Town Talk

Wanganui Chronicle, Volume 73, Issue 438, 2 December 1930, Page 6

Town Talk

Museum Visitors. During the month of November a total of (550 people visited the Wanganui Public Museum. Sarjeant Gallery Attendances. Although the month was a broken one in the respect that the Wanganui Arts and Crafts Society’s exhibition was in progress for the first nine days, the attendance at the Sarjeant Gallery for November totalled 437.

Customs Figures. The Customs collected at the port, of Wanganui for the month of November totalled £5372 18s Bd, as against £9382 Ils for November, 1929. The beer duty for November just passed was £290 4s 3'l. and for November of last year. £255 4s 4d. An Offer Appreciated.

At the public meeting called to deal with unemployment last night Mr H. J. Trussell offered the services of his orchestra for a Sunday night recital to assist swell the fund. This was gratefully accepted by the Mayor on behalf of the newly appointed committee.

Shipping Contracts. At last night’s meeting of the Wanganui Chamber of Commerce it was decided to write to the Hon. AV. A. Veitch asking what progress had been made with regard to the request of the Chamber that the contract with regard to the shipping of produce through Wanganui be annulled. Miniature Golf.

The craze for miniature golf has reached such a stage in Wanganui that the Sergeant-at-Arms of the Rotary Club (Rotarian Coull) felt it encumbent upon himself to inflict a fine on a member yesterday for having a financial interest in the course which pioneered the way for the game in this

That Birthday Feeling. When Harry Larsen appeared before Mr J. H. Salmon, S.M., at a sitting of the ’Magistrate's Court at Wanganui yesterday, on a charge of procuring liquor during the currency of a prohibition order made against him, he gave as his excuse that he was celebrating his fifty-first birthday. The Magistrate took this fact into consideration when imposing sentence. Larsen was ordered to pay costs. Trade Coupons.

Speaking at last night’s meeting of the, Wanganui Chamber of Commerce, Mr H. C. Hassall urged that stops should be taken to stop the issuing of trade coupons. It was very detrimental to all retail businesses in New Zealand and was very like the old method of stamp trading, which had been abolished. Mr A. S. Burgess advised that the Associated Chambers had the matter in hand.

■Unemployment Payments. The officials behind the Unemployment Registration counter at the Post Office, and also at the Money Order Office in Ridgway Street, were busy yesterday in receiving payments oi the unemployment levy. Although yesterday was the first day set clown for the payment of the levy, many availed themselves of the opportunity of miking their payment on Saturday. The two offices, the Chief Post Office and the Money Order Office in Ridgway Street handled some 415 payments on Saturday.

Turakina Valley Road. At last night’s meeting uf the Wanganui Chamber of Commerce it was decided to write to the Rangitikci County Council, the Hon. AA r . A. Veitch, Mr J. T. Hogan and to Mr Langstone urgin'’’ that the completion of the metalling of the Turakina Valley Road should be carried out. Mr R. Hatrick pointed out that the completion of the metalling would allow cars and lorries to use the road which would shorten the rout'* to AVang nui from the district the road served by 22 miles. Commercial Examinations.

Reporting to the Chamber of Commerce last evening, the secretary said that there had been 49 entries for the recent examinations hold by the Chamber in AVanganui. 1* was mentioned that in one examination class there were 30 girls and only one boy. The Chamber decided that the prizes should be in the form of orders for books, and that Miss Browning. Mr Newton, and Mr Dunsford should be thanked for the work that they had done in regard to the examinations.

General Elections. The Wanganui Chamber of Commerce last evening received a letter from tlv* Development League suggesting that the general elections should be held as carlv as possible in November. It was pointed out that the last general elections were held in the last week in November. One member suggested that the matter was one for the Associated Chambers of Commerce. Another said that the matter had been before the Associated Chamber “hundreds of times.” A motion was passed to the effect that the Chamber was in favour of the elections being held as early as possible in November, and that the matter should be referred to the Associated Chambers.

Births, Deaths, Marriages. A T ital statistics for the AVanganui district for the month of November show that there were two less births and ten less deaths than for the mouth of November, 1929. For the year thus far, there have been four less births and twenty-nine less deaths than for the same period during 1929. The figures for the past month, with the figures for the corresponding month in last year mentioned in parent hoses, are: Births 52 (51). deaths 12 (22). marriage licenses issued '9 ( IS), marriages in the registry office I (2). The figures for the year up to the end of November, with the figures for lhe same period mentioned in parentheses, are: Births 585 (559). deaths 23S (267). marriage licenses issued 210 (227), marriages in the office 51 (41).

Ea-vly Racing. The early days of racing were recalled by Mr E. A. Campbell in an address to Wanganui .Rotarians yesterday on old Whanganui. He recollected the time when the “straight” lay in the present cemetery. The stand, where the “swells” stood, was on the hill beside the entrance. The first race meeting, he’said, was in ’4B. Ho looked at It from the top of a big sandhill where the goal now stands. With very few exceptions, he has been present at every other race meeting held in Wanganui, his attendance constituting something of a record. Mr Campbell added that he had never actually taken up the racing game. He had not permitted a thoroughbred horse on his property for fear that he might become tempted ».n follow what was only a rich man’s game. “But J dearly love to see horses racing,’’ he said.