LOCAL AND GENERAL

Wairarapa Times-Age, 11 February 1939, Page 6

LOCAL AND GENERAL

Piping and Dancing. The Wellington centre of the Piping and Dancing Association of New Zealand has issued permits to the following organisations to conduct Highland events:—Masterton A. and P. Association, February 14; Ahiaruhe-Ponatahi Sports Club. February 18; Martinborough Amateur Athletic and Horse Sports Club, March 25. Divorce Granted.

A petition for divorce, on the ground of adultery, was brought by John Moore, sheepfarmer. Masterton. against Amy Moore in the Supreme Court. Wellington, yesterday. A decree nisi was granted by Mr Justice Reed. The suit was undefended. Mr H. F. O'Leary. K.C.. with him Mr T. A. Cunningham (Masterton), appeared for petitioner, and Mr W. J. Kemp for respondent.

Wild Cattle on Kapiti Island. In 1838 a visitor to Kapiti Island, then a favourite resort of whalers and the residence of Te Rauparaha, reported that there were over a hundred head of cattle running wild on luxuriant pasturage on the island. They were traditionally descended from a bull and a cow left on Kapiti by Captain Cook. Shooting these wild cattle provided sport for sailors ashore, but the Maori chiefs kept a close eye on them and demanded a musket in payment for every carcase taken on board a ship.

Maori Haka Scares Tahitians. That the horrific antics of the Maori haka were not common to all the Polynesians is shown by a humorous incident witnessed by Captain F. W. Beechey of the exploring ship H.M.S. Blossom. While Beechey was at Tahiti in 1826 a whaling ship manned largely by Maoris called at the islahd. They proceeded to entertain the Tahitians with a war-dance by torch light. The effect of this rhythmic mime was so potent and realistic that many of the “peaceable Otaheitans” ran away even before the frenzy of the final charge.

Death of Victim of Car Smash. The death occurred in the Palmerston North Hospital at five o’clock yesterday afternoon of George Scales, aged 22, Palmerston North, who was seriously injured when a car driven by Mr Roderick M. McKenzie, the well-known Palmerston North AH Black, skidded and overturned near the railway level crossing between the Himatangi corner and Bainesse, shortly after midnight last night. There were four passengers —two men and two women —in the car as well as the driver. It is understood that the car overturned several times before coming to rest and was badly smashed. Gifts Acknowledged.

The Kuripuni Youth Council desires to thank the following for gifts towards the children’s picnic:—Mr H. B. Thomas, Mr Dawson, J. R. McKenzie, Ltd., Mr Murdock, Huia Aerated Water Co., Mr Geo Dean, Wallis’s Bakery, Mr P. Ryan, Whiteman Bros, Ltd., Community Stores, Mrs Youngquest (Cafeteria), Yates Cash Stores, Mrs McMillan, Taylor’s Groceries, State Kitchenette, Long’s Butchery, Barber Bros, W.F.C.A., Wairarapa Ice Cream Co., Mr Norman Jones, Mrs Hawksworth’s Bakery, Mr E. Hale and Sons, Robinson and Sons, Ferris’s Bakery.

Motor Cycle Safety. Intimation was received by the Makara County Council yesterday from the Commissioner of Transport, Mr G. L. Laurenson, that the New Zealand Road Safety Council at its quarterly meeting early in March, would consider whether it was in the interests of road safety to impose restrictions on the use of motor-cycles. Mr Laurenson asked for the council’s opinion. The chairman, Mr E. Windley, moved that the council reply that it was favourable to reasonable control, remarking, however, that motorcyclists travelled nd faster than some cars. Their speed was terrific on bends, remarked Councilloi’ J. Purchase. The chairman’s motion was carried. Homes for Returned Soldiers.

On its valuable property in Muriwai, bought as the nucleus of a scheme to provide homes for returned soldiers, the Auckland Returned Soldiers’ Association is to erect one or more cottages in memory of the late MajorGeneral Sir George Richardson. In moving a resolution to this effect at the quarterly meeting of the association, the president, Mr J. W. Kendall, paid a tribute to the profound interest Sir George had always taken in the welfare of returned soldiers as well as to' his great services on their behalf during the war. ’’The New Zealand soldier never had a better friend than Sir George Richardson,” he said. Subscriptions to the memorial fund will be received from ex-ser-vicemen all over the Dominion.

Import Regulations. Since the inception of the import regulations many wholesale houses have experienced difficulty in arranging sterling for purchases from abroad where the licence is issued to the merchant’s client. The difficulty has now been overcome by an arrangement entered into by the Reserve Bank of New Zealand with the trading banks. The banks will now be provided with forms which will be supplied to the wholesalers, who, in turn, will ham them to their merchant clients, as hold - ers of the importing licences. The merchants will take these forms t< their own banks where, after the necessary adjustments have been made, a certificate will be issued to the wholesaler which will enable him to arrange the necessary sterling with his own bank. Jury of Maoris. Application has been made to the registrar of the Supreme Court at Gisborne to have a jury of Maoris empanelled during the session at the end of this month. The application has been made on behalf of Joe Douglas, aged 31, of Wairoa, who was recently committed for trial at the Gisborne session of the Supreme Court. The last occasion in Gisborne on which there were members of the Native race on a jury was three years ago, and then only three were empanelled. It is understood that there may be a full list of 12 Maori jurors hearing the present case. The section dealing with the question is 144 of the Juries Act, 1908, which provides that where a Maori is committed for trial in any Court for an offence against a Maori, accused may give notice to the committing magistrate or justice at the time of commitment, or. to the registrar or clerk of the Court of trial, at any time not less than seven days before the trial, that he claims to be tried by a Maori jury, and in such case he shall be tried by such jury accordingly.