LOCAL AND GENERAL

Wairarapa Times-Age, 3 February 1939, Page 4

LOCAL AND GENERAL

High Temperature. The shade temperature in Masterton at 12.20 p.m. today was 86.1 degrees. January Rainfall.

Only 36 points of rain were recorded in Masterton in January this year. In January last year 4.38 inches were recorded.

Prospector’s Body Found. The body of John Hudson, a prospector who has been missing for several weeks, was found at Puysegur Point. There were no suspicious circumstances about the death. No Action Proposed.

As far as can be ascertained, no action is proposed by Wairarapa publicans with regard to decisions in several North Island centres to abolish counter-lunch and the practice of “shouting.” Tennis Competitions.

The Greytown Tennis Club has advised the Masterton Park Club that it will be defaulting in the B grade match, which was to have been played tomorrow and also in the C grade match scheduled for the following Saturday. The National Flower.

By an overwhelming majority the kowhai was voted the national floweiof the Dominion by visitors to the National Flower Show. Voting was conducted over the two days Of the show, and the voting papers were exhausted. Final results were:—Kowhai, 1249; rata, 610; clematis, 501; manuka. 193; clianthus, 140; rewarewa, 33.

Kuripuni Youth Council. The Kuripuni Youth Council, whose aim is the moral and spiritual uplift of the young people, held its first meeting of the year on Tuesday evening in the Methodist Social Hall. The Rev F,. J. Parker was in the chair. After a discussion it was decided to hold the annual picnic at the Solway showgrounds on February 11, commencing at 10 o’clock.

Eketahuna Swimming Carnival. A party of Masterton swimmers will compete at the Eketahuna Carnival tomorrow afternoon. Arrangements for transport are not, as yet, definitely finalised. Intending competitors will be advised, if they ring the “Times-Age” telephone 1646, after 9 a.m., as to whether transport is by private car or bus. If by bus it will leave the P.O. at 12.45 p.m. Grass and Rubbish Fire.

Hot cinders 'thrown down outside near some rubbish were reported to be responsible for a grass and rubbish fire which broke out this morning on a property in - Albert Street occupied by Mr W. J. Gray and owned by Mrs Prosser, of Wellington. The Masterton Fire Brigade received the call at 8.39 a.m. A fence and a shed were slightly damaged. Apex Investment Trust.

The Apex ; Investment Trust of New Zealand, Ltd., has declared an interim dividend at the rate of 4 per cent per annum for the six months ending December 31, 1938. The dividend is at the same rate as the previous interim dividend and is payable on March 16, 1939. The directors report that satisfactory profits are being earned and dividend requirements ' are well covered by current earnings during the half-year. Statue of Hobson.

The hope that a statue to New Zealand’s first Governor, Captain William Hobson, R.N., will find a place in Auckland’s centenary memorials is expressed by Archbishop Averill in a letter to the Auckland Provincial Centennial Council. This letter has been written in response to an invitation extended by the mayor, Sir Ernest Davis, to citizens to offer suggestions as to memorials suitable for commemorating the first centenary of New Zealand’s existence as an integral part of the British Empire. The letter has been referred to the metropolitan executive of the centennial council for consideration. 1.L.0. Conference.

As a result of the support given his candidature by a majority of district councils of the New Zealand Federation of Labour and by votes already cast in his favour by a number of the unions in the Dominion, Mr John Roberts, Christchurch,, is certain to be selected as workers’ representative to attend the next International Labour Conference in Geneva in June, a Press Association message states. It is understood that a ballot will have to be taken as Mr T. Stanley, Auckland, is still in the field, but his chances are not favoured consequent on a number of big unions having already cast their votes for Mr Roberts. Degrees of Intoxication.

“You will, of course, realise that intoxication is a relative term,” said Mr Justice Callan, when discussing with a grand jury in Auckland a charge of causing bodily injury while in a state of intoxication in charge of a motor-vehicle. “A degree of intoxication which would not lead to the arrest of a person on the street, which probably would not cause any remark at all, nor any warning from a constable, a slight degree of intoxication, might yet be quite sufficient to consti-, tute an offence when a person attempts to drive a motor-car,” added his Honour. The common sense of the matter was that any substantial degree of intoxication when such quick decisions were required was very serious. Industrial Council.

The first meeting of representatives of the Wellington Employers’ Association, the Wellington Manufacturers’ Association, and the Wellington Trades and Labour Council to discuss the formation of an industrial council as suggested by the Minister of Labour, Mr Webb, was held yesterday and was well attended. Mr P. H. Kinsman, of the Department of Labour, was elected chairman pro tem. After discussion the meeting decided that a constitution should be drawn up by the national bodies representing the employers and the workers—the New Zealand Employers’ Federation, the New Zealand Manufacturers’ Federation, and the New Zealand Federation of Labour —which would confer the necessary powers on provincial councils and enable the proposal to take proper shape.

A man who complained of the food in a small Chicago restaurant was taken into the kitchen and beaten up by the cook, who showed him what really was the toughest part of the joint.