LOCAL AND GENERAL

Wairarapa Times-Age, 8 July 1942, Page 2

LOCAL AND GENERAL

Hotel Destroyed by Fire. The Lee Stream Hotel, Otago, was completely destroyed by fire early yesterday morning. Motorist Killed. On Monday a car was found over a steep bank near Palmerston (Otago), and in it the body of Louis William Walker, a rabbiter, of Waikouaiti. Death apparently had resulted from a .broken neck. Repairs to Churches. Repairs to St. Michael’s Anglican Church, Kelburh, damaged in the earthquake, are expected to be expensive. The damage has been surveyed and the church will be closed for some weeks. In the meantime services are being held in the hall adjoining. Two or three pinnacles on the roof of the church of St. Mary of the Angels, Boulcott Street, Wellington, have been taken down, also the concrete cross, which had a dangerous lean at the top of the building. Earthquake Insurance. The council of the Wellington Chamber of Commerce last night decided to request the Associated Chambers to consider some form of national insurance in relation to earthquake or other natural damage, and to submit proposals to the Government. It was stated that insurance companies were reluctant to accept further earthquake risks. The chairman, Mr A. L. Wall, said that earthquake loss was one thing which could be accepted as likely to be a regular feature in the life of this country. Provision should be made for it out of national taxation, and he advocated some form of compulsory national insurance. More Estimates Approved. Estimates of departmental expenditure were again considered in the House of Representatives last night. It was a quiet discussion. Eight classes representing an aggregate vote of £1,073,888 were approved. They were the Government Insurance Account, £151,658; Public Service Superannuation Fund Account, £9556; State Fire Insurance Account, £83,366; Government Accident Insurance Account, £46,870; War Damage Fund, £10,200; Broadcasting Account, £307,970; Labour Department, £367,500; Mines Department, £96,768. The vote for the State Coal Mines Account was under discussion when the House rose at 10.30 p.m. till 2.30 p.m. today. Price of Matches.

According to a circular issued by the New Zealand Retail Tobacconists’ and Hairdressers’ Federation, the prices of matches to the consumer have been fixed as follows: —Round plaids (formerly Id a box): Dozen or more lots, lOd; three-box lots, 2-|d; lesser quantities, Id a box. Small slides (formerly Id a box): Dozen or more lots, Is 2d; three-box lots, 3£d; lesser quantities, l-’d a box. Large slides (formerly 2d a box): Dozen or more lots, 2s 2d; threebox lots, 7d; lesser quantities, 2Jd box. Safety wooden (formerly dozen, or Id a box): lOd dozen; 3jd for four-box lots; Id a box (unchanged). These prices are to apply at any place in New Zealand where a wholesale merchant buying such matches “freight-paid” isi situated.

Gollege Roll of Honour, Information available so far in connection with a Roll of Honour for Wellington College; in the present war shows that 66 former pupils have been killed, 30 wounded, 47 are missing and 35 prisoners. Sixteen have been awardr cd distinctions. This was stated at the annual meeting of the old boys’ association in Wellington.

Motor Transport. The following routine orders for the week are issued on behalf of Captain D. B. Curry, 0.C., of the Lines of Communication Company: All Masterton personnel will assemble at the depot of Transport Wairarapa Ltd., at 8.45 a.m. on Sunday, July 12. They are to bring their lunch and a mug. The Pahiatua and Eketahuna sub-sections will assemble at the Te Ore Ore Rifle Range at 10 a.m. on the same day. The usual N.C.O. classes will be held on Tuesday, July 14. Bread Zoning Scheme.

Final adjustments have been made to the bread delivery zoning scheme in Auckland, and the master bakers’ association at a meeting passed a resolution of confidence in its advisory committee and zoning officer, stated the president of the association, Mr J. A. Connon, at Auckland yesterday. Appreciation of the assistance of the shopkeepers and the helpful attitude of the public during the transition period was expressed by Mr Connon, who agreed with a suggestion that the scheme would constitute a ready basis for the zoning of any other commodities. The saving of petrol under the completed bread delivery plan is 55 per cent.

Earthquake Damage. The following resolution was passed by the Wairarapa Trades Council at a meeting held on Monday night:—“ln view of the misconception that apparently exists as to where persons have to report earthquake damage, this Wairarapa Trades Council respectfully asks that the Masterton Borough Council and the Masterton County Council again advertise where reports are to be forwarded to, and, further, that preference be given to people with young families, invalids and pensioners, numerous instances being given by members of the Trades Council of persons other than those in the above category receiving preference.”

Spinal Meningitis. Commenting last evening on the incidence of cerebro-spinal meningitis, the Minister of Health, Mr Nordmeyer, said that this disease was never entirely absent from the Dominion. From 1935 the following cases occurred in successive years: —12, 16, 18, 26, 25, 20. The Minister said that last year, however, there was a steep rise to 210 cases with 25 deaths, an'd the first half of this year revealed a still steeper increase, as already 260 cases had occurred. The figures for the last two weeks were 36 with two deaths, and 33 with five deaths. With the introduction of sulphapyradine and other allied drugs, cerebro-spinal fever had been robbed of much of its former terrors. The numbers of deaths were relatively low. It should be remembered, however, that the incidence of the disease could be minimised if people avoided congregating in crowds as much as possible. The disease was spread fairly uniformly throughout the Dominion, being particularly evident in the larger centres! of population. I