Town Talk

Wanganui Chronicle, Volume 74, Issue 149, 26 June 1931, Page 6

Town Talk

Inter-College Rugby. The .Rugby tournament between the Wanganui Collegiate School, Christs, Wellington. and Nelson Colleges, is to lake place, in Wanganui this year on August 22 and 24. Joy Night Proceeds. As a result, of the Joy Night dance held in the National Mutual Buildings last Wednesday night, the sum of £2O | was added Io the Mayor’s Relief Fund, j There was a good attendance, and the evening went with a swing. Girls' College Roll. In the monthly report submit led by the Principal (Miss Cruickshank) at the meeting of the Girls’ College Board of Governors yesterday, the following figures of the roll were included:— Secondary, 307; primary. 22; piano pupils, 52; boarders, 85. Missing Launch. Nothing has been heard of the missing launch “Scotia” which sailed out over the Wanganui bar last Tuesday week, except for an unauthenticated rumour that the boat had landed at Rangitikei. The owner has been in communication with the police, who have nothing to report concerning the matter. Fire at Maxwell. When working outside his house yesterday afternoon, Mr John Smith, of Maxwell, noticed that a portion of the upper story was on fire. In spite of the efforts to quell the flames the building was practically destroyed and only a few articles of furniture, which could be rescued before the fire got too large a hold, were saved. At the tine oi the outbreak of the fire Mrs Smith was working in the house. It is thought that the fire was probably caused by a fusing of the electric wire/. i Rugby in Primary Schools. I During the mid-August vacation Ji? Wanganui primary schools Rugby rei presentatives will journey to Masterton for the annual tournament in which I the Wellington, Manawatu, Wairarapa j and Wanganui schools will participate. | It is reported that there will be no subsidy from the New Zealand Rugby Union for the schools travelling for the tournament, but the sum of £4O will be allocated to the authorities con- ■

trolling the tournament, with a view to reimbursing their expenses.

Gardener for Girls' College. One hundred and five applications for the position of school gardener were received at the Girls’ College Board meeting yesterday. These are to be considered by the finance committee next week. The chairman stated that what was wanted was not only a good gardener but also a good man —a man of the stamp of the late Mr Peffers, who had been a man of the highest integrity. On going through the list of applications, the chairman stated that there were several splendid ones among them, and that the committee should have no bother in appointing a suitable man. Dental Clinic for Schools. It is understood that the committees of the Queen’s Park, Victoria Avenue, Central Infants, Keith Street, and Ararnoho schools are co-operating in an effort to ensure that the free dental clinic will be retained for the use of the scholars attending these institutions. Ln spite of the fact that the Government subsidy has been withdrawn and this will entail a further effort on the part of the committees in the direction of providing finance, those responsible have indicated their determination to raise the necessary money. Returned the Ninepence. A kindly action and the honesty of a Maori were noted in a tearoom in Wanganui yesterday. The native sat dow'D to tea and a pic and when he came to look for the ninepence to pay the bill he found his pockets empty. After searching every likely place in his clothing he plucked up courage and asked a pakeba at a nearby table to lend him the amount. A two shilling piece was preferred, the Maori paying his account, refunding the change and promising to come back with the ninepence after he had been to the car for his money. Sure enough, within five minutes he was back again. ”1 didn’t want to let you down,” he said. “By golly you did me a good turn.” Nearly Caught. Absent-minuedncss nearly cost a Wanganui lady a fine early in the week as a result of her turning into Victoria Avenue without having her dog on a leash, as required by the newest regulations. She had not intended visiting the busy shopping area, but the appeal of a friend to “come spotting” was irresistible. A moment later her little boy rushed up to exclaim breathlessly: “Mum, a man’s got Rusty on a chain. Come quickly.” It may be explained that Rusty is the name of the canine pet of the household. Fortunately the owner of the dog was able to prevail upon the city council inspector to let her off “just this 00*60,” and it was a happy family part that wended its way homeward. The League and Low Prices. “The relationship between the work of the League of Nations and the escape from low' price levels, is something for us farmers to think about.” said M i Alec Ktuart at Hunterville yesterday at the meeting of the Farmers’ Union. “How many of us have ibought of the League of Nations as only the pious hope of impractical dreams! Instead of that it is the most practical method of dealing with the vast problems which confront the world. It is to the credit of the branches of the Farmers’ Union of this district that they have organised so many meetings for the lecturer of this afternoon. Jt reveals that the man on tho land is no longer a narrow minded person. The farming community today is capable of taking the widest possible view of current problems.” Enckes Comet. Although the. Enckes comet is reported to have been re discovered, it cannot be seen with the naked eye from Wanganui. Comets, like stars, are classed in magnitudes. From the first magni Hide, tlic brightest to be seen, they run to the sixth magnitude, which is the smallest seen by the naked eye. From the sixth to the thirteenth magnitudes, a comet or star, is said to be telescopic. From the thirteenth to the nineteenth the classification is photographic. This i latest comet is of the ninth magnitude. It is in the western sky and is visible for the first two hours after sundown. So far it. has not been picked up by the Wanganui observatory. This comet belongs to the class that, comes within sight of the earth and then departs to return again in a certain time. Halley’s comet i.> the best; known example, because of its size, even though it is -ecu onlv <jverv 75 vears.