LOCAL AND GENERAL

Wairarapa Times-Age, 13 March 1939, Page 4

LOCAL AND GENERAL

A Clean Health Sheet. No infectious diseases have occurred in Masterton for over six weeks. Athletic Meeting.

The girls’ bicycle race postponed from Saturday afternoon will be held on Wednesday evening at 6 o’clock during the programme of the evening meeting of the Masterton Amateur Athletic Club. The points for this race might have an important bearing on the grand aggregate points championship for the Stock and Station Agents' Cup. One team is at present leading by only one point. World Record Equalled.

A performance equalling the world record for a woman athlete over 100 yards was registered by Miss Doreen Lumley on Saturday afternoon when the Auckland provincial junior and women's amateur athletic championships were decided at Carlaw Park. In clocking 11 seconds Miss Lumley beat the Australian Empire Games winner and record holder for the distance Miss Decima Norman, by only nine inches. The latter had the advantage in the early stages of the contest, but over the last 40 yards Miss Lumley just managed to gain the lead after an epic struggle. There was no wind at the time of the event and there is no doubt that the performance of Miss Lumley will be recognised.

Telephone Inquiries. The uncertain weather conditions on Saturday were responsible for a considerable amount of doubt in the minds of people as- to whether the interhouse display would be held or not. In consequence, the “Times-Age” telephones were in constant use throughout the morning until well after one o'clock. For an hour or so after midday the telephones were ringing continuously and it is of interest to note that altogether about 200 inquiries about the display were answered. The State Kitchenette also reported a similar demand for information by telephone, inquiries there totalling about 150. The promoters of the display took out an .insurance against wet weather but the payment of the £5O cover was contingent on ten points of rain falling from 9 a.m. to noon. Only half a point was recorded.

To Be Turned Into Scrap Iron. For more ' than 25 years two big guns have been prominent ornaments in the Square Palmerston North, but on Saturday the first practical steps were taken to dismantle them and convert them to scrap iron. These relics were made in 1874 by an English armament firm. They are 64-pounders, muzzle-loading, and have rifled barrels. Each weighs more than three tons, the bulbous barrels alone weighing 30cwt. Never have the guns been used in warfare though they were designed for defence purposes. Originally one of the pieces was at Ngahauranga, and the other at the top of Kelburn. After being replaced by more modern equipment they were dumped on a stores ground in Wellington, where they lay till early this century, when Major S. Jickell, then Palmerston North borough engineer, secured their presentation by the Government to the citizens of the town.

Suitable Gifts. “I can think of nothing more useless than a golden key, after the ceremony is over,” , said Mr R. A. Lippincott, architect to Auckland University College, in explaining why he did not intend to present one to the Minister of Education, the Hon P. Fraser, for the opening of the new biology block at the college. “Instead I will hand him an ordinary key, which I hope he will return, and with it a small piece of antique Sheffield plate which I have been able to obtain. In making gifts I prefer things of use and beauty which I would like to possess myself.” Previously, when Mr Fraser laid the foundation stone of the building, the architect presented him with some eighteenth century volumes of Milton, inplace of the more customary silver trowel.

Use of New Zealand Coal.

Radical changes in the pumping plant at Orakei are required if New Zealand coal is to be used exclusively, according to a report which the engineer and secretary, Mr H. H. Watkins, submitted to the meeting of the Auckland and Suburban Drainage Board. Mr Watkins has been carrying out a series of tests at the plant with a view to determining the relative values find suitability of representative samples of New Zealand coal, as compared with Newcastle coal. Prior to the test's, Newcastle coal, with a few exceptions, has been used at the works for the purpose of generating power and incinerating sewage. Before submitting a final report Mr Watkins desires to obtain additional data and requires 100 tons of Newcastle coal. In view of the difficulty of obtaining an import licence for this, the board has decided to make special application for a licence.

Balmoral Forest Fire. The fire which swept through the Balmoral State Forest plantation, Canterbury, on the afternoon of February 20 did considerably less damage than was at first thought, said the Conservator of State Forests, Mr Courtney Biggs, who has returned from a final tour of inspection of the burnt-out block. Sixty-four acres of young trees had been damaged. It was first estimated that an> area of 200 acres had been affected. The surveys of the burnt block, which had just been completed, Mr Biggs said, showed that the fire had swept over an area of 64 acres of muricata pine trees. Fortunately the block was situated on some of the poorest soil in the plantation, and was thus one that the department could most afford to lose. A factor that might reduce the eventual loss sustained considerably was that there had been a heavy seed fall round the burnt trees. There was every chance that this would obviate the need of expensive manual replanting.

The annual St. Patrick’s night concert and dance will be held in St. Patrick’s Hall on Thursday, March 16. An excellent concert programme of a wide range will be presented. The dance will commence at 9.45 to music supplied by the Blue River Dance Band.

Friend, when a cold- invades the nose. And damp the daily hanky grows, When racking coughs distract the

breast, And rob you of your nightly rest, And shooting pains in chest and joint To pulmonary troubles point— What can once more good health en-

sure? Why. simply Woods’ Great Peppermint Cure. 86