Plague of Rabbits.

Wairarapa Times-Age, 19 February 1943, Page 2

Plague of Rabbits.

Due to lack of ammunition, Whakarongo residents are experiencing a mild plague of rabbits. There have been several cases where gardens have been invaded by these rodents and considerable damage done. Control of Paint Materials. Because of restrictions on exports imposed by countries supplying the raw materials used in the paint industry, these materials are in future to be subject to control in New Zealand. This is provided for in the Paint Control Notice, No, 1, 1943, gazetted yesterday. The notice comes into force immediately. Interhouse Dance Tonight.A reminder is given of the dance to be held in the Masonic Hall tonight by the Wairarapa Interhouse Association. Particular attention is drawn to the modern waltz competition which is to be held at 9.30 o’clock. A special invitation is extended to men of the United Services. Cerebro-Spinal Meningitis. Cerebro-spinal meningitis continues to be rather more prevalent than is usual in New Zealand at this time of the year, said the medical officer of health, Wellington, Dr Hubert Smith, yesterday. In the last three weeks cases notified, with deaths in parentheses, were: Week ended January 25, nine (three); February 1, 12 (none); February 8, seven (none). Maori Concert Party. In St. Patrick’s Hall, Masterton, on Sunday, commencing at 7.45 o’clock, there will be presented a programme of exceptional merit, organised by Miss M. Greenlees and given by a Maori concert party. The varied programme should make an immediate appeal to patrons on account of its high standard of quality. Consequently the cosy hall should be filled. A social gathering will be held after the concert. Internees in New Zealand. The following communique has been issued by the International Committee of the Red Cross, Geneva:—“The New Zealand Government agreed on October 20 to the appointment of Dr. Leon Bosshardt, mining engineer, a Swiss citizen living in .Tararu, as a delegate to the International Committee of the Red Cross in that country. After having received this announcement, the International Committee of the Red Cross delegated Dr. Bosshardt to visit the camps of prisoners of war and of civilian internees in New Zealand, and to ascertain whether the stipulations of the Geneva Convention, 1929, are being carried out in regard to prisoners. The committee is very gratified to learn that the New Zealand Government is ready to lend every assistance to Dr. Bosshardt with a view to facilitating the mission which has been entrusted to his care.” Killed in Motor Car Accident. Mr E. L. Riddiford, Orongoronglo, was advised by cablegram yesterday that Captain J. Gage Williams was killed in a motor-car accident in Plymouth, England, on February 6. At the time of his death Captain Gage Williams was on the staff of General Lord Fortesque. Captain Gage Williams, who served in the last war, came to New Zealand in 1917 as Aide de Camp to the Earl of Liverpool, then Governor-General. After relinquishing this appointment Captain Gage Williams settled in the Dominion, where he married a daughter of Mr Seymour Thorne George, Auckland. He was well known in the racing world, holding the position of judge to several racing clubs, and later he trained at Trentham, having under his care several horses raced by Mr E. L. Riddiford. When he returned to England some years ago, Captain Gage Williams took up farming in Cornwall. . • i E.P.S. Personnel. A reduction of active E.P.S. personnel'in Christchurch to about one-quar-ter of the present total strength of the organisation was proposed in suggestions considered by the central committee yesterday. The proposals, which are based on the policy outlined at the conference in Wellington last week, provide for a first-line active establishment with a membership divided among wardens, medical, fire and works units (each 20 per cent), law and order and communications (each 10 per cent). Each of these units will have a reserve of 50 per cent of active strength. A skeleton organisation of the other units will be retained, but the remainder of the personnel, though still liable for service, will be called on to do very little training. The active strength of the first-line units will be about onesixth of the present' total strength. This personnel will be., given a six months’ course of instruction based on that at the civil defence school at Wellington.