LOCAL AND GENERAL

Wairarapa Times-Age, 25 January 1939, Page 4

LOCAL AND GENERAL

Frost in Masterton. A frost of 2.5 degrees was registered in Masterton this morning. Mawley Park. During December 142 motorists availed themselves of the facilities at Mawley Park motor camp and fees collected amounted to £6 17s Gd. Municipal Band. The Masterton Municipal Band held three practices during December. Carols were played in different parts of the borough on six evening. Suitable .music was rendered at the Post Office corner at midnight on New Year’s Eve. Upkeep of Cemetery. The Masterton Borough Council decided at its meeting last night that as the Cemetery Account was £57 Is 7d in debit, an application be made to the Masterton County Council for a contribution. The county, it was stated, had contributed twice in the past and had power to make a maximum, annual contribution of £3O. Steamer’s Last Voyage. Now in her thirtieth year of service in the trade between England and the Dominion, the New Zealand Shipping Company’s liner Ruahine is shortly to be withdrawn from service. On her arrival at Auckland from the North of England with general cargo, it was reported yesterday that she was on her last voyage. Killings at Abattoir. The following stock was slaughtered at the Municipal abattoir during December: Cattle, 188; calves, 149; sheep, 1446; lambs, 1070; pigs, 242. The killing fees were £42 8s 2d in excess of those for the corresponding month of 1937. To date the fees were £5 2s 8d lower than those for the same period of the previous year.

Manslaughter Charge. The famous British woman racing driver, Mrs Kay Petrie, who was driving the car in which she and Major R. Calvert Empson, an Australian, were riding in the Monte Carlo motor rally and which collided with a lorry, causing Major Empson’s death, has been charged with manslaughter, a cablegram reports. Increased Milk Consumption.

Satisfaction was expressed by members of the Auckland Metropolitan Milk Council at the reported increased sale of milk in Auckland during the last four years. The secretary, Mr N. R. Chapman, stated in a report that sales had risen over the last four years by more than 4000 gallons a day. The average daily sales for October, 1934, were 15,362 gallons, and for the same period last year 19,694 gallons. • Sanders Cup Race. After securing a convincing win from Wellington in the fifth race at Bluff yesterday morning, the Canterbury boat Huia sailed another great race in the afternoon to beat the Wellington boat Vanguard again and win the Sanders Cup contest for 1939. The sixth race was one of the best seen in a Sanders Cup contest, and though Vanguard was the favourite Huia well deserved her win. \ Owls Kill Weasel. Through choosing a wrong enclosure in search of prey, a weasel which had been causing trouble during the week at the Auckland Zoo suddenly met its death. By climbing over high wire-netting fences on several occasions the weasel had entered the rabbit enclosure and had killed some of (he young stock. One night, however, it chose to enter a cage occupied by two eagle owls and was apparently caught and killed instantly. The eagle owls, which are also known as greatcared owls, were recently imported from the United States. Municipal Library. The following are the figures for the Municipal Library for the month of December: —Books issued, fiction, 3602; travel, etc., 368. Books added: Fiction, 93; travel, etc., 3. Subscribers at end of November, 415; new subscribers, 4; subscribers left during December, 3; total subscribers at end of December, 416. The amount spent in books from April 1 to November 30 was, Librarian, £2OB 0s 6d, Committee, £5O 9s Id. The amount spent in books for the month of December was, Librarian, £2l 15s Id, Commitlee £6 13s 3d. Disappointing Support. The disappointing support given so far to the New Zealand Centennial Exhibition by Canterbury manufac ; lurers was criticised by the Minister of Industries and Commerce, Mr Sullivan, who is president of the exhibition, at a luncheon given by the Canterbury Manufacturers’ Association. I'dr Sullivan said that the part taken by Canterbury so far was insignificant,’ but he felt that he had only to mention this to the manufacturers of his own province to ensure that they would rise to the occasion. Girl’s Miraculous Escape. Prompt action by the driver of the Limited express saved a girl passenger, Miss Moira McMillian, Wellington, from serious injury at Paekakariki station yesterday morning. The train stopped at Paekakariki for the usual few minutes to enable passengers to obtain refreshment, Miss McMillian being among them. On hearing the guard’s whistle for the resumption of the journey to Wellington she hastened to rejoin the train, but in her hurry went, it is stated, to the wrong platform. When she realised her mistake the train was slowly drawing out from the platform. -The girl attempted to mount the steps of one of the rear sleeping cars and missed her footing. She slipped between the carriages but miraculously fell almost clear of the rails, at the same time rolling herself with presence of mind close in under the edge of the platform. Seeing the girl fall the driver of the engine. Mr J. Steele, Palmerston North, applied the emergency brake, bringing the train to a standstill within a few feet.