LOCAL AND GENERAL

Wairarapa Times-Age, 28 February 1940, Page 4

LOCAL AND GENERAL

Town Clock Stops. The Masterton Post Office clock stopped at 1.40 o'clock this morning. On examination it was found “that the pressure of the wind last night, coupled with the settling down of the alterations to the structure, carried out some time ago, caused the stoppage. The repairs effected are of a tempor ary nature, and it is understood that in the future the northern dial will have to be disconnected to enable the trouble to be remedied. Exhibition Attendance.

There were more than 10.000 visitors to the Centennial Exhibition yesterday. Attendances are being maintained at about this level on weekdays, and the general opinion among the showmen and exhibitors is that from the end of next week they will mount steadily toward Easter. As the present rate is little under 100,000 visitors a week, the 2,500,000 total will easily be surpassed before the Exhibition closes, and it is indeed most likely that the attendances will considerably .exceed 3,000,000. Losses of Fruit. Apple and pear losses in Hawke’s Bay as a result of the recent westerly winds are estimated at 200,000 cases, by Mr G. H. Mclndoe, Government orchard instructor in Hastings. Since the original estimate of the Hawke's Bay pip-fruit crop this season was 900,000 cases, this would mean the crop has been reduced by more than onefifth. Apart from the direct loss of fruit, the effect of injury to foliage will be felt, as this will prevent the fruit from sizing in many cases. . Foliage was torn badly in some cases, trees being almost stripped. Territorial Strength.

Enlistments in Hastings have been sufficient to bring the territorial companies up to full strength, and at present there are no vacancies. Depletion of the territorial forces throughout the Dominion followed the enlistment of men to go overseas, and it is believed that Hastings is the only unit, up to full strength in the Dominion. The response by Hastings men can be attributed to numerous appeals by the president of the Hastings Territorial Association. Colonel 11. Holderness. in the past 10 days. He has urged the need for improved home defences, stressing the inadequacy of the present force in the Dominion. Amateur Athletic Team. The selectors, Messrs A. C. Bourgeois (Wanganui 1 , T. Kilpatrick (Manawatu), and A. Whiting (Taranaki), have selected the following team to represent the West Coast (North Island) centre at the national track and» field championships in Wellington on March 8 and 9; S. Lay (javelin); J. Morgan (discus); D. Weichert and F. Barraclough (pole-vault); L. Hannan (880 yards and mile); K. Galloway (high jump); C. Reid (mile and three-mile walks); S. McKenzie (440 yards, 880 yards and relay); G. Berryman (100 yards, 220 yards and relay); T. McCashin (relay); M. Shewan (broad jump and relay); G. Bills (three miles); and J. Bourke (shot,putt).

Swimming Records. One record was bettered and one equalled when the Hawke’s Bay-Pov-erty Bay Swimming Centre’s championships were held in Napier. A new record for the intermediate girls’ 100 yards was established by Miss Rona King, Napier, who took 1 4-ssec off the two-year-old record. Miss King also equalled the 75 yards intermediate record. A Napier representative, S. Boardman, won three titles, half-mile, quarter-mile and 100 yards backstroke. The big event of the evening was the teams race for the Kinross White Cup, and after a splendid race the Havelock North representatives won from Napier, the six men covering 400 yards in a shade under 4min.

Residence Destroyed. Fire destroyed a large two-story residence owned and 'occupied by Mr Malcolm Brodie, a well-known Hawke’s Bay farmer, near the Waiohiki golf links, Hastings. The sound of crackling timber in the front sittingroom attracted the attention of Mr Brodie and his housekeeper. An attempt to ■ suppress the outbreak was unsuccessful, and the fire spread with rapidity. Fanned by a north-westerly wind, the structure burned fiercely for more than an hour. With the assistance of helpers successful efforts were made to save the outbuildings. Mr Brodie had the building and its contents covered by insurance, but ho lost some valuable and irreplaceable personal effects. The cause of the outbreak is unknown.

Storm Damage.

A Wellington motorist telephoning from Taupo to a friend in Wellington yesterday described the destructive effects of last weekend’s torrential rains. Driving north from Taihape, he found the roads on the way to Taupo in a deplorable condition, innumerable slips of varying size having come down on the highway. Near Hipipahi the foothills looked as if a major earthquake had occurred in the district. Scars and gashes seemed to be everywhere on the hill faces where extensive slips had fallen away, carrying pasture and bush country with them. One very large slip blocked the main road, necessitating a detour across nearby paddocks. Public Works Department employees were engaged in a long task of clearing it. Gangs were also busy at many points along the Taupo road which, however, was reported to be negotiable.

Show Society Resignations. The resignation of the organising secretary. Mr I-I. Kissling. was accepted at a meeting of the general committee of the Manawatu and West Coast Agricultural and Pastoral Association yesterday. Tn a letter to the committee Mr kissling said his resignation was the outcome of a situation which had arisen because of the divided opinion among members of the committee which considered the reorganisation of the association's affairs. The action of the committee in offering him the secretaryship on a part-time basis with a right of private practice was appreciated, said Mr Kissling, but he regretted he could not accept the offer. The meeting, over which Mr A. E. Mansford, vice-president, presided, also considered the recent resignations of the president, Mr C. E. Vile, the senior vice-president, Mr B. Keillor, and six members of the committee. It was decided that these resignations be received and that they be asked to stand for re-election. Before the meeting ended Mr J. A. Mitchell, a member of the committee, handed in his resignation.