EKETAHUNA

Wairarapa Times-Age, 29 April 1939, Page 9

EKETAHUNA

WOMEN’S DIVISION. ANNUAL MEETING. (“Times-Age” Special.) Miss A. E. Anderson presided at the annual meeting of the Eketahuna branch of the Women’s Division of the Farmers’ Union. Miss Anderson read a comprehensive report of the year’s work while a most satisfactory balance sheet was presented. The secretary supplied a report of the house-keeping activities of the branch.

On the motion of Mrs Albrechtsen a hearty vote of thanks was passed to the president, secretary and treasurer for their work on behalf of the branch. Votes of sympathy were passed with Mesdames George, Baucke and Golder in the death of relatives.

Miss Anderson reported that the recent Shop Day realised the sum of £6 19s Id, this being considered very satisfactory. The Wairarapa Community Chest and Flock House will benefit thereby. New members elected were Mesdames Dick. Braddick, Koce, Jewett and Miss Dick.

The following officers were elected for the ensuing year: —President, Mrs C. Welch; vice-presidents, Mesdames S. M. George, G. A. Hansen, F. C. Tumor and Miss A. Anderson; secretary, Mrs Brittain; treasurer, Mrs Stone-Wigg; advisory members, Mesdames J. C. McAnulty Senr., and Mrs Brittain; committee. Mesdames Carruthers, S. Smith, Thomasen, Golder, Hancock, Albrechtsen. Fraser, Connor; delegates to the Wairarapa Executive, the President, Miss A. Anderson and Mrs Brittain. Mesdames Corlett and Brookes resigned their positions as vice-presidents. A competition was won by Mrs Stone-Wigg. Mesdames Sigvertsen and Schormann were the hostesses. Referees’ Association. At the annual meeting of the Bush Rugby Referees’ Association Mr W. Lawry was in the chair and there were present: Messrs J. M, Sandman (Pahiatua), O. VI. Stone (Eketahuna), H. E. Rogers (Eketahuna), D. Foster (Ballance), E. Matson (Mangamaire), E. Fisher (Mangamaire), and the secretary (Mr R. McCullock). The balance sheet, showing a credit balance of £3 16s 4d, was adopted. The secretary reported that in addition there was still £9 due from various clubs. It was decided that the secretary write to defaulting clubs requesting payment. The following officers were elected for the ensuing year:—Patron, Mr B. Harvey; president, Mr E. Matson; Vicepresident, Mr H. E. Rogers; hon. vicepresidents, Drs. Paterson and Watson, Messrs E. L. Harvey, C. C. Smyth, J. D. Manson, S. K. Siddels, L. O’Neill, W. Simpson, S. O’Regan, C. Parsons and R. Irvine; representative to Rugby Union, Mr W. Lawry; selectors of referees, Messrs O. Stone and W. Lawry; secretary, Mr R. McCullock; treasurer, Mr C. C. Smyth. Miss R. Schnell Honoured. A very enjoyable gathering was held at Rongomai when Miss' Rita Schnell was the guest of honour in view of her approaching marriage. A large number of very serviceable gifts were presented to Miss Schnell. Mr A. H. Herbert congratulated the bride on the step she was taking in getting married and wished her and the bridegroom-elect every happiness and prosperity in their future life. Mr B. Reid and Mr C. Schnell suitably returned thanks. Table Tennis. Table tennis has become a popular game locally and the club has already 25 members with a prospect of 30 being recorded very shortly. Good form is being shown generally by the members as was evidenced by the play at the practice on Thursday night. Hamua Golf Club. The Hamua Golf Club will open the season tomorrow at 1 p.m., when members of the Eketahuna Club will be present. Best Bogey Cards. The best cards handed in for the last bogey match of the Eketahuna Golf Club were H. Walton, 2 up and M. Frederickson, 2 up.

NEGLIGENT DRIVING. TIRAUMEA MOTORIST FINED. The outcome of an accident which took place on the Pongaroa-Alfredton Road on March 29 last, in which a car driven by Donald Fraser, engineer employed by the Tararua Electric Power Board, was involved, was the appearance in the Pahiatua Magistrate’s Court on Thursday of James Henry McKenzie, of Tiraumea, on a charge of having driven in a manner dangerous to the public. Defendant pleaded not guilty. Mr H. P. Lawry, S.M., was on the Bench.

An unusual feature of the case was that the offence had occurred in the Eketahuna district, and that all the parties concerned resided in that; district. When this was pointed out by the Magistrate, Sergeant Boniseh, for the prosecution, stated that he had been advised by the inspector that in view of the feeling that there was often too much delay in bringing such actions, and that the next session of the Court at Eketahuna was not until May 10, it would be better to bring the case up at Pahiatua. The Magistrate, remarking that such action required the consent of both parties and the presiding Magistrate, allowed the case to be proceeded with. Donald Fraser, engineer, employed by the Tararua Power Board at Eketahuna, in evidence, stated that on March 29 he was driving from Pongaroa to Eketahuna, and when a few miles from Alfredton about 5.30 p.m. he saw two cars approaching a few yards behind each other. As he passed the first car, the second shot out at an angle, getting more and more on its wrong side. As it seemed to be making no attempt to avoid him, and a collision appeared inevitable, witness swung the wheel over, and the left front mudguards of both cars 'collided. Accused’s car went over the

bank, and his own finished up at the side of the road. When he met accused at the top of the bank immediately afterwards accused said he had not seen him approaching. Defendant said that he had travelled behind another car all the way from Pahiatua to where the accident occurred. The car had suddenly borne to the right, and he had made an attempt to straighten it. He was convinced that even if he had not struck Fraser’s car he would have gone over the bank. After the accident he had noticed that the back wheel was broken—apparently without cause. He had previously had a bad skid and a bump in the same car, and believed that the wheel might have been weakened. It was likely that the wheel had given away and thrown the car towards that side. With the consent of the police, the charge was amended to one of negligent driving, the Magistrate commenting that the driving was not consistent with the defence of the collapsed wheel. Accused was convicted and fined £3, with costs 10s.