LOCAL AND GENERAL

Wairarapa Times-Age, 14 August 1941, Page 4

LOCAL AND GENERAL

Manawatu Showgrounds. Information that the showgrounds would be used by the Army for the duration of the war, and possibly for some time thereafter, was conveyed to a meeting of the general committee of the Manawatu and West Coast A. and P. Association yesterday. Nd shows are to be held while the grounds are under lease. The officers of the association will retain their present positions.

Supreme Court Sentences. Two Maoris, William Kepa and Pene Poi, were sentenced by Mr Justice Northcroft in the Supreme Court at Gisborne yesterday to 18 months’ hard labour for breaking, entering and theft at the Waiapu Farmers’ Co-operative Store at Tikitiki. Harry Lewis Brennan, found guilty of breaking and entering Williams and Kettle’s store with intent to commit theft, was sentenced to two years’ hard labour. Sheep for Japan.

The Japanese steamer Yamagiku Maru, with about 100 tons of Japanese cargo for discharge at Lyttelton, arrived from the north yesterday. After unloading her cargo the vessel will take on board a consignment of 1700 sh eep and will sail direct for Japan. Members of the crew were permitted to go ashore on producing their alien passports. ' The Customs Department searched passengers’ baggage before it was placed on board. Soldiers in Hospital.

Ten soldier cases of measles from the racecourse military camp were admitted to the Wanganui public hospital today making, with patients from Waicuru camp, a total of about 80 measles, mumps and chicken-pox cases in isolation at the hospital. Yesterday there were 33 measles cases being treated in the emergency hospital which was established in St. Paul's Hall, 16 of these being admitted from the Wanganui camp. The hospital is running smoothly under the direction of a sister from the public hospital. Young Man’s Death.

With a gunshot wound in the head, Jack Atkinson. Napier, aged 25, was admitted at 4 o’clock on Tuesday afternoon to the Napier Public Hospital, where he died three hours later. Atkinson, who had been an invalidity pensioner for five years, was found at his residence, 30 Carnell Street, lying beside a rifle. A formal inquest was opened at the hospital morgue before the coroner, Mr J. Miller, yesterday. After evidence of identification was taken, proceedings were adjourned until tomorrow. The police were represented by Sergeant J. Gracey. Mine Tragedy.

A finding that the tragedy at Kaye’s mine, near Greymouth, on November 6, 1940, when five men lost their lives was caused by an explosion of gas brought into contact with a naked light by one of the victims was given in the report of a Royal Commission into the accident, presented to the House of Representatives by the Minister of Mines, Mr Webb, yesterday. The victims were: J. Kaye, his son J. L. Kaye, A. Mclntosh, (manager of the mine), F. L. Williams, and L. Colpo. The commission expressed the opinion that Williams was probably responsiblefor the naked light. The commission came to the conclusion that there was much evidence of slackness in manage--Iment and general disregard of safety 'precautions.