Town Talk

Wanganui Chronicle, Volume 74, Issue 191, 14 August 1931, Page 6

Town Talk

Shearers’ Award. An application for a new award covering shearers’ wages has been made by the New Zealand Shcepowners’ Federation The case is to come before the Conciliation Council at Wellington, on August 25. Revenue Decrease It- was stated in the managing secretary’s report at yesterday’s meeting, of the Wanganui-Rangitikei Power Board, that the revenue for the July reading showed a decrease of £72 as compared with the reading for the corresponding month last year. That Scotch Instinct, “If 1 gave you one pound in silver I would, you not count it before you put it in yuur pocket?” asked a witness of counsel at the Supreme Court at Wanganui yesterday. “I suppose he would have had he been a Scotchman,” interposed his Honour, Mr Justice Blair. ‘•Pound Day” The next occasion upon which a ‘‘pound day” will be held in Wanganui to relieve the distress among the families of those in need will not take place until. Saturday week, August 22. The location of the collection on that occasion wil! be decided upon by the ladies’ committee of the Mayor’s Relief Fund at a later date. More Power Consumers. Eighteen new installations in Wan ganui City during the past month were reported by the engineer (Mr H. Webb) at yesterday’s meeting of the Wanga-iiui-RangitiKci Power Board. In addition to these, there were 11 new consumers in the other districts, namely, four in Taihape country, thre in Bulls, and one in each of the Wanganui, Marton, Huntervillc and Waverley districts, making a total of 29 throughout the Board’s territory. Contracts .Led. Three substantial contracts in connection with the rehabilitation of the Arapuni hydro-electric works are announced in a list of tenders accepted by the Public Works Department, published in last week’s Gazette. They are as follows:—Bituminous lining and paving of headrace and forebay, Neuchatel Asphaltc Company, £24,178; protected steel sheets, Spedding, Limited, £11,700; and concrete paving slabs, Napier Concrete Company, £9728. Safety from Earthquake. In consideration of the safety of the Wanganui-Rangitikei Power Board’s offices, the board, at its meeting yesterday received a report which stated thatarchitects, whose work was reviewed to-day in the light of recent experiences, deserved consideration and sympathy. “What now may be condemned as faults may bo no evidence of lack of skill or care for the conditions and times in which a building was designed and built,” commented the report. Visitors to Wanganui. During the next couple of days Wanganui will entertain visitors in the field of sport from several different quarters. The Canterbury Rugby team, to play a match, against Wanganui, arrived yesterday afternoon and will remain kero until Monday. Two teams of hockey players from the Bush. Union district, Southern Hawke’s Bay, will be here tomorrow, while from Palmerston North there will arrive a team of golfers to pla\ at. the Belmont links for the Wilson Cup. St. John’s Hill Hold-Up. No further developments have been reported jn connection with the sensational hold-up on St. John’s Hill early yesterday morning. The police were on the scene of the outrage within twenty minutes of the alarm being raised, acting with commendable promptitude, and they have the matter well in hand. Mr Organ, who was shot in the leg, was fortunately not seriously injured, the pellet from the pea-rifle going through the fleshy part of the calf and being found embedded in the mattress of his bed. He is still in hospital. Not an Expert. “No I would not claim to be exactly jan expert farmer,” said plaintiff in a case of a dispute over a farm which was before the Supreme Court at Wanganui yesterday. ‘‘How many years have you been farming J “ asked counsel. The plaintiff replied that he had had 28 years’ experience of fanning. “Then how long do you think it would take to become an expert farmer?” continued the counsel. “Oh, anything up to a hundred years,” replied plaintiff. Sonic farmers needed more experience than others, he added. A Quick Reduction. A Maori woman who made a purchase from a Wanganui shop yesterday afternoon had reason to rejoice over a wait of couple of minutes. She had observed. an article in the display window and was attracted by the low price at which it was offered. She stepped away to draw the attention of a companion to the article jn question, and when her back was turned the shopkeeper altered the ticket to display a price still lower. I’he surprise of the Maori woman may be imagined, and she lost no time m completing her purchase lest someone else should snap up the bargain. X Divorce Granted. At the Wanganui Supreme Court yesterday Edith Mary Perfect petitioned her husband. George John Perfect, whom she married in October, 1918. There were four children of the marriage, the petitioner stated. She had not heard from her husband since June 2, 1928. He had contributed no maintenance and the police had been unable to trace his whereabouts. Corroborative evidence was given and the Court made an order for decree nisi to be made absolute within three calendar months. The interim custody of the children was given to the petitioner. Taranaki Gates. Farmers and others who have a know- . ledge of the country are usually well ■ acquainted with the “'Taranaki gate” ; as it is called. Yesterday in the Supreme Court, which is now sitting at , Wanganui, a witness was asked by Mr Justice Blair whether he knew what ( was meant by a “Taranaki gate.” Witness said that he did and that it , was a gate made of wire. “Apparent- ’ ly that is the term by which that kind , of gate is known all over the country,” ’ observed his Honour, “except in Taranaki.” Air A. L.-AlacDiarmid, counsel, r said that there were very good gates on the farms in Taranaki.