LOCAL AND GENERAL

Wairarapa Times-Age, 17 April 1939, Page 4

LOCAL AND GENERAL

Balancing Billiard Balls. The balancing of seven billiard balls one on top of another is a feat that may appear to be impossible, but Mr W. Darvill, billiard saloon proprietor, of Masterton, is able to accomplish it. Mr Darvill’s feat eclipses that of a Belgrade musician balancing five balls in similar fashion, a photograph of which appeared recently in the “TimesAge.” Lagoons Drying Up. Fears are being entertained by Wairarapa sportsmen that there will be a scarcity of good shooting this season, because of many lagoons drying up as the result of the continued dry spell. In some seasons duck abound on lagoons in the Wairarapa, where excellent shooting may be enjoyed. This year, however, duck and swan .may be forced to seek fresh grounds. New Rail Car Service. The railcar service between Taranaki and Wellington was inaugurated yesterday afternoon, when the Attor-ney-General. Mr Mason, on behalf of the Minister of Railways, Mr Sullivan, attended an official ceremony at the New Plymouth station before the dispatch of the Aotea on the first of its tri-weekly journeys. The general manager of railways, Mr G. H. Mackley, was also present. Shower of Rain. A shower of rain was experienced in Eketahuna and Pahiatua on Saturday night but it was hardly sufficient to do more than moisten the surface. The Bush district, however, has a much greener appearance than the Wairarapa, and the streams there are carrying considerably more water than those in the Masterton area. No Hot Cross Buns. This Easter, for the first time for very many years, no hot cross buns were on sale in Greymouth, in accordance with a decision of the West Coast Master Bakers’ Association. The price of the flour received from Canterbury, £l5 a ton delivered at the bakehouse, which is higher than for many years, together with the high cost of overtime payment to employees, are factors which influenced the decision. River Erosion. An indication that he intended to attack the problem of river erosion in New Zealand in earnest was given by the Minister of Public Works, Mr Semple, speaking at the opening of the Whirokino trestle bridge, near Foxton. “Too much of New Zealand is /how going out into the Pacific,” said Mr Semple. He proposed next session to seek powers to deal with erosion of good land by rivers. Too many of the river boards were dealing with the effects and not with the causes, he said. Interloan Library Service. “The use of the interloan service has increased steadily since its inception by the four university libraries in 1936,” states the “Library Record,” issued by the Canterbury University College Library. “The wider scheme, undter the auspices of the New Zealand Library Association, began in late 1937 and, was in operation properly by the middle of last year. It embraces nearly all the chief libraries of the Dominion. Our library, during 1938, asked for 113 books or periodicals and received 88; we were asked by other libraries to lend 105, and were able to supply 85.” Charged With Desertion. Arrested on Friday night with only a penny in their possession Yoseph Stein (18) and Friedrich Drews (17) were charged in the Magistrate’s Court, New Plymouth, on Saturday with having deserted from the German steamer Dortmund at Auckland on Thursday. They were remanded in custody to Friday, when two other young Germans who have already pleaded guilty to deserting the barque Kommodore Johnsen at Auckland, will be dealt with. Six other members of the crew of the Dortmund are still missing. Two left the ship at New Plymouth and the others at Auckland. | Manufacture of Planes. The opinion that New Zealand could manufacture light aeroplanes was expressed at Auckland on Saturday by Sir Hardman Lever, leader of the British Air Mission, which has pust presented a report to the New Zealand Government. Sir Hardman said that it was possible for New Zealand to manufacture only light types, because the country did not possess the technique necessary for others. The progress of aviation was so rapid that the technique was changing daily. The mission, he said, was impressed with the condition of civil aviation in New Zealand, particularly landing grounds. He admitted a connection between the ’mission, and the. conference on Pacific defence. Secret of England’s Greatness. “Men are prone to criticise England for what they call her love of compromise. Yet that very compromise may be a higher wisdom after all, said Archdeacon Bullock in proposing the toast of “The Royal Society of St George” at a dinner in Wellington on Saturday night. “Extremists do not flourish within England’s borders, he said, “for she knows her task, which is to make as one the names of liberty and law. For us, life is worth living that is not ordered and yet no life is free and happy where its totality is fettered and enslaved. He was a great man who spoke first of the perfect law of liberty—sounding like foolishness to some and a stumbling block to others —and He knew as we know how difficult it is of attainment. But there lies the lodestar of our spirit and therein appears the secret of England s greatness.” Flood Terrors Removed. Having cost £83,000, inclusive of road approaches and sealing, and taken nearly three years to complete, the Whirokino trestle bridge,, on the main Wellington-Auckland highway just south of Foxton, was opened on Saturday by the Minister of Public Works, Mr Semple. This work, one of the most important improvements carried out on the main West Coast highway for many years, will remove the terrors of flood conditions on the old tortuous road and as far as man can foretell, will permit uninterrupted traffic at all times. In response to the invitation of the Manawatu County Council, which at the request of the Main Highways Board made all arrangements for the official opening, a very large crowd was present at the ceremony; the number of motor-cars parked at the bridge was estimated at fully 200. The chairman of the Manawatu County Council, Mr W. E. Barber, presided.