LOCAL AND GENERAL

Wairarapa Times-Age, 15 July 1938, Page 4

LOCAL AND GENERAL

New Fire Station. The new Auckland Central Fire Station. to be built opposite the present premises in Pitt Street, will be one of the most modern and efficient stations in either Australia or New Zealand. The scheme, including the site, will cost about £lOO,OOO.

Match for Social Shield. The Catholic Club and the Waingawa Social Club met last night in a return challenge match for the shield donated for competition between the two clubs in billiards, snooker, table tennis and cards. The match resulted in a draw, 2J points each.

Rotary Club. A talkie film on “Farms of the Future,” was shown at yesterday’s luncheon of the Masterton Rotary Club by Rotarian P. F. Fagan. The film, which proved most interesting and informative, showed the various uses to which the soya bean could be utilised in industry. Rotarian Fagan was accorded a hearty vote of thanks. Mr R. J. Young was a visitor at the luncheon. Indoor Basketball.

Two games in the inter-house indoor bas.kctbal competition being held under the auspices of the Masterton Y.M.C.A. were played last night. The games resulted as follows:—C. Smith, Ltd. (Handy 9, Allan 6, Mason 9) 24 beat Harcombe’s (Morton 2) 2. Reliance (F. Bodie 4, W. Reynolds 13) 17 beat Hamill’s (Greagor 2, Dyer 6) 8.

Opera House Donation. Thanks were expressed at last night’s meeting of the Masterton Trust Lands Trust to the Health Camp Concert Party for a donation of £3 Is 3d to the Opera House Furnishing Fund. The chairman, Mr H. P. Hugo, said he had attended the concert, which had proved most enjoyable, and had personally thanked a number of the performers. It was decided to place on record the Trust’s appreciation of the concert party's efforts.

Old Livery Stables. There has been some speculation as to the age of the building formerly in use as 'Foreman's Livery Stables, which is now being demolished. A piece of board from the building had newspapers dated 1877 and 1879 pasted on it, so it appears that the building was erected prior to 1877 at least. The building is being demolished to make room for a modern structure to be erected for Mr P. F. Fagan. Attacked by Bull.

Only great presence of mind saved Mr I. Groves, of Makomako, from serious injury or worse when a bull attacked him on his farm on Tuesday. The animal was considered to be perfectly quiet, and when Mr Groves slipped and lost his footing he was quite unprepared for an attack. Though he was unable to regain his feet Mr Groves succeeded in turning the bull away from him by gouging the beast’s eyes with his thumbs, but not before he received a number of gashes in the arms. One wound required the insertion of seven stitches.

Trust and Crippled Children. At last night’s meeting of the Masterton Trust Lands Trust, it was decided to make a donation of £lO to the Wairarapa branch of the Crippled, Children Society. Mr J. Macfarlane’ Laing, moving the motion, said the society was dependent upon contributions from the public. Supporting the motion, Mr A. O. Jones said he thought the society should receive the same consideration as other societies. “There may come a time when the society will need a fairly substantial amount, and £lO will not go very far,” said Mr Jones.

Billiards and Snooker. In billiards and snooker games played at the Y.M.C.A. last night, Daniell’s scored a win over Y.M.C.A. B. The details are as follow, Daniell’s players being mentioned first in each case: —Billiards: J. Dewe beat F. Bodie; F. Watson beat P. Watson; W. Reid beat W. Reynolds; H. Slight beat B. Bodie; S. Allen lost to S. Onion. Snooker: J. Dewe beat F. Bodie; F. Watson beat P. Watson; W. Reid beat W. Reynolds; H. Slight lost to B. Bodie; S. Allen beat S. Onion. Next Tuesday Y.M.C.A. will play Pioneers, and on the following Thursday Post Office will meet Daniell’s.

To be Opened with Prayer. With only one dissentient, the Hastings Borough Council last night decided that future meetings would be opened with prayer. The suggestion was made to the council by Mr A. Weston, who forwarded copies of prayers used by the Nelson and Wanganui City Councils. The mayor, Mr G. A. Maddison, moving that the suggestion be adopted, said it would add to the dignity and prestige of the council. Cr G. W. B. McCormick opposed the proposal on the ground that there was already too much ritual and formality. Other councillors supported the mayor and the motion was carried, Mr McCormick voting against it. A Social Problem. An indication that legislation is to be introduced dealing with the problem of septic abortion was given by the Minister of Health, the Hon P. Fraser, during the debate on the report of the Maternity Services Investigation Committee in the House of Representatives last night. At present, said the Minister, consideration was being given to the recommendations of the committee which reported on the abortion question. Mr Fraser said he was hopeful of being able to get some legislation dealing with the problem of abortion in so far as legislation could deal with an evil that could only be completely and effectively dealt with by the moral and spiritual outlook of the people. The questions of abortion and sex morality were based fundamentally not on legislative enactments, but on moral and spiritual forces and on a generally decent and high outlook on life. Visitor's Impressions. Surprise at the number of jobs advertised in the “situations vacant” column of New Zealand newspapers, something which he had not read for six or seven years, was expressed by Professor Boris Alexander, head of the department of government and economics in Le Moyne College, Tennessee. Professor Alexander was also impressed with other signs of apparent prosperity, as the number of motor vehicles which, although sold at a little more than double the American price, as also was petrol, recorded the highest ratio a head of population in the world after the United States of America. When an American sits down after a clay's work he tends to read a newspaper, but the New Zealander reads a book, said Professor Alexander, who was quite amazed at the extent of the book habit in New Zealand.