In Town and Out

Wanganui Chronicle, Volume LXXXIII, Issue 20108, 29 March 1928, Page 6

In Town and Out

A well-known Wanganui business man who was being Heckled, by a friend in a restaurant yesterday was told that he was “not game” to have his coffee served in a baby’s bottle. His friend was proved wrong and the result was a little free entertainment lor the other patrons.

“The most is being made of the present accommodation, pending the decision of the Department regarding the scheme to make two more rooms available” states the monthly report of the director of the Wanganui Technical College, Mr 1. E. Newton, in reference to the engineering department.

A Wanganui resident who recently journeyed from Nelson to Christchurch by service car, was surprised to find such keen competition among the motors on the route. Between Blenheim and Christchurch there were three lines of buses running, and the fare for the 220 miles was £1 ss. Four years ago the Wanganui man payed £4 JOs £or the same journey.

A meeting of the Wanganui Technical College Board was held last night, Mr W. Al. Luxford presiding. Present were Alessrs W. Bott, J. Patterson, W. AlcLeod. W. Bruce, A. T. Cavell, and I. E. Newton. The director’s report was read and adopted and the main discussion concerned various business matters appertaining to the college.

Slowly but surely the Wanganui River road is being extended into the hilly country of the interior. In reasonably fine weather cars may now reach Pitangi, cutting off 25 miles of the journey by river steamer, although the distance by road from Wanganui is only 17 miles. This was covered by one party early this week in 55 minutes. It is reported that the Public Works Department has put 15 unemployed men to work in the locality and a gang is now opening up the road two and a half miles above Pitangi.

The menace of fires spreading from railway engine sparks was voiced by Air D. AlcGregor at yesterday’s meeting of the Wanganui Provincial Executive of the Farmers’ Union. Fires traceable to this origin had destroyed 15 acres of grass, trees, and some fencing mi his property adjoining the railway line on the Alatarawa Hill near For dell. In view of the fact that compensation had been given the South Island farmers who had suffered loss through a similar happening, Air ArcGregor agreed, at the suggestion or those present, to make a claim against the Department.

The question of unpail apprentices’ fees again came up for discussion at last night’s meeting of the Technical < ollege Board. The director, Air I. E. Newton, reporteid that the outstanding amount had been reduced by £5 odd during the past month. Alessrs Patterson and AlcLeod both stressed the unfortunate circumstances in which sonic of the boys were placed. One case was quoted, where a boy paid all his earnings to his mother to keep the home going and the suggestion that fees be paid by instalments seemed the best way tc surmount the difficulty. Certain individual cases needed consideration and the committee was instructed to investigate the matter more fully.