Town Talk

Wanganui Chronicle, Volume 83, Issue 33, 9 February 1939, Page 6

Town Talk

Museum’s Freshness. A tribute to the freshness and cleanness of the Wanganui Museum was paid by a party of visitors from Christchurch this week. The visitors expressed praise of the wide variety of the exhibits.

Centennial Celebrations. The form to be taken by Wanganui’s celebration of the Centennial year has not yet been decided by the Wanganui Centennial Zone Committee, of which the Mayor, Mr. W. J. Rogers, is chairman. The matter will receive the of the committee at a later stage. First Aid in Schools. Instruction in first aid is being provided in Wanganui schools by the | St. John Ambulance (Wanganui (Division) under a scheme which was commenced this year. The children lare to be taught first aid and attention to the injured, and keen interest ;is being displayed in the early lessons. Secondary School Rolls. The Wanganui Collegiate School reopened after the summer vacation yesterday with a record roll number of 308. There are 238 boarders and 70 day boys. The Wanganui Girls’ College resumed yesterday with a roll of 411. Of this number 370 are in the secondary department, of whom 120 are new girls. In the preparatory division there are 41. Of the 90 boarders, 33 are new girls. Overseas Vessels.

Three overseas vessels are due at the Port of Wanganui this month. The Anhalt is due on February 17 from Galveston, Texas, with a shipment of sulphur to discharge for Messrs. Kempthornc, Prosser and Co.’s fertiliser works. To discharge 500 tons of guano and to load wool for Japan, the Kozan Maru is due on February 18, and the Kai ingo is expected on February 20 with coal from Newcastle.

An Unwelcome Visitor. The gesticulations of one of their number brought a party of swimmers who were enjoying the surf at Tanginoana beach at about 11 a.m. on Sunday rushing out of the water. Imagine their feelings when on looking back they observed a 12ft. shark cruising through the water in a businesslike

manner, not far from the spot they had evacuated. After remaining close in to the beach for about half an hour the unwelcome visitor made for the open sea and was not seen again. Jews Provide More Work. The fact that German Jewish refugees, who have established businesses in London, are providing employment for thousands of previously unemployed Britons, is mentioned in a letter a Christchurch business man has received from a friend in London. The refugees have been particularly active in the distressed areas of South Wales, and some of the newly-estab-lished firms are exporting their products to the Continent. Meteorological Efficiency. The efficiency of the meteorological system of the American airlines was commented on by Mr. T. E. Johnson, senior aircraft inspector for the Australian Civil Aviation Board, in an interview yesterday. Mr. Johnson said meteorological reports from every part of the continent were received by teleprinter every hour of the day and night and a synoptic chart was issued to the air services six times a day. The whole scheme was a wonderful example of co-operation. Polishing Up. Yet another unusual use for boot polish, apart from the time-honoured custom of hordes of small boys, who insist on blacking their faces on November 5, has been discovered by a Christchurch motorist. Apparently anxious that his car look as neat and clean as possible, yet still bothered over the problem of dirty tyres, this ingenious owner overcame his difficulty by employing a boy to “polish” his tyres, and the youth was to be seen busy at his job in Manchester Stree!, brush and polish in hand. Fireworks in Street.

“Just be more circumspect next time; let this be a warning to you,” said Mr. F. H. Levien, S.M., in the Auckland Police Court, when a youth was charged with setting off fireworks in Quay Street on New Year’s Eve. Sub-Inspector Fox said the police were not pressing the matter. There were many doing the same thing on that occasion, but the defendant was near a sergeant, who took his name. There were many people about at the time. After admonishing the defendant, the magistrate dismissed the information. Library Conference. The annual conference of the New Zealand Library Association will be held at Palmerston North next Tuesday, when more than 50 delegates from all parts of the Dominion will be present. The Wanganui representatives will be the city librarian (Miss A. M. Blackett) and Cr. J. J. Scott. Mr. T. D. H. Hall will deliver the presidential address and there will be an address on free libraries by G. T. Alley, director of rural library services. Several other addresses figure on the agenda paper. The chief business of the conference will be the utilisation of the £7500 grant from the Carnegie Corporation, New York. This sum is to be spread over five years and the first instalment of £1750 has already been received.