Town Talk

Wanganui Chronicle, Volume 83, Issue 37, 14 February 1939, Page 6

Town Talk

New Concrete Footpath A new concrete footpath has been laid along Anzac Parade behind Hatrick’s Slip and along the No. 3 Line. It has been greatly appreciated by residents in the locality, one of whom complains, however, that it is being used too frequently by cyclists. Baseball and “Fitness Week.” The Wanganui Baseball (Softball) Association, at a meeting last night, decided to give every support to the “Fitness Week” campaign. More than 100 players will take part in the procession on Thursday, February 23, and an exhibition game will be stagca on Cook’s Gardens in the evening. Injured Rider’s Condition. The condition of the Auckland rider, Neville Gamble, who was admitted to the Wanganui Public Hospital on Saturday night suffering from injuries received in a cycle race smash at the sports meeting on Cook’s Gardens, was /reported las* night to be unchanged. New Testing Building A start has been made by the Wanganui City Council to lay the foundations of a new building to be erected in Ridgway Street extension to house machinery for the testing of motor vehicles which are submitted to obtain warrants of fitness. As from the beginning of April the council will become the sole authority for the issue of warrants of fitness.

A Prompt Prisoner “You will be released on probation for 12 months on condition that you pay Ihe costs of the prosecution, one pound nine shillings. How long will it take you to pay that?” asked His Honour, Mr. Justice Reed, of a prisoner in the dock at the Wanganui Supreme Court yesterday. Putting a hand into a trouser pocket, the prisoner brought, forth a note and some silver and handed them to the warder. No Work Without Permit A resident of Durie Hill, when a window in his house was blown in by yesterday’s gale just before live o’clock in the afternoon, rang three firms in the city to instruct that repairs be done. In each case he was informed that until a permit could be obtained from the Labour Department for a man to work overtime the task of repairing the damage could not begin before to-day. “I had to turn to and do it myself,” the resident declared. Air Force, Trainees“Approximately 740 hours’ flying will probably have to be done during the year with Government trainees,” said Mr. G. L. Tancred, flying instructor to the Wanganui Aero Club, at last night’s meeting. He said that there was a possibility of the club receiving a greatly increased number of civil reserve pilots and also the training of Air Force trainees, which would result in considerably increased flying hours and a heavy burden on the club's aircraft. Moving Sheep By Lorry. An instance of the ease with which sheep can be moved from place to place by lorry when railvray facilities' cannot be availed of was provided at a recent sale at Waverley. An owner of a fleet of lorries commenced the delivery of sheep as soon as Ihe first pen was sold, and from 1. p.m. to 7 p.m. he had moved over 6600 sheep. As he had already brougnt 2000 sheep in for the sale, making the journey in the morning, the feat of moving nearly 9007 sheep in less than twelve hours stands as a triumph for his organising ability and the mobility of the motor-lorry fleet. St. Valentine’s Day. To-day is St. Valentine's Day, named after a martyr in the fourtii century, but more commonly known as lover's day. In days c.f old it was generally believed that February 14 was the day on which the birds of the air chose their mates, and so the day became associated with love affairs and lovers. Up to the 19th century it was the custom of young men and maidens to send love notes and highly ornate cards to one another on St. Valentine’s Day, ana in recent years an attempt has been made to revive the custom of sending valentines. Advice to Pedestrians "A pedestrian has a perfect right to walk on any portion of the road he likes,” observed His Honour, Mr. Justice Reed, in the Supreme Court at Wanganui yesterday. “He can jaywalk unless there is a by-law against it, but I have urged, over and over again, that people, when using country rodes at night, should walk on the right-hand side. I cannot understand why, for their own protection, they do not always do that. A person walking on the right-hand side can be more easily picked up when the motorist can see his face and the pedestrian can always step aside when he secs approaching traffic." Condition of Aerodrome. The flying instructor to the Wanganui Aero Club, Mr. G. L. Tancrcd, reported to last night’s meeting that the aerodrome was in a disgraceful condition. The high westerly winds of the last three months had set up considerable sand drifts on the landing field, and extensive inroads had been made on the south-east and south-west corner bv rabbits. In Mi. Tancred’s opinion, unless something was done immediately to arrest the deterioration of the aerodrome it would definitely be unfit for use in twelve months. In reply, the chairman, Mr. A. S. Burgess, said that a meeting of the Airport Committee hau been held and the city engineer, Mr. L. F. Row had been instructed to report on the matter. Prompt Action Averts Tragedy But for the prompt action of Constable J. Bowman, of Marton, a drowning fatality might have occurred in the Rangitikei River at the Onepuhi Bridge on Sunday afternoon. Fully clothed, Constable Bowman waded into the river and rescued a little girl who fell into a deep hole. Constable and Mrs. Bowman were sitting on stones near the river when the two and a-half-year-old daughter of Mr. and Mrs. R. Cooper, of Mar- < ton, wandered along the river bed and stepped into a hole. As far as is known ■ no one else witnessed the child’s ad- j venture, with thje exception of Mr. and ( Mrs. Bowman, who were some 80 < yards away. Mr. Bowman immediate- ( ly went to the rescue and managed to < reach and hold the child as she was ] igoing down a second time. |