LOCAL AND GENERAL

Wairarapa Times-Age, 4 November 1943, Page 2

LOCAL AND GENERAL

Coal Mine Idle. The Liverpool State mine was idle yesterday. Following the refusal of the men’s request that a deputy be dismissed for an alleged breach of the regulations, the men declined to work. Men on Furlough, Applications for the retention of men on furlough from the Middle East were considered by the Wairarapa Armed Forces Appeal Board at a sitting in Masterton yesterday and in Featherston this afternoon. Recommendations were made to the Army authorities in each case. h’terhouse Gala Night. The Wairarapa Interhouse Association appreciates very much the fine gesture of the American Red Cross Service Club authorities in making available the clubrooms on Saturday, November 27 for the gala night following the interhouse sports and the drill and marching contests. Drunken Motorist Fined. “The manpower people will be glad to assist him,” remarked Mr Stout, S.M., in the Magistrate’s Court, Wellington, yesterday, when refusing a plea by Mr T. Taylor on behalf of Carl William Dowling, a commission agent, aged 38, that his driving licence should net be cancelled following his conviction on a charge of being intoxicated in charge of a car in Lambton Quay, Wellington, on November 1. Mr Taylor said that Dowling was a land agent, and the loss of the use of the car would prevent him carrying on his occupation. The magistrate imposed a fine of £25 and cancelled the licence for 12 months. E.P.S. Levies.

A reflection of the improved position as the war danger recedes was a reduction in the E.P.S. levies on Auckland bodies approved by the Auckland central committee of the E.P.S. yesterday. The expenditure in the first half of the current year was £23,410, which is £4655 below the estimate, and it is anticipated that £6600 would be the total cost for the second half of the year. Mr J. A. C. Allum, Chief Warden, said that a survey was being made cf the public air-raid shelters in private buildings and wherever possible the premises were being handed back after structural work was done. One problem for the future was the treatment of the deep' shelters under Albert Park. Their timber supports would not last more than a few years.

Effect of Tires on Mileage. » In answer to a statement in the Masterton Magistrate’s Court that oversize tires on a car would increase the speedometer mileage reading, Mr H. P. Lawry, S.M., said that in fact oversize tires would reduce the reading rather than increase it.

Banner Competition. The Junior’ Red Cross banner competition which is open to all Junior Red Cross members in secondary and primary schools throughout New Zealand was won by Ivan Thomas, of the Wavell Junior Red Cross Circle at the Central School, Masterton. His design will now be used for the banner representing the New Zealand Junior Red Cross. Land Sales Act. At a recent meeting of the Dominion executive of the New Zealand Farmers’ Union criticisms of the union’s actions in connection with the Servicemen’s Settlement and Land* Sales Act were discussed. The following resolution was adopted unanimously:—“That the Dominion president’s recommendation as to the non-participation by officers of the union in the work of the Land Sales Committee or Court is reiterated by and has the full support of the Dominion executive of the New Zealand Farmers’ Union.” Angler’s Paradise. “An angler’s paradise” is how a Wellington angler’ sums up his impressions of the Manawatu and Wairarapa fishing grounds, from which he has just returned after a fishing holiday. “I took 37 fish averaging 2|1b.,” he said, “and I had a run for my money each time. I’ve certainly taken larger fish, but I’ve never taken fish that were so strong and active.” Among the rivers he fished were the Makuri, the’Puru, the Waingawa, the Makakahi, and the Waione, and of these the Makakahi, the Puru, and the Makuri provided the best sport.

A Costly Dredge. . Salvage and repair work on the suction dredge Canterbury has already cost £lO,OOO, which is leSs than half the total cost. This information was given to the Lyttelton Harbour Board by the Engineer, Mr P. W. Fryer, at yesterday’s board meeting, when Mr E. W. Freeman complained that the information in the engineer’s report before the board was , “delightfully vague.” Half the work, said Mr Fryer, had been done to the dredge, but half the cost had not yet been paid out. It was impossible to say when the dredge would be in working condition again as difficulty was being experienced in getting the materials to make the repairs.