LOCAL AND GENERAL

Wairarapa Times-Age, 13 September 1939, Page 6

LOCAL AND GENERAL

Golf Tournament Postponed. Because of the unsettled position, the Dannevirke women’s golf tournament. which was to have started on September 15, lias been postponed indefinitely. Golf Lessons. Owing to pressure of space and the need for conserving supplies of newsprint, the illustrated golf feature of lessons by Norman Von Nida, has been unavoidably held over from today’s issue. This feature will be published tomorrow again, and will be continued on Saturday. Positions to be Kept Open. The Wanganui City Council decided last night to keep open the positions of all employees accepted for war services within or beyond New Zealand. In answer to a question as to Avhether the seats of councillors Avho enlist would be filled by arrangement and without election, the mayor replied that he did not think that stage had been reached as yet. Dance at Opaki. A very enjoyable dance was held at Cooper’s Barn, Opaki, last night. During the evening two Monte Carlo waltz’s were held, the winners being Miss Stevenson and’Mr Rollo and Miss Dalberg and Mr Colquhon. Extras were played by Miss M. Cooper and Messrs Cooper and Blake. The duties of M.C. were ably carried out by Mr Pat Ward. Rifle Championship Meeting.

Whether, in view of the war, the annual championship meeting should be held, was considered by the executive of the Manawatu Rifle Association, and after a full discussion it was decided that the shoot take place as arranged on October 14. A programme catering for A, B and C grades Avas drawn up, with a list of 23 prizes ranging from £2 to 5s on an entry based on 55 competitors.

Short-Wave Broadcasts. In tomorrow’s issue of the “TimesAge” a special page sponsored by a number of Masterton radio dealers will appear, featuring the scheduled shortwave transmissions from the major European stations. The times when bulletins in English are given together with the call-sign of each station and its wave-length in metres, will be detailed. Particularly valuable is the scheduled time of English bulletins from the German short-wave stations. This table has been compiled and is published by the courtesy of the “N.Z. Radio Record,” Wellington. Rush to Get Married.

Already this month almost as many marriages have taken place in Wellington as for the whole of September last year. From September 1, 148 marriages have taken place, as against 169 for the whole month last year. Thirty-two people gave notice of their marriage on Monday, which constitutes something 'of a record. Of the total marriages this month', 44 were performed by the registrar. Eight of the brides concerned were under 21 years of age, the youngest being 16. The oldest was 48, and the oldest bridegroom was 42. Many of the men concerned had enlisted or were already in the army.

State Housing Operations. There has been considerable easing in State housing operations in Auckland because of the need for tradesmen on urgent defence contracts. Most of the Avork on big housing contracts has slopped or has been practically suspended and arrangements have been made with some of the smaller contracts for the release of men for defence work. The situation with State housing really corresponds with that ruling in other Government buildings that are not for defence purposes. There is no conscription of tradesmen, of course, and so the policy is to withdraw all the necessary men required for defence work from other Government operations. No Turning Back.

At a special meeting of the National Centennial Council in Wellington yesterday, the chairman, the Hon W. E. Parry, urged that a full celebration of the centennial throughout the Dominion would be helpful during the time of war. He declared that to abandon all that had already been done and had yet to be done would be a national admission, either that catastrophe had overtaken the country or that what the people set out to do over three years ago had not been worth doing. The people today could be well stimulated by having their thoughts turned to the great feats of the sturdy pioneers who were never dismayed by difficulties. The meeting agreed that there should be no turning back on the centennial way.

Welsh Guards Band. The Welsh Guards Band will not now be coming to play at the Centennial Exhibition. The general manager of the exhibition, Mr C. P. Hainsworth, said yesterday that information to this effect had been received by cablegram from London. As soon as war was declared it was considered highly improbable that the Guards would be permitted to visit New Zealand. None the less it is a great disappointment to the exhibition management. A meeting of the music committee has been convened to consider a suitable alternative. It is considered that the next best thing is to encourage local talent, and to seek some method whereby the best available Nev/ Zealand bands will be able to participate in the exhibition. The scheme that will probably be adopted, therefore, will be that the best bands throughout the Dominion will be invited to play at the exhibition at various times and on special occasions.