LOCAL AND GENERAL

Chronicle (Levin), 12 February 1947, Page 4

LOCAL AND GENERAL

11 ■ 1 1 - r Ferry Express Radio Link The ship-to-shore radio telephones were expected to be in use for the first time on the interIsland ferries last night, when the Postmaster-General (Mr. F. Hackett) carried out the first test for the post office. The -telephones are not expected to be in general use until next Monday. They are to be cested on each trip this week. A Record Attendance What is regard'ed as a record in attendance at old pupils' functions was established ' recently at. the golden jubilee celebrations of the Maitland Village' 'School in South - land. On the opening day of the school in 1897 the roll numbered 22. Five of these first-day pupils have jdied, one is at present in Australia, and the remaining 16 attended the celebrations. Successful Exhibitors Exhibiting at the Wellington Horticultural Society's show yesterday, Mr. H. G. Smitli, of Levin, won the champion open gladioli award with "Southern Command" and also the gladioli challenge trophy. Several pupils of the Levin Primary School secured prizes in the natiye flora and grass classes of the childrcn's section, but details of these awards are not yet available. Clothes Drive Next Saturday On -Saturday next the Levin branch of CORSO is cc-.xducting a clothes drive throughout the borough to assist in providing sorely-needed articles for the people of China, where long years of war have created a serious shortage of clothing. The Levin Boy Scouts are assisting in the collection, which will be made during the morning, and an appeal is made to citizens to contribute to the drive in eveSy way possible. .

Maoris Claim Wanganui Claims for the ow-nership of the bed of the Wanganui River came before the Native Land Court at Wanganui yesterday, nine years after the flling of the original appl'ication. It was stated by Mr. N. R. Bain, for the SolicitorGeneral, that the claims involving the Wanganui River began in 1927 with a petition asking for. £300,000 for the use of the river for navigation, destruction or damage to native fishing weirs, and the taking of land for scenic purposes. When an application was made for the striking out of the SolicitorGeneral as renresenting the King as a party, the Court adjourned the hearirig until May. School Committee's Tbreat Members of the Dargaville School Committee decided last evening to tender a block resignadon if no adviee of definite action co complete the Dargaville primary school grounds has been. received by next meeting. This decisioh was arrived at when, following three years of ceaseless endeavour and forceful protests to have deparfcmental attention paid to the deplorable grounds, information was reeeived showjng that the Education Deoartment had no knowledge of any request having been macfe for a Tant to cover the work On the other hand, the AucklandEducation Board stated' in a lerier in December that estimates of the cost of the work which the Dargaville committee had submitted. had been forwarded to the department for approval together with a request for the necessary grant. The Prime Minister, too, had inspected these grounds a few months ago and promis.ed assi^tance.-