works. The delay was not a question of shortage of money. It was decided to ask the Minister to hear a deputation on the subject. Apple’s Nutritive Value. From the dim .ages of the past, the apple has been celebrated in myth and story. The Norsemen believed it to be the rejuvenating food of their gods. The goddess, Iduna, kept a box of apples of which the gods, when they felt old age approaching, had only to taste to become young again. The apple’s nutritive value is due to its high percentage of sugar. Its phosphorous content, greater than that of any other fruit or vegetable, makes it valuable to brain work. It contains much iron which is so effective in the treatment of anemia. Hunter Appeal Case.

Opening in Wellington yesterday morning the case for Lady Hunter, respondent in the appeal from the judgment of Mr Justice Smith removing Cyril Paul Hunter and Thomas Percy Hunter from the trusteeship of the estate of her deceased husband, Sir George Hunter, Mr J. D. Willis submitted to the Court of Appeal that there was nothing against which an appeal lay. He pointed out that, since the action was one for removal of the trustees, the sole question for the Court of Appeal was whether the removal was justified, and yet Mr C. H. Weston, K.C., in opening his appeal had announced that his clients would not have the trusteeship back, Mr Willis submitted that, bearing those facts in mind, there was nothing against which to appeal, the whole hearing being abortive in view of the fact that the appeal was, in effect, against the judge’s reasons only.

Electoral Changes. Because of the changes in the boundaries of electoral districts made by the Representation Commissions last year, several representatives of existing electorates will contest new constituencies at the general election this year. The Oroua electorate, at present represented in the House of Representatives by the Hon J. G. Cobbe (Nationalist), has been merged into Manawatu, and Mr Cobbe will be the Nationalist candidate for that seat. A new electorate has been formed on the outskirts of Wellington, and this is to be known as Wellington Suburbs, and the present electoral district of that name will become Wellington West. Mr R. A. Wright (Independent.) is the sitting member for Wellington Suburbs, and it is his intention to contest the Wellington West electorate, which will embrace a substantial proportion of the area at present in Wellington Suburbs.

The annual meeting in connection with the Kaituna Hall will be held in the hall on Wednesday, May 4 at 7.30 p.m.