LOCAL AND GENERAL

Wairarapa Times-Age, 15 October 1938, Page 4

LOCAL AND GENERAL

State Houses. The Government has let a contract to Mr J. Sandman for the erection of two State houses at Pahiatua. Charge of Drunkenness. At the S.M. Court at Masterton this morning, before Mr H. E. Pither, J.P., a first offender on a charge of having been drunk in a public place was convicted and discharged. Labour Day Holidays. In today's issue the Railway Department advertises the fares and train arrangements in connection with Labour Day holidays and races at Trentham. Full particulars will be found in our advertising column.

Learning Music. Dr. James Lyon, examiner for the Trinity College of Music, London, caused a deal of amusement during an address in Christchurch when he said that when he was 17 he composed two or three symphonies and he thought he was a genius. When he was 25 he “knew” he was a genius; at 35 he began to have doubts about it; at 50 he found that he knew almost nothing, and by the time he was 60 he was beginning to learn. Visit to Buchanan Home.

On Thursday afternoon members of the Masterton branch of the Women’s National Welfare League entertained the inmates of the Buchanan Home, Greytown, to afternoon tea. This was followed by a concert programme with Mrs Morton as accompanist, after which the visitors spent the remainder of the afternoon chatting to the patients. These visits are very fully appreciated. Led .by the Matron the visitors were accorded a hearty cheer for their kindness. Whale Pursues Fishermen.

A party of fishermen in a launch outside Kawhia Heads recently had a close-up view of a whale —and did not appreciate it. They were leisurely enjoying the fishing when a whale rose to the surface only a few yards away, and at once evinced an interest in the boat and its occupants, swimming nearer to get a good look. The fishermen had other ideas, and hastily hauled up the anchor and made all speed for Kawhia. When near the Heads the mammal turned in its tracks, but the fishermen continued for home, well satisfied to give up their day’s sport. Loss on Competitions.

A loss of at least £2OO was incurred by the Dunedin Competitions Society at its recent festival, after a loss' last year of £124. Final figures are not yet available, but it is estimated that, as a result of poor attendances, principally because of the measles epidemic the deficit cannot fall below £2OO. A severe storm on the final night, when a “full house” was expected for the demonstration concert, seriously affected the box office returns, which were £5O below tne amount estimated. It is the intention of the committee to investigate the reasons for these losses, and the question of shortening the period of the festival will be considered. A Stimulating Campaign. Not the least of the stimulating campaigns in progress -at the moment is that associated with the Health Stamp to provide health-giving camp holidays for thousands of the Dominion’s children. The Health stamp—penny for postage, penny for. liealtn- became available to the public on October 1, following the commendation of the movement by the Governor-General, Lord Galway, in a radio broadcast address on the previous evening. The response to the appeal for the first week was remarkable, donations being received totalling £268 10s sd, while the net credit from sale of Health stamps was £1,075 3s lid, making a grand total of £1,343 14s 4d, just over £3OO in excess of the first week’s results of last year’s campaign. “Safety First.” “Safety First” is the motto that is given prominence in the current issue of the “New Zealand Motor Cyclist,” an admirable- publication of its kind, in which a direct appeal is made to the motor-cyclist to observe commonsense rules on the road. In a foreword, the Minister of Transport, the Hon. R. Semple, congratulates the motor-cycle clubs of New Zealand on their excellent road safety work and appeals to motor-cyclists to read the booklet thoroughly and appreciate its message, to support their motor-cycle clubs, to give everyone a lead in road courtesy, and to make their motto: “Safety first and silence afterwards.” The booklet contains much valuable information on various topics of general interest. Sequel to Avon Fatality.

The accident which occurred at Christchurch recently, causing the death of a young man who was struck by a falling poplar tree at the Barbadoes Street bridge, has resulted in drastic action being taken by the city authorities io prevent a repetition of the accident. A recommendation was made to the reserves committee by the Superintendent of Parks and Reserves, Mr M. J. Barnett, that' all large trees near bridges over the Avon should be cut down, and that any other trees that might endanger houses or traffic on roads in falling should be dealt with similarly. The committee decided to take immediate action in the case of trees that might endanger houses or bridges in the city. The question of trees as a whole will be considered later. Decision Quashed. An application for the quashing of a decision of John Henry Boyes, a Public Service Commissioner, by which the chief police officer at Rarotonga, Albert Carlyon, was removed from his post and transferred to New Zealand, was granted by his Honour, Mr Justice Reed, in a reserved decision delivered in the Supreme Court at Wellington yesterday. In March a charge of insubordination was laid against the police officer, Carlyon, now of Pahiatua, by Stephen John Smith, the then Resident Commissioner and acting-chief judge, in the absence of Judge Ayson. After an inquiry by the Public Service Commissioner, Boyes, the charge was upheld. The charge arose from Carlyon’s action in entering the commissioner’s office under the search warrant, and seizing papers relating to a pending court case.

Movie Director: “The star wants five hundred pounds for playing the part of an Indian in our new film.” Manager: ■‘Offer him two hundred and fifty. Tell him he's only got to be a half-breed.