News from First Church

As winter approaches, we are pleased that some maintenance and weatherproofing of our buildings has been done.
We took part in a moving commemoration of the centenary of the ANZAC landings at Gallipoli, joining with the community at Lake Ferry in a service where this year a second flag – the Australian one was dedicated and flew alongside the New Zealand one, and we were glad to join in a Combined Churches Remembrance Service in St Andrews church in the afternoon.

On 17th May Burnside Church community will celebrate 140 years, at the Burnside church from 12.30pm – if inclement weather at Pirinoa Hall, contact Lisa Portas 06 3077606 for more information. The Burnside Church Committee and residents put in a lot of hard work at this attractive and historic place. They are greatly to be congratulated that the church and grounds are looking so good.
Yes! Spread the word! … Continue Reading

SOUTH WAIRARAPA PROBUS CLUB

TANGLE COMMUNITY DANCE TROUPE – JUSTINE ELDRED

Our main speaker at Probus this month was a stimulating talk by Justine Eldred. She covered some aspects of her personal life but the main emphasis was on the joy and power of dance for people of all ages and abilities. The Tangle troupe encourages people to “give it a go” and discover the joy of dancing with others of all abilities and interests to express emotions and all the aspects of life we all appreciate/endure. Age or some form of disability is no barrier – we can all join the dance and learn to communicate and express ourselves better.

Anyone who has attended any of Justine’s productions in the past will know that you always go away afterwards with a better appreciation of the human spirit and the joy of life. We look forward to attending the upcoming production by Tangle Community Dance Troupe later in the year.

We also enjoyed a short talk by our mini-speaker, Hilary Capper, on her life at Arrowtown Primary School. Members related to their own childhood schooldays in various country areas and the different style and content of teaching in those days. It was also a good reminder of the long term beneficial effects on children when they are privileged to have teachers who inspire and motivate them.

Readers who would like to more information on our Probus Club are very welcome to contact Margaret Griffiths on 306-8102.

Rugby News

The Senior rugby season has kicked off with much enthusiasm amongst the players and supporters alike. We are fielding the one team this year, our Senior As with James Bruce at the helm. We have a lot of new young players and after a couple of early losses they are starting to hit their strides, winning on Saturday against Eketahuna, the competition winners from 2014. Expect more great things from this team as the season rolls along. … Continue Reading

A better mouse trap

The saying ‘Build a better mouse trap and the world will beat a path to your door’ is a gross misquote of a much longer statement by Waldo Emerson made in the 1860s. However over the years thousands have taken note.

The mouse trap has become one of the most frequently patented devices of all time. In America around four hundred patents are applied for every year with an average of forty being granted.

So many patents for mouse traps have been granted that they are listed under subclasses including impaling, choking, squeezing, electrocuting and explosive. However the world does not beat a path the patentee’s door, fewer that twenty of the thousands have been produced and made a, sometimes small, profit.
In the 1880s an inventor from Illinois William C Hooker created the first mass produced mouse trap. Hookers ‘Snap trap’ was cheap and effective, a spring loaded bar released when the mouse takes the bait – the trap that is still in common use today. It is estimated that traps of this design despatch over a quarter of a million mice a year.