EKETAHUNA

Wairarapa Times-Age, 28 February 1940, Page 7

EKETAHUNA

DAMAGE BY POLECATS POULTRY YARDS RAIDED. (“Times-Age" Special.) Eketahuna residents complain of the ravages of polecats, said to constitute a veritable plague in that district. The whole north Wairarapa is stated to be suffering from the pests, which arcplaying havoc in local poultry yards. A bag of three was taken recently in one night in an Eketahuna fowlrun and there have been even larger tallies. 1 The polecat was introduced to New Zealand as an enemy of the rabbit; it is the species of which the domestic ferret is an albino variety. In captivity the ferret breeds true, but in the wild state reverts to the dark-brown polecat type, from which it originated New Zealand’s polecats are descendants of ferrets, which have been turned loose oi’ have escaped from captivity at some time in the past. Polecats are often confused with stoats and weasels. The stoat is slightly smaller and is of a reddish colour on the back, yellowish underneath, and has a black tip to its tail, by which it can be’distinguished from the weasel. The weasel is smaller still, rarely exceeding 10 inches. ODD FELLOWS’ LODGE FORTNIGHTLY MEETING. The fortnightly meeting of Loyal Eke tahuna Lodge.. M.U.1.0.0.F.. was held on Monday night. the V.G.. .Bro S. Morriss, presiding over an excellent attendance of members. Sick pay amounting to £8 17s 6d was passed. The agenda paper of the special district conference to be held in Wellington shortly was discussed and it was decided to give the delegate a free hand when attending the conference. Refunds for claims amounting to £9 12s were received from the Hospital Association.

A letter was received from Loyal Mangatainoka Lodge advising that it had decided to abandon the Ritual Competition.

RIFLE SHOOTING CONTEST FOR BUSH CUP. A triangular match was fired last Saturday on the Nireaha range for the Bush A Grade Cup between teams representing Alfredton, Kaiparoro and Tararua. Tararua were the winners by 16 points. The conditions were very difficult. Results: — TARARUA.

B GRADE. The match for the B Grade Bush Cup was fired on the Alfredton range on Saturday. This competition is normally fired over three matches, but has this year been reduced to one. The weather for Saturday's shoot was unfavourable for shooting, light rain falling during the longer ranges. The Alfredton team were the winners by 13 points, and I. Macdonald won the Edmonds Rose Bowl lor highest scorer. Scores:— ALFREDTON.

Total 676 Court Sitting. At a special sitting of the S.M. Court on Monday. John Alexander Hewlett of no fixed abode, was charged with being an idle and disorderly' person and was sentenced to three days' imprisonment Mr H. E. Greathead. J.P. was on the bench. Personal. Mr William Manser. Putara. who has been an inmate of a private hospita i in Pahiatua for some time, will go tc Wellington in a few days time for special treatment Mr and Mrs T. Hooper are on ; fortnight’s visit to Wellington.

300 500 600 Tl. C. Rasmussen .. .. .. 31 34 34 99 J. Day .. 33 33 31 97 P .Berry .. 34 33 30 97 J. P. Petersen .. 31 33 32 96 W. J .Manser .. 29 33 32 94 G. Day .. 31 32 30 93 N. C. Petersen .. .. .. 28 31 33 92 C. Sigvertsen .. 30 33 29 92 Total 760 ALFREDTON. A. C. Edmonds .. .. 31 34 35 100 H. Percy .. 31 34 31 99 G. Godinagh .. 33 34 27 94 J. H. McDonald .. .. 26 33 . 34 93 C. Morrison .. 29 31 33 93 L. Duckett ... 29 34 28 91 H. Seymour .. 27 30 33 90 H. Duckett .. .. .. .. 26 29 32 87 Total 744 K.AIPARORO. O. Walton .. 32 34 31 97 D. Johansen .. 30 34 32 96 C. Welch .. 29 32 31 92 J. McAnulty .. 30 31 31 92 J. Torry .. 29 31 31 91 F. Schormann .. .. .. 30 3D 28 88 K .Henson .. 33 30 25 88 R. Henson .. 23 29 27 79 ■ Total •• 723

300 500 600 Tl. I. Macdonald .. .. .. 29 34 34 97 A. Weston .. 26 30 32 88 R. Dagg .. 27 31 29 87 Mrs Leach .. 31 30 24 85 J. Reid .. 26 30 28 84 A. Leach .. 22 29 32 83 J. Evans .. 25 29 29 83 A. Algie .. 27 32 23 82 Total 689 TARARUA. J. P. Sigvertsen .. .. 33 31 31 95 F. Sigvertsen .. .. .. 31 29 34 9' S. R. Blewett .. .. .. 30 29 30 89 L .Sigvertsen .. .. .. 26 31 29 8C R. Farrow .. 29 32 24 8' \V. Drysdale .. 22 32 28 82 H. Pi-ice .. 24 29 26 79 R Foss .. 25 27 15 61 . ■