LOCAL AND GENERAL

Wairarapa Times-Age, 20 July 1940, Page 4

LOCAL AND GENERAL

Frost of Nine Degrees. Masterton experienced a frost of 9 degrees this morning. Wairoa Rates Lower. Rates levied by the Wairoa Borough Council this year show a slight reduction on those of last year. This year they are lid in the pound, as against Is last year. Sequel to Motor Fatality. As a sequel to a fatal accident at a crossing, Charles Joseph Wallace appeared for sentence at the Dunedin Supreme Court yesterday on a charge of negligent driving, causing the death of Patrick Reid. A fine of £lO was imposed. Wallace’s driving licence was suspended for a month.

National Service Register. It is estimated that about 100,000 men who fall into the category of First Division Reservists under the National Service scheme have so far returned Part 2 of the social security form, which is the basis of the compulsory service register. Those who • may have not yet returned the forms are liable to severe penalties if they fail to furnish the necessary returns by the time the proclamation enrolling the members of the First Division is issued.

Railwaymen’s Protest. At a meeting of the Hillside branch of the Amalgamated Society of Railway Servants, the following resolution was adopted unanimously:—“That this meeting protests to the Government against the introduction of a Budget which places the burdens of war on the workers, and demands that conscription of wealth be made a reality by the conscription of all incomes over £5OO, the present budgeted taxation on workers to be abandoned and the previous taxation to be substantially reduced.’

A Large Estate. Application is to be made in the Auckland Supreme Court shortly for letters of administration in the estate of Mr Richard W. White, a pioneer wharf and railway contractor, whose death occurred at the end of last month. The estate turned out to be unexpectedly large, and has been provisionally valued at about £330,000. Mr White was born on Waiheke Island 92 years ago. After meeting with poor success on the Thames goldfield, he turned his attention to contracting till his retirement in 1921. He is survived by a son, three daughters and a number of grandchildren.

Bequest to University. The estate of the late Mr Hugh Adam, of Dunedin, has been sworn for probate purposes at under £60,000. Subject to a private bequest of certain property and the income of the estate to the life tenant, the body of the estate is to be transferred to the University of Otago for the purpose of founding in the university or in the medical school a research department for investigation into the causes and prevention primarily of cancer and secondarily of other fatal diseases, and investigation into methods for the alleviation of human suffering. The wish is expressed that the name of Adam should be attached to this new department.

Value of Wheat Crop. The value of a full wheat crop in New Zealand is about £2,600,000 at the present price of 5s 9d a bushel, said Mr R. McPherson, wheat controller, to a meeting of poultry farmers in Christchurch. New Zealand consumed about 5000 tons of wheat every week, of which the poultry industry took about 800 tons. Railage paid on a full crop was about £132,000, and transport charges from farm to rail about £75,500. “Those are very large figures,” he said, “and you will realise that a big proportion of the 5s 9d the farmer receives is paid out in wages to tractor drivers, teamsters, machinery, workers, blacksmiths, saddlers, manure workers, carriers, railway workers and many other trades.” Spectacular Fire.

Palmerston North’s most spectacular blaze for some years was seen at the Showgrounds early last evening, when fire gutted the cattle sale ring and portion of the Wheeler Memorial sheep pavilion, adjacent to Pascal Street. At one stage the flames were rising 30 to 40 feet in the air and colums of smoke and sparks were ascending considerably higher. Fortunately there was only a suspicion of a breeze, otherwise the task of the brigade would have been rendered much more difficult. The damage will run into some hundreds of pounds, but from the A. and P. Association’s point of view the most serious feature is that it may be impossible to obtain iron for rebuilding purposes. Assistance for Territorials.

It has been announced that financial assistance may be granted to territorials who are undergoing periods of intensive training and who, by reason of their undertaking military service, are unable to meet their financial obligations. The obligations in respect of which assistance may be granted are (1) rent, interest on loans or mortgages or in respect of agreements for the purchase of a dwelling-house or business premises and interest and instalments payable in respect of agreements for the purchase of furniture or other chattels; (2) rates and taxes; (3) insurance premiums; (4) other necessary or reasonablbe expenses, not being expenses incurred in the purchase of property. Assistance will not be granted for the discharge of ordinary debts. The necessary forms of application for assistance may be obtained from the Base Records Office. ,

.New Oyster Trawler. A 70ft steamer for the Foveaux Strait oyster trade has been launched at St Mary's Bay, Auckland.' Originally to have been called Ozone, the' vessel will be named Torea. which is the Maori, name for the bird known as oyster-catcher. Built for Stewart Island Canneries, Ltd., the Torea is the first specially designed trawler for the Foveaux Strait beds. Of composite construction, with a steel frame planked with 2Jin kauri, the vessel is sturdily built, and her deep draught of Bft will make her seaworthy in any weather. She has a tall, raked funnel and two masts, both carrying derricks for trawling. Raised oyster benches have a capacity of seven tons. She will have a speed of nine knots. The Torea was named by Mrs J. L. Scoullar, of Auckland, sister of Mr C. Hannan, manager of the company for which the vessel has been built. The trawler will be taken south to her home port. Bluff, by Captain C. Hansen, in about a fortnight.