Town Talk

Wanganui Chronicle, Volume 73, Issue 370, 13 September 1930, Page 6

Town Talk

A Remand Granted. Charged with using obscene language in Maria Place, Isaac Sargent was yesterday remanded for a week for medical attention. House Entered. Intruders ransacked the residence of Mr W. Raynor, Puriri Street, Gon villc, on Thursday afternoon. Nothing valuable was taken, although many things wero strewn about the floor. The following replies to advertise merits arc awaiting collection at the branch ofiice of the “Chronicle” in Victoria Avenue.—Z22, Z 32, Z 33, ZllO, Zl3l, Z 133, Z 139 Z 156 Al, A2, A 7, Al 9, ZlO7, AllO and All2. Wangaehu High Highway. The Wanganui County Council have accepted the tender ot Mr G. E. Tomsett for formation and metalling work on the Wangaehu Hill. The price was £2472 14s. The authority of the Highway Board for carrying out the work has been received. County Revaluation. The Valuer-General has advised the Wanganui County Council that revaluation of the county is being considered. A councillor: If the valuation of my land comes down how am I getting on when my mortgage has to be renewed? There was no answer. Lifting Turf Indiscriminate removal of turf from the sides of roads in the Wanganui County is to cease, according to a motion carried at the Council meeting yesterday. In future, those who wish to take turf must apply to the riding member or engineer. Failure to do so will render them liable to prosecution. The New Petrol Tax. “The extra petrol tax is to go solely to the relief of the Consolidated Fund and highways funds will be £116,000 worse off.” So said Mr G. Darbyshire to the Wanganui County Council yesterday. “And this Government has repudiated liabality for county subsidies on rates,’ ’he added. Cr. W. E. Broderick. They are collecting the extra tax to balance their budget. Anybody can do that. Difficult Words. Giving evidence at the Magistrate’s Court yesterday Senior-Sergeant McLean said that when two doctors had tested the defendant for drunkenness they concluded with asking him to say some difficult English words. The words included ipicacuanha and Westminster Street. He did not make a good showing at it. The Senior-Ser geant said he was not surprised as they were difficult words to enunciate at any time. * 1 That is just what the Med-* ical Journal says aborjt it.’’ remarked defendant’s counsel, Mr J. M. Hussey. The Harbour Loan.

Some indication of the attitude of the Wanganui County Council towards the proposed Harbour loan was forthcoming at a meeting of the council yesterday. Cr. W. E. Broderick thought that the Council should not be inactive in the mitter and should take steps to induce ratepayers to vote against it. His reason he said was on account of the small rating area and the obvious unfairness of collecting a rate from a few when the benefits of the harbour extended far beyond the county. The Council subscribed to his view.

Drunk, Not Dead. “I heard a train coming and jumped off,” said a first offending “drunk” at the Magistrate’s Court yesterday morning, who had figured in yesterday morning’s news, because, when a motorist saw him asleep beside the railway line at the Glasgow Street extension, the police, the ambulance and medical aid were summoned to the “fatal accident.” Defendant said he was “a bit drunk.” Constable O.’Brien in the witness box said he found defendant lying alongside his bicycle drunk, He was then locked up. Defendant was ordered to pay £1 Is doctor’s expenses and 10s 6d for the ambulance. Matarawa Drainage District.

Last month the Government statistician requested information from the Wanganui County Council as to whether the Matarawa Land Drainage Area was functioning. He suggested that if there was no further need for the district steps would probably be taken to abolish it. The Council held that it would best serve the interests of the ratepayers if the area was retained and replied accordingly. At yesterday’s meeting a letter from the Government statistician stated that in view of the representations made ho would not take stepjs to abolish the district and would advise the Internal Affairs Department not to do so. Speed Limits.

Three applications from owners of motor lorries for permission to travel at a greater speed than the regulations provided came before the Wanganui County Council yesterday. The clerk (Mr G. Darbyshire) said that it was optional on the Council’s part whether they granted the concession, but the owners were entitled to a 50 per cent increase in speed if the local body sanctipnod it. The applications were granted The question of speed limits was dealt with at the last meeting of the Waitotara County Council. Cr. H. G. Birch was pf opinion that 15 miles an hour was a ridiculous .'.peed, A man might just as well walk. There were times when speed got a man out of an accident, and it was safer to go fast than go slow.

An Interesting Judgment. The recent judgment of Mr Justice Smith in the New Plymouth Supreme Court, wherein ho ruled that a local body had a claim against the Crown for rates, has caused a high degree of interest throughout the Dominion and its application will be far-reaching. The matter was mentioned at f Wanganui County Co .ncil meeting yesterday by Cr. A. Collins. He said that there were properties in Mangamahu which would probably come under the same heading as that which figures in the Supreme Court proceedings at New Plymouth. He wished to know what action the county was taking to press its clients for rates. The clerk (Mr G. Darbyshire): The claims are already in and I was given to understand that tho State Advances Department was awaiting the decision in the New Plymouth case. It was decided to again press the claims for rates on tho Mangamahu land Cr. Collins referred to.