LOCAL AND GENERAL

Wairarapa Times-Age, 30 August 1938, Page 6

LOCAL AND GENERAL

Christchurch South Seat. Mr Gladstone Ward, a son of Sir Joseph Ward, has been selected as the Nationalist candidate for Christchurch South. The selection has yet to be endorsed by the party headquarters. Wellington Competitions. At the Wellington elocutionary and musical competitions yesterday Miss Leah Johnson (Masterton) was recalled in the ladies’ operatic solo, and Miss Dorothy F. E. Junker (Pahiatua) won the pronunciation test.

Health of Borough Good. “The health of the borough is quite good,” said Mr T. A. Russell, health inspector, today to a “Times-Age” representative. “Yesterday I had the first case of notifiable infectious disease for ,ome time.”

The Maori Delayed. The Maori was over an hour late in reaching her berth this morning owing to a strong head wind on the trip up from Lyttelton. The sea was heavy, but the officers said the trip was not an exceptionally bad one. The Maori had a full complement of passengers.

Wanganella’s Passengers. Passengers who arrived in Wellington by the Wanganella from Sydney today included the New Zealand ladies’ golf team, back from Australia, Herr E. Ramm, the new Consul-Gen-eral in New Zealand for Germany, Mr J. B. Stetson, Junr., U.S.A., who is making a world tour, Mr F. C. Koch, U.S.A., a well kpown engineer, and Mrs Koch. ’

St. Andrew Society. The Saint Andrew Society has received advice from Wellington that the party to attend the society’s gathering on Saturday evening will comprise two full ’bus-loads —fifty or more persons. This includes a pipe band of twenty, and a team of Highland dancers. On their arrival, the visitors will be entertained at tea by the Saint Andrew Society, after which the pipe band will paradd the town.

Still in Hospital. Injured in the Ratana railway accident on March 26, Mr J. D. Gardiner and Miss Mary Ellis, both of Wanganui, are still inmates of the Wanganui Public Hospital. Mr Gardiner suffered severe leg injuries which involved several- surgical operations, while Miss Ellis suffered a compound fracture of he leg. Both patients are reported to be improving, Mr Gardiner now being able to get about in a wheel chair.

Tug Refloated. The Auckland Harbour Board’s tug Te Awhina was successfully refloated yesterday after having been submerged off the western viaduct for over a fortnight. She is being towed to St. Mary’s Bay and placed on the harbour board’s slipway for repairs today. The tug sank on August 11 when it ,was struck by the starboard propeller of the Federal Line’s motor-ship Essex, and two holes were pierced in its hull. Subsequently it was drawn into shallower water, but several attempts to refloat her last week and during the week-end were in vain.

Imprest Bill Tonight. A late sitting of the House of Representatives is expected tonight, as an Imprest Supply Bill is to be introduced when the House resumes in the evening after the tea adjournment. Local Bills will be discussed this afternoon. There are nine of these on the Order Paper. The second reading debate on the Social Security Bill is expected to conclude tomorrow. After the Minister of Finance, the Hon. W. Nash, has replied to the discussion the House will go into Committee to discuss the individual clauses in the Bill. As there are 139 of these, progress in committee is likely to be slow.

An Appeal Postponed. The decision of the finance sub-com-mittee of the Auckland Provincial Centennial Council to postpone an appeal for funds until after the general election was announced by the chairman, Sir Ernest Davis. He said the sub-committee, after carefully reconsidering the position, had come to the conclusion that, as the minds of the people would be concentrated for the next three months on the general election, it would be inadvisable to launch so large an appeal at present. It had therefore been decided that the interests of the fund would be better served by delaying the appeal until after the election had taken place. Motor Taxation.

No steps will be taken by the Government until after the coming General Elections in reply to representations made by different local bodies concerning the appropriation of petrol revenue. In reply to a letter from the Waitaki County Council asking that the whole proceeds of motor taxation be devoted to roading purposes, the member for Oamaru (Mr A. H. Nordmeyer), in a letter to the council, stated that the alterations requested would not be possible before the elections. A letter from the Prime Minister (the Rt Hon M. J. Savage) stated the question would be placed before the Govern-, ment at the first opportunity. Measles in Auckland. A slight increase in the number of cases of measles in Auckland city is shown in figures obtained from the Department of Health. Figures which are supplied to the department from eight leading business houses in the city reveal that there were 127 cases out of a total number of employees of 3787. The number of cases last week was 105. In the city two deaths occurred during the week from complications following measles. Reports from district nurses show that cases are still occurring in country districts. There has been one death in- the Thames Hospital from pneumonia following measles.

Bird-catching Tree. A tree that catches birds grows in Mr H. J. Duigan’s garden in Carlton Terrace, Wanganui. Known by the Yiative name of “parapara,” and the botanical name of Nisonia brunnoniana, the tree grows from 10 to 12 feet high and has leaves something like those of the karaka. The seeds exude a sticky substance which is more powerful than bird lime, and birds, searching for insects, are caught and are unable to free themselves. Small birds such as the fantail and waxeye are easily caught. Always anxious to safeguard bird life, Mr Duigan makes to a practice to remove the seed pods from the tree every year, but he recently missed one pod and a fantail was caught and died.