LOCAL AND GENERAL

Wairarapa Times-Age, 22 July 1942, Page 2

LOCAL AND GENERAL

Stock Slaughtered. During June 54 cows, 75 heifers, 28 bullocks, 2 boners, 10 calves, 472 ewes, 464 wethers, 142 lambs and 193 pigs were slaughtered at the Masterton abattoir. St, Matthew’s Church.

The first step towards' the erection of a new St. Matthew’s Church will be taken in St. Matthew’s Parish Hall tomorrow evening when a meeting of parishioners will be held for the purpose of launching a re-building campaign. Ladies’ Rest Room.

The following report for June in connection with the Ladies’ Rest Room was submitted to the Borough Council meeting last night: —Number of people to make use'of the rooms, visitors 212, country 300, town 170; total, 82. The committee room was engaged on 10 occasions, 5 by Patriotic Committee, 3 by Air Force Relations, 2 by Lady Galway Guild. Receipt slots, £2 Ils lid.

Alleged Attack on Taxi. Driver. The Auckland police are searching for three men alleged to have attacked and robbed a taxi driver, Charles Lewis, early on Sunday morning. On arrival from the city at a lonely part of Point Chevalier, an overcoat was thrown over Mr Lewis’s head from the rear seat, and while his arms were held money amounting to £7 was taken from his pockets. Leaving the car, the men ran in the direction of the beach, taking the ignition key with them. Mr Lewis had to walk two miles for assistance.

A Splendid Record. The Mayor of Masterton (Mr T. Jordan) stated at the Borough Council meeting last night that the police had informed him that not one complaint of the theft of private property during the earthquake had been reported to the police. He thought that this was a splendid tribute to the honesty of the people of Masterton. _ The Mayor further stated that in addition to the 60 borough-owned lamps stolen the council had lost a quantity of rope over the earthquake period. The police had these matters in hand. Canadian Mail Achievement. To the catalogue of disturbing elements which sometimes conspire to stay the delivery of his Majesty s Canadian mail might now be added that modern scourge, the U-boat. In the hands of the enemy it has done its best to prevent the swift completion of the appointed rounds of the Post Office in its task of getting letters and parcels to Canadian troops and others overseas. But it has not succeeded. In two years and seven months of war despatches of Atlantic mail have exceeded 750,000 bags. In that time there have been only 14 losses by enemy action, representing 26,230 bags of mail of all descriptions. In other words, more than 723,000 bags have got through, notwithstanding the desperate and sustained efforts of the Nazis to sink the entire British merchant marine and navy. In 1939, 3 bags were lost by enemy action; in 1940, 10,345 bags; in 1941, 12,947 bags and in 1942, to date, 2,935 bags.

Judge Reserves Decision. Mr Justice Kennedy reserved his decision when an application was made in Dunedin for him to state a case for the Court of Appeal relating to the trial of Henri Hirt, who was last week found guilty on a charge of unlawful use of an instrument to procure a miscarriage. The defence raised the question whether full facilities were provided for the cross-examination of the young woman concerned when . she gave evidence from her bed in hospital. ■ Watersider Sent to Gaol. In the Supreme Court, Dunedin, ■ Sidney Harris, a waterside worker, was sentenced to four months’ imprisonment with hard labour for the attempted theft of bottles of strychnine from the wharf. At the hearing the evidence was that four one-ounce bottles, each valued at 4s 4d, were : missing from a case with which accused had been seen tampering. Ac- , cused was charged also with theft, . but the jury found him “not guilty” ■ on this count.

Tombstones Damaged. At the Masterton Borough Council meeting last night Councillor Wilson stated that over 260 tombstones in the Masterton Cemetery had been brought down as the result of the recent earthquake. Others were twisted in many directions, and many completely wrecked. It was agreed that the council at a future meeting discuss the question of limiting the height of tombstones in the cemetery, Councillor Gardner pointing out that such a bylaw was in operation in Hastings. Trade Union Dues.

The council of the Wellington Chamber of Commerce last night decided to enter an emphatic protest against the obligation placed on employers to act as agents, if necessary, for the collection of trades union dues, and to refer the matter to the Associated Chambers. Under Amendment No. 10 of the National Service Emergency Regulations, 1940, this responsibility is placed on employers in compliance with the law as to compulsory unionism.

Loyal Service of Gasworks Staff. Councillor Low, speaking at the Masterton Borough Council meeting last night, referred to the loyal service given by the gas manager and the staff at the gasworks during the earthquake. The ratepayers doubtless appreciated the fact that the manager had been able to make available a supply of gas despite the difficulties experienced. Councillor Grey spoke in a similar strain, other councillors concuring. Solomon Islands Missioners. A letter which has been received by the general secretary of the Methodist Foreign Missionary Society, the Rev A. H. Scriven, Auckland, from the office of the Government of the British Solomon Islands, states that on July 10 the Resident Commissioner in the islands reported all to be well with the members of the mission in the Solomons. Mr Scriven said, this would mean that Sister Farland, of Auckland, the Rev A. W. Silvester, Auckland, and the Rev J. R. Metcalfe, Melbourne, were then carrying on their work free from Japanese interference.