LOCAL AND GENERAL

Wairarapa Times-Age, 23 October 1939, Page 4

LOCAL AND GENERAL

Heavy Frost. A frost of 10.2 degrees was recorded in Masterton this morning. Many gardeners had their potatoes badly cut end tomatoes also suffered. Successful Dance. A most enjoyable and successful, dance was held in the Te Whiti Hall on Saturday night. The music was supplied by Mrs Te Tan and her Melodymakers. Mr Len Pike was an efficient M.C. Cadet Dance. The St. John Ambulance Cadet Division dance held in the Masonic Hall on Saturday night, was largely attended and proved an outstanding success. The music was provided by Jack Barnes’ Rhythm Boys. A Flag Slips. Much speculation was caused in Masterton this morning as to the reason for lhe flag on the Post Office being flown at half mast. The explanation was that the flag, which was being flown in recognition of Labour Day, had inadvertently slipped down. > Gannet Sanctuary. The gannet sanctuary at Cape Kidnappers was opened to visitors during the weekend. An appeal has been made to visitors not to disturb the birds unduly. Nesting operations are at present at their height and the appearance of the young birds is always an added attraction. The colony has increased this year to the extent that room on the mainland is at a premium and a number of the birds have established a second rookery at Black Reef. Guy Fawkes Day. A substantial cutting down of orders under the import restrictions, combined with the curtailment in supplies of Chinese crackers as a result of the Sino-Japanese hostilities, may mean that no fireworks will be available next year for the annual celebration of Guy Fawkes Day. Limited supplies only, it is stated, are available this year, and if any stocks are available ' next year it is probable that prices for these will be considerably higher. War-time London.

“This place is lousy with air-raid shelters,” is the. terse description of London by a New/Zealand Royal Air Force pilot, in a letter home written after the outbreak of the war. “It is quite strange to see so many girls In uniform, sandbags everywhere, watertanks in the streets, and fire tenders behind taxis. We have had three airraid alarms, and are quite bored by them. No enemy air attack could possibly penetrate our defences. At night all,cars have their lights dimmed and screened,” continued the writer, “and the city is pitch dark.” The Maori Mind.

“There are few pakehas who can really enter into the Maori mind,” said the Rev J. Fisher, of Kumara, urging the appointment of a Maorj priest in the diocese of Christchurch at the Anglican Synod. “We should take advantage of what is good in the ancient Maori are being lost. There are young Maoris in my parish who speak no more Maori than 1 do—yet they are still Maoris, and they do not think as we think. A man of their own race can enter into their minds as none of us can.”

Red Star Gathering. The Red Star Football Club’s annual Third Grade wind-up social gathering was held in the Masterton Savage Club’s rooms on Saturday night. Presentations were made to Messrs R. Howard and C. Stewart, who were Recently' married, and E. Cross who is shortly leaving the district. Trophies won during the season were presented as follow:—Most improved forward, Milne trophy, Mr W. Jaspers. Best all round forward, Mr H. Golder. Most consistent back, Mills trophy, Mr M. Levens. Most improved back, Milne trophy, Mr W. Jaspers. Stewart trophy, best utility player, Mr T. Swain. Chance for a Rest.

“What happens when you have influenza or go for a holiday?” asked Mr Justice Northcroft of an analytical chemist who asked in the Supreme Court in Christchurch to be excused jury service on lhe grounds that he was the only man in his organisation who could do his work. The juryman replied that he had not had a holiday for 20 years, and that he had not been laid up-for 10 years. “Well,” replied his Honour in refusing the application, “I think in the circumstances that I will be doing you a kindness by giving you some other work for a change.”

Record for Knitting Socks. A memento of many years’ standing was on view al a meeting' held at Ashburton East to form a sub-branch of the Red Cross Society The memento, a silver inkstand, had been presented by Lady Liverpool to Mrs W. H. Robinson, president of the sub-branch of the society when it operated in Ashburtbn East during the war. in recognition of the record in knitting soldiers’ socks established by the branch In one month 560 pairs of socks were knitted. When offices for the revived branch were being tilled. Mrs Robinson was again elected president. The “Bronze Oak.” The famous “bronze oak” growing at the back of the children’s playground in the Christchurch Botanic Gardens is now to be seen at its best, according to lhe director of the gardens (Mr J. A. McPherson >. This tree has an obscure history. Il was brought from North America and planted in the early days of the gardens, but details of its origin and history are not known. It bears no acorns, and attempts to propagate it have failed. Its bronze leaves, especially when seen against the setting sun (for which -it is situated in an ideal position), have made it well known to visitors to lhe gardens at this time of the year. Show Success. At the Hawke’s Bay A. and P. Society’s 1939 spring show, Mr John Ogilvie, of Gladstone was a notably successful exhibitor in the cattle section. Mr Ogilvie won the Meat and Wool Cup for best registered purebred beef cattle with his entry “Etheridge of Tillsrie”; the New Zealand Aberdeen Angus Cattle Breeders’ Association silver salver, for the champion group of Aberdeen Angus bull and three females, and the Kinross White Challenge Cup for the best bull and female Aberdeen Angus. The W. Rayner Rose Bowl, presented by Mr W. Rayner. “The Cliffs.” Masterton. for the best Romney Marsh N.C. ram or ewe hoggott was won by Mr W. A. Tod, Ota'ne. Hawke’s Bay.