Town Talk

Wanganui Chronicle, Volume 83, Issue 50, 1 March 1939, Page 6

Town Talk

Street Days. Permission to take up collections in the streets was granted to two bodies last night by the Wanganui City Council—Y.M.C.A. in August, and the S.P.C.A. on September 27. Free Pass on Trams. The Wanganui branch of Women’s Helpers Institute has applied for a free pass on the city tramways. The application has been referred to the Tramways Committee. Newcombe Memorial Fund. The treasurer of the Mildred Newcombe Memorial Fund wishes to acknowledge a donation of £1 8s rrom the Hawera Plunket Society, which brings the total to date to £444 5s 6d. Incipient Fire. The Wanganui Fire Brigade received a call at 8.14 p.m. yesterday to an empty section in Wicksteed Street, where a toi toi bush was on fire. The flames were extinguished before damage was done. Donation to Rowers. A donation of £5 5s from Mr. W. J. Johnstone, licensee of the Aramoho Hotel, was received at last night’s meeting of the Wanganui Rowing Association. A letter of thanks is to be forwarded to Mr. Johnstone. Cycling Championships. The West Coast (North Island) amateur cycling championships will be decic/.a at Cook’s Gardens, Wanganui, on Saturday, March 25. It nas been suggested that the inter-house athletics should be held in conjunction with the championships. Resident's Sudden Death. While hurrying to catch the tram in Glasgow Street yesterday morning, Mr. T. Evans, of 143 Harrison Stieet, Wanganui, collapsed and died. Mi. Evans, who is 76 year old, was formerly on the staff of the New Zealand Railways. Opera- House for Fire Brigade. The Wanganui City Council has decided to grant the use of the Opera House to the Fire Brigades’ Demonstration committee for a Sunday night, concert, on March 5. Permission to make a charge of Is upstairs and 6d downstairs has been granted and the council will charge £2 10s for hire of the building. Pipe Band Contest. Members of the Wanganui Highland Pipe Band will leave for Christchurch next Wednesday to compete in the New Zealand piping championships. In the drum-major’s display, which is one of the features of the pipe bands’ contest, the Wanganui Band will be led by Pipe-Major W. Budge, as drummajor. Head-of-River Rowing. The Wanganui Rowing Association’s annual head-of-the-river eight-oar races will be held during the weak this year because of the heavy season. The senior race will be held on Thursday, March 9. and the junior event on Wednesday, March 8, both races starting at 6 p.m. Last year the senior race was won by Union and the junior event by Wanganui.

School Milk Supply. Supply of milk for schools included in the Wanganui City and district scheme initiated by Mr. G. Fear, and carried out with the co-operation ot Mr. W. G. Seabrook, has been in danger of running short. A total of 7000 half-pints are required daily, 5000 of them being for city schools. Additional supply has been obtained, Mr. Fear stated yesterday, but if the dry weather continues a shortage may occur again.

Wanganui River Excursion. A party consisting of 125 employees of the Post and Telegraph Department at Palmerston North made a trip of 18 miles up the Wanganui River to Hipango Park on Sunday. They travelled to Wanganui by bus and were taken by a specially chartered steamer up the river, where the time was spent in tramping, swimming and canoeing.

New Army Uniform. The new full-dress blue uniforms of the New Zealand Territorial Army are being prepared for the Wanganui and other provincial regiments, and will be issued at an early date. Already 200 of the new uniforms have been issued to members of the First Battalion of the Wellington Regiment, and much favourable comment has been made on their quality and appearance. 500 Gate-crashers.

Surprise was expressed by members of the Wanganui Amateur and Cycling Club at their meeting last night when the total of the gate takings at last Saturday night’s sports wa*. announced. It was apparent that about 500 perso.ns had gained admission to Cook’s Gardens by other ways than through the gates. Committeemen felt that such a loss was a severe blow to their organisation which, as a purely local and amateur effort, was deserving of a better deal.

St. David’s Day

To-day is St. David’s Day, when the patron saint of Wales is honoured by commemoration. St. David, or Dewi, is first mentioned in the tenth century as having died in 601. He has a rich legendary history, but authentic details of his life are meagre. That he journeyed throughout Wales preach-’ ing as he went is known, as is also the fact that he became archbishop of that country and founded the cathedral that bears his 'name. He also is reputed to have visited Jerusalem, but the realm of legend is bordered upon when he is acclaimed as the uncle of King Arthur. Wanganui Airport. The Wanganui City Council, on the recommendation of its Airport Committee, has decided to prevent the drift of sand on the seaward edge of the Wanganui Airport and co asx the city engineer (Mr. L. F. Row) to report on what steps are necessary to improve the surface of the landing ground. In the event of extra turfing being required, application is to be made for a State subsidy toward the cost. “The committee realises the necessity of further protective work being carried out, and lit ha." requested the city engineer to : report and give an estimate of the 'expenditure required during the next i financial year," the committee reported to the council last night. “The committee has decided to draw ■ (he attention of the Rabbit Board to the damage being done and to request that steps be taken to destroy the rabbits." The city engineer has also been instructed to report on the cost of a lighting scheme for the airport.