LOCAL AND GENERAL

Wairarapa Times-Age, 12 August 1940, Page 4

LOCAL AND GENERAL

Masterton Shooter’s Success. At the Dominion Clay Bird shooting championships which are being held at Christchurch, Mr Donald McKenzie, Masterton, won the £lOO Sparrow Handicap. Dance at Opaki. Visitors from all parts of the Wairarapa were present at a dance held at Cooper’s Barn, Opaki, on Saturday night in honour of Privates E. Wingate and D. Dowding. The men were macle presentations and all present spent an enjoyable evening.

Gun Dog Trials. The New Zealand gun dog championship was contested at Invercargill on Saturday. The title was retained by T. Pasco's curly-coated retriever Cowanlea Major. M. Pasco’s Labrador Teda was second, and W. E. Hazlett’s Labrador Burwood third. Competitors were present from all the South Island and Wairarapa. All the places were filled by Invercargill competitors. Record Whaling Season.

With 106 whales captured, and every likelihood of the migration continuing till the end of the month, the Tory Channel whalers have had the best season recorded in their annals of more than 100 years. The best previously recorded was last. year, when 81 whales were taken. A gale raged in Cook Strait on Saturday, but the whalers killed two humpbacks in the sheltered waters of the Sounds. This year they have killed an unusually large number in enclosed waters, 11 in all in the channel or in Queen CharlotteSound.

Evacuated Children. An indication that children evacuated from the United Kingdom may be expected to arrive in the Dominion at comparatively early dates is given in a statement issued by the Government at the weekend. It is'not yet known whether the first batch will consist, of nominated children or other children or of both, but the statement is expected to give encouragement to the New Zealand families who have been anxious to provide homes for British children who can safely be removed from' the danger zone during the war.

Odd Fellows’ Lodge Dance. The Masonic Hall was crowded out on Saturday night when the Loyal Masterton Lodge of Odd Fellows held a dance. The N.Z. ' Army footballers and a large number of soldiers wore present as guests. The music was supplied by Frank Pool’s Blue River Orchestra and the M.C., Mr W. Palmer, kept proceedings going with a swing. The Monte Carlo waltz competition was won by Private W. G. Wilson and Miss S. Bouzaid. A capable committee, under the"supervision of Mrs J. Harris and Miss M. Colban, provided supper. All present spent a thoroughly enjoyable time.

Haystacks Burned. Fire destroyed three fairly large haystacks, valued at about £5O, on the farm of a young German Jewish refugee, Mr Ernest Lion, at Hunua (30 miles south of Auckland), in the early hours of Saturday morning. Incendiarism by some person with an intimate knowledge of the locality is suspected by detectives, who are making investigations. The stacks were widely separated. The first was 50 yards from the house and the next about a similar distance further afield. The third stood about 500 yards across a gully. The incident recalls the recent smashing on two occasions of the plate glass windows in a shop of another German refugee at Papakura. Mr Lion settled at Hunua about two years ago and was joined by his elderly parents about six months ago, after they had also been expelled from Germany. Linen Flax Industry.

“It is not generally known that some years ago linen flax was grown in New Zealand for the production of linseed oil.” said the Hon D. G. Sullivan at Christchurch on Saturday. “The experience then gained will no doubt prove useful, as the question of the maufaclure of linseed oil. cattle cake, etc will come prominently before the Linen Flax Committee, the newlyformed section of the Department of Industries and Commerce. “Samples of linen flax grown in New Zealand have been very favourably received and commented upon by experts in both England and Ireland. Officers ol the Department of Agriculture have esablished contact with the farming community, explaining requiremen s. investigating areas and generally setting in train the initial steps necessary for the development of industry. In all 14.000 acres will be sown, spread over the South Island.”