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Manawatu Standard, Volume LVI, Issue 47, 24 January 1936, Page 8

January has been a popular month for marriages in Wanganui, no fewer than ‘2l having been solemnised to date. For-the whole of January, 1935, only 16 were performed. To raise funds for the restoration of St. John’s Cathedral, Napier, which was destroyed in the earthquake ot 1931, Dean Brockleburst has left Napier on his way to England. The explosion of a detonator lie was handling at his home in Petone on Wednesday caused Mr A. Dailey a canister maker, severe injuries. He lost the first finger of his left hand and severely injured the second finger and thumb. His left eye also was injured and he suffered shock.

Though it has been completed for some months, the large new concrete lock-up adjoining the Palmerston North police station in Church Street lias not yet been used, nor has it been taken over by tiie Police Department from the Public Works Department, who supervised its erection. An outsize in hollyhocks, remarkably prolific in blooms, presents an unusual sight in the garden of a resident of River Road, Claudelands, Hamilton. Standing nearly 10ft. in height the plant which lias already shed 172 blooms, retains at the present time a magnificent display of flowers and possesses many more buds nearing development. There is little to account for its unusual character. Several relatives of Sir Frederick Willans, one of the doctors attending King George in his last illness, are resident in New Zealand. ' He is a nephew of Mr H. W. Wilkins, of Day’s Bay, Wellington, and a cousin of Mrs P. Fraser Hodgson and Mrs E. H. Picot, of Kliandallah. Sir Frederick lias been Surgeon-Apothecary to the household at Sandringham since 1924, and was formerly Surgeon-Apothecary to the late Queen Alexandra. The inconvenience caused through residents of West End being unable to buy stamps in the district was mentioned at a meeting of the West End Progressive Association last evening. It was stated that the position would be very much assisted if the Post and Telegraph Department granted licenses for the sale of stamps, as was the case some years ago when, it was said, £1 worth of stamps was sold for 19s 6d (which allowed the person selling the stamps a certain amount in return for having the £1 temporarily non-produc-tive). It was decided to write to the Palmerston North Chamber of Commerce stating that if a-’f representations were being tirade a return to the former system the association would be pleased to add its support.

Brunelleschi|s famous dome in Florence is cracking, caused by tramcars running close to the cathedral.

Telegrams delivered in Palmerston North to-day bore a black diagonal line across the top left-hand corner of the buff-coloured envelopes as a mark of mourning for the late King. Recent freshes in the Rangitikoi River owing to the rains brought down a number of very large logs which materially added to the firewood supply of a number of homes at Tangimoana. The secretary of the Manawatu Cricket Association received advice from the New Zealand Cricket Association Council to-day that approval had been given of the arrangement for the M. 0.0. team to play at Palmerston North on February 4 and 5. A 70-gun salute will be fired at Palmerston North on Tuesday for the funeral of the late King George. Ammunition for the purpose has arrived at this centre, but no official advice has yet been received concerning the detailed procedure to be followed. The firing will occupy over an hour. The unique experience has fallen to the lot of Mr Ernest Davis (Mayor of Auckland) of having proclaimed two Kings during his public life. Mr Davis was Mayor of Newmarket when King Edward died and King George came to the Throne, and on May 10, 1910, he read the proclamation.

Considerable activity was manifest at the Palmerston North railway station this morning when, shortly after 8 o’clock, the special train bearing the City Council picnickers, drew away from the platform on the journey to Plimmerton. Indications were that 'the picnic would be a most successful one, for there were 15 full carriages. An energetic sports committee had been busy and the weather was fine. The train was due to arrive at Plimmerton at approximately 10.30 and to leave for home at 6 p.m., arriving in Palmerston North at 8.25 p.m. The total number of unemployed registered at Palmerston North now stands at 1046. Those receiving rationed relief under scheme 5 number 354, but that total includes those working on full time and being subsidised by the Unemployment Board, the latter category thus taking in the 214 men employed at the aerodrome. There are 634 men in receipt of sustenance wirtliout working. Those registered, but not yet placed with work, or not in receipt of pay in any form through the Unemployment Board, number 58, representing the latest registrations. Important development work is being done in the establishment of a chain of landing grounds for co/nnercial and club aeroplanes on the West Coast of the South Island under the control of the Public Works Department, associated with the Department of Civil Aviation and the Unenyployment Board. From Westport to the far south of Westland 14 grounds are being prepared, and it is proposed to start work soon on five or six others. The activity over this section of the country’s airways is at present greater than in any district in New Zealand.

The claims of West End for an adequate public hall were mentioned, last evening, at a meeting of the West End Progressive Association. Mr H. Bovis thought that, this year, probably a coronation year, would be a suitable one for an effort to be made to raise funds for that purpose. Those present at the meeting agreed, with Mr Bovis that a public hall was required in the district, and it was decided that a preliminary survey of the district should be made for possible sites, the matter to be discussed at a later meeting. It was emphasised that the hall should be well in the West End district so that it would he distinctly a district hall.

After a four years’ course at the central medical school, Suva, a Solomon Islander, Dr. Guso Rato Piko, left Auckland this week on the Niagara on his return to the Solomon Islands, where he will join the medical staff at one of the Government hospitals. He is the second boy from the Islands to secure his certificate as a native practitioner, under a British Government scheme whereby two students from each Pacific island administration are selected each year for training at the expense of the Government. They are qualified in all branches of medicine and midwifery, and can carry out major operations in cases of emergency.. Tenders have been accepted for the construction of a new Methodist Church and Bible Class rooms at Levin. The church is to be erected on the corner of Cambridge and Kent Streets, opposite the public gardens, and is designed to 6eat a congregation of 200, with provision for a choir of thirty voices. The building will be of reinforced concrete, with a slate roof, and will bo thoroughly up-to-date in every respect, a feature being the slightly graded floor. The new Bible-class rooms, which are to be erected upon the site of the Wesley Tennis Club’s present pavilion, will be constructed of wood, and will comprise two class-rooms and a general assembly room.

Some time ago the AVest End Progressive Association decided to make representations to the responsible authorities that the time had arrived when the land held by tlie AA 7 ellington College and Girls’ High School trustees in College Street should be subdivided. It was reported by the president (Mr A. AA r . Just) at a meeting of the association, last evening, that a Palmerston North surveyor had been instructed to prepare plans for the subdivision of the land. He had prepared two plans, said Mr Just, but it was understood that there were difficulties to be met concerning the land already leased. However, the latter was being proceeded with. The announcement met with expressions of considerable satisfaction.

Racing lias long been termed “the sport of kings,” but it lias a large army of humbler supporters whose enthusiasm has never waned. The latter contention was brought forcibly home to an old identity who attended the Ashhurst races yesterday, when he met early in the day an old friend who had attained the age of 77 years. The latter invited the local resident to meet his mother-in-law who, despite her 96 years, was enjoying the lacing with interest. In the course of his meanderings through the crowd the Palmerstonian met yet another enthusiast of advanced years and an enquiry disclosed that it was four years since he had celebrated his 90th birthday, while the happy meetings were carried still further when yet another old friend, who was 80 years of age, was encountered. The Ashhurst-Pohangina Racing Club is a very popular body, and it was evident to the Palmerstonian that the club has some very loyal supporters Passengers on the Monowai had the experience of seeing the vessel surrounded by shoals of sharks, grey nurse and others, of small and big proportions when the liner was waiting off Lord Howe Island for the medical party which had gone ashore. The glare of the ship’s lights attracted the fish. They came singly, and in twos and threes at first, but for a couple of hours after they were seen in swarms of 50 or more. The sinisterlooking fish provided a diversion during the several hours’ wait, and a number of lines were baited and thrown over. The sharks readily took the bait, and very often hook, sinker and line as well. A few of the smaller ones were landed and dumped over again, to be speedily devoured by the others, hut more often the hooks were straightened out, or the lines broken.