LOCAL AND GENERAL

Wairarapa Times-Age, 1 August 1939, Page 6

LOCAL AND GENERAL

One Bankruptcy This Year. There was one bankruptcy in Wairarapa during July, the only one so far this year. Drivers’ Licences. The Masterton Borough Council issued 77 drivers’ licences last month, the total to date being 2109 licences. The Masterton County Council issued 17 licences last month, bringing the total lor the year to 1175 licences. Wrestling Contest. The Featherston Wrestling Club will hold another contest with Koolman s gymnasium on Saturday night in the Featherston Town Hall. The special features will be three eight-minute rounds between J. Hutchinson and S. Bradley, who arc recognised as very capable wrestlers. A trophy will also be competed for. Infectious Diseases. For the week ended yesterday, 11 cases of infectious disease and four deaths—two from tuberculosis, one from diphtheria, and one from puerperal sepsis—were reported to the Wellington office of the Health Department from the central Wellington area. The cases were as follows: —Pulmonary tuberculosis (6), diphtheria (2), erysipelas <2), and puerperal fever (1). “Snowed In.” Snow fell in the Ohingaiti district yesterday to the depth of over a foot, and in many parts of the district settler's were snowed in. A party of Ohingaiti residents who intended to leave yesterday to attend the Charity Eall at Masterton tomorrow night were unable to get their car out of the garage which was buried in snow. A start for Masterton was, however, made this morning. Building Permits. The Masterton Borough Council issued lastjnonth 7 building permits (including 2 new dwellings) for an estimated value of £3,335, as compared with ten permits (1 new dwelling) fur £11,176 at the same period last year. The permits ' for last month include a new schoolroom, and accounts for the wide difference in the figures. The Masterton County Council in July issued 5 permits for an estimated value of £1490. Shooting Team’s Success. Opportunity was taken at yesterday’s meeting of the Wairarapa Provincial Executive of the Farmers’ Union to present the Alfredton-Eketahuna team which won the New Zealand Farmers’ Union annual shooting competition with medals. The team was Messrs A. E. Edmonds, H. C. Rasmussen, J. H. McDonald, H. C. Percy, C. E. Sigvertsen and J. C. Feast. The president, Mr H. Morrison, made the presentation, Mr J. H. MacDonald accepting the medals on behalf of the team. Masterton Approaches. Fifty-three Idiesi trees, noted for their highly decorative red berries, have been planted at the southern approach to Masterton Borough as part of the local centennial memorial. Although the holes have been prepared in readiness for planting eighty Canadian maples at the northern approach to the borough, on Opaki Road, the weather has prevented these from being planted but they will be put out as soon as conditions permit. Trade With Noumea. The disadvantage that New Zealand produce and other goods suffer under the Customs tariff in Noumea and other French possessions, compared with some other countries, among which is Japan, was drawn to the attention of the acting-Minister of Customs, Mr Mason, by the Auckland Chamber of Commerce. A reply by the Minister has just been received to the effect that the desirability of having New Zealand products admitted into French possessions on the most favourable basis possible is recognised and that question will receive consideration in connection with trade negotiations between New Zealand and Franco. Port Bowen Seamen. Charged with being found on licensed premises after hours, five seamen off the stranded liner Port Bowen appeared in the Magistrates’ Court. Wanganui, yesterday afternoon. The men, who were fined 10s, with costs, were Andrew Smith. Michael McConalagyn. Patrick McConalagyan, William McVey and William Noble. The magistrate, Mr A. Coleman, said he would inflict a nominal penalty for two reasons: The first was that the seamen might not have been acquainted with New Zealand licensing laws, and the second that the men had experienced a trying time on the stranded steamer. Any further breaches would not be treated so leniently. War Relief in Wellington. Applications continued to decrease, whether as a result of the Social Security scheme or of more men being in employment he could not say, said Mr F. E. Bailey, secretary of the War Relief Association of Wellington, at a meeting of the executive of the association yesterday. Mr L. O. H. Tripp presided. A different type of man was now applying for assistance, said Mr Bailey. They were men who had been in employment ever since the war and had had a breakdown. Some were men in business who required a certain amount of assistance. It was felt that the association was doing a greater amount of good in assisting those types of cases than in supplying orders for groceries from week to week. Dramatic Rescue by Surfboat.

A dramatic rescue of a number of harbour board employees marooned at the end of the Napier breakwater by exceptionally heavy seas was effected yesterday by means of a surfboat. It was found imperative to remove them by any means possible, as tremendous waves began to crash over the concrete bulwark's. The men went out in the morning to work a crane, but when the storm broke they were compelled to retreat to near the end of the breakwater to shelter, as an attempt to cross the open space would have been highly dangerous. As the day wore on the seas mounted, and the men's plight became precarious. Eventually it was decided to send out a lifeboat, and by great skill the boat managed to get close enough to lake the men aboard. They were returned to the wharf thoroughly drenched, but unharmed.

An cx-detoctivc warns us that pickpockets are now such experts that they will take money from under our very noses without, being seen. This ought to discourage people from trying to hide loose change in their moustaches.