LOCAL AND GENERAL

Wairarapa Times-Age, 7 February 1940, Page 4

LOCAL AND GENERAL

New Serial Story Commences Today. A new serial story entitled "Rents Are Low in Eden," commences in today's “Wairarapa Times-Age." Il is a most romantic offering told in the vivid language of that noted author. Peter Benedict. Air Force Enlistment. In connection with the enlistment of non-flying personnel for the Royal New Zealand Air Force the selection committee will be in attendance at the Drill Hall. Masterton, on Thursday, February 8. from 9 a.in. to 5.30 p.m. New Reserve Bank Notes. In accordance with an announcement made some days ago, the Reserve Bank of New Zealand’s new note issue was put into circulation yesterday, and will gradually become available throughout the Dominoin. No arrangements, however, are being made to withdraw the old issue, which will continue to circulate for some time. Stormy Night. Commencing with a high wind, which increased in velocity during yesterday afternoon. Masterton and the surrounding districts experienced an extremely wild period last night. Wind, thunder and rain combined to make conditions very unpleasant, particularly early in the evening. Conditions improved this morning, though a strong north-westerly wind still blew. Methodist Church Conference. The annual conference of the New Zealand Methodist Church, which will open in Dunedin on February 22, will include the celebration of the South Island Centennial year, commemorating the arrival of the Rev James Watkin at Karitane 100 years ago. Visitors from Australia will be the Rev' Professor A. E. Albiston, president of the General Methodist Church of Australasia, and Miss Watkin, the grand-daughter of the pioneer minister, who will assist in laying the foundation stone at the Centennial church site. Otakou. Attendance at Exhibition. 1 Driving rain and gusts of wind reaching gale force at times lashed the Centennial Exhibition at Rongotai yesterday and considerably affected the attendance. Playland was almost deserted in the daytime and at night, even between the showers, visitors appeared to prefer the warmth of the courts and the great majority remained under cover. The attendance for the day was 9501, bringing the total to date to 1,378.866. Despite earlier bad days when the weather was unfavourable, the average attendance stands at 17,677 which is considered satisfactory in the circumstances.

Centennial Baby Contest. The Commander of the Order of St John of Jerusalem is conducting a campaign for raising funds to enable it to extend the work of its organisation throughout the Dominion. This campaign will be known as “The St John Ambulance Centennial Baby Contest.” It is proposed that babies born on or after January 1, 1937, shall be eligible for entry, that the entrance fee shall be ss, which will entitle the entrant to receive first, a post-card size photograph of the baby; secondly, 10 feet of theatre-sized cinematograph film of the baby; and. thirdly, the right to participate in the contest.

Patriotic Fund. Since the publication 10 clays ago of donations to the national patriotic fund in response to the appeal for funds by the Governor-General, Lord Galway, as chairman of the National Patriotic Fund Board, the total has risen by over £2500 and is now £22,707. The latest list, the fifth to be issued by the board, includes a contribution of £lOOO from the Reserve Bank of New Zealand. and also contributions from a number of business .firms. In addition, there are donations from a number of private citiens whose support in large numbers to enable the board to do the very best possible for New Zealand's sailors, soldiers and airmen is regarded as of the greatest importance. With the whole-hearted assistance of the great mass of people the funds are expected io increase appreciably week by week.

Praise for Achilles Men

The glory of the fight, in which H.M.S. Achilles engaged, against the German battleship Admiral Graf Spee, off the South American coast, is reechoing round the world. Evidence of that was given a the Wellington Rotary Club's luncheon yesterday when a letter was read from the Rev I. LiVingptonfe, of the Hendon Rotary Club, England, addressed to the president of the Wellington club. Mr E. P. Hay. 'The letter ran:—“lt is the practice of this'dub to propose every week the health of an overseas club, and yesterday (December 18), I was privileged to give the toast, of your club. The selection of your club for the toast was made some weeks previously, but I found a special appropriateness in proposing the toast, because during the last two or three days we have all been thinking of the gallant bravery and efficiency of the officers and men of H.M.S. Achilles, two-thirds of whom were New Zealanders; and I am interpreting the club’s wishes when 1 express to you Britain's appreciation of their heroic courage." The Season of Lent. The season of Lent, which lasts 40 days and culminates on. Easter Saturday. began today. Ash Wednesday. The 40 days' season corresponds with the period of fast which Christ spent in the desert before beginning His public ministry. It is essentially a season of penance and fasting preparation to the festival of Raster, and is mainly observed by the Anglican and Catholic churches. In the Church of England Iho time is one for penance, fasting and self-denial. There will be special services today and on the Sunday s throughout Lent. Today, in all Catholic churches, there will be the blessing of ashes, the symbol of penitence, '•rackcloth and ashes." Ashes are placed on the foreheads of the people in the form of a cross. Ash Wednesday is a dav of fast and abstinence for Catholics: all other Wednesdays in Lent are days of fast only. One meal on which no limit is placed is allowed daily, and for the other two meals meat may be eaten, today and Fridays excepted’ but only in small quantities, with a limit, of three ounces for one meal and eight ofr another. Fridays are days of both fast and abstinence (refraining from meat).