LOCAL AND GENERAL

Wairarapa Times-Age, 9 August 1938, Page 4

LOCAL AND GENERAL

Foreign Missions. The contributions macle during the year ended June 30 to St Matthew’s Parish foreign missions fund was £l4O Is 7d, which again exceeded the Masterton quota. Martinborough Rates.

At the end of the financial year, the Martinborough Council sent out 492 rate demands, to a total amount of £3137 14s 6d. Of that sum £452 16s lOd had been paid to date, it was reported at the meeting of the Council last evening. Discount date is August 27. At March 31, total rate arrears were £509 Is 7d, of which £62 15s 9d had been paid at date. Badminton.

The following is the Catholic Club Badminton team to play Featherston at St Patrick’s Hall tomorrow (Wednesday), at 7 o’clock: —Ladies: E. Wickens, M. Eastwood, A. Mannell, J. Buckley, M. Dwyer, M. Greenlees. Men: T. Apa, D. Stilburn, B. Brennan, P. Flynn, P. Griffin, I. O’Connor. Anyone unavailable is requested to ring 1837 immediately. Sheep-worrying Suggestion.

The suggestion of the Sheep-owners’ Union that all dogs be tied up at night in order to minimise sheep-worrying was approved by the Hawke’s Bay County Council at yesterday’s meeting. The chairman, Cr C. C. Smith, said legislation compelling people to tie up their dogs at night would go a long way toward solving the sheep-worry-ing problem. The practice of tying up dogs at night was an unwritten law among farmers. ) New Poker Game.

The question of taking the numbers of motor-cars as they pass was the subject of investigation during the hearing of an indictable charge in the Police Court at Inglewood. One witness gave a novel turn to the inquiry when he said he was accustomed to taking the numbers of cars and could do so if a car was 50 yards away. “We often take the numbers of cars, when we are on holiday, for the purpose of playing poker,” said the witness, to the amusement of those in court. Heron Enjoys Radio.

A beautiful white crane which for some weeks had taken up its quarters close to the Hinemoa in Glory Harbour has now deserted the place, but it is hoped (says the Stewart Island correspondent of the “Southland News”) that it is still about Paterson Inlet. Rather strangely, a blue crane or heron is now in its place near the Hinemoa, and a peculiarity has been observed by Captain Mumby, who is in charge of the Hinemoa. When the radio is turned on the blue heron flies to the steamer and perches just above the radio, where it appears to derive great pleasure from the music. Postal Staff Tested. The efficiency or otherwise of the

Postal Department has given rise to some good stories, including the classic instance of a letter addressed “Lord Jellicoe, London,” being returned, marked “Not Known,” to its New Zealand writer. The latest test of the ability of the local staff to forward eccentrlcly addressed letters to the proper sources was an envelope which bore a half-inch, square photograph, obviously cut from an illustrated pa-' per, of a local resident. The only other clue was the address “Dunedin” below the cutting. This task presented no difficulty, and the letter was forwarded to the recipient, Mr R. S. Black, without delay. Rabbit Extermination.

So great has been the destruction of rabbits in the farm land south of Morrinsville since the Kiwitahi Rabbit Board started operations five years ago that the inspector, who is now classifying the area for differential rating purposes, stated at the Board’s July meeting that out of 24,000 acres inspected to date 11,000 acres had been classified as “clean,” that is, no trace of a rabbit could be found on . these farms. The inspector had tramped over practically every acre with a pack of dogs. The sight of a rabbit or of traces of rabbits was sufficient to cause a property to be classified as “infested.” Prior to 1933 large blocks of the Board’s district were extensively infested with rabbits. Unusual Passenger.

A Hastings motorist carried an unusual passenger in his car recently.’ It was a young donkey, and judging by the efforts made to get it into the car, a very unwilling one. The motorist apparently believed the easiest way of getting his donkey home was to put it in the back of his saloon model car. The donkey had other ideas about travelling, however, and it was only by the combined pulling and pushing action on the part of a number of willing helpers that the animal was embarked.

Social Security Bill. The Social Security Bill should make its appearance in the House of Representatives by Friday at the latest. An indication to this effect was given last evening by the Prime Minister, the Rt Hop M. J. Savage, at the conclusion of an all-day meeting of Cabinet. “We have spent practically the full day discussing the social security legislation,” Mr Savage said, “and everything is in readiness for the introduction of the Bill. There will be a caucus of Government members tomorrow morning, when an opportunity will be taken to run the rule over the Bill in its final form.” The Prime Minister added that he hoped the Bill would be introduced on Thursday or Friday, so that members of Parliament generally would have time to peruse it at the week-end preparatory to the opening of the second reading debate next Tuesday. Unusual Stone Seat.

The stone seat in front of St Andrew’s Presbyterian Church, New Plymouth, frequently attracts the attention- of visitors. Evidence of the interest that it creates is given in a letter received by the Rev J. D. McL. Wilson from a Wairarapa resident, who states that a party of English and Scottish tourists, her cousin among them, visited New Plymouth and were “very interested in your, beautiful Presbyterian Church and also a seat opposite built with rough quarry stones and a plain board for a seat. Inset in the stone were /four names and the inscription: ‘Learn of Me and ye shall find rest for your souls.’ It fascinated them and they visited it several times and made inquiries about its history, but no one could tell them.” Mr Wilson explains that the seat was built with money given by the parents of four boys who had been pupils of the New Plymouth Boys’ High School. The money was a personal gift to Mr Wilson and he decided to build the seat with it. The four names inscribed in the stone are the Christian names of the boys.