LOCAL AND GENERAL

Wairarapa Times-Age, 24 December 1940, Page 4

LOCAL AND GENERAL

No Publication Tomorrow. The “Times-Age” will not be published tomorrow, Christmas Day, nor on New Year’s Day, but will appear as usual on Boxing Day, December 26. Seasonal GreetingsChristmas greetings and good wishes 1 have been received from many local bodies, organisations, business firms and others. These are in all cases acknowledged gratefully, and reciprocated most heartily. Drivers’ Licences. The Masterton Borough Council issued 31 drivers’ licences during December, bringing the total issued to date to 2325. Building Permits. The Masterton Borough Council issued three building permits in December for an estimated value of £278, as compared with two permits for an estimated value of £526 in December of last year. Bookmaker Fined £lOO.

At the Palmerston North S.M. Court yesterday Alfred James Dewar was fined £lOO for carrying on business as a bookmaker. The police said that £l2l in bets had been taken. Dewar had been before the Court previously in connection with Gaming Act offences.

Red Cross Society. The Masterton Sub-Centre of the Red Cross Society acknowledge the gifts of parcels of clothing from the following: —St. Matthew’s Collegiate School, Miss Price, Miss Naish, Central School, Fernyhurst Sewing Group, and the Electric Power Board for cases. Mails Damaged by Fire.

When fire broke out in the hold of the Arahura, .which left Nelson on,Saturday night fqr Wellington, seven out of 14 bags of mails from Nelson for Wellington, Christchurch, and Auckland were seriously damaged. Four of the damaged bags contained parcels, two letters, and one newspapers and packets. The parcels were chiefly Christmas gifts and included hams,, smokers’ supplies for soldiers, and hampers.

Dance at Te Ore Ore. The dance held in the Meeting House at Te Ore Ore last night was a decided success, those present spending a most enjoyable time. The gathering was capably managed, and the proceedings went with a swing. In the Christmas competition the first prize was won by Eleanor Bunny, Maringi, the second prize by D. Cole, Maringi, and the third prize by D. Cole. Another prize was won by K. Kawana, of Te Ore Ore. A donation of 5s was made to the meeting House Fund by Mr D. William. New Zealand Air Force.

Important changes in the conditions for enlistment into the Royal New Zealand Air Force aircrew section were announced last evening by the Minister of Defence, Mr. Jones. Briefly, the maximum age for airmen pilots has been increased from 27 years to 30 years, and the maximum for air observers and air gunners from 31 to 32 years. Explaining the age limit extension, Mr. Jones said that the experiences of the first year of the war has shown that air personnel over the age limits previously fixed had shown themselves to be fully as efficient as the younger men.

Captain Cook Memorial. To mark the Dominion’s centennial year, it is intended by the Government to erect at Mercury Bay a cairn with a bronze plaque to commemorate the landing there of Captain Cook in 1769. The recommendation to the Government was made by Mr J. Thorn, M.P., chairman of the National Historical Committee, and it is likely the cairn will be on Shakespeare’s Head, a headland which viewed from one angle is reminiscent of the profile of the poet. It is a name said to have been conferred on it by Captain Cook, who landed at Mercury Bay to observe the transit of the planet Mercury.

Exchange of Petrol Coupons. Brisk business in the exchange of petrol coupons is being done among Auckland motorists, many car-owners being willing either to reduce their running during the present month or to mortgage their future motoring for the sake of obtaining adequate fuel supplies for their holidays. Thus motorists whose holidays are in December are often willing to exchange January coupons for those negotiable this month, and others who will have their leave in the New Year are only too pleased to make the exchange. Some owners, unable to find others with whom they can exchange coupons, have gone to the length of advertising, with a view to making possible their holiday tour. Need for Care on Roads. The need for the exercise of special care by motorists using the roads during the Christmas and New Year holiday period was stressed yesterday by the Minister of Transport, Mr. Semple. He mentioned that large numbers of pedestrians and cyclists would probably be using the roads at this time. “I know that for all of us the war overshadows everything at present, and I do not propose to give a lot of statistics and facts as regards road accidents,” said Mr. Semple. “I would only ask motorists in their own interests and in the interests of every road user, to drive at reasonable speeds and to refrain from driving when overtired or after having celebrated the festive season. While we are facing the majoi tragedy of this war, it should be our endeavour to avoid all those preven - able tragedies which occur on o'reads due to carelessness or thoug lessness."

Bobby Calf Trade. | The substantial progress of e bobby calf trade this season ‘ tors dicated by the chairman ~ pjg of the New Zealand phi] _ Marketing Association, Mt w lips. -The association thisseaso , Mr Phillips, “has handl ®] d f e der Mion of of 61 pools in the national co-operative calf P°° ’U throughout tion’s OP cl ‘ IIIOIIS N e 0 fewer than 302.990 both islands. No , for the seacalves have been handled son ending govern ci t ial increase of representing the s when thc 75.000 calves on last s handled The product of 41 P 00 ) s ‘ the C alvcs handtotal hooks weigh' while led this season wa ’ ' approximately the live weight ' ‘ ]us ava ilable for 19.000, 0001b5. 5 h - be approximately final payment « ‘ phillips . -This will £ 3s s''A’be“» I ’nowLnd the e„ 3 of January.”