LOCAL AND GENERAL

Wairarapa Times-Age, 6 January 1939, Page 4

LOCAL AND GENERAL

Electric Light Bulbs Stolen. Pahiatua looked a picture during the Christmas and New Year period with the many strings of lights overhead and along business premises. Unfortunately the larrikin element was also in Pahiatua and dozens of electric light bulbs were stolen from the strings put up by the business people.

New Power Board Premises. The contractors of the new premises for the Tararua Electric Power Board have started clearing the section at Pahiatua in preparation for the new building. The building is of a modern type. Three shops face the Main Street with the office and storeroom at the back. The structure is a singlestorey one and will be in keeping with the number of recent buildings in Pahiatua. Featured in Cigarette Cards.

A portrait of the Prime Minister, Mr Savage, is featured on the first, of a series of cigarette cards at present being distributed by an English tobacco company. Fifty cards are included in the set, which is. entitled “Our Empire.” A brief biography of Mr Savage on the back of the card concludes by saying: “Rt Hon M. J. Savage inspires confidence and trust, and is a firm believer in solidarity of the British Empire.”

Expeditious Service. The Masterton Post Office has excelled itself. Sitting at the fire the other evening about 9 o’clock, a visitor to Masterton heard an urgent rat tat tat at the door, and a second later was handed an “express delivery” letter written in Christchurch the same day. The visitor, who has travelled in many parts of the world, cannot recall such expeditious superservice as the New Zealand Post Office renders. Moa Bone Found.

A moa bone, found by Mr C. J. Baker, of Watson’s Camp, near To Kuiti, has been sent in to the Dominion Museum for identification. The bone was discovered in a cave near Waitomo. It was recognised by the director of the museum,’Dr W. R. B. Oliver, as a leg bone of dinornis ingens, the huge moa, once abundant in all parts of New Zealand. In spite of its title, this was only about the third biggest type of moa,. dinornis giganteus and dinornis maximus exceeding it in stature. Totalisator Returns.

At the 22 race meetings held during the Christmas and New Year holiday period racegoers backed their fancies to the extent of £1,224,873 10s, and in all but one fixture totalisator figures showed an increase. This was the second year since 1929-30 that the betting figures soared above the million mark, and they were £190,000 above the corresponding period last year. Both racing and trotting clubs throughout the country shared in the increase, and the Winton Trotting Club was the only one to record a decrease. Not Legal Tender. ,

It is surprising to New Zealanders in England to find that the Bank of England £5 note is not legal tender in that country. When Mr and Mrs H. J. S. Piggott, of Whangarei, were camping in England recently, they presented a £5 note in payment for goods. It was persistently refused, and they were told the note could be cashed only through their bank account. Not having a bank account in England, the New Zealanders were considerably embarrassed until the note was cashed through the banking account of a friend.

Wanganui Tennis Titles. W. T. Pountney (Auckland) won the men’s singles title in the Wanganui Lawn Tennis Association’s tournament yesterday when he beat T. F. Lyons (Wellington) in the final. Miss J. Ramsay (Auckland) beat Miss K. O’Sullivan (Taranaki) in the women’s title. All the games yesterday were completed in the perfect weather that has characterised the tournament. The men’s doubles title went to A. and E. Dickie (Waverley) and the women’s doubles to Misses Ramsay and J. Ahnsen (Auckland). The combined doubles were won by J. McCarthy (Wellington) and Miss B. Griffiths (Auckland).

Domestic Servant Problem.

The opinion that the position regarding domestic servants would be further aggravated as a result of the Government’s policy was expressed by employment agencies at Auckland yesterday. During the past few years there has been a growing shortage of servants throughout the Dominion, particularly in the cities, and the stimulus that it was expected would be given to local factories as a result of the import restrictions would, it was stated, further depress the market. Inquiries made among factories where girls are largely employed revealed that any increase in output would be followed by a demand for more girls.

Delay in Landing Horses.

A difficult problem was created for agents of an Auckland firm on Wednesday when three light draught horses arrived from Australia in the Wanganella but were refused permission to land as the consignee was unable to produce an import licence. The agents stated yesterday that they had not been informed by the Australian consignors that the horses were in the Wanganella, and as a consequence no arrangements had been made at this end. An application was made to the Customs Department for the necessary licence. Special permission had to be obtained from Wellington. This was telegraphed later in the day and the necessary formalities wore complied with.

Centennial Exhibition

Closed down entirely over the holidays. the New Zealand Centennial Exhibition site at Rongotai again rings with the clatter of the hammer as the work of building is being recommenced. Some 80 of the workmen spent Christmas and New Year in the South Island, but the majority are now back at work. The whole of the structural work is completed, the Government court being the portion of the main building farthest advanced. The reason that this section has been hurried ahead is that the tremendous and varied departmental courts it will contain will take considerable preparation and erection. Each is to be different and striking, with its own appropriate facade; and together they will tell the complete story of New Zealand development and national life. The provincial court, too. housed in an adjoining hall, is already in process of construction, mid will lake • many months to complete.