ROUND THE TOWN

Wanganui Chronicle, Volume LXXXIII, Issue 19858, 4 June 1927, Page 6

ROUND THE TOWN

4 ‘The game’s going to the dogs” remarked a Rugby official humorously during yesterday’s Wanganui-Taranaki match. This remark was occasioned l when several dogs strayed on to the field of play.

Advertisers are asked to note that the following replies to advertisements are awaiting collection at the “Chronicle” branch office, Victoria Avenue:— L 5, L 6, L 25, L 35, L 47, L4B, L 53, LlO3, Lll2, Lll9, L 124, Ll3O, Ml.

A large number of Wanganui marksmen resisted the attraction of the Taranaki-Wanganui match yesterday and journeyed instead to Patea to take part in shooting competitions. They were well rewarded. Several successes coming to the city.

Yesterday’s football brought numerous visitors to the city, and the streets were reminiscent of race week, by reason of the throngs of people. Special train arrangements were made, and many country visitors were taken up outside Spriggens Park.

Complimentary remarks were passed by yesterday’s football spectators on the substantial now entrance to Spriggens Park. The gateways —the gift of Mr George Spriggens—arc effective in design, and are a big improvement on the old order gate arrangements

Despite the gloriously fine weather yesterday morning and afternoon in Wanganui, most cpople took the precaution to wear or carry top-coats in preparation for the chilly conditions to which. Wanganui residents have become accustomed during the past few evenings.

During the broadcast description of the Ellerslie races yesterday by I YA, Auckland, the announcer got slightly mixed up in regard to the placed horses in the concluding event. A well-known sporting scribe, formerly of Wanganui, came to his assistance, and the announcer was heard to remark: “Thank you, very much, Mr T n!”

Forty cyclists who failed to recognise city by-laws will appear at the Wanganui Magistrate’s Court on Monday to explain their indiscretions. Despite the increasing heavy fines, cyclists continue to ride at night without lights. Only on Thursday evening, many were detected in this breach at Wanganui East. They will appear in Court at an early date.

The fact that the driver of a service car plying between Wanganui and Wellington has covered 50,000 miles in about eight months, gives some indication of the remarkable distances that these men have to travel. The driver referred to bought his car in October of last year, and his speedometer has just now touched the 30,000-mile mark. He estimates that in one year he travels approximately 70,000 miles.

Wanganui’s notorious fogs are now beginning to play a conspicuous part in the city’s climate, and the past few nights have seen particularly dense mists. Motorists do not welcome these conditions, for driving is greatly complicated. On the last two evenings, especially, greater care has been shown by motorists in negotiating difficult corners, but, even then, several narrow esepaes from collision have been noted.

By reason of its striking lines, the war memorial tower on Durie Hill is a never-failing attraction to visitors to Wanganui. Yesterday’s visiting football followers proved susceptible to the lure, also, and numerous people made the climb to the tower. Weather conditions were fortunately favourable, and a fine view of the West Coast districts Mount Ruapehu and the back country was obtained. Mount Egmont was also visible, and a glimpse was obtained of the South Island’s mountains.

In the last ten or 18 years Wanganui has increased greatly in size and population and has risen to be fifth city in the Dominion. That anything in the nature of a boom calculated to produce false values and standards has been in progress, however, is shown by an anaylsis of the figures of last year’s census. Of the fourteen large towns New Plymouth shows the greatest percentage increase in population —25.99 per cent. Auckland is next with 21.85 per cdht, and then follow Hamilton, Dunedin, Palmerston North, Invercargill, Wellington, Christchurch, Hastings, and Wanganui, this city’s percentage increase being 11.08. Eleven per cent, is good progress and if this figure is maintained, steady and profitable development should bo the sure results.

The lack of official supervision of traffic at the Post Office corner during busy hours of the day, has frequently been commented on, but much more greatly needed was a traffic officer at the Guyton Street —Avenue intersection yesterday afternoon, when the crowds were returning from Spriggens Park. Motor cars, street-cars, cycles, lorries and motor-cycles coming from all directions made crossing quite an adventure for the mere pedestrian, and it was through no fault of some of the motorists that several accidents did not occur. Further down the Avenue conditions were even worse, and several members of the large crowd, scanning the sports results in front of the “Chronicle’s” branch office, who could not get nearer to the window than a few yards from the sidewalk, escaped injury from passing traffic, only by their nimbleness.

A well-known Wanganui business man put his head the lion’s mouth a night or two ago, but fortunately the lion idjiid not happen to close his jaws. Having left his bicycle lamp at home, he was trpdging along wheeling his machine in the direction of his home in the suburbs, when a cyclist with a nice bright light flashed by. The opportunity was too good to be missed, and in a second the lampless one was awheel, an,d catching up with the bet-ter-equipped cyclist, kept just behind him, thus taking advantage of the light. So they rode through street after street, the lawbreaker never more than a few inches behind. Finally the man with the lamp dismounted and the lawbreaker was horrified to discover that he had been following a policeman! His wits saved him, however, for he wheeled off into the darkness and succeeded in reaching his home unapprehendeid.