In Town and Out

Wanganui Chronicle, Volume 71, Issue 276, 21 November 1928, Page 6

In Town and Out

A comcnccmenc is to be made immediately with bitumen surface work on the Auckland-Wellington main highway through the Waitotara County, the contractors being Messrs John- Fowler aud Co., of Wellington. The work has been held up pending the arrival of bitumen at Castlccliff by the King Edgar. A Service Officer.

The Wanganui Automobile Association intends to appoint a service officer at a salary and under conditions to be decided on by a sub committee of the association. It was stated at an executive meeting last evening that there were four service, officers under the Auckland Association, who were doing good work.

Actors at the Wicket. On Cook’s Gardens this afternoon, commencing at 2 p.m., members of the J. C. Williamson Company at present on tour and visiting Wanganui will play a cricket match. Their opponents will be an eleven from the Wanganui Technical College and the visitors look forward to having a very enjoyable and interesting afternoon’s relaxation.

Dogs in Street The proposal to prohibit from the W. iganui streets dogs not on a leash, has caused some concern on the part oi uog owners. At a meeting of tht City Council last evening a letter was received from the Toy Dog Club expressing the hope that, in giving Effect to the by-law, sufficient latitude be given to allow dogs on the street where they had genuine owners. The matter was referred to the works committee for consideration

Accident on King Edgar While employed in the hold of the motor vessel King Edgar at Castlecliff yesterday, a man named David White was the victim of a painful, although not serious accident. Standing on a platform erected between the out tom of the vessel and the deck, Mr Vvhi'.e was crushed against the wall by a number of suspended drums of asphalt which were swaying as they were being hoisted from the ship for discharge to the wharf. His injuries were not serious enough to necessitate his retention in hospital.

A Tip for t 1.3 Mayor. “1 am agin the Government,” said the Mayor. Air W. J. Rogers, at the City Council last evening, when voting against a motion that the proposal to raise £3OOO for the ladies’ rest room be submitted to the ratepayers in connection with the Alunicipal elections next Alay. The motion was carried, Cr. Falconer remarking that the Alayor could make his objection a plank in his platform at the elections. “Thanks for the tip,” was his Worship’s smiling reply.

Alight Be a Precedent. A motion that an offer of ratepayers in College {Street to contribute towards the tar sealing of the street, be referred to the works committee with power to act, was taken exception to by Cr. Horsley at the meeting of the City Council last evening. He said that it established a precedent and might lead to the streets, where ratepayers in better circumstances, could offer assistance, being attended to at the expense of the poorer streets. An amendment that the offer of the College {Street ratepayers be referred to the works committee for a report to the council was carried.

At Sea and Ashore The likelihood of a man who had attained the position of chief-engineer of a vessel, improving or even equalling his salary by obtaining a posiUou ashore, is very remote, according to Air A. R. Williams, chief engineer of the motor vessel King Edgar, now discharging bitumen at the Castlccliff Wharf. As an instance of this he said that the fitters, despite the fact that they were acknowledged as first class men, only received £2 15s Id a week, while installing the King Edgar’s motor. He also said that the chances of a youth obtaining a position on a vessel without first serving his time on shore were very remote.

Sun Spots At the present time the surface of the sun is very much agitated by the presence of spots; one of these being the largest that has been visible for some time. This remarkable sunspot has been visible for some days, and now possesses a diameter of 12,000 miles in its central portion. Around this central nucleus is a large disturbed area of the sun’s surface, with a length of 42,000 miles. This spot therefore has a total area of over a hundred million square miles and is easily visible to the naked eye protected by a dark or smoked glass. The earth, placed alongside this spot, would seem an insignificant speck, so large is the disturbance. Child’s Death

At the Magistrate’s Court yesterday an inquest was held before the Coroner (Mr J. S. Barton. 8.A1.,) concerning the dpath of Alan Abercrombie, aged 3| years. James Hamilton Abercrombie said that on Alonday, November 12. his son, was in the wash-house, where he swallowed a half-penny. He immediately communicated with Dr. Williams who ordered the child to hospital, where he remained until he died. Dr. Burnett, house surgeon at the hospital said that two operations were performed, the coin being recovered at fhc second. Death was due to exhaustion, from vomiting, following the swallowing of a half-penny. A verdict in accordance with the medical testimony was returned. Not All Stars Hollywood may be a place where the crown of fame as a film star is to be gained but the aspirant after success finds himself, o herself, one with thousands of others with a similar mission j in life. The other side of the picture of Hollywood as a place to make a fortune was presented by Air J. T. Worry in narrating to the Rotary Club yesterday, experiences of his recent trip to the United States. It was estimated, he said, that tlftre were 20,000 movie artists in the famous film producing centre, but under 300 of thcSc were in permanent employment, anl the majority of those drawing big salaries were “up against it” on account of mortgaged properties and similar encumbrance s. _____