LOCAL AND GENERAL

Wairarapa Times-Age, 6 December 1943, Page 2

LOCAL AND GENERAL

Body Found in Harbour. The body of a man was found floating in the Auckland harbour at the end of the western tide deflector at Westhaven on Saturday afternoon. He was later identified as Charles Edwin Hills, widower, aged 64, Devonport, who has been missing since November 19. Pay of Railwaymen. Referring to the railwaymen’s complaint, Mr E. Casey, General Manager of Railways, who is in Westport in connection with the handing over of the Buller line, stated that £11,000,000 had been paid out in extra pay and concessions during the last five years. The senior staff had not received any increase. Girl Drowned. A fatality occurred at Seven Mile Beach, near Runanga, yesterday afternoon, when two girls got into difficulties and one was drowned. The victim was Mary Janet Smith Gillaly, aged 17, whose parents. Mr and Mrs James Gillaly, reside in Runanga. Her sister. Betty Gillaly, was also taken to hospital. Her condition last night was satisfactory. W.E.A. Classes. A successful year’s work was reviewed at the Dominion conference of the Workers’ Educational Association, held in Wellington at the week-end. A report showed that there were 6562 men and women enrolled in the regular tutorial classes and discussion study groups, and hundreds more in the less regular forms of classes and lecture courses. A significant indication of the demand for continuing education of the non-vocational type provided by the W.E.A., even in wartime, is that the enrolments this year exceed those for 1938, the year before the war. N.Z. Grown Tobacco Restricted. “It is now more than two years since the Federal Government of the U.S.A, placed an embargo on the export of all American tobacco seed,” states the 'annual report of the National Tobacco Company *Ltd., Napier. “Our crops in New Zealand are raised from American seed, the import of which is now illegal. We have had some good results, and though we cannot claim having brought forth from New Zealand soil a real Virginia tobacco, our crops here represent a very useful type 'of leaf and our prospects of expanding the industry far beyond the present boundaries were really bright.” Fire at Timber Mill. Considerable damage was done to interior fittings and machinery at the premises of Brownlee, Ltd., timber merchants, Kilbirnie, when fire broke cut there late on Saturday night. The call was received at 11.21 p.m., and when the firemen arrived the box factory and mill were blazing fiercely.. It is thought that the fire originated in the box factory, and flames were confined to this area and the mill. Costly machinery was damaged, but is believed to be salvageable. An estimate of the total damage cannot be given at present, but Mr J. B. Reid, the manager of the plant, estimated it at about £5OOO. The cause of the fire is unknown. Mangatainoka School. A report of the bad condition.of the Mangatainoka#School building, was re- . ferred to the chairman of the Wellington Education Board, Mr W. V. Dyer. He/said it was probably the worst in the hoard’s district, and should be replaced. Patching had been tried, but apparently the building had got beyond repair. Representations for its replacement had been made to the department over a number of years, but these requests had been deferred or held over. The Minister of Education and the Director of Education had seen the school, and it would be fair to say that they appreciated that something should be done. However, in these days, the first claim was to provide ac'commodation where none existed.

Mallard-Grey Duck Cross. A mallard duck, mated with a wild grey duck, and living on a stream in Masterton has just hatched 17 ducklings. This is the second brood of 17 young by the same pair this season. The first hatched on October 10.

“Busy Bee” Gathering. In the McGregor Hall, Masterton, on Saturday afternoon, children who form a “busy bee” group which works in raising funds for missions, held a sale of work. Produce, cake and book stalls were well stocked, and brisk business was transacted by the tiny tots, who were trained by Miss lorns, of the P.W.M.U. Afternoon tea was served

Successful Dance. The Masonic Hall, Masterton, was packed to the doors on Saturday night when the Maori Interhouse girls’ team held a dance. The After Beat dance band played splendid music. Extras were played by Miss E. Thompson. A Monte Carlo waltz was won by Miss Rickards and Mr Welch. A lucky spot- dance was won by Miss Olsen and Mr Kerr. Mr J. Bruce was M.C. Supper was served by the girls’ team. The next team dance will be held on New Year’s Eve. Value of Iron Sand.

Many of the Russian tanks were made from iron ore almost identical in constitution to New Zealand iron sand, said Mr A. F. T. Chorlton, secretary of the Auckland Manufacturers’ Association, addressing the Auckland Creditmen’s Club. The ore was smelted electrically and titanium, a material considered to be superior to white lead for paints, was extracted. New Zealand had great quantities of iron sand, and, with cheap electricity, could produce ample supplies of pig iron. Canadian Visitors.

The Canadian Press delegation of three members, with Mr Arthur Ford, editor of the “Free Press,” London, Ontario, as leader, accompanied by Mr Lorenzo Pare and Mr B. T. Richardson, arrived in Auckland from Sydney by air on Saturday afternoon and was entertained by Auckland pressmen in the evening. From Auckland the delegation will go south, calling at Rotorua and Tirau, where the world’s largest butter churn will be inspected. In Wellington they will be given a State luncheon. During next week they will make a flying visit to the South Island. Educational Matters. Mr J. Barnett, president of the New Zealand Educational Institute, Mr J. S. Robertson, editor of “National Education,” and Mr G. R. Ashbridge, general secretary, were present at a meeting of the Masterton branch of the New Zealand Educational Institute. In welcoming the visitors, Mr E. G. Coddington, president of the branch, expressed the pleasure of local teachers at the opportunity to meet members of the central executive and discuss problems at first hand. Mr Barnett briefly outlined the work of the executive during the past few months. After an interesting discussion on various topics the meeting concluded with supper.

Strange Cabbage Prices. An Auckland Press message states that while cabbages are still bearing the price tag of 31d per lb. in various retail shops, and while householders are being assailed with a spate of propaganda urging them to dig for victory, some auctioneering firms in the city have been in the position where ■they would gladly give away cabbages if citizens would remove them from ■their premises. In some instances recently, a sack of cabbages has failed to bring a bid of Bd, the cost of the sack. “Good quality cabbages can be bought for 2s for a sack of 701 b.,” said one merchant, “while the consumer is paying dearly. Cabbages are being dumped and dug in while the enthusiast gets a sore back tending his precious plot. It is all a glorious muddle.”