LOCAL AND GENERAL

Wairarapa Times-Age, 13 February 1943, Page 2

LOCAL AND GENERAL

High Price for Mushrooms. farmers who see their home paddocks dotted with mushrooms on these late summef* mornings will no doubt, be interested to learn that mushrooms were selling at 4s per lb retail in Wellington yesterday. Sly Gropi Seller imprisoned. For having sold liquor without a licence, Anthony James Hardy, carpenter, aged 31, was sentenced to one month’s hard labour by Mr. J. L. Stout, S.M., in the Magistrates’ Court, Wellington, yesterday. Fire at Racecourse. The mam stand at the Ashburton racecourse was destroyed by fire early yesterday morning. The building was occupied by a Government Department and no information as to tlto origin of the fire is available. The stand was erected four years ago at a cost of £13,000 and was insured for about two-thirds of its cost. Only the concrete portions remain standing. E.P.S. Conference. The conference of E.P.S. authorities called by the Minister of Civil Defence, Mr Wilson, to discuss means of implementing future E.P.S. policy as determined by War Cabinet was held in Wellington yesterday. The conference was opened by the Prime Minister, Mr Fraser, and Mr Wilson presided. No statement as to the decisions of the conference was available at its conclusion late yesterday afternoon. Good Bowling. Taking all 10 wickets for 39 runs in Northern Military District’s first innings—one l.b.w. and the other nine clean bowled—T. L. Pritchard gave Central Military District a useful lead of 59 at the opening of their second innings in the return match between the service teams which began on the Basin Reserve, Wellington, yesterday. Central, which had scored 136 in the first innings, did better at the second attempt, and when stumps were drawn had put on 196 for the loss of eight wickets. Northern District scored 77. Damages Awarded. A verdict for plaintiff for £1250 general damages and £lO5 special damages was given by the jury in a case in the Supreme Court, Hamilton, yesterday, in which Alfred Rowan, farmer, Te Awamutu, sought to recover £1705 damages from the New Zealand Cooperative Dairy Company, Limited, arising out of injuries received by plaintiff’s racehorse Cheval de Bataille. The horse was struck by a lorry owned by defendant company on the Mangapiko bridge while it was being exercised on the morning of January 5, 1942. The plaintiff, Alfred Rowan, said he had refused £1250 for the horse. Due to muscles being severed, it was not practicable to race the animal again.

Girl's Death from Scalds.

“Every doctor gets calls from people excited or panicked when the case is quite a minor one; a doctor could have done no more than facilitate the removal of the child to hospital and the child’s prospects were in no way hampered or affected because the doctor did not answer the call,” said Dr J. P. P. Lynch, pathologist at the Wellington Public Hospital, giving evidence yesterday at the inquest in Wellington into the death of Sheryn Ann Harker who died after the administration of an anaesthetic for the treatment of severe scalds. Allegations were made by the father, Petty-Officer J. S. Harker, in his evidence before the coroner, Mr Mellish, that a Karori doctor had said he was too busy to attend the child at her home. The doctor did not come to the telephone but, through his wife, advised treatment and recommended a call to the Wellington Free Ambulance. “The doctor may not have appreciated the urgency of the case as he would not have known the extent of the injuries,” remarked the coroner. He was sure that the medical staff of the hospital had exercised their best judgment.

National Savings. National Savings receipts at the Masterton Post Office yesterday amounted to £215, making the total to date for the week £640.

Land Agent Fined. For a second offence of failing to furnish a return of income, Carl William Dowling, land agent, was fined £l5 and costs, in the Magistrates’ Court, Wellington, yesterday. Croquet Match.

An intermediate Buttons match was played on the Park croquet lawn, Masterton, yesterday, when Mesdames Wellei' and Scrivener (Masterton) defeated Mesdames Hart and Dickson (Eketahuna), by 26—20.

St. John Ambulance Dance. A dance will be held in the Masonic Hall, Masterton,“ tonight, in aid of the funds of the St. John Ambulance Brigade. The music will be supplied by Mr Jack Barnes’s orchestra, and Mr C. S. McQuade, Cadet Superintendent, will carry out the duties of M.C. ■ Novelty dances will be held and special supper arrangements have been made.

Air Training Corps. The weekly routine orders for the No. 21 Squadron, Air Training Corps, Masterton, state: —Parades: A Flight: Monday, February 15, and Thursday, February 18, at 6.50 p.m., Wairarapa College, Masterton. B Flight: Tuesday, February 16, and Thursday, February 18, at 6.50 p.m., at Carterton District High School. Syllabus: A Flight: February 15, Section Al, mathematics and navigation; section A2, mathematics and science. February 18: Drill, basic fitting, signals and P.T. B Flight, February 16: Section Al, mathematics and navigation; Section A2, mathematics and science. February 18: Drill, P.T., and Signals. Women Sent to Gaol.

Guilty of having permitted a bedroom to be used as a brothel and being on the premises for purposes of prostitution, five young women appeared on remand before Mr J. L. Stout* SM„ in the Magistrate’s Court, Wellington, yesterday. A Maori girl, aged 19, was placed on probation for two years after an undertaking had been given that she would be taken back immediately to her parents at Ratana. Two months’ imprisonment was imposed on Ruby Constance McElroy, a factory hand, aged 20; Elizabeth Ida Brooker, a domestic, aged 23; Patricia Marguerite McKenzie, a factory hand, aged 21; and Rosa Elsie Emma May Creed, a domestic, aged 26.

Spread of Fescue. Alarm at the rapid spread of tall fescue, which threatened to take charge of the district, was expressed by members of the Taradale Town Board on Wednesday night, when it was stated that much could be done by residents in keeping the growth down. Cr. J. E. Wainscott complained that the fescue was taking charge of the roadsides and many sections, and unless some steps were taken immediately, the whole district would soon be covered. In his opinion, it should be regarded as a noxious weed. The clerk, Mr W. L. Jarvis, explained that previous efforts to have fescue declared a noxious weed had been unsuccessful. There were too many absentee owners who were hard to deal with. “We have too many lazy farmers, who graze their farms in town,” commented a member. The board adopted the clerk’s report, which stated that burning of fescue on the roadsides was being carried out, and residents were urged to co-operate in the clearing of their sections.