LOCAL AND GENERAL

Wairarapa Times-Age, 5 March 1940, Page 4

LOCAL AND GENERAL

Building Permits. The Mastertun Borough Council issued 10 building permits for an estimated value of 511,572 last month, as compared with 6 permits issued fur rm estimated value of £4.45.3 17s lid during February, 1939. The figures fur last month included one new dwelling compared with two for the corresponding period last year. Waikouaiti Wreck.

An announcement is made that as no satisfactory tenders have been received for the- salvage of cargo and ship’s gear, the Union Steam Ship Company owners, and Lloyd's agent at Invercargill, have decided that no further salvage work shall be undertaken on the wrecked Waikouaiti, a Wellington P.A. message states. Ships Aground at Berths.

Two Union Steam Ship Company steamers Kakapo and Kaimiro, which have been in Greymouth for the past 10 days, are aground at their berthages at the Greymouth wharf because of extensive shoaling. Silt was heaped up against the vessels when the river was in flood. Their departure is delayed indefintiely, in spite of the most favourable bar conditions. College Cadets.

The annual three days' barracks course of the Wairarapa College Cadets commenced at the College yesterday. A programme of instruction was held indoors yesterday owing to the wet weather. The course will continue until tomorrow. Major J. W. Bird, officer commanding, and officers attached to the staff' are in charge of the barracks.

Shortage of Fire Hose The severe shortage of fire hose in New Zealand was emphasised by the Government Inspector of Fire Brigades, Mr R. Girling Butcher, when addressing the annual meeting of the United Fire Brigades’ Association of New Zealand, in Petone, yesterday. There was also a shortage in England and it would not be patriotic for those in New Zealand to press for supplies beyond what was absolutely necessary, he said.

Exhibition Closing Day. At a meeting of Exhibition directors it was decided to close the Exhibition finally on May 4, which will bo a Saturday. It was unanimously decided to open the Exhibition on Good Friday, from 2.30 p.m. onward. This reversal of a previous decision not to open that day is understood to have been influenced by the numerous requests received from all over New Zealand, from people proposing to visit Wellington at Easter for the express purpose of seeing the Exhibition, this being foi’ many their last opportunity of doing so.

Thrilling Boxing Contest. In one of the most thrilling boxing contests ever seen in a Wellington ring. Vic Caltaux, of Auckland, annexed the vacant professional welterweight championship of New Zealand in the.open air at the Petone Recreation Ground last night by battering Stan Jenkin of Dunedin, into submission 14 seconds before the gong went to sound the close of the fifteenth and final round of the contest. The Aucklander’s victory was all the more meritorious, as for 12 out of the 15 rounds Jenkin had given him a boxing lesson, plying a lancelike left to the face times without number, and many times flashing a snappy right uppercut to the chin.

Careless Killer of Gulls. “Was she careless or callous, or both?" is a question that may be asked about a woman who drove a motorcar into a flock of red-billed gulls and killed three on the highway of Oriental Bay, Wellington, recently. These beautiful birds are very lame: indeed, many of them have become pets for citizens who feed them regularly. It was a case of “hit and run." The killer sped away, but the incident was reported to the Forest and Bird Protection Society, who got in touch with the police. However, the most that could be ascertained was that the motorist was not a resident of Wellington.

Charge of Assault. Accosting a man whom he believed to have entered Cook’s Gardens on Saturday night without paying admission to the sports which were being held. Robert Wilkie, aged 17, received a blow over the head, inflicting injuries which necessitated a doctor being called. In the Wanganui Magistrates’ Court yesterday. Theodore Stanley Sligo was charged with assaulting Wilkie. Detective-Sergeant F. Culloty, in asking for a remand for a week, stated that Wilkie had to attend Wanganui Public Hospital today to be X-rayed. The remand asked for was granted, bail being fixed in Sligo's own surety of £lO and a similar surety of £lO.

Recruiting Rally. The first of a series throughout New Zealand during the next fortnight, a recruiting rally was addressed in Invercargill last night by the Deputy-Prime Minister, the Hon. P. Fraser, and Major-General J. E. Duigan, C. 8.. D. 5.0.. Chief of the General Staff. A very large crowd attended and followed with close interest addresses which emphasised the importance of New Zealand's share in the war against aggression, and the need for mobilisation of all the Dominion's resources in the Allied effort. The rally was preceded by an impressive parade of returned soldiers, territorials, members of the National Military Reserve, and bands, and during the afternoon an aeroplane flew over the city distributing pamphlets urging young men to offer their services in the military forces.

Australia & Canada. The first Australian High Commissioner to be appointed to Canada. Sir William Glasgow, is a through passenger by the Mariposa to Ottawa, stales an Auckland Press Association telegram. Sir William served with distinction in the Australian Forces during the Great War. being awarded various honours. From 1920 to 1932 he was a member of the Senate, and held a Ministerial office. Sir William Glasgow said that, following the appointment ol' a High Commissioner in London, which had proved a life-line between ‘lie two countries, Australia was now .hrowing out the laterals and binding si'll clm-er the component com tries of the Empire. A. keen interest is being taken by Sir William in Hie ail- training scheme in Canada. "Before very long." lie said, "the Empire should have available pilots, observers and ground stall that may prove a most, important factor in winning the war."