LOCAL AND GENERAL

Wairarapa Times-Age, 17 March 1939, Page 4

LOCAL AND GENERAL

St Patrick’s Day. Flags are being flown on public building in Masterton today to commemorate St Patrick's Day. A Motorist’s Interpretation. He had seen the “P —NP” sign, but thought it meant “Parking Not Prohibited.” This was the excuse given by a motorist, charged with parking in a prohibited area, a traffic inspector told the Magistrate’s Court in-Welling-ton yesterday. Defendant was convicted. "P —NP,” for those who do not know, means that parking is not permitted. A Sleep Walker.

Amongst several amusing stories told at the luncheon this week of the Christchurch Rotary Club by the Rev Alex Campbell, there was one of a man who rose and walked out of church in the midst of a sermon. Meeting the man in the street the next day. the minister reproved him. “But I did not mean any discourtesy to you,” the man apologised. “It’s my misfortune; I walk in my sleep.” A Traffic Danger.

“To see trucks backing out of right-of-ways is a common occurrence in the city, but nevertheless it is a dangerous practice,” said Mr E. C. Levvey, S.M.. in the Christchurch Magistrate’s Court, in dismissing a traffic case concerning an accident between a truck reversing out of an alleyway and a motor car. “It is my opinion that where trucks are always backing out a boy should be kept on duty on the footpath to advise drivers whether the way is clear or not.” Police Station Renovations.

Workmen are at present engaged in completely renovating the Masterton Police' Station. The exterior has been treated with a waterproofing preparation and the interior is now being distempered. Alterations are also being made to the public office, where the counter is being rearranged so as to give more room. In contrast to its former drab appearance, the station now looks quite bright in its new coat of cream.

Military Ball. At a meeting held recently it was decided to hold this year’s Military Ball on Wednesday, June 14, in the Municipal Hall. This will be the 12th annual function of its kind, and this year’s committee is making special plans to eclipse the successes of other years. Should the new Territorial blue uniforms be available, as it is hoped, the ball will be even more colourful and 'enjoyable than in other years.

Betting on Boxing. An allegation that at least two of the professional boxing contests held last year had not been “run straight” was made by the president, Mr R. W. McVilly, at the annual meeting of the Wellington Boxing Association last night. Mr McVilly said an investigation had disclosed that betting, in which members of the association had participated, was at the bottom of the trouble. Action had been taken by the committee, and he hoped that in future there would be no more irregularities. Rotary a Means to an End.

“A man is no more a Rotarian simply because ‘he belongs to a Rotary Club than a wheelbarrow is a motor car just because it is housed in a garage,” said the Rev Alex Campbell a past president of the Sydney Rotary Club, at the Christchurch Rotarians’ luncheon. “The self-centred man prays ‘God bless my wife and my wife’s husband, not forgetting me,’ but the club-centred man who prays ‘God bless my wife and me, and my fellow Rotarians,’ is no better than the other. Rotary is not an end in itself, but a means to an end.”

Road Hoardings.

“I certainly think we should make a frontal attack on the Railways Department for the way it is placarding the front entrance to Wellington with hoardings,” said Mr E. A. Batt (Wellington), at the half-yearly meeting of the North Island Motor Union in Wellington yesterday. “The entrance to Wellington is a scandal,” he added. “There is a complete set of hoardings all the way out to Petone, and the way the Railways Department is developing this advertising it will soon be impossible to see the harbour anywhere along the Hutt Road.”

Theft of Union Funds.

Appearing in the Supreme Court in Wellington yesterday on two charges of theft of money belonging to the New Zealand Workers’ Union, Leslie Murray, aged 39, labourer, was admitted to probation for two years and ordered to make restitution of £3B and pay the costs of the prosecution. Mr Justice Blair, who was on the Bench, said he was following the probation officer’s recommendation. The offences were committed about nine years ago, and on Wednesday Mr J. H. Luxford, S.M., ruled that he had no jurisdiction to deal with such old charges, and committed Murray to the Supreme Court. From the dock Murray said his downfall was caused by a drinking bout, and that he had not been in trouble before or since. New Zealand’s Social Legislation. "I have the greatest admiration for your social legislation, in much of .which you have shown the way to the world, and I hope in this respect that your country will have every success in the future,” said Dr Martin Cooley, a member of the Medical Service of the Veterans’ Administration of the United States Government. He arrived in Auckland with his wife by the Maetsuycker from Saigon in the course of a world tour. His headquarters are in Washington, D.C. "New Zealand deserves a lot of credit for what it has done, and is still doing.” he said. “Frankly, I like your social programme. I believe it is in keeping with the times.” Trucks Derailed. When 10 trucks of an Oamaru-Tim-aru mixed train left the main line about a mile and a half north of Makikihi station at 10.30 o’clock yesterday morning, the' line was out of commission for some hours and passengers in express trains north and south had to break the journey and board relief trains. The affected wagons were near the centre of the train, and fortunately did not interfere with the engine or passenger carriages. Apparently the derailment was caused by a broken axle on one wagon, which was carrying coal. The track was damaged for 50 yards, rails being twisted and bent and many sleepers dislodged. The ironwork of some wagons was badly buckled, and the woodwork of others smashed.