LOCAL AND GENERAL

Wairarapa Times-Age, 17 February 1939, Page 4

LOCAL AND GENERAL

Show Weight-guessing. As the sheep and bullocks used in weight-guessing competitions at the Masterton A. and P. Association s Show will not be killed until Sunday, an announcement of the results of the competitions cannot be made until early next week. Mormon Conference. The Church of Jesus Christ, LatterDay Saints, will hold a district conference at Gladstone commencing on Saturday (tomorrow) night, with a mutual programme and general meetings throughout Sunday. President Matthew Cowly, of Auckland, head of the Church Mission in .New Zealand, will preside. Gold Production.

Gold produced in New Zealand last year and entered for export totalled 151,062 ounces, valued at £1,057.434, taking gold at £7 an ounce. Production in 1937 was 168,691 ounces, valued at £1,279,913, and in 1936 164,575 ounces, valued at £1,233,178. Production in 1938, therefore, was lower by 17,629 ounces than in 1937 and by 13,513 ounces than in 1936.

Masterton Athlete Wins at Napier. W. A. C. Pullar, of Masterton, journeyed to Napier by aeroplane last evening, and competed at the electric light meeting held under the auspices of the Napier Amateur Athletic Club. He won the mile event, on a slow track after heavy rain, in 4mins 22 secs. F. Bodie, the pilot of the’ aeroplane, also competed, and took third place in the long jump. Iron Ore Deposits.

Two experts from London are to arrive in New Zealand early next month to report to the Government on the project for developing the iron ore deposits in Onekaka in the light of'additional evidence gathered by the authorities. An announcement to this effect was made by the Minister in Charge of the State Iron and Steel Industry, Mr Sullivan, in a statement last night. Civil Air Force Reserve.

Reasons for the establishment of a civil reserve of the Royal New Zealand Air Force were given by the Minister in Charge of Aviation, Mr Jones, in an interview last evening. The scheme involves the compilation for use in a national emergency of a register containing the names of those citizens whose qualifications fit them for service to the effectiveness of the Air Force. One object of the scheme is to ensure that if men have to be called up in an emergency it can be done with a minimum of interference to industry. Visits to Factories. Arrangements for his own participation in the campaign in support of New Zealand industries have not yet been completed by the Prime Minister, Mr Savage, but he hopes to make a start soon. “I am shaping my plans with a view to visiting a number of Wellington factories, toward the end of next week,” said Mr Savage, in an interview last evening. “I also want to see something of the industries in Auckland and in the South Island, and hope to make these visits as soon as I am able to spare a f-ew days from my official duties in Wellington.”

A Joke Thousands Enjoyed. A crowd watching cricket in England in which Bradman was playing enjoyed a joke which the Rev Canon Stephen Parr told to the Christchurch Rotary Club at its weekly luncheon. A high-pitched ball struck Bradman’s foot, giving him great pain. He danced about on the crease, said Canon Parr, who was watching, and while the players were waiting for him to get better, an aeroplane flew overhead towing a large cloth sign, “ for sore feet,” it read. “The crowd began to laugh, then the players saw it, and last of all, Bradman himself,” said Canon Parr.

Albatross Nesting Ground. A fund has been opened by the Forest Protection Society to assist with the cost of providing a “man-proof” fence round the area on the Otago Peninsula where albatrosses have been trying to nest. Realising the need for protecting the area from vandals, residents of Dunedin spent about £lOO on the fence, but so far supporters of the society have contributed only £7 Is to the fund. “The establishment of an albatross nesting-ground on the New Zealand mainland close to a city will be a happening unique in the world,” states the society’s quarterly publication in asking for support of the fund.

Native Trees and Shrubs. As the outcome of the Education Department’s decision to celebrate the centenary of the Dominion by the planting during 1940 of the native trees and shrubs raised by the children in the school garden nursery plots, the annual conference of the Wellington agricultural instructors has recommended to the Wellington Education Board that the main crop project for the 1939-40 season be New Zealand trees and shrubs. If the board approves of the recommendation these will be raised by propagation, from cuttings, seeds -and seedling transplants. Political Education. Reference to the statement by the Leader of the Opposition, the Hon A. Hamilton, that he proposed to make a tour of the Dominion to inform and educate public opinion, was made yesterday by. the Prime Minister, the Rt Hon M. J. Savage. “I notice that the Leader of the Opposition is going round the country to educate the people; well I intend to give him a little assistance myself,” said Mr Savage. “Between us I am sure we will be able to carry the .people a lot further. We have taken them some distance already. Mr Hamilton’s failure in the past and our success during the past three years should be an education in itself.” Special Sphere of Church. This year’s president of the New Zealand Methodist conference, the Rev Angus Mcßean, believes that the Church still has her special sphere and that she should concentrate on work within that sphere. In his inaugural address to the annual Dominion conference of the Methodist Church, which opened in Christchurch last night, Mr Mcßean took as his theme, “The Uncontested Province of the Church.” He quoted with approval the word of Canon Barry, "The task of the Church is not to put forward an alternative to the schemes of statesmen as they try to find their way to a better order, but to inspire them to produce their own. and to supply that spiritual dynamic which can bring those schemes to victorious fulfilment.”