LOCAL AND GENERAL

Wanganui Chronicle, Volume LXXXII, Issue 19437, 24 October 1925, Page 6

LOCAL AND GENERAL

Advertisers and others wishing to do business at the “Chronicle” Office on Monday (Labour Day) are asked to note the office hours as advertised on page 1 of this issue. Replace advertisements for Tuesday’s issue must be handed in not later than 10 o’clock this (Saturday) morning. A fire at Bendigo destroyed stables and two shops. The damage is estimated at £20,000.

The annual sports meeting in connection with the Wanganui Collegiate School will he held on Monday, commencing at 10.40. There is a large number of parents and friends of the boys in Wanganui for the occasion.

At Christ Church, Wanganui, last night Bishop Sprott, of Wellington, administered the rite of confirmation to 57 candidates, who were presented by Archdeacon Meredith. Though it was a week-night service—a Friday night, moreover—the church was crowded.

“A dead horse does not get any sweeter through lying about the premises. It is dead, and the best thing is to get rid of it.”—The Minister of Land when speaking of money that had been written off in connection with swamp lands.

The following sub-committees were appointed at Tuesday night’s meeting of the Wanganui Automobile Association: —Finance; Messrs Bain, Burgess, and McFarlane; roads: Messrs Hodson, Whittali and Robinson; legal: Messrs Bain, McFarlane and Dr. Porritt; social: Messrs Spencer, Cooper and Blair.

The Reform candidate for Auckland Central, Mr C. A. Wilson, whose meetings have been rudely disturbed by the Labour element, referred to the Prime Minister (Hon. J. G. Coates) at this opening meeting. There was a roar of “Goats” from the rear of the ball. “No kidfling, now,” came another humorist, from the safety of a back seat.

1 'Why did you withdraw at last election?” a pertinent one inquired of Mr E. Piggott, Labour candidate for the Raglan electorate. “The Hamilton Labour Party,’’ answered Mr Piggott, “circulated my withdrawal without my consent. I was 1 shoved’ out by the Hamilton Labour Party —not by the Auckland Labour Party, which has supported me tooth and nail.”

The foolishness of some mothers in regard to the attire of their children was referred to by a Dunedin doctor, in a recent address. These mothers, he said, always saw that they themselves had plenty of clothing, but took their children out on bitterly cold days with their legs bare well above the knee — and the knee was a most sensitive part of the body and one easily injured by such exposure.

“In land tenure, you have the freehold, which the Reform Government believes is the best for the small farmer, and the leasehold with option of purchase,” said Mr E. D. McLennan, at Pukekohe. “And then there is Labour’s proposal of a ‘usehold,’ which would be a ‘no-hold’ as far as the individual was concerned.” (Laughter and loud applause).

The matter of fencing the footpath on the Dublin Street bridge was again discussed at Thursday night’s meeting of the Wanganui Automobile Association, when it was decided that the president (Dr. E. E. Porritt), and secretary (Mr. D. G. Strachan), should wait in the Mayor (Mr. Hope Gibbons) with regard to the matter. The deputation was also instructed to request that now that the all night lighting system is in vogue in the city, that both bridges be lighted at night.

Further reports from the Hamilton Competitions record confined successes for Wanganui competitors. Miss Betty Allen secured first place in the junior girls’ test recital, first in recitation in character (under 16). In the piano test solo, the judge, Mr Bernard Page, did not award a first prize, but placed Miss Maud McCormick, of Wanganui, first, with second prize. The judge stated that the class was weak, and that the gold medal offered for competition in this class would not be awarded.

The Council of the Wanganui Automobile Association decided at Thursday’s meeting to write to the Railway Department urging that a wig-wag signal be erected on the Somme Parade milway crossing at Aramoho. . In discussing the question of railway signals in general, a member pointed •out that at times it had been noticed that the oscillating signals had been out of order. On several occasions the St. John’s signal had been moving when no train was in sight. It whs decided to ask motorists immediately to report any signal noticed out of order.

“The N.Z. Journal of Science and Technology” for September refers to the catching in Cook Straits of a specimen of Salmo salar by Island Bay fishermen. “This discovery constitutes something of a record in the sixty years’ history of numbers of unsuccessful attempts to establish the Atlantic salmon in New Zealand. It is possible that we have at last produced, or chanced upon, a race of salmon suitable to New Zealand.” It is interesting to note that for a number of years Atlantic salmon have been regarded as established in the South Island.

Information as to the best form of silent policeman used by local bodies was sought by the Taihape brhnch of the Automobile Association at Thursday night’s meeting of the local Council. It was decided to advise the branch of the method employed in Wanganui, pointing out that it was most effective and the cheapest to make. It was the opinion of the Council, however, that the domeshaped silent policeman, with the light underground, was the most effective, although probably the more expensive method of regulating traffic. The latter form of policemen was in existence in Hawera and Hastings.

Suburbanites enjoy a joke when travelling to and from the city, especially at the expense of the Railway Department. The Northern suburban line is no exception to the rule, says the Auckland “Star,” and the type of carriage in use on that service is always “fair ganiq." It is claimed that the oldest, and not the latest, carriages are used on the Northern trips. There are certainly ears officially designated for the “Swanson service only," and these are referred to by travellers as the “concertina class,” it being contended that these carriages “expand” and “recede” in accordance with the movement of the train. The other evenling one -pf the carriages was labelled “454 8.C.,” another “repairs,” whilst |a third was described as “for sale.’’