LOCAL AND GENERAL

Wairarapa Times-Age, 28 December 1943, Page 2

LOCAL AND GENERAL

Railway Fatality. Elieen Florence Mullins, 34, married, was killed instantly while attempting to board a train for Invercargill at Bluff station on Christmas Eve. Camping Resorts.

With continued warm weather during the holidays, the rivers and coastal resorts in the district have been fully patronised. Probably due to petrol restrictions making motorists seek places closer to home there is a much larger crowd than usual at Castlepoint. At Lake Wairarapa there are also a fairly large number of campers. The Masterton camping - grounds have been fairly well patronised.

Odd Fellows’ Dance. The Masonic Hall, Masterton, was crowded last night when the Masterton Odd Fellows’ Lodge held a most enjoyable dance. The music was supplied by Mr J. Barnes’s Rhythm Boys and Bro. B. J. Seddon efficiently carried out the duties of M.C. A community sing proved popular. Extras were played by members of the orchestra. The Monte Carlo waltz was won by Mr H. Madsen and partner. Supper was served under the supervision of Sisters Brader and Rickards. The lodge expresses its appreciation to those who assisted in making the dance a success. House for Guinea Pigs.

Building an animal house in the grounds of the Christchurch Hospital at a cost of £2OOO met with fairly general disapproval at the meeting of the North Canterbury Hospital Board till the importance of the department in hospital treatment was explained. When it was reported that sketch plans had been approved, Mr C. G. McKellar said that the proposed building would cost £2OOO. It was intended to hold guinea pigs, but would be strong enough to hold lions. The building would have a glazed exterior to enable easy cleaning, and round windows, which cost three times the price of square ones. The pens themselves would be plaster.

Contrasts in Honesty. Contrasts in the honesty of persons finding property lost by others were given in Wanganui during the Christmas holiday period. In one case a young woman left a handbag containing £7 17s in a public telephone box, but was overjoyed next day when the handbag was returned by. post. Her joy was short-lived, however, because the finder had removed a £5 note before returning the handbag. During the same period a visitor from Carterton also left her handbag, containing more than £lOO, in a telephone box at Castlecliff. When she discovered her loss she communicated immediately with the police and the caretaker of a beach motor camp, but within a short time the finder of the property had reported to the police. Nothing was missing. A further indication of 'holiday good fortune was given in Victoria Avenue on Christmas Eve, when a pensioner lost a wallet containing £26 10s. It was returned to him intact within two hours.

Accident Case. Mrs Jane Hood, aged 85 years, of 95 Renall Street, Masterton, -was admitted to the Masterton Hospital yesterday with injuries to her face which she received in a fall. Today her condition was reported to be satisfactory.

Car Capsizes. Shortly after 10 a.m. on Sunday a car driven by Mr G. Wong, of Masterton, overturned at Hamua when a tire burst. Mrs Wong and family were travelling in the car and apart from shock and bruises no one was hurt.

Port Chalmers Shipbuilding. The last of the seven minesweepers to be built at the Port Chalmers shipbuilding yards is now taking shape and should be ready for launching in a few weeks’ time. When the ship is complete, seven craft, all of the same type, will have been constructed at the yards, and the amended contract will have been fulfilled. An order has been placed for - the construction of a number of lightering craft of a type known as “powered barques,’ ’but so far the contractors have not received the final plans. These boats are designed for use in landing cargo in the South Pacific islands.

Maoris Sent to Gaol. Two Maori brothers, Moses and David Makaore, were sent to gaol for two months and one month respectively for assaulting and obstructing a constable in the execution of his duty at the Dargaville railway station. The police evidence revealed that accused attempted to take eight bottles of liquor on to a train. The constable seized the liquor and accused assaulted him. In the melee which ensued, bottles became broken and the constable was either struck or pushed down, severely cutting two. fingers. Counsel for accused stated that Moses Makaore had served for three years in Greece, Crete, Egypt and Libya and had an exemplary re-' cord as a soldier. The Bench stated that a soldier’s good record was no excuse for committing an offence. Illegal Plying for Hire. Clinging precariously to the fringe of the taxi business in Auckland are a number of unscrupulous private owners who make money from operating as taxis themselves. These people batiten specially on service men whose camp lies outside the 10-mile limit imposed on the licensed taxis. Naturally the fares charged are in accordance with the risks taken. Double the usual rate is quite commonly asked from service men, many of whom are not aware they are dealing with an unlicensed driver. That this illegal plying for hire by private owners is a quite common thing is vouched for by many taxi-drivers, particularly those who have had experience on the night shift. Complaints have been made and reports lodged on more than one occasion, but because of the difficulty in detecting the offenders in the first instance and securing afterward the necessary evidence, no prosecutions have yet resulted. Men who have to reach camp and have contrived to secure transport are not inclined to bother with the/ legal proprieties.