LOCAL AND GENERAL

Wairarapa Times-Age, 12 July 1940, Page 4

LOCAL AND GENERAL

South Pacific Air Service. All is ready at Auckland for the arrival of the American Clipper, which leaves San Francisco on Saturday (New Zealand time) on the inaugural flight of the Pan-American Airways’ South Pacific service. The clipper is due at Auckland on Wednesday.

As Good as Great War Men. “The boys of the 2nd N.Z.E.F. are just as good as any of us were,” said Colonel J. H. Whyte, D. 5.0., D.C.M., in proposing the toast of the 2nd N.Z.E.F. at the annual reunion in Wellington last night of the Anzac Mounted Division Association. Colonel Whyte said that he had heard disparaging remarks comparing the present expeditionary force with the first. “We have got to take it,” he said. “We have bigger stomachs but they have got the same hearts and we have to be proud of them. If they make contact with the Italians ice-cream will run fast.” Table Tennis.

The results of the first round of the B grade table tennis competition are as follow:—Winter Sports Club I. 18. 18, beat Kuripuni 11. 2; Mauriceville East I. 14, beat Winter Sports Club 11. 6; Post Office IL, 17, beat Social Security, 3; Catholic Club I. 20, beat Catholic Club 11., 0; Post Office I. 13, beat Kuripuni 1., 7; McDuff’s won from Mauriceville East 11. by default.

Fighting for Supreme King. “We are fighting now for something more than King and country, and that something more is the Supreme King, who will not allow the world to be deserted,” said Monsignor Connolly, vicar-general of the Catholic archdiocese of Wellington, when he spoke at the annual reunion in Wellington last night of the Anzac Mounted Division Association. They would have to face changed conditions when they did win the war. Gold would come out of the crucible of suffering that Western civilisation would endure, and every man, young and old, should be proud to do his bit. Postmen's Patriotic Drive,

A postman found himself a guest at a wedding breakfast for some minutes, when he called at a house in Sumner the other day doing his part of the work in the one-day house-to-house canvass for patriotic funds. The wedding breakfast was in progress when he arrived. He was invited inside, and his box was taken round to every guest. Everyone present subscribed, making a total contribution of about £l. The bride then escorted him to the door again, and as he left put another £1 into his box. This is typical of the generosity with which people have contributed to the postmen’s drive at Christchurch. The total return so far is £2109. Future of the Session.

“It is impossible to forecast the future of this session,” said the Prime Minister, Mr Fraser, when proposing formal arrangements in connection with the sitting of select committees in the House of Representatives yesterday, Mr Fraser said it might be that the House, with adjournments from time to time, would remain in session till the end of the year, or beyond, and conceivably there would be no proroguing for a considerable period. He thought it desirable to keep Parliament in session, even if the work of the session were exhausted, because of any emergency that might arise in the international situation. Electric Traction. Tests with the “Ed” class electric locomotives, which will ultimately haul all trains between Wellington and Paekakariki, were advanced a further stage this week. Since Monday the Napier express, leaving Wellington at 9.40 a.m. daily, has been operated under the new system. During the previous week tests with heavy loads were satisfactorily carried out and the Napier express last Monday was the first express to leave Wellington under electric power. The changeover from steam to electric traction on the 24J-mile section between Wellington and Paekakariki is being made 'gradually. So far, 19 to 20 trains are being hauled daily by electric engines.

Liquor and Motor-Accidents. The number of motor accidents in New Zealand during the past year where the driver was intoxicated or otherwise influenced by liquor has. been reduced 9 per cent since the preceding year, stated Mr R. Semple in an announcement in Parliament last night. There were 79 accidents during 1939—40 caused by intoxicated drivers and 9 of these were fatal. Drivers not intoxicated but influenced to some extent by liquor accounted for 105 accidents, of which 10 resulted in fatalities. Collissions with another motor-vehicle were the common type of accident where the driver was under the influence of liquor. Collisions with cyclists and pedestrians and with telegraph poles were also frequent. Gifts to Sedgley Home.

The matron of Sedgley Home acknowledges with grateful thanks the following gifts:—Sheep, Messrs Tuxford Bros, F. Latham, Laird Meredith, Harold Beetham; corned beef, Mesdames Ralph Beetham, T. A. Brown; swedes, Mr G. H. Perry; cakes, Mesdames Skeet, Moser, S. R. Gawith, L. B. Maunsell, H. C. Robinson, C. W. Rutherford, A. C. Major, Miss M. Perry; burys, Mrs Styles, National Party; fish, Anonymous; giblets, Military Ball Committee; dripping and papers, Anonymous; jam and tea, Mrs Robinson: ham and bacon, Mi’ W. Dalziell; produce, Mr R. W. Matthews, Patea Anglican Church; onions, Mrs G. Lee, entertainments, Orchestral Society Concert, Epiphany Sunday School Concert, pictures (Mr H. Reid). Assistance Apnreciated.

At a. central executive committee meeting of the Wairarapa Returned Soldiers' Association last night, the secretary, Mr A. E. Prentice, stated that a letter had been received from a mother whose son had been assisted in 1936 to undergo a course of training at Flock House station, Palmerston North, enclosing a refund of the amount granted by the association towards the cost of training. In the letter the mother stated that the lad had turned out to be a very successful farmer and stated that she wished to thank the executive for the grant it had made and as an appreciation wished to refund the grant which had made the training possible. It was decided to place on record appreciation of the spirit which prompted this generous action.