EKETAHUNA

Wairarapa Times-Age, 18 January 1939, Page 7

EKETAHUNA

ELECTRIC POWER FAILS. TOWN IN DARKNESS. ("Times-Age” Special.) Last night was one of the most boisterous experienced in Eketahuna for a considerable time. The wind blew from the north-west with terrific force and motor cars had a difficult task in keeping to the road. So violent was the wind at limes that many motorists temporarily sheltered behind trees or banks waiting for better conditions. Last night the rain came down in torrents at times and houses shook as in an earthquake with the wind. About half past nine the electric lights suddenly went out and all power was cut off for the best part of half an hour, candles, kerosene lamps and torches, where available, being brought into use. In other cases residents had to wait until the electric light came on again. At a lodge meeting the lights suddenly went out in the middle of a ceremony, but there was no interruption, the work continuing in the dark until candles were lighted, and these were only extinguished when the electric light came on again. Several times in the course of the ceremony the lights flickered and temporarily went cut. . On some of the roads in the back country, trees fell across the road, but passages for motor cars were cut through them. A number of narrow escapes from accident owing to the wind are reported by motorists. Rabbits on the Road. Motorists report that large numbers of rabbits have been seen on the road between Mt. Bruce and Eketahuna during the past two nights, and some being dazzled by headlights were run over by cars. One motorist stated that a pure white rabbit crossed the road just in front of him a few miles south of Eketahuna. Last night one Masterton motor party passed about twenty rabbits in a distance of a mile.

Herd Testing Averages. The following is a. summary of group 30-day averages for all cows tested during December, 1938, by the Bush Co-operative Herd Testing Association (incorporated) supplied by the secretary (Mr J. C. Carbines): —

cows tested during December was 871 lbs. milk, 4.7 test, 411 b. fat, which makes an interesting comparison with the corresponding period last season when 4219 cows averaged 8761 b. milk, 4.7 test, 411 b. fat. Condition of Crops. Crops in the Eketahuna and surrounding districts are doing fairly well in view of the unseasonable weather. Crops for fattening sheep have been a failure, however, in some localities. There is anxiety expressed by dairy farmers that the wind and weather conditions generally will result in those crops that are associated with the feeding of dairy cows not being up to expectations, which will be a serious matter because they are < relied upon for fodder for cows when grass is in scarce supply. Though rain has been plentiful Masterton visitors have recently remarked that some of the land in the vicinity of Eketahuna was not producing the grass it should be, which is doubtless due to the hard nature of the country. A Busy Night. Eketahuna was quite busy last night, among other functions an invasion of Masons from the Masterton and Tararua lodges being outstanding. There was a very large attendance of brethren from Masterton —the largest gathering ever recorded —and appreciation was expressed at the action of the Masterton brethren in coming in such large numbers on a rough, wet night. Physical Fitness Week. A meeting is to be held tonight in Eketahuna in connection with the ‘Physical Fitness Week" campaign from February 18 to 25. It is proposed to set up a district committee which will decide the lines along which the week will be observed in Eketahuna. WOMAN INJURED. BLOWN OFF RAILWAY PLATFORM An unfortunate accident occurred at the Hukanui Railway Station at about mid-day on Monday, when Mrs Elizabeth Sparks, of Upper Queen Street, Auckland, during a particularly strong gust of wind, was blown from the plat’orm to the track while waiting to board a train to Palmerston North.

Mrs. Sparks received injuries to her side and was taken to Palmerston North, where she was admitted to hoslital at about 3 p.m.

Woodville Cows Milk Test. Fat .. 7/7 885 4.8 43 Pahiatua .... . .. 784 836 4.6 39 Konini .'. . .. 678 834 4.7 39 Hamua .. 555 967 4.4 43 Nireaha .. 704 863 4.7 41 Eketahuna .. 654 864 4.7 41 The following were the top butterfat producers: — Highest Top Herd Cow Cows. Fat. Fat Woodville 83 49 89 Pahiatua 42 49 84 Konini 50 45 86 Hamua 2 herds 48 81 Nireaha .. 2 herds 47 93 Eketahuna 24 48 79 Tne association average for 4152