Town Talk

Wanganui Chronicle, Volume 83, Issue 29, 4 February 1939, Page 8

Town Talk

Spanish Medical Aid. The treasurer of the Spanish Medical Aid Fund has received a donation of 2s from E.N.S. Rotary Club Conference

The 1939 conference of the New Zealand District of Rotary International will be held at Napier from March 1 to 3.

First Solo Flight. Mr. D. Cowper, a Civil Reserve trainee, made his first solo flight yesterday at the Wanganui Airport ir the Tiger Moth. Mr. Cowper was trained by Mr. H. L. Tancred.

Rotary Club to Resume After being in recess since early in December, the Wanganui Rotary Club will resume its weekly luncheons at Foster’s Hotel next Monday. The speaker on Monday will be Mr. James Grant, Director of the Alexander Museum, whose subject will be “Man’s Family Tree."

Timber Factory Blaze. The Wanganui Fire Brigade received a call at 8.16 p.m. yesterday to a fire in the boiler room and the shaving storeroom of the Sash and Door Timber Factory in Ridgway Street. Two engines were despatched and the brigade made a good save, the roof only being damaged before the flames were suppressed.

Red Flowering Gums. The flowering gum Irees which should have been in bloom before Christmas in Wanganui, are at present only beginning to flower. This is an indicatioh that summer weather is only now commending, as these trees require warm days and nights to bloom. The lateness this year is unusual. Rainfall at Rantihi. Records taken at Raetihi show that 2.85 inches of rain fell during January, rain falling on 16 days. The heaviest fall during the month was .61 inches on January 30. In the corresponding month of last year the rainfall at Raetihi was 9.85 inches, an exceptionally high figure, and for January 1937 the total rainfall was 4.76. Telegraph Messengers’ Race. Telegraph messengers in Wanganui will conduct a cycle road race tomorrow morning, and if the event is successful, will make it an annual fixture. The course is from Hatrick's Foundry along Anzac Parade to Sparrow Cliff, down the Kaimatira Road to Gordon Park, and back to Hatrick’s Foundry via No. 3 Line. The race will start at 10 a.m. and competitors will be permitted to use racing or ordinary bicycles.

Catholic School Rolls. Increased attendances at. Catholic primary Convent schools in Wanganui, which opened on Wednesday, are reported, The roll numbers at the different schools are: Holy Infancy (Aramoho) 150, St. Mary’s (Hurworth) 120, St. Antony’s (Gonville) 115, St. Vincent’s (Castlecliff) 70, Villa Maria 50. The Marist Brothers’ School roll numbers 100, about the same figure as at the beginning of the first term last year.

A. and I*. Annual Meeting. The annual meeting of the Wanganui Agricultural and Pastoral Association was fixed for Wednesday, March 8, at yesterday's meeting of the Executive Committee. An endeavour is to be made to secure a big attendance at this year’s annual meeting. The retiring members of the Executive Committee are offering themselves for re-election and it is understood that a number of additional nominations will be received. Activity at Airport. The Wanganui Aero Club’s Miles Hawk was flown to Palmerston North and return on Thursday by Mr. L. Brown. Yesterday, Mr. D. Campbell, pilot-instructor to the Middle Districts Aero Club, flew from Palmerston North to Wanganui and return in a Tiger Moth, and Mr. H. L. Tancred, pilot-instructor at Wanganui, flew to Palmerston North, Hastings, and return with Mr. J. Arkwright as passenger.

Weather in January. Slightly less than an average of eight hours of sunshine, daily was experienced in Wanganui last month. Although rain fell on 14 days in the month, and the highest rainfall was .39 inches on January 14, the total was only 1.08 inches. Temperatures were relatively low, the hottest day being January 31, when the temperature was 76.2 degrees. The average maximum temperature for the month was 67.7 degrees and the average minimum temperature 51.8 degrees. The windiest day was January 17, when 512 miles were recorded. The wind total for the month was 7735 miles or an average of 250 miles a day. Swimming Instruction. The Wanganui Swimming Centre's instructor, Mr. F. Roydhouse, has been conducting a successful campaign during the week at the Aramoho School baths, and on Monday he will commence a week at Hunterville. Mr. Roydhouse’s services have also been sought for Waverley, Marton, Fordell, and Durie Hill, and the results attained through his work during the past six weeks suggest that by the end of the season a large number of persons, both adults and children, will have been taught to swim. Unfortunately a small attache case containing certificates and other papers was recently lost by Mr. Roydhouse, and the return of this case would be appreciated by the swimming centre.

New Sheep Pavilion A suggestion that a covered pavilion for the open-class sheep sections should be erected at the racecourse at a cost of £l5O for material only was discussed at yesterday’s meeting of the executive of the Wanganui Agricultural and Pastoral Association. The secretary, Mr. A. R. Donaldson, explained that the labour would be provided free of cost by the Employment Department. The pavilion would be 120 feet in length and contain sufficient room for three rows of pens. The executive unanimously approved of the suggestion and appointed the president (Mr. W. Craig), the treasurer (Mr. C. M. Strouts) and the secretary (Mr. A. R. Donaldson) as a sub-committee to wait on the Wanganui Jockey Club for the necessary permission. The sub-committee was [given power to act in carrying out the [proposal.