LOCAL AND GENERAL

Wairarapa Times-Age, 8 February 1940, Page 4

LOCAL AND GENERAL

Hockey Invitation Not Accepted. Advice has been received by the New Zealand Women's Hockey Association that because of the war the All Australia Women’s Hockey Association is unable to accept the invitation of the Now Zealand body to send a team to visit the Dominion this year.

Shop Day Tomorrow. Members of the League of Nations Union and of the W.C.T.U., as well as the public generally, are reminded o 5 the jumble, cake and produce stalls tomorrow morning at the old "Daily Times" office in Church Street. Any kind of goods will be gratefully received, but. each parcel should be labelled for the organisation for which it is intended. Those who wish goods to bo collected should ’phono 2322.

Guilty of Negligent Driving. A verdict of guilty was brought in after a retirement of two and a quarter hours at the retrial in the Timaru Supreme Court yesterday of Lawrence William Cantwell, aged 21, tractor driver. Albury, who pleaded not guilty to a charge of negligently driving a motor-car on the Timaru-Plea-sant Point highway on December 2. 1939, thereby causing the death of Helen Eva McAuliffe Cantwell. He was remanded for sentence tomorrow. Great Athletic Event. Widespread interest in being taken in Masterton in the forthcoming attempt on the world's 4-mile relay race record, which will be made at the Masterton Park Oval on Saturday. February 17. Advice to hand states that several sportsmen from Christchurch will travel to Masterton to see this race. It is hoped that the Masterton public will appreciatp this unique event by attending in large numbers.

Old Library Building to Close. Today for the last time subscribers will be able to take' out books from the Central Library in Wakefield Street. Wellington. When the building closes this evening its functions as a library will cease. Its place will be taken by the fine new building in Mercer Street, which will be officially opened at 3 p.m. on Tuesday by the mayor, Mr Hislop, and which will be available for the use of the public from 7 p.m. that day.

Attendance at Exhibition. A return to seasonable conditions saw the Centennial Exhibition crowded yesterday, and the attendance of 12,148 included many hundreds of country visitors. This was more than 3000 better than on Tuesday. With the reopening of the schools, children were not so much in evidence as formerly, except for four school parties visiting Wellington and staying at the hostel in the old Newtown School buildings. The attendance total to date is 1,391,130, the average daily attendance being 17,610.

National Party Caucus. Means of supporting the war effort of New Zealand will be one of the main topics to be discussed at a caucus of the National Party to be held in Wellington on Friday. Politics in the normal sense will have a secondary position. Members will discuss methods of stimulating a greater public response to the Government’s recent appeals for a united war effort. An appeal on these lines was made by the Leader of the Opposition, Mr Hamilton, as long ago as October, and. following the forthcoming caucus. members of the Opposition are likely to intensify their efforts. Evacuation is not Modern.

We arc apt to think of evacuation as an innovation, but it is at least 2400 years old. It was in September 480 B.C. that the women and children and old folk of Athens were evacuated to safety zones at Troezen. Aegina and the island of Salamis. The Persians were approaching, and the Athenian Council deemed it expedient to send away all non-c6mbatants before hostilities broke out. Every citizen who embarked for an evacuation centre was given eight drachmae, a sum amounting to several weeks’ wages; although there was no 8.8. C. to broadcast instructions, the evacuation was carried out with full success.

“Twenty White Horses.” The Government Court theatretite, which shows educational films and films of scenic and industrial interest, is starring a new release this week in the form of a film that tells the story of New Zealand school dental clinics. "Twenty White Horses," which is the title of the film, is a complete talking picture with all the characters speaking their parts—a new departure from the films which.have been shown in the past which were mainly voiced by a commentator. The film shows not only the actual contact of the child and parent with the clinic, but also the training of the clinic's staff. This film is shown at the following times: 11.15 a.m.. 1.15, 2.15, 3.15. 4.15, 5.15, and 6.45. 7.45 and 8.45 p.m. British Black-outs. Judging from the comments of travellers who have recently come from the Old Country nothing is more depressing and trying to the nerves and patience than the continual blackouts, especially in the depths of winter. "It gets dark at half-past three, and nobody goes out much after that," said a New Zealander who has just returned. “If you do and happen to bump into a woman, the chances are you will get a bag of pepper in your face. That is what, they are doing." he said. English airmen spoken to yesterday agreed that the precautions wore most effective, and said the characteristic glare of London had completely disappeared. "I am sure t shall greatly enjoy die life here." said a newcomer. "You do not have any black-outs, do you?" I The Englishman. I A famous foreign humourist once said of the English that no race had ever shown such judgment in choosing a national mascot. "For the English bulldog," he said, "is the nearest approach in die animal world to the English man." The English bulldog traces his family back 700 years. Originally bred for bull baiting, he is not used for that purpose today, and in England he is valued as a mascot. His fierce expression, which disguises his gentle nature, causes amused respect. However, there is a serious side to his picture. He is an example of what can bo done by overbreeding. He walks about on legs too short, with short breathing to hinder his progress. But lie is a comforting companion on the hearth rug. and his good nature makes up for his less desirable qualities. He may, be brinclle, fawn, red, black or black and white,