LOCAL AND GENERAL

Wairarapa Times-Age, 18 December 1939, Page 6

LOCAL AND GENERAL

Exhibition Attendance. There was a large attendance at the Centennial Exhibition on Saturday, reaching 22,091. The total is now 484,692, a daily average of 14,256.

Flag Day Appeal. With several small country returns to come, £379 has been collected in New Plymouth and the Taranaki county as the result of the Flag Day appeal.

Military Enrolment. The latest enrolment in Masterton in the Special Military Force is tfiat of Mr T. N. N. Coley, High Street, Masterton. The total, enrolments to date are now 216.

Yachts Capsize. Three yachts capsized and two men fell overboard from other yachts when the fresh south-west wind made boats difficult to handle on Wellington Harbour on Saturday afternoon. No one was hurt.

Hydro-Electric Works Closed. The Araptmi hydro-electric works have been closed to the public since the outbreak of war. They will remain closed indefinitely. The main road over the Arapuni dam to Te Awarnutu will, however, remain open for traffic. Auckland Wool Cheque.

Approximately .£360.000 will be distributed to wool-growers in the Auckland province today, the prompt date for the first appraisement for the Government purchase under the arrangement with the United Kingdom. About 23,500 bales were appraised in Auckland. The distribution of the cheque in time for Christmas will do much to stimulate business, particularly in the country centres. It compares with the £339.896 received from the first auction in Auckland last season when 24,028 bales were sold.

Boy Injured by Explosion. Hector Entwistle, aged 14, a schoolboy, residing at 46 Waione Street, Petone, was seriously injured as a result of an explosion of a petroleum drum on another property in Waione Street yesterday morning. His condition last night, was serious. Some boys were assembling drums to construct a raft. A match was struck and one of the drums exploded. Entwistle was severely burned on both arms and legs and his neck and face as well as suffering serious shock. Canterbury Centenary.

Although New Zealand as a whole is now celebrating its centenary, the province of Canterbury must wait another ten years for its own centenary. Canterbury was ninety years old on Saturday. On December 16, 1850. the Charlotte Jane and the Randolph arrived at Lyttelton, where the Governor, Sir George Grey, and Robert Godley, founder of the province, were waiting to welcome the colonists. The Sir George Seymour arrived on the following morning, and the Cressy on December 27.

Car Falls 300 Feet. A car owned and driven by Mr A. Martin. Roseneath Terrace, Roseneath, crashed 300 feet down from the top of Palliser Road. Roseneath. to Hay Street, early yesterday morning. Mr Martin, who was the only occupant, was not injured. The car was badly damaged. Mr Martin said that the car skidded in some loose metal, struck the kerb, and then went down the bank, rolling over about 15 times. He held to the wheel the whole time and escaped without a scratch. It was tne steel hood of the car which, he believed. saved him.

Heavy Travel Bookings. Practically all transport facilities in the Dominion will be fully taxed this week by thousands of New Zealanders who intend going somewhere for Christmas and New Year. Bookings for sea. rail and air services have been heavy for weeks in advance, and there is every indication that, in spite of the war. figures for holiday travel will be maintained at the same high level as last year. The busiest days of the week will be Thursday, Friday and Saturday, and on those days there will be additional steamer sailings, extra trains, and even specials in the air. In spite of restrictions brought about by the war. commercial airlines operating in New Zealand expect a busy Christmas and extra trips will be made to copc with the rush of passenger traffic. “Passinci Out” Parade.

In brilliant sunshine an impressive military ceremonial to mark the "passing out" of the second batch of trainees was held at the Royal New Zealand Air Force Training Depot. Weraroa, Levin, yesterday afternoon. The salute was taken by the Minister of Defence. Mr Jones, who afterward addressed the men. It was the first time the full ceremony has been held in New Zealand. One was to have been held on November 19, when the first match of recruits completed their training, but it had to be abandoned because of tain. Yesterday's ceremony was larger than that originally planned. as the station has since been expanded to a full wing. About 200 men paraded under the command of Squadron Leader T. W White, officer i.ornm the station