LOCAL AND GENERAL

Wairarapa Times-Age, 21 May 1940, Page 4

LOCAL AND GENERAL

New Serial Story. In the “Wairarapa Times-Age" today there commences a new serial story entitled “The O’Farrelly Feud" by that brilliant author George A. Birmingham, who also wrote “General John Regan, “Up the Rebels,” etc. It is a romantic story of an exciting nature. Frost in Masterton. A frost of 3.6 degrees was registered in Masterton this morning. Footballer Dies From Injuries. James Barron, aged 28, Otago representative footballer, who was injured in the Taieri-Kaikorai match on Saturday, died in the Dunedin Hospital yesterday. He played in last year’s northern tour, and many northerners will remember how in games where he was not chosen he played the teams on to the field with pipes. . Y.M.C.A. Activities.

A report of the activities of the New Zealand Y.M.C.A. with the forces overseas for the four weeks ending April 27 indicates the widespread nature of the association's work. Concerts, community sings, card parties, lectures, debates and tours were arranged, religious services held, hospitals visited and comforts distributed. In addition, each unit has its own library, many personal calls are attended to and writing rooms are available for the men. Farmers’ Union Conference.

Delegates from the Wairarapa Provincial executive of the New Zealand Farmers’ Union representing the Masterton, Martinborough, Greytown, Featherston, Carterton, Gladstone, Tinui, Eketahuna, Alfredton, Tiraumea, and Pahiatua branches will leave Masterton by a special bus at 1 o’clock tomorrow from the Farmers’ Rooms, Perry Street, to attend the Inter-pro-vincial Conference which is to be held at Wanganui. W.F.C.A. Ball.

Generous patronage is expected from dance patrons of Masterton at the W.F.C.A. Ball to be held in the Municipal Hall tomorrow night. The proceeds will be allocated to patriotic funds. In keeping with the successes of past years the committee is sparing no effort for the enjoyment of patrons. A feature of the ball will be the decorations which promise a pleasant surprise to the public. The supper arrangements have received particular consideration from the committee. The M.’sC. will be Messrs D. Hogg, M. Nicol and Geo Daubney.

Forty-Four Hour Week Proposed. In view of the call made by the Prime Minister for increased production by industry, the Auckland Manufacturers’ Association is to make representations urging the Government to permit a 44-hour week to be worked in industry, the additional four hours to be paid for at ordinary rates. This decision was made at a meeting of the general executive. The president, Mr Truscott said it was not a political matter. It was a time of national crisis and the Government had asked for greater production. The only way to get that was by working longer hours. It was suggested that this should be done at standard rates of pay. White Heron Appears.

A white heron, apparently one that has returned to the Christchurch Botanic Gardens each winter for some years, arrived at the Gardens at 11 o’clock the other morning. The director of the gardens (Mi - J. A. McPherson) said that the heron took up its first position on top of Cunningham house (the large glasshouse). The bird usually took up quarters in the native section of the garden and was quiet and quite at home. During its stay in previous years the heron had apparently fed mainly on goldfish from the ponds. It stayed for the whole winter, leaving with the flowering of the kowhai trees in the spring. It was hoped that visitors to the gardens this winter would in no way disturb the heron, he added.

Prayers For Peace. The announcement that his Majesty the King desires that next Sunday be observed as a day of prayer on behalf of the nation and the Empire, of the Allies and of the cause in which they are united, is widely supported. His Holiness the Pope has ordered that the rest of this month be set aside for special intercession-that war may give place to a just_peace. In fulfilment of his command the Apostolic Delegate. Archbishop Panico, has cabled his Grace Archbishop O’Shea requesting him to arrange that next Sunday be observed by Catholics throughout the Dominion as a day of special prayer for the cessation of the present fratricidal strife, and that peace founded on justice, may quickly come to the world. Valuable Picture Bought For 2s 6d. After having narrowly escaped being burnt, and spending five years in a fowlhouse in Palmerston North and several more in an auction room, a painting bought for 2s 6d has been found to be of great value. The man who originally owned the picture, which depicts the head and shoulders of Christ, threw it into a fowlhouse, where it remained for five years. Because of the subject he refrained from burning it. Later he sent it to an auction room, where it remained for years among odds and ends. The present owner bought it at the mart for 2s 6’d, and he said the firm thought it was overcharging . The picture was renovated and sent to Christie’s, London, where it was pronounced to be a genuine Guido Reni. Its value is unknown, but it is not for sale. Handsome Gift To Patriotic Fund. The secretary of the National Patriotic Fund Board has been advised by Mr A. E. Mabin, Wellington, president of the New Zealand Woolbrokers’ Association, that the association, as representing the stock and station agents operating in the Dominion, decided at a meeting in Wellington to contribute ,£3OOO to the provincial patriotic funds. There are nine contributing centres, and each, through the local woolbrokers’ association, will make its proportionate contribution toward the total of £3OOO direct to the 11 provincial funds as follows:— Invercargill to the Southland Provincial Patriotic Fund. Dunedin, to the Otago Fund. Christchurch and Timaru to the Canterbury, Westland and Marlborough funds, Wellington to the Wellington and Nelson funds, Wanganui to the Taranaki fund, Auckland to the Auckland fund. Gisborne to the East Coast fund, and Napier to the Hawke’s Bay fund.