LOCAL AND GENERAL

Wairarapa Times-Age, 9 January 1941, Page 4

LOCAL AND GENERAL

i Norma! Fewer Services. Normal power services were restored in the Wairarapa early yesterday afternoon, following a break down in a transformer at the Public Works Department's Waingawa sub-station on Tuesday evening. The damage to the transformer was not nearly so serious as was first thought to be the case and the full service was again available at 1.30 p.m. yesterday. Provision of Hospital Ship. The fact that the Government was negotiating for the provision of a hospital ship was announced by the Prime Minister. Mr Fraser, yesterday, He said that sufficient progress had not been made to enable any further details to be given. There were two New Zealand hospital ships in the last war. the Maheno and the Marama. Soon after the start of the Gallipoli campaign, the people of New Zealand raised the funds necessary for the equipment of one ship. Women Conductors? If the war continues for another year Wellington will probably have women conductors on its tramcars. Already the problems that this would involve are being considered by the authorities. Since the outbreak of war the tramways service has lost 150 men through enlistments in the armed forces: in addition a number of men have been attracted to other occupations, where the remuneration at present is comparatively high. Replacements have not been nearly sufficient to make up the loss. Import Licences. Large numbers of unused third and fourth period import licences, running into thousands, will be handed in to the Customs Department within the next few days for cancellation Ini many instances, war conditions have J made it impossible for the importers j to secure delivery of the goods within; the time provided. If the goods arrive j late, the department will offset the j amount against fifth period licences.! I where these are adequate to cover the; I shipments, and in other instances i special licences will be issued to on-j able the goods to be brought into the i Dominion. Centennial Stamps. Had it not been for the war and I the consequent shortage of paper. New| Zealand’s Centennial set of postage stamp.s would have been withdrawn ' from issue on December 31. That was j the original intention, but in order not | to waste paper, they will continue in j use till stocks are exhausted. The i demand overseas for the Centennial i stamps has been very large, and used I copies of some values are compare- i lively hard to acquire. As these at ! present are not allowed to be sent out i of the country in quantity, many j people arc hoarding them till after the war. Vile Food on Nazi Raider. A resident of Chatham Islands. Mr R. Idriens. who was a passenger inj the Holmwood when she was captured j and sunk by a German raider in the Pacific, said: ”1 do not even want to talk about the food. It was the vilest stuff I ever tasted. We had to fight for water, and at best six of us would • bo forced to wash out of one dipper." |] Mr Idriens was accompanied through-1 | out by his wife and two small girls— L one aged two and the other 11. TheJj elder girl. Meria, commented: “It was, fun being real live castaways, but 1 am sorry it made mummy sick.” ( Waterfront Facilities. As a result of a visit to King's Wharf. Auckland, by the Minister of j Labour, Mr Webb, it is likely that j ‘ before long mechanised plan*, will be!* introduced on the waterfront for the! * transport of freight from the ships'jslings to the sheds and from the j 1 sheds to tlte ships’ slings, The chair-1 man of the harbour board. Mr Hendry; t. Luke, promised Mr Webb that he J c would recommend to the board the,A purchase of mechanised trucks and i 1 other modern gear for the speedier i< handling of freight, the plant to bej( hired to the companies concerned in i t the loading and unloading of ships. I c Mr Webb said Mr Luke’s approach to j the problem was inspiring, mid he ex- j j pressed pleasure that a quicker turn I j round of ships was in sight. I *

Mitre Peak Climbed. Messrs Christie and Ray ward, operating from Milford Hotel, made a successful ascent on January 5 of the famous Mitre Peak. Milford Sound The last recorded ascent was made in 1914 by Edgar Williams, the late Commander Deniston. and Guide Murrell Though not ranking among the great giants of the Southern Alps, Mitre Peak, on account of its precipitous nature, provides special dilficulties for climbers. On one face it rises to its full height of 5560 fee:, practically silver from the deep waters of the sound. The approach was made from Sinbad Gully, following the route taken by the previous party, and on reaching the original camp at the bush line, the climbers found the records left in 1914