LOCAL AND GENERAL

Wairarapa Times-Age, 22 August 1938, Page 4

LOCAL AND GENERAL

Heavy Frosts in Masterton. Heavy frosts were recorded in Masterton over the week-end, 9.2 degrees being registered on Sunday morning, and 7.1 degrees this morning. Five-day Week. It is reported that solicitors in the Wairarapa are to adopt a five-day week, commencing from next month. Lawyers in several centres elsewhere have' already discontinued work on Saturday mornings.

Wellington Competitions. In the boys’ junior test recital at the Wellington elocutionary competitions on Saturday, Lionel Kaan, Masterton, tied for third place with two other competitors, being awarded 74 points, the winner obtaining 77 points. “A Michael Society.”

“Although I am not a member of a Friendly Society, I belong to a very fine society which meets in Parliament Buildings in Wellington—and it is a ‘Michael’ Society also” said Mr J. Robertson, M.P., amidst applause and laughter, when speaking at the Jubilee dinner of the St Michael’s branch of the Hibernian Australasian Catholic Benefit Society held in. Masterton on Saturday night.

Railway Record Broken The fastest journey ever made by rail from Wellington to Auckland was accomplished yesterday by the nineseater railcar used by the General Manager of Railways, Mr G. H. Mackley, for departmental use. Leaving Wellington at 4.20 a.m., the car arrived at Auckland at 2.20 yesterday afternoon, the overall time being 10 hours. The actual running time, however, was only 8 hours 56 minutes.

Alleged Theft of Calf. John Jones, drover and buyer, aged 26, was remanded to appear at Woodville on September 1 by Mr J. T. Bosworth, J.P., in the Magistrate’s Court, Palmerston North, on Saturday, on a charge of the alleged theft of a calf, valued at £1 10s, belonging to James Maskery Rule, Woodville. Bail was allowed in a personal recognisance of £25, with one surety of £25. Car Overturns.

Kenneth Carthom McGregor, of Tararua Street, Masterton, received slight facial abrasions, and a passenger, Miss Claire McGahan, Cologne Street, Martinborough, was cut on the head by flying glass, when a car in which they were travelling left the road at Rangitumau on Saturday night and overturned. Mr McGregor and Miss McGahan were returning to Masterton from a dance at Rangitumau.

Carriages Partially Derailed. Three carriages, all containing passengers, were partially derailed at the Newmarket Railway Station at about 5.15 p.m. on Saturday when the North Auckland express from Whangarei was taking the old triangle siding on its way to Auckland. Only a slight bump marked the mishap to the carriages, and few of the passengers noticed anything unusual. No'damage was done to the cars, but some repair work had to be carried out 'to the permanent way. “More Jobs Than Men.” ;

More, jobs are available in Auckland than there are men to fill them, according to the Minister of Mines, the Hon P. C. Webb. “That is indicative of the position throughout the Dominion,” Mr Webb stated in the northern city. He said there were, of course, some unfit, men »whp were being taken care of, and also some who, for domestic reasons, could not leave home to go to jobs offering. Apart from these, however, his statement was correct. -

How Nelson Got Its Name. “We told the Nelson fellows how the the province got its name; it was because Lord Nelson only had one eye,” said Mr H. R. Sampson, reporting to a meeting of the Canterbury Fruitgrowers’ Association on the attitude of the Nelson delegates at the conference of the New Zealand Fruitgrowers’ Federation. “While Nelson and Hawke’s Bay, essentially export districts, are up against us, we are always going to be up against local market troubles,” he said.

The Value of Religion. “I was very deeply impressed with the statement, in the letter from His Grace Archbishop O’Shea to St Michael’s branch in which he makes reference to the spiritual as well as. the benevolent side of the Friendly Society movement,” said the Hon W. Lee Martin at the Golden Jubilee dinner of St Michael’s lodge in Masterton on Saturday night. “If it were not for the church, the bible and religion the world would be a pretty poor place to live in.” (Loud applause.)

Tramways Dispute. In a further statement on the Wellington tramways dispute, the Mayor of Wellington (Mr T. C. A. Hislop) said that consideration of a lengthy letter from the Union had been deferred by the Tramway Committee until its next meeting. He had since received the union secretary's letter of August 15 containing certain threats. “On receipt of this letter,” Mr Hislop added, “I asked the members of the committee to meet me, and they unanimously supported me in my attitude that we are not going to be influenced by threats or ultimatums. The representatives of the union will receive full and fair consideration at the meeting already arranged. Meanwhile, the interests of all concerned will be best served by doing nothing to prevent the meeting taking place in a calm and dispassionate atmosphere.”

House Gutted by Fire. Considerable damage was done by fire on Saturday morning to the residence of Dr Kenrick H. Dean, Victoria Avenue, Palmerston North. The alarm was given at 10.40 o’clock, and it required two engines and apparatus to overcome the flames, which at one stage had a big hold. It is believed that the outbreak occurred in the children’s bedroom. Dr and Mrs Dean and family left early on Saturday morning for Foxton, where Mrs Dean and the children intended to spend the school holidays. Dr Dean, it is understood, went on to Wanganui for the day. All the doors and windows of the house were locked when the fire brigade arrived, and smoke was issuing freely from the roof. On examination after the outbreak was subdued it was found that the contents of the house were completely ruined. Practically the shell of the house only remains standing. It is believed that the house was renovated only a few weeks ago.