LOCAL AND GENERAL

Wairarapa Times-Age, 26 July 1940, Page 4

LOCAL AND GENERAL

Bankruptcy. James Arthur Millward, of Masterton, a restaurant proprietor, has been adjudged a bankrupt. Y.M.C.A. Competition. The local Y.M.C.A. recently held a competition for a cushion, judging the number of peas in a bottle. The actual number was 834, and Miss Gwen Pither is the winner with 829. College Concert. At the meeting of the Wairarapa College Board of Governors last night, the Principal, Mr G. G. Hancox, stated that the annual concert would be held in the Opera House on Wednesday and Thursday, August 7 and 8. Early Lambs. With the mild winter experienced up to the present excellent percentages in the early lambing season under way are reported throughout the Wairarapa. At Rangitumau a Southdown ewe- has given birth to triplets, all being healthy. Supply of Matches. “It is anticipated that by the end of 1940, provided that supplies of raw materials are available, New Zealand will be producing its own supply of matches,” says the annual report of the Department of Industries and Commerce, which has been presented in the House of Representatives. Sickness in Trentham Camp. There were at present 135 soldier patients in the temporary hospital at Trentham racecourse, stated the medical superintendent of the Wellington Hospital, Dr. A. R. Thorne, _at last night’s hospital board meeting. Dr. Thorne said that the number varied from day to day; a large number was convalescent. Quadrangular Rugby Tourney. The annual quadrangular college Rugby tournament will be held at Wairarapa College on August 17 and 19. Teams from Hutt Valley High School, Scots College, Dannevirke High School and Wairarapa College will take part. Citizens, particularly parents of old boys who have enjoyed hospitality in other towns when away with College teams, who can billet boys are asked to communicate with the Principal, Mr G. G. Hancox. Public Buildings Expenditure. The net expenditure for last year in the various classes of public buildings is listed as follows by the Minister of Public Works, Mr Semple, in the annual Public Works Statement, tabled in the House of Representatives yesterday:—General Government buildings, £269,228; Courthouses, £11,436; Prison buildings and works, £4,348; Police stations, £60,664; Post and Telegraph buildings, £362,730; Mental hospital buildings, £175,552; Health and hospital institutions, £67,136; total, £951,094. Dominion External Trade. The total external trade of the Dominion for 1939, compared with that for 1938, fell from £113,798,472 to £107,395,900. This fall was mainly accounted for by imports falling from £55,422,189 to £49,387,183. Exports decreased from £58,376,283 to £58,008,717. This big decrease in imports and small decrease in exports resulted in the balance of visible exports rising from £2,954,094 in 1938 to £8,621,534 in 1939. These figures and those which follow are given in the annual report of the Department of Industries and Commerce, tabled by the Minister of Industries and Commerce, Mr Sullivan, in the House of Representatives yesterday. Crime in New Zealand. An increase of 2070 in the number of offences reported to the police is recorded in the annual report on the New Zealand Police Force, which has been presented to the House of Representatives. There were 46,378 offences reported during the year ended December 31, 1939, compared with 44,308 the previous year, the proportion of offences to the population being 2.83 per cent against 2.73 per cent in 1938. The main headings under which increases occurred are shown in the report to have been petty theft, which increased by 770 cases; drunkenness by 489 cases; and burglary by 421 cases. The main decreases were in failing' to maintain wife or children. 487 cases; reckless or negligent driving, 173 cases. Fines totalled £45,493 arising from 24,596 convictions. Landmark Being Demolished. A landmark, the great Centennial Tower, which dominated the Exhibition building's at Rongotai, is being pulled down. A menace to aircraft, it had no useful place in the scheme of the Royal New Zealand Air Force Station which the Exhibition buildings have become. Today the top of die tower has vanished. Section by section, the tower is being dismantled from the top. Its demolition has only just begun, but it is not expected to be a very long process. The dismantling of Playland is now also at an end. The last part of the steel structure of the scenic railway was ' taken down yesterday, leaving only the station standing. The Crazy House is coming down. The only part of Playland left intact is the administrative office, which has been sold and will be removed in three weeks’ time.