LOCAL AND GENERAL

Wairarapa Times-Age, 20 December 1938, Page 6

LOCAL AND GENERAL

Arrival at Hood Aerodrome. The Public Works Stiles Whitney Straight machine, piloted by A. Pritchard, arrived at the Hood Aerodrome yesterday. Good Example. The Masterton Borough Council is setting other property owners a good example today by cutting, stacking and burning the long dry grass on the sections between the double bridges, thus minimising fire risk.

Swimming Postponed. Owing to the wet weather the Masterton Swimming Club’s competition events, which were to have been held tonight, have been postponed until Thursday night. Art Union Winner.

The first prize-winner in the “It’s on the Card” art union is Mr W. D. Choyce of Dunedin, aged 53, a married man with two children, both adult. He is a labourer employed at Shiel’s brick works. Coins in Christmas Puddings.

The general public is warned not to put coins in their Christmas cakes or Christmas puddings. Officials of the Department of Health state that the coins contain an alloy which is injurious to the system. A License Tests.

The following have passed the examination for A licenses at the Hood Aerodrome, which was conducted by Flight Lieutenant Buckeridge: —R. Armstrong, T. Denbee, R. Prout, J. Hamill, W. Jaspers, J. Sievers.

Unusual Cargo. Break-down lorries used by garages have been, known to perform many difficult tasks and have brought into towns vehicles in various stages of collapse and wreckage. One that came into Masterton on’a recent morning, however, had a most unusual cargo attached to it —an outsize in bullocks.. The animal had tried conclusions on the road with a motor-car, with fatal) results. Insecurely Fastened Doors.

The potential danger of insecurely fastened motor-car doors was indicated in Masterton this week when one of the doors of a light car flew open wh'en rounding a corner. Two young, children sitting in .the front were thrown out on to the bitumen, both receiving cuts above the head and bruises. One child was taken, to the Masterton Hospital for treatment. It was rather remarkable that while nasty cuts were inflicted on the head of one child, its face completely escaped damage 1 .

Theft of Flowers From Graves.

Caught stealing flowers from graves in the New Plymouth cemetery, Lloyd Whale, farm hand, Omata, refused to give his name, jumped into a car and drove off, disregarding an attempt to stop him as he left the cemetery. From the car number, however, he was traced and appeared in the magistrate’s court today. He was fined 30s. “The stealing of flowers is reaching enormous proportions,” said Mr R. Day, chief borough inspector. “People steal flowers from public reserves and along the streets and a determined endeavour is being made to stop it.”

The Fear of War.

An indication that some English .parents are considering sending their children to school in New Zealand because of fear of war was given by Mr J. F. Beckett, Christchurch manager of Thomas Cook and Son. He sftid that there had been inquiries about the schools, and it spoke well for the education given in the Dominion that this course was being considered. Actually a Singapore man, who visited the Dominion recently told a reporter that he had brought his son with him and intended to put him to school in Christchurch. Deserted Village? From present indications, Masterton will be'Something in the nature of a deserted village during the Christmas and New Year holidays. Bookings on trains and buses are exceptionally heavy, while a host of private motorists intend heading out of town, in most cases making northwards. There will be an unusually large number of young people travelling this year, no doubt turning to account the benefits of increased wages during the year. In one boarding house the landlady and 12 of the fourteen single .boarders will be away over Christmas and New Year, while in the case of several others anything up to 80 per cent of the boarding complement will be absent.

Service to Boroughs. Members of the Municipal Association of New Zealand are perhaps not aware of the extent to which the service provided by the association of giving legal opinions is utilised. Figures bearing on the matter were placed before the last meeting of the executive.- These showed that 61 cities and boroughs, the subscription fees from which totalled £536 received 145 opinions costing £3lO 16s, and 13 town boards, which paid £43 in subscriptions, received 24 opinions costing £46 4s. Seventeen local bodies received opinions costing the association more than their subscriptions to the association.

Visit to Buchanan Home.

The St. Vincent de Paul Society (Masterton) made their annual Christmas visit to the Greytown-Buchanan Home last night. An attractive and enjoyable concert was presented and was greatly appreciated by the inmates. Those who contributed items were the pupils of Miss Merle Dickson, Misses K. Cairns, Leah Johnston, Grace Hopkins, Mrs F. Curry, Miss N. Mulvey, Miss Marie Stilburn, Mr W. Mann and Mr Harry Hall. The Matron thanked the performers and the society, and seasonal greetings were exchanged. The party was entertained at supper by the matron and staff. Interest on Local Loans. The possibility of action being taken in Wellington to raise the rate of interest on loans raised by local bodies, which is at present fixed at 31 per cent was mentioned by Councillor Taverner, chairman of the finance committee, at a meeting of the Dunedin City Council last night, a Press Association message states. Referring to recommendations from the standing, committees of the council regarding the provision of funds for proposed works, Councillor Taverner said there was at present a tendency on the part of the investing public to avoid city corporation debentures, but he was sure that if the council was enabled to. offer a slightly higher rate of interest than 31 per cent any amount of money would be readily available.