LOCAL AND GENERAL

Wairarapa Times-Age, 4 November 1940, Page 4

LOCAL AND GENERAL

Torrential Rain. Gardens in Masterton received a thorough soaking yesterday following torrential rain at midday and further showers which fell throughout the day. Pastures throughout the district will benefit considerably by the downpour and a steady warm rain which fell today should bring about a rapid growth of grass. Hawke’s Bay Fruit Crop. Apples and pears produced in Hawke’s Bay during the past season amounted to more than 750,000 cases, according to figures which have been made available of quantities handled at assembly points and at the canning factory. So far as the coming season is concerned, it is anticipated that the apple crop will be slightly lower, but the pear crop will probably be higher. Man Found Dead. i The body of Mr John Moncrieff Thomson, married, aged 58, was found in a hut he occupied at Haumoana (Hawke's Bay) by a neighbour on Saturday. Death had occurred about three weeks ago. Mr Thomson was a returned soldier, receiving a pension and followed the occupation of woolclasser. It is understood that he was separated from his wife and lived alone.

Subversive Organisation. The first prosecution since regulations were issued banning the organisation known as Witnesses, of Jehovah was brought in the Magistrates’ Court, Wellington, before Mr Stout, S.M., on Saturday, when John Joseph Murray, retired, aged 78, was charged with participating in the activities of a subversive organisation, namely, Jehovah’s Witnesses. Detective-Sergeant W. McLennan applied for a remand till today, and did not object to bail. Murray was remanded on bail. Lord’s Prayer in Schools.

The contention that under the law the board alone, without regard to the Director or Minister of Education, has full legal power to delay the commencement of the secular school work each day to allow for the recitation of the Lord’s Prayer, was made by Colonel T. W. McDonald, a member of the Wellington Education Board, when commenting in a statement yesterday on the definition of the legal position last week by the Director of education, Di-. C. E. Beeby. This authority to shorten the secular day was given to education boards only, Colonel McDonald said. Neither the Director nor the Minister had power to interfere in this respect.

A Sketcher Questioned. Some residents on the Lyall Bay waterfront at Wellington were witnesses yesterday of an incident which within. an hour or two set all the bay talking. At about 7 o'clock—an hour at which few are stirring on a Sunday morning—a youngish man with dark hair and complexion was seen on one of the parade seats, apparently sketching the view across the bay toward the Heads. The stranger was observed by the beach custodian, a city corporation employee, who after a little quick thinking, concluded that he had a duty to perform. Approaching the visitor he questioned him about his artistic activities, and. being dissatisfied with the answers, insisted on the stranger accompanying him to the local police station. The beach custodian returned to his duties alone.