WEATHER OUTLOOK

Wairarapa Times-Age, 19 March 1941, Page 4

WEATHER OUTLOOK

LATEST OFFICIAL FORECAST CHANGEABLE & SHOWERY. GRADUAL IMPROVEMENT LIKELY. The following official weather report and forecast was issued by the Meteorological Office, Wellington, at noon today:— GENERAL SITUATION: The extensive and complex cyclonic depression which has covered New Zealand during the last few days still controls the situation but the centre of lowest depression has now moved to south-east of Cook Strait. FORECAST: Moderate to strong winds from a southerly quarter; weather changeable and showery, with falling temperatures. FURTHER OUTLOOK: Souther-' ly winds tending westerly and weather gradually improving. Bowling Club Pavilion. An application made by the Masterton Park Bowling Club to the Borough Council for provision to be made for an extension to the club’s pavilion when the estimates were being framed was considered a meeting of the council last night. The matter, was referred to the incoming Park Committee. Only Fat Lambs Killed. Killings at Southland and Otago freezing works from the beginning of this week are confined to fat lambs. Wethers and ewes are not being handled because of pressure on storage space at the works. Freezing chambers have been filling rapidly as a result of extremely heavy killings, and companies have decided that, as lambs cannot be held conveniently once they reach prime Condition and as they -represent the greatest value, mature sheep must be held in the meantime. Low Prices for Rabbits. Rabbits are being sold in Wellington at the unusually low prices of 6d for small ones and 8d for medium ones. Difficulties, or anticipated difficulties, in the export of rabbits are given as the chief cause for the plenti-| tude of them in the shops. In a normal season as many as 100,000 cases, each containing 50 to 60 rabbits, ' are exported. They bring a good price in Great Britain, and prices of rabbits in New Zealand have been maintained by the prices overseas. If that market is not available the price in New Zealand drops. War Service of Railway Employees. Since the war began, railway employees released for military service overseas have numbered 2728, according to figures quoted yesterday, by the Minister of Railways, Mr Semple. In addition, about 550 employees are undergoing territorial training. Mr Semple said that 3424 served from 1914-18 with the First New Zealand Expeditionary Force, 446 or 13 per cent made the supreme 'sacrifice, and 111 were awarded military honours which included one Victoria Cross decoration. The total enlistments of railwaymen in the last war was 4162. Intercollege Rugby. That the annual quadrangular Rugby tournament between teams representing Christs, Nelson and Wellington Colleges and Wanganui Collegiate School, would be played this year on the Wellington College grounds, was mentioned last night by Mr. W. A. Armour, headmaster of Wellington College, at the annual meeting of the Wellington College Old Boys’ Football Club. Mr. Armour said there had been some discussion whether the tournament should be continued during the war, but the four headmasters had agreed that it should be continued this year, unless something catastrophic happened in the interval. Anomalies in Blackout. Blanketing the bright lights of Wellington was carried'a step further last night, by extinguishing electric signs throughout the city and reducing shopwindow illumination. With these measures, elimination of all skysigns, screening of seaward-facing windows, and masking of street lamps in many localities, a war-long gloom has settled over suburbs and streets. By contrast, however, many brilliantly-lit buildings showed up conspicuously; a number of bright advertising signs under street > verandas continued to shine; in several districts brilliant arc lights glowed; and on the low clouds hurrying over the city the reflected glow, al- ; though diminished and no longer of ! the former reddish colour, was still i very evident. ;

Ostler anc! Christie Appeal. The Court of Appeal in Wellington yesterday reserved decision after hearing the appeal of Harold Alexander Ostler and Travers Burnell Christopher Christie against their conviction in Christchurch on a charge of attempting to publish a subversive statement, and the sentence of 12 months' imprisonment imposed by Mr. Justice Northcroft When Ostler addressed the Court in reply to submission by the Crown, the Chief Justice (Sir Michael Myers) asked if he could not, even now. sec the enormity of offences against the Emergency Regulations. Ostler: "That is a question I find difficult to answer on the spur of the moment.” The Court comprised the Chief Justice, Mr. Justice Smith. Mr. Justice Fair, and Mr. Justice Johnston. Mr. C. H. Taylor appeared for the Crown.