Town Talk

Wanganui Chronicle, Volume 72, Issue 259, 31 October 1929, Page 6

Town Talk

Golden Broom. Broom flowers along the river bank between Wanganui and Upokongaro make a flne showing at present. They take the eye as the saying is, but the plant itself is something of a menace to farm lands. Upokongaro Hotel. Following the recent lire immediate steps were taken to re-commence building the new Upokongaro Hotel. Orders were issued by the contractors right away, new material arriving within a day of the outbreak. Okoia Farmers’ Social.

A final reminder is given of the Okoia Farmers’ Union annual social and dance this evening. Mr Rob Bond has organised a special concert party which will render the latest hits from the stage. Flannels will be optional for those intending to dance.

Going to Retire. “I really intended to retire this year,” said Mr J. H. Hayhow at the annual meeting of the Wanganui Cricket Associatiorf' last night when he was re-elected unopposed to the position of secretary. Members expressed themselves as averse to such an action on the part of this popular official. “You’re got a life sentence/’ said one of the delegates. Interest in the Show.

It was evident from the meeting of the Wanganui Agricultural Association yesterday that.there is very keen interest alive with regard to this year’s Spring Show. The meeting room could hardly accommodate those present. Arrangements were made for a strong delegation to visit the Manawatu fixture at Palmerston next weeld’ and build up the Wanghnui entries.

The Dog Nuisance. “What about dogs?” queried- a member of the Wanganui Automobile Association last evening. It was stated that the dogs were as active as ever about the city and were just as much a nuisance. It was considered that the authorities should take action but another member said that the City Council referred the matter to the police and the police referred it to the City Council. A Good Position.

If public opinion were to be believed cricket finances in Wanganui is in a parlous condition, but then public opinion is so often wrong that it will not be believed on this occasion by those who pause to consider. At the annual meeting of delegates to the Wanganui Cricket Association last night it was mentioned that one club had a credit balance of £4O. “Wc would be quite willing to relieve you of it,” remarked the chairman, Mr W. J. Treadwell, jocularly. November 5.

Next Tuesday there will be celebrated the anniversary of famous Guy Fawkes. This is a date which is remembered by so many of the younger generation that there is no necessity to mark it down on calendars. With the children it is easier to call Guy Fawkes Day to remind than the date of the Battle of Waterloo, for instance. “Guys” are already astir in various city suburbs. A resident of Durie Hill counted three on his homeward way last night. Schoolchildren on Roads.

“If children did net play on the road, it would assist matters,” said a member of the executive of the Wanganui Automobile Association last evening when the protection of school children from motor-traffic was concerned. The opinion was also expressed that where signs were erected notifying a school in the vicinity and they were disregarded by motorists such offenders should be consistently prosecuted. Tn this way motorists' would be educated up to their responsibilities. An Optimistic Note.

Though there was rather a pessimistic note about the annual report of the Wanganui Cricket Association last night, the president, Mr W. J. Treadwell, expressed optimism concerning the future of cricket in Wanganui, so far as the prospects for the coming season are concerned. Mr Treadwell stated that if members would pay their subscriptions promptly they would e cable their clubs to put the executive of the Association in a position to be able to meet all their liabilities.. That, in view of the forthcoming visit of the English cricket team, was very desirable. Talk at a Meeting.

At yesterday’s meeting of the Agricultural Association there were one or two pointed references made to the talk indulged in at meetings. At one stage Mr J. Hodges asked the chairman (Mr Donald Ross) whether he (Mr Hodges) could say a few words before the chairman spoke. Mr Ross: Have you been talking before? The laughter which greeted this remark drowned Air Hodge’s reply, but he had his say all the same. A little later on Mr J. Valentine drew attention to the fact that they bad been talking for two hours and had got nowhere. “What’s the use of ail this talk?” he asked. “Why can’t we do something.” Twenty minutes lator tho meeting carried an amendment by 11 votes to 8. Dealing with Gorse. „

The golden flowers of gorse add a degree of charm to the landscape and are often admired by those ignorant of the dread which this noxious growth has awakened in the minds of the farming community of the country. At yesterday’s meeting of the Wanganui Agricultural Association interesting light was thrown on methods of dealing with its rapid spread. Mr F. Spencer stressed the fact that firing was worse than leaving it alone. On the Wanganui East grounds a yet i ling plant had been burnt and in the ashes millions of young plants had come to life, showing that the ground was thick with seed. Messrs W. E. Broderick and A. Hunter both held that the best way to deal with gorse was to grub it. Mr J. Blair had the same view and said the meeting should be guided by those who had successfully dealt with gorse on their own farms. Persistent grubbing was rhe only thing. Mr Nelson Hughes: It is persistent too. There’s no ending. Mr R. Farley: To the gorse. Air J. Hodges made it clear that to grub and put cattle on to graze was a waste of time. If sheep were put on afterwards grubbing might do some good. favoured deep ploughing. Alessrs J. Baldwin and D. Ross agreed that the plough was the most effective means of clearing, but the furrow had t 0 be at least 10 inches deep and so wide that the air did not get under. Air Spencer said that they were using’ a special plough at Flock House with a tractor. The furrow was 28 inches wide and 12 inches deep and when turned it lay flat.