LOCAL AND GENERAL

Wairarapa Times-Age, 22 February 1939, Page 4

LOCAL AND GENERAL

Mawley Park Camp. During January 149 motorists availed themselves of facilities at Mawley Park Motor Camp. Fees collected amounted to £9 4s. Gd. Municipal Band. The Masterton Municipal Band held five practices during January. A programme was rendered in the Park on the evening of January 19. Should be Encouraged. “I think he should be encouraged in every way posible,” remarked the Mayor, Mr T. Jordan, when leave was granted, at last night’s meeting of the Borough Council, for the sexton to attend a military training camp. “It shows a fine spirit,” observed Councillor Kemp, who pointed out that the sexton had offered to make up the time lost. Killings at Abattoir. The following stock was slaughtered at the Municipal Abattoir during January: Cattle, 517; calves, 185; sheep, 1552; lambs, 448; pigs, 209. Killingfees were £73 13s 7d in excess of those received for the corresponding month of last year and to date they are £GB 10s lid ahead of those for the same period of last year.

Bushman Injured. A fractured skull and bodily injuries were received by Thompson Clay, aged 21, when he was struck by a fallingbough while working in the bush in Motu. Mr Clay's companions improvised a stretcher and carried him two miles to a homestead, where he was attended by the district nurse. He was later brought to hospital in Gisborne.

Death of Sir George Wilson., A verdict in accordance with the medical evidence was returned by Mr F. H. Levien, S.M., at an inquest in Auckland yesterday, into the death of Sir George Wilson. After the hearing of evidence the coroner returned a verdict that death was due to acute generalised pneumonia supervening on exhaustion naturally following loss of blood from a knife wound self-inflicted while Sir George was in a mentally depressed condition. Euchre and Table Tennis.

A very succesful and enjoyable euchre tournament and table tennis tournament was held in St. Patrick’s Hall last night under the auspices of the Catholic. Club. There was a large attendance. The winners of the euchre tournament were: —Ladies: Mrs Perfect, Men: Mr Brebant. The table tennis was won by Miss Lachore (ladies) and Mr L. Gleeson (men). The competition was won by Mr J. F. McDonald. Defence Measures. The desire to accord the Government the fullest possible support in any steps taken to protect New Zealand and the trade routes was affirmed by the Wellington Chamber of Commerce last night. Several members expressed appreciation of what had been done during the last few years to strengthen the defence system of the Dominion, but questioned whether the measures adopted were adequate. A suggestion was made that New Zealand should co-operate with Australia in the provision of a navy for the Pacific. Exhibition Buildings.

Steady progress on the exhibition site at Rongotai has resulted in a great change in the aspect of the buildings in recent weeks. It is now possible to discern something of the aspect the exhibition grounds will have on completion. and to appreciate the broad layout and fine proportions of the architecture. By March 11, when the public will have their last opportunity of seeing the work before the opening of the exhibition on November 8, the exterior of the main buildings will be far advanced. Increase in Subscribers.

The following are the figures for the Municipal Library for the month of January:—Books issued: Fiction, 3700; travel, etc., 426. Books added: Fiction, 41; travel, etc., 3. Subscribers at end of December, 416; new subscribers, 14; subscribers left during January, 3; total subscribers at end of January, 427. The amount spent in books from April 1 to December 31 was: Committee, £57 2s 4d; Librarian, £229 15s 7d. The amount spent in books for the month of January was, Committee, £lO 3s 6d; Librarian, £9 2s. ■

Athletic Championships. The Wellington provincial amateur athletic championships will be held in Wellington on Saturday. For the first time in the history of the centre, a full programme of junior and women’s events, taking in all field events, will be staged. W. A. C. Pullar, of Masterton, will be a competitor in mile and three mile events. From the form shown by the juniors and women will be selected the team to repersent Wellington at the national junior and women’s championships in Auckland on March 25 and on the form shown by the men will be selected the team to represent Wellington at the New Zealand championship meeting in. Napier on March 10 and 11.

Duty of Jurors. The duty of juries in dealing with charges of negligence against motorists was mentioned by the Chier Justice (Sir Michael Myers) in commenting in the Supreme Court at Invercargill yesterday on the deterrent effect of a conviction. “To my mind and to the mind of some other judges,” he said, “I regard a conviction as just as cogent a deterrent as punishment. It is very important that jurors should—and nowadays they generally do—appreciate their obligations and deal with these things as they should be dealt with. I think it very important that people who drive motor-cars should learn that negligence in handling a car is certain to lead to a conviction and possible or probable punishment. The certainty of conviction in a proper case is a most powerful deterrent.”

Temperance Issue. The need for an educational campaign in the temperance question was urged by the annual Methodist Church conference at Christchurch yesterday, members contending that the New Zealand Alliance was not sufficiently active in its work. The alliance was recommended to reappoint an organiser at an early date and conduct a Dominion educational campaign. The public questions committee of ihe conference in Wellington . was criticised for its alleged failure to carry out conference instructions. For two years the committee was asked to plan a temperance pledge-signing campaign, but reported that it was opposed to the principle and had no recommendation to make.' The matter was referred to the Church welfare committee in Dunedin. It was decided to hold the next conference in Dunedin in February, 1940.