LOCAL AND GENERAL

Wairarapa Times-Age, 9 February 1940, Page 4

LOCAL AND GENERAL

“The Greatest Liar.” “Two soldiers were having an argument as to which was the greatest liar” stated Mr H. L. Cunningham, of the Palmerston North Rotary Club, in the course of an address at the Masterton Rotary Club yesterday. “Said one: •There was once upon a time a gentleman in the infantry ' ‘Stop,’ cried the other, ‘you’ve won.' ” Weekend Bivouac. Members of C and D Companies. First Battalion, Hawke’s Bay Regiment, and C Squadron, Wellington East Coast Mounted Rifles, of the local Territorial unit, will attend a weekend camp at the Opaki Racecourse this weekend. Troops will assemble at the Drill Hall before 2 o’clock on Saturday afternoon. A comprehensive programme of an interesting nature has been arranged. Garden Competition. The second judging of the gardens entered in the Masterton Horticultural Society’s competition will take place next week, commencing, on Monday. It had been intended to judge the eni tries this week, but on account of the severe wind, it was considered advisable to postpone it until next week. The judges are Messrs W. Murray and H. Sturgeon. Successes at Flower Show. At the midsummer show of the Mirama and Eastern Suburbs Horticultural Society, Mr Harry Smith, of Renall Street, Masterton, was very successful with his gladioli and dahlias in which flowers he specialises. He won three firsts and four seconds in gladioli, as well as the Bilby Cup. In dahlias he obtained a first prize and a second. The competition in all classes was very keen, some of the most prominent growers in the North Island competing, and consequently Mr Smith’s successes were all the more meritorious. Excellent Yield of Oats. The Frank Percy estate at Te Ore Ore has been noted for the skill displayed in sheep farming and in cropping. in the latter connection tilling the ground well and using only the best of seed and the most modern methods of cultivation. That it pays to do so is evidenced by the returns the Estate has obtained this week from oat threshing operations. From a 22acre paddock of Garton oats a return of 88 bushels per acre was obtained. This would probably have been some 2 bushels per acre more but for the fact that the gale during the past few days considerably damaged the crop.

Country Visitors in Majority. Country visitors again appeared to be in the majority at the Centennial Exhibition yesterday, family and picnic groups clustering about the exhibits in the courts and thoroughly enjoying themselves. The keen wind did not help the attendance figures but visitors for the most part kept under cover, and out of the wind the sun was warm. Playland was quiet in the daytime but after nightfall, when the wind fell considerably, that part of the grounds was a centre of interest. Just under 11,000 people passed through the gates yesterday, the exact figure being 10,994, which brings the total to date to 1,402,203, and the daily average to 17,527.

Damages Awarded. A jury in the Supreme Court, Wellington, that had heard yesterday a claim ■by a motor-cyclist against a motor-car driver for £533 damages, arising out of personal injuries, returned with a verdict for plaintiff and awarded the lull amount of special damages, £lB3 (compensation for actual expenses) claimed, but no general damages as compensation for his pain and suffering. Mr Justice Smith directed the jury that they must award some general damages, and after a further retirement they returned with an amended verdict, having added £5O general damages. Plaintiff was Ernest Jonathan Bentley, wharf labourer, and defendant Archibald Lawrence Lamb, shop assistant. Wool Prices Increased.

An increase of 15 per cent in the price to factories and shops of the output of all the New Zealand woollen mills came into effect on Wednesday. It was stated in Auckland that this increase had been approved by the Price Investigation Tribunal after representation by the mills of substantial advances in the cost of the New Zealand clip since last season. Wool prices to the mills had increased by well over 30 per cent under the Government’s scheme of appraisal, it was stated. The farmer received an average price of 12,jd a lb. over a wide range of grades and the cost to the- mills had gone up very considerably, specially for some of the finer quality wools. It was also explained that in the finished factory article the increase would be on the woollen material used in manufacture. It would not be based on labour cost.

Wheat. Oats and Barley. Estimates of the Dominion yields of wheat, oats, and barley for the 1939-40 season are given in the Gazette issued last evening. The average yield of wheat is estimated at 33 bushels an acre as compared with last season’s actual, average yield of 29.40 bushels. The yield of oats is estimated at 44 bushels an acre, and that of barley at 36 bushels, as compared with an actual yield of 47.86 bushels and 40.03 bushels respectively for last season. In accordance with the above estimates, the total yield of wheat for the season 1939-40 should be approximately 8,370,000' bushels, as against an ascertained yield of 5.564.136 bushels for the season 1938-39. The area from which oats was threshed for the five seasons ending with 1938-39 averaged 20 per cent of the total area under that crop. Assuming that, a similar proportion is threshed this year,' the total yield of grain should be approximately 2.240,000 bushels, as against a yield of 2.60-1.817 bushels for the season 1938-39. On a similar assumption in regal'd to barley, the total yield of grain should be approximately 870.000 bushels, as against 1,076,774 bushels for the season 1938-

He was noted for the efforts he always made to attract to himself any strange young woman who came into the district, the local girls avoiding him as a bore. One night, at a dance in honour of tier arrival, he sought an introduction to the new school teacher. Grasping her hand tightly in his moist palm and gazing soulfully into her eyes, he said: “Ever since I heard of your arrival I've had a beautiful picture of you in my mind." "Really'.'" answered the teacher icily. "How small you make me feel "