LOCAL AND GENERAL

Wairarapa Times-Age, 25 October 1939, Page 4

LOCAL AND GENERAL

Chess Club Function. The Masterton Chess Club’s final function of the season will be held on Saturday next, beginning at 7.30 p.m., in the Odd Fellows’ Hall. South Wairarapa players will take part in the games, which will be followed by supper. Youth’s Escapade. An intruder, who broke into the garage of Smith and Sinton Ltd., at Rangiriri overnight on Sunday, rifled a till of 36s and drove away in a motorcar which was housed on the premises. The car was returned before morning and left outside the garage door after having covered 60 miles. A youth was arrested by the Huntly police and will be charged in the Children’s Court.

Drinking in Cars. Recent legislation prohibiting drinking at dances was brought to the notice of patrons of a dance in the Town Hall at Whangarei on Monday night, when a constable allegedly discovered the occupants of two cars drinking and took possession of one half-empty bottle. Asked if the police intend prosecuting, Inspector ( Fox- said he was unable to say at the moment.

Van Crashes on to Railway Track. Crashing over a 20-foot embankment near St. Leonard’s, a butter van belonging to the Co-op. Dairy Company, fell to the railway track, states a Press Association message from Dunedin. The driver was merely shaken and bruised. Knowing that the train was due, he ran along the rails to stop it, but was too late, the engine smashing the upper bodywork of the van to splinters and scattering butter far and wide. Soldiers in Hospital.

About 50 men from Hopuhopu military camp have been admitted to the Waikato Hospital since the camp was opened. The acting-medical superintendent, Dr. Graham, said that none of the cases had been serious. There had been an average of 15 soldiers in hospital all the time, but, with warmer weather coming, it was expected that this number would soon be decreased. Hospital authorities had been prepared for almost twice this number of Cases. Girl Scalped.

To be scalped by the engine shafting of a milking machine plant was the terrible experience of Shirley Morice, aged 14, at Broadwood, North Auckland, on Monday morning. The girl was helping her uncle, Mr Dallas, in the shed when the accident occurred. As she reached under the engine shaft her hair became caught. She fell backward on the floor and her scalp was torn off. She is in the Rawene Hospital and is reported to be making progress.

Damages Awarded. Victor Emanuel Clark, meter reader, Wellington, was awarded £l5OO general damages and £432 special damages against Arthur John Rigg, managing director, Wellington, in the Supreme Court, Wellington, yesterday. The award was the full amount Clark claimed for injuries received when he was struck by a car driven by Rigg while he was motor-cycling in Miramar Avenue on October 18, 1938. The case was heard before Mr justice Blair and a jury of 12. Mr J. S. Hanna represented Clark and Mr E. Parry appeared for Rigg. No evidence was called for Rigg other than that of a land agent, who gave details of the cost of purchase of small businesses. There was no contest on the issue of liability. Debt to British Seamen Fund.

During the past two years the New Zealand Sheepowners acknowledgment of Debt to British Seamen Fund has made grants by way of relief to the extent of £6238 to disabled sailors, and to the dependents of sailors who were incapacitated or who died as the result of injuries received during the Great War. The sum of , £5142 was expended in the care and settlement of boy and girl dependents. Since the commencement of the operations of the Fund in 1921, the following assistance has been given to British Seamen and their dependents:—Cash Grants to Beneficiaries in New Zealand and Overseas, £70,034. Immigration, training, aftercare and settlement of boy and girl dependents, £93,544. Total, £163,578. Soldiering De Luxe.

“Soldiering de luxe," was the expression used by the Minister of Public Works, Mr Semple, in commenting after an inspection yesterday morning of the accommodation provided for the Wellington General Reconnaissance Air Squadron, in training at the Woodbourne Air Station, a Blenheim Press Association message states. Mr Semple said he was well pleased with the conditions at the aerodrome and the progress toward its completion.. The men could have nothing to complain of in the quarters provided. The Government was doing its best to see that similar accommodation was provided at all training centres, not only for the Air Force but the military units as well. There would be none of the blundering which took place at the beginning of the last war, when many men were lost through illness and disease because of the poor accommodation and conditions under which they trained. Bankrupt Solicitor.

The opinion that If realisations came up to expectations the bankrupt estate of Charles Stephen Lonquet, solicitor, would pay about 10s in the £l, was expressed by the official assignee at the third meeting of bankrupt’s creditors at Invercargill yesterday afternoon. Liabilities were previously stated to be £35,543, and the estimated deficit £16,243. The official assignee explained that there were 62 properties subject to mortgage to bankrupt, and on those the face value of the mortgages was £17,263. The amount due on the mortgages, as established by investigating accountants, was £15,404. The official assignee, estimated that the properties the subject of these mortgages would realise about £10,119. The face value of other assets of bankrupt, two houses and shares, would bring the total face value up to about £21,207, and on this the official assignee hoped to realise £12,863. So far 35 proofs had been received from creditors of the estate and the face value of these proofs amounted to £20,502. If the realisation came up to expectations bankrupt’s estate should pay about 10s in the £l.

Captain J. R. Page, R.N.Z.A., on his appointment to the special military force, has given up the appointment of adjutant of the 3rd Artillery Brigade Group and 23rd Heavy Battery, New Zealand Artillery, and Officer Commanding the Field Cadre, Royal New Zealand Artillery, Christchurch. Captain Page, whose parents, Mr and Mrs J. Page, reside in Invercargill, is a former All Black footballer.