LOCAL AND GENERAL

Wairarapa Times-Age, 17 April 1940, Page 4

LOCAL AND GENERAL

Frost in Masterton. A frost of 1.9 degrees was registered in Masterton this morning. MHilary Enlistments. To date 11,536 men in the Central Military District 'nave volunteered for service overseas. 7157 of those examined have been classed fit, and 4996 sent to camp. Exhibition Attendances. There were 12,324 visitors to the Centennial Exhibition yesterday, including a fair proportion of country visitors. The total attendance since the exhibition opened has reached 2,424,092, a daily average of 16,247. Interest Free Loans. Further interest-free loans and donations to the War Expenses Account received yesterday by the Minister of Finance (Mr Nash) bring the total up to £1.615,911, among them being a loan of £5O from lite Carterton Colt Club for the duration of the war and six months after. Building in Masterton. A sum of £1,000.000 has been spent in building in Masterton since 1924, during which period 450 new dwelling houses have been erected. These figures do not include Government houses. This information was disclosed at last night's meeting of the Masterton Borough Council. Hospital Levies Reduced. Levies to be imposed by the South Canterbury Hospital Board on local contributing bodies this year will be reduced £5224 or 15.4 per cent. Levies last year totalled £33.836 and in estimates confirmed by the board today they total £28.612. The treasurer's statement also revealed that the board concluded the financial year with a surplus of £4452. Motorists in Masterton.

In comparison with many other larger towns. Masterton has a particularly large number of motorists, according to figures supplied to the Masterton Borough Council last night. The figures given were: Masterton, householders, 2785, motorists 1533; Gisborne. 3680. 1324; Hamilton 4767, 1522; Hastings. 3936, 1558; Napier 4208, 1126; New Plymouth 4441, 1167. A Launch Incident.

The launch which had a shot fired across its bows by a coastal battery early on Monday because it failed to report to the examination ship when entering Rangitoto Channel, was engaged towing logs. Colonel Weir, officer commanding the district, said yesterday that the shot fired was plug shell,'which was a solid missile without a fuse. The launch stopped immediately and remained anchored till daylight.

Flourishing Library. Favourable comment was made last night bv Councillor W. Kemp on the flourising stalo of the Municipal Library. when speaking at a meeting of the Masterton Borough Council. Councillor Kemp paid a tribute to the work carried out by the borough engineer and staff in effecting alterations to the library. Other councillors expressed pleasure at the healthy position of the library and complimented the chairman (Councillor Kemp), and his committee on its work. Tasman Air Service.

The Tasman air service is likely to be inaugurated either early next week or the following week and an early official announcement is expected. Dates mentioned tentatively as being likely to see the service begun are next Monday or Tuesday, or the following Monday or Tuesday, April 29 or 30. The first flight will be made from Auckland to Sydney in the modified Empire flying-boat Aotearoa, which is regarded as Tasman Empire Airways flagship. Captain J. W. Burgess will probably be in command and it is expected that passengers will be carried as well as mail. Fly Control.

“The season has again not been very favourable to fly breeding owing to the continued drying winds," stated the Borough Sanitary Inspector. Mr T. A .Russell, in his report to the Masterton Borough Council last night." A good many of our public do not yet realise that the common house fly is a menace to health, and that its suppression cannot be too rigorous. Flies delight in obtaining part of their meal from anv filthy organic substance and the other part from the sugar basin or other human food, witli some dire results to health. To be really successful in fly control work it is, necessary to have the full co-operation of an intelligent public. We are receiving very gratifying co-operation from our sportground custodians in the handling of lawn grass, which can be a source of trouble if not handled correctly.” Restricted Railway Service.

An announcement about the resumption ol' traffic on the StratfordOkahukurn line was made yesterday by the Minister of Railways. Mr Sullivan. “If the weather remains favourable, the department expects to be able tn operate a restricted goods service between Stratford and Taumaruniii each way. daily, between early morning and forenoon hours, commencing on Monday, April 29." said the Minister. “The daily running of a through daylight passenger service between tile same stations will be possible, il is hoped, toward the end of May. with the likelihood, a few weeks later, of an increase in the number of trains." Mr Sullivan added that, in view of Hie extensive damage done to the line by the February floods and washouts, it would not be safe to run any through night trains for sortie considerable time —probably not till the winter was over.

Development of Airport. "Rongotai College will have to go." said Captain S. Hohn at last night's meeting of the council of the Wellington Chamber of Commerce, when the future development of Rongotai airport was being discussed. The view was expressed by one speaker that in Line land planes would replace flyingboats for overseas services and concentration on the development of Rongotai would then be rewarded. The president. Mr ft. H. Nimino. said that there hud been a deputation to the Postmaster-General. Mr Jones, about (he Ta.sma.i set vice and Rongotai airport. The claims of Wellington harbour as an air base were so convincing Ihal io believed that, had il not been for 'he wav and resultant economic conditions, they would have got a great deal further. Mr Jones was not hopeful of Wellington harbour being used as a base for-some considerable time.