Town Talk

Wanganui Chronicle, Volume 83, Issue 45, 23 February 1939, Page 6

Town Talk

Grass Fire. The Wanganui Fire Brigade received a call at 2.56 p.m. yesterday to a small grass fire behind the Regent Theatre. The flames were suppressed before any damage was done. Increase in Membership. “Since the Physical iFtness Week began the Wanganui Y.M.C.A. has enrolled 28 new members In various departments,” stated Mr. A. L. Rounthwaite yesterday.

New Wanganui Plane. The Wanganui Aero Club have received official intimation that their new D.H. Tiger Moth plane ZK-AGZ has been flight-tested and will be ready for delivery when finally approved by the Air Department.

Injured Rider’s Condition. The Auckland rider, Neville Gamble, who was admitted to the Wanganui Public Hospital on February 11 suffering from head injuries received in a cycle race smash on Cook’s Gardens, was reported last night to be making a good recovery.

Boy Cyclist Injured. Kevin Corney, aged 12 years, of 86 Pitt Street, was admitted to the Wanganui Public Hospital at 5.15 p.m. yesterday, suffering from injuries received when he was knocked off his bicycle by a motor-car while crossing an intersection. His condition last night was reported to be comfortable.

Poster Display. The chairman of the Wanganui Intermediate School Committee (Mr. G. A. Ammundsen) has procured for the school an interesting set of striking posters, from Germany, Russia, Switzerland, Ceylon, Hongkong, Australia and other overseas countries. Any person interested in the display will be welcome to see it at the school.

Wanganui Fifth City. According to the official New Zealand population estimates Wanganui, with a population of 23,350, including Maoris, and an area of 5726 acres, is still the fifth city in the Dominion. Palmerston North, with an area of 4851 acres, has a population of 22,900, and Invercargill, vyith 5914 acres, a population of 22,300. Assault at Castlecliff.

An action was taken in the Magistrate’s Court at Wanganui recently in which a man was fined for assaulting his former employer. It was reported that the defendant was a former caretaker at the Castlecliff golf links. This should not be confused with the Castlecliff Golf Club, the defendant having been connected with a private concern and not the club.

Sharemilkers’ Award. The Wanganui Provincial Executive of the New Zealand Farmers’ Union, through its branches, is to call meetings of those interested to discuss the making of a new award for sharemilkers. Advice was received at a meeting of the executive yesterday from the Dominion secretary (Mr. A. P. O'Shea, Wellington) that a special committee had been appointed to put the farmers* case, and information was sought from those interested. Schoolboy “Howler.” A schoolboy “howler” which rocked with laughter the 500 ex-pupils who attended the Park and Waihopai Schools’ jubilee banquet on Saturday night was told by Dr. A. A. Tennent, of' Wellington, states the Southland Daily News. He said that a small boy, on being asked by the teacher to state what he knew of the death lof Napoleon, scratched his head and then answered: “Napoleon died as a result, of his confinement in St. Helens.”

State Housing. “We cannot but view with alarm the increasing volume of rumour in the matter of the Government being seriously in arrears in the payment for housing and other contract activities,” said Mr. R. O. Montgomerie, at the farmers’ rally at Makirikiri last night. “If these rumours have any foundation in fact, then these payments will further deteriorate the position of the Reserve Bank. An official pronouncement on this matter is urgently called for.”

Fixation of Prices of Benzine. “The Government scheme of fixation o£ of prices of benzine has worked well during the year and a few minor complaints only have been attended to and rectified,” stated the annual report of the Wanganui Petrol Re-Sellers’ Association, presented to the annual meeting last night. "One re-seller who- has persisted in selling below the fixed price need blame nobody but himsell 11 action is taken by the departmem., for he has received several friendly warnings from your executive.

Sulphur and Phosphate. The Castlecliff wharf is at present a scene of activity with both the North German Lloyd steamer Anhalt and the Bank Line steamer Forresbank discharging sulphur and phosphate respectively for Kempthorne, Prosser and Company's fertiliser works at Aramoho. The Anhalt arrived at Wanganui on Sunday morning from Gul of Mexico ports and the Forresbank berthed yesterday from Nauru Island. After completing discharge the Forresbank will sail for Auckland and enter Calliope Dock for cleaning, before returning to Nauru.

Australian Golf Visitors. Norman von Nida and Eric Cremin, the two outstanding golf professionals of Australia, are to visit New Zealand next month to play exhibition matches. In Wanganui they will probably play against G. Watts and Bryan Silk. The visitors, when they come to the Dominion, will be en route to England, where they will compete in all the major tournaments. Von Nida has just returned from the Philippines, where he has won the championship two years in succession. Cremin has been the Australian professional champion for the last two years.

Sports Blazers. The promoters of Physical Fitness Week in Wanganui are hopeful that all who are entitled to wear New Zealand or international sports blazers will do so to-night during the procession and programme on Cook’s Gardens. This applies to the older generation as well as the younger, and to spectators in addition to those actuary taking part. It is felt that as there are many in the city who are entitled to wear such blazers their ap-

pearance on such an occasion will not only be a popular gesture. But will help to recall to the older wearers memories of the happy days when they enjoyed the thrill of international sport.