Ladies’ Rest Room.

Wairarapa Times-Age, 21 February 1940, Page 4

Ladies’ Rest Room.

The Masterton Ladies’ Rest Room was used by the following during January: Visitors 657. country 180, town 20. Ladies’ periodicals from the Public Library have been much appreciated. Band Performances. The Masterton Municipal Band held seven practices in January. The band played the New Year in at the Post Office corner at midnight on December 31 and January 1. Troops going into camp were farewelled on January 12. 16 and 26th. Swimming Carnival Teams. The following teams will represent Masterion • at Hie swimming carnival in Masterton on Saturday:-—A team: J. Barnes, 11. Sharpies, L. Maguire, D. O'Connor. B. team: T. Burns, G. Whyborn, M. Newlands, W. Brown. Diving, E. Rollings, F. Sexton, E. Braggins. Judging the Time Competition. The competition held by the Masterton Amateur Athletic Club in connection with the judging of the time in which the relay team ran the four miles on Saturday at the Masterton Park has been won by Mr L. Walker (Konini), who placed the time at 17min. 18 4-5 secs. Fixed Primacy. A report submitted to the General Synod at Nelson suggested the establishment of a fixed primacy in Wellington and the placing of the provincial office of secretary in the same centre. A motion that a committee report at the next session on the practical steps to put into effect the proposals met with considerable opposition. Synod was not prepared to vote on the principle of a fixed primacy and an amendment was carried having the effect of setting up a commission to report to the next session upon the desirability and practicability of establishing a fixed primatial see. Extra Petrol—At A Price?

The Te Awanmtu Chamber of Commerce last week considered a suggestion that the Government should issue additional coupons for petrol, over and above the ordinary allocation to private rqotorists, such extra coupons to be bought at a premium. This, it was claimed, would mean additional revenue to the Government. The extra cost of touring would prevent abuse, but would enable a motorist desiring to make a special trip to do so. Arguments for and against the suggestion were advanced, and ultimately it was decided to place the matter before the oil fuel controller for his consideration. Fiax Culture. • The Crown has acquired a major portion of the Moutoa flax swamp, near Foxton. for the purpose of flax culture, states the “Manawatu Daily Times.” The area is' 4620 acres valued at over £BO,OOO. The investment of public money is a considerable one and the purpose an unusual one, indeed unique in this country. The intention of the Government is in contrast to the attitude of holders of private flax areas who have been converting, their areas to grass pastures as speedily as possible. For this reason the proposal is one to arouse interest of all connected with flax-milling, the Dominion's oldest land industry, but one languishing these past eight years. A Ministerial statement upon the land development proposed is due to soon as conveniently possible. Fall into Beer Cellar.

After retiring for nearly three hours, a jury of 12 in the Supreme Court, Wellington, last night returned a verdict in favour of plaintiff, Edward Gilbert. miner, who claimed damages totalling £1220 2s, from Timothy Dominie Kelliher, former licensee of the Alhambra Hotel. The case was heard before Mr Justice Smith. Plaintiff stated that while leaving the hotel premises he fell through an opening which gave access to a beer cellar. He alleged that defendant had been negligent. The jury retired at 6.1 p.m. and returned with its verdict al 8.44 p.m. Plaintiff was awarded £774 12s, consisting of £377 12s special damages, and £4OO general damages. Judgment was entered accordingly, with costs. The special damages consisted of £3lB 10s tor loss of wages (.91 weeks at £3 10s a week), plus hospital and medical expenses.

Air Training Scheme. Wing Commander K. L. Caldwell, officer commanding the air training school at Woodbourne (Marlborough), staled (hat there were now between 300 and 400 men at the station, and the number would be materially increased before long. Everyone could have the greatest confidence that the training given in New Zealand was such that the men who went overseas would do "a good job of the work." Since the outbreak of war. said Wing Commander Caldwell, the air force expansion in New Zealand had been more than 400 per cent, which obviously was “a pretty fair effort." There were seven units in the air force in New Zealand, starting with the ground training school at Weraroa. at which trainees spent about a month attending lectures and getting their first experience of discipline and then graduating either to New Plymouth or Taieri. Trainees from New Plymouth would come to Woodbourne for advanced training, and those from Taieri would go to Wigrain. At the moment Woodbourne was not up to the state of Wigram. hut it was doing well.