LOCAL AND GENERAL

Wairarapa Times-Age, 22 September 1942, Page 2

LOCAL AND GENERAL

Few Appeals. Contrary to past experience, few appeals have so far been received in Wellington following last week’s ballot for the armed forces.

Patriotic Appeal. The amount raised by the Wellington Metropolitan Patriotic Committee has reached the total of £71,370, with some further payments to come. This has been collected at an overall cost of 0.7 per cent.

Earthquakes in Wanganui. Two earthquakes of moderately heayv intensity shook the Wanganui district yesterday. The first occurred at 4.20 a.m., and the second at 6.14 a.m. The first was heavy enough to wake most people from their slumbers, while the later one was even stronger. No serious damage has been reported. Both shocks were heralded by loud rumblings. A Tank Accident

As the result of an accident during the testing of a tank at a southern military camp on Saturday afternoon, Lieutenant L. H. Mirams and Mr Wilson Elliott, one of two civilian technicians in the tank, were admitted to hospital. The tank failed to overcome a difficult obstacle, and got into sliglr trouble, which resulted in Lieutenant Mirams breaking an arm and Mr Elliott receiving severe back injuries. Both are progressing satisfactorily. Nev/ Potato Season.

The new potato season at Pukekohe has now commenced. Two commercial growers started to dig yesterday, and the yield is panning out at about ll tons an acre. About 21 tons were being sent away yesterday, and it is expected that about two more tons will be on hand today. There will probably then not be any till next week, when a slight increase on this week’s tonnage is expected, and in subsequent weeks [the amount should continue to increase. The opening price is 45s 9d a cwt. on rail, Pukekohe. River Inspection.

An inspection of the Ruamahanga River has been made, following the last meeting of the Te Ore Ore River Board (Masterton County Council), with a view to determining the work to be carried out this year. Besides the chairman and members of the board and its officers, two advisory ratepayers, Messrs Cole and Matthews, and the Public Works Department’s river engineer, Mr Grant, were present. Following the inspection, the board was asked to submit proposals for protecting the banks, rendered necessary by a recent flood. Recommendations were made regarding the work to be carried out this year.

Case With Sinister Aspect. “Counsel has said there is nothing sinister in your having this pistol, but the whole case has an aspect that can only be called sinister. Either you are a very disloyal person or are engaged in activities not for the benefit of the State,” said Mr J. H. Luxford, S.M., when sentencing a military defaulter, Gordon David Rose, a carpenter, aged 27, at the Auckland S.M. Court yesterday. Accused admitted failing to enrol for service, failing to supply information, a breach of the change of name regulations, and being in possession of an automatic pistol and 90 rounds of ammunition. Accused was sentenced to three months’ gaol on the change of name charge, and to a similar term on the charge of failing to enrol, the terms to be cumulative.