LOCAL AND GENERAL

Wairarapa Times-Age, 8 September 1943, Page 2

LOCAL AND GENERAL

Onekaka Case. The Court of Appeal, after a hearing lasting 16 days, has reserved judgment in the Onekaka case, which started as a suit by the Crown for forfeiture of mining privileges before the Warden’s Court, was moved into the Supreme Court, and then to the Court of Appeal on appeal by the Crown. High Prices for Vegetables. If people want the earliest of the season’s vegetables they have to pay for them, irrespective of fixed prices. Yesterday green peas from Nelson brought 2s Id per lb at the Wellington public markets, and genuine new potatoes (not second growth, often sold as new potatoes) fetched 5d per lb wholesale, to be sold retail 'later at 7Jd or 8d per lb. Earthquake Repairs. The repairing and strengthening of earthquake-damaged buildings in Wellington continues, though it is more than twelve months since the last appreciable shake. Up to the end of last month approximately 200 buildings in the business area of the city, mostly of brick construction, had received attention. There are, however, still more than 200 buildings in the city on the/ waiting list. Rotary Conference. Some 80 delegates from 26 North Island Rotary clubs attended the District Governor’s North Island conference, held in Wellington yesterday, when domestic affairs came up for comment and discussion. The conference was presided over by the District Governor, Mr C. Taylor, Christchurch. Presidents and secretaries of the various clubs constituted the delegates present. A general “get-together” assembly of Rotarians was held last night. Charge of Manslaughter. As the outcome of the railway smash on the Otago Central line between Hyde and Middlemarch on June 4, in which 21 persons lost their lives, a charge of manslaughter was preferred at Dunedin yesterday against the engine driver of the train, John Patrick Alphonsus Corcoran, aged 51. The charge was that he drove the train negligently and at an excessive speed and killed Francis Robert Kinney and certain' other persons. An application by the police for a remand to September 16 was granted. Corcoran was released on bail. No Saturday Work. In accordance with a decision made at a meeting at the Liverpool West Coast) State mine bath-house on August 23, that there would be no more Saturday work at that mine, the mine was idle on Saturday. The decision, however, did not affect the other State mines, Strongman, Dobson, Wallsend, and Blackball, all of which were worked on Saturday. State mine officials stated that they were experiencing real difficulty in meeting the heavy demands for coal of all classes. It is stated that in many cases there is a long waiting time between the lodging of orders and delivery.

Power Supply Mission. A representative of the electric power boards and a Government representative are to be appointed to visit the United Kingdom, the United States of America, and Canada, to investigate the latest developments in producing and distributing electric energy, the Minister of Finance, Mr Nash, stated in Auckland yesterday.' The electric power position was serious, he said. The mission would report to the Government on the quantity- of plant and equipment available for purchase which would fit in with the Government’s programme of immediate and maximum expansion of the power supply. The mission must leave New Zealand at the earliest possible moment.

Slight Earthquake. A slight earthquake was felt in Masterton. at about 7.15 o’clock this morning. Boar Killed. A lamb-killing boar which had been at large in the Haurangi district, Martinborough, was bailed up and shot yesterday. The boar was a large animal and had killed several lambs. Te Whiti Tribal Dance. Members of the Te Whiti Tribal Committee held a succesful dance in the Orange Hall, Masterton, last night. Novelty dances ' were held, and the music was supplied by the “AfterBeat” dance band. Supper was served by a committee. Meeting at Kaiparoro. Mr J. Robertson, Labour candidate for the Masterton seat, will give an address at the Kaiparoro Hall tonight at 8 o’clock. In an advertisement which appeared in yesterday’s issue, it was stated in error that the meeting was to be held last night. Wairarapa Kennel Club. At a meeting of the committee of the Wairarapa Kennel Club last night final arrangements were made for the “ribbon parade” to be held on Saturday at 2 p.m. Entries will close on Friday. If it is wet arrangements will be made to hold the parade under cover. Mrs Martin, of Martinborough, was thanked for a donation. Several new members were nominated. Mr H. Mackenzie Douglas presided at the meeting. Druids’ Ledge. At the fortnightly meeting of the Masterton Druids’ Lodge on Monday night, A.D. Sister Schaefer presided over a good attendance of members. A discussion took place on the question of forming a juvenile branch of the lodge in Masterton. P.A. Bro. F. Ellett was asked to discuss the matter with D.P. Bro. W. Fryer, of Carterton, and bring down a report to the next meeting. Favourable reports were received of several sick members of the lodge. Accounts amounting to £43 were passed. Optimist Club Meeting. There was an attendance of 35 at the weekly meeting of the Masterton Optimist Club, held in the Y.M.C.A. rooms, :last night. The president, Mr C. W. Gaze, extended a cordial welcome to Flying Officer S. V. Playsted and _ a number of Air Training Corps trainees. Each member was called upon to say something impromptu. Flying Officer Playsted spoke on the need of more recruits for the A.T.C. and spoke highly of the work of a member of the Optimist Club, Flight-Sergeant V. Duley, who had been mobilised for active service. At next week’s meeting, Mr T. A. Russell, a former president of the club, will give an address. Land Sales Act.

Speaking.at Gladstone last night, Mr J. Maher, National Party candidate for the Wairarapa seat, referred to the Farmers’ Union proposals which were submitted to the Government as _an alternative to the ideas in the Servicemen’s Settlement and Land Sales Act. Mr Maher said that the union’s proposals would have done the job effectively, but they would not have given complete control of land and houses to the Government. That was why the Government would not accept them. The Farmers’ Union proposals to take 90 per cent of profits when a property was sold after the first transfer meant that no speculator could make anything out of dealing in land, and he was of the opinion that restricting the amount to which a property could be mortgaged would have dealt effectively with the control of land prices. It was the mortgages which did the real damage in the large boom, Mr Maher spid. The candidate was accorded a vote of thanks and confidence. Mr Maher also held successful meetings yesterday at Ahiaruhe and Longbush.