LOCAL AND GENERAL

Wairarapa Times-Age, 29 January 1940, Page 4

LOCAL AND GENERAL

Southland Wool. Cheque. Southland wool growers will receive £468,087 as the total realisation from the first Invercargill wool appraisal. At the first sale last year the realisation was £296,054 for a slightly smaller offering. This year 27,345 bales made an average of 12.53 d a lb, compared with 9.34 d a lb.

Centennial Exhibition. With a splendid attendance of 31,890 at the Centennial Exhibition on Saturday, the figures are rapidly approaching the million and a quarter mark. The daily average attendance is 17,668. The crowds began to arrive almost as soon as the gates were open and many parties took picnic lunches and spent the day in the grounds. The night was fine and the magnificent lighting effects were seen in all their softlychanging splendour.

Inter-House Dance. The Masterton Inter-House Association’s dance held in the Municipal Hall on Saturday night was largely attended. The music was provided by Jack Barnes’s Rhythm Boys. The lucky spot competition was won by Miss Nancy Snowsill and Mr J. Bradbury. The president of the Association, Mr Geo Daubney thanked all who had assisted in making the function such a success. Altercation After Dance. A severe throat wound, allegedly inflicted by a pocket knife, was received by a young man in an altercation in the street following an incident in a public hall after a dance at Clark’s Beach, near Pukekohe, about midnight on Saturday. The victim was Patrick John Boland, single, aged 24. A young man was arrested yesterday and will appear in the Magistrates’ Court charged that, with intent to do grievous bodily harm, he wounded Boland.

Bridge Repairs. A start was made by borough workmen this morning on the alteration to the wooden decking of a bridge about half way up Cole Street, Masterton. The borough engineer states that the present decking, which is of iron-bark stringers, will be removed, and in its place an arched, concrete structure will be erected. The improvement will not be noticeable to the eye, however, as the wings of the bridge will remain the same. As the job will be carried out in two sections pedestrians and motorists will not. be inconvenienced.

Begonias on Show. Many beautiful blooms of begonias are now to be seen in the Begonia House in Masterton Park. Visitors from beyond the Wairarapa have expressed their admiration of the excellent blooms that grace the house. In addition to the many choice varieties that were seen in flower last year, a number of new kinds have been added to the collection and a visit to the Begonia House is well worth while. Many other beautiful flowers are also blooming profusely in the Pari: at the present time. Methodist Centenary.

To commemorate the first Christian service held with the first settlers on board the Aurora, off Petone beach, on Sunday, January 26. 1840, and conducted by the Wesleyan missionary, Rev James Buller, the Methodists of Welllington and the Hutt Valley held a centennial service on the Petone beach yesterday afternoon. More than 1000 people attended. The Aurora, first immigrant carrying ship, had anchored off Petone on January 22, 1840, and yesterday the epic journey made by Mr Buller to meet the first ships was recounted by the Rev Angus Mcßean. Christchurch, president of the Methodist Conference. There were representatives of the other Christian churches on the platform yesterday, including the Bishop of Wellington. Right Rev H. St Barbe Holland. In the congregation were the Minister of Finance. Mr Nash, M.P.. for Hutt, and Mr Combs. M.P.. for Wellington, representing the Government, and the mayor of Petone, Mr London.