Town Talk

Wanganui Chronicle, Volume 75, Issue 119, 23 May 1932, Page 6

Town Talk

I Golf and Flying A four-hole golf course at the Landguard Bluff Aerodrome is proving popu I lar for members of the Wanganui l Aero Club. There is a move on foot I to increase the course to one of nine holes. Rugby Half-time All teams remained on the field at half-time during Rugby matches in Wanganui on {Saturday. In ionic cases coaches were allowed on during the interval. la one instance the team seated themselves in a circle, ate oranges and listened to advice. They won. Racing Cyclists A mass formation of cyclists attracted attention on the No. 3 Line on Saturday afternoon as they rode along in their multi-coloured jerseys and singlets. It, was remarked by an old rider that the sight recalled the old days when cyclists were to be seen on the road regularly. Assistance for Unemployed It is reported by Mr. L. V. Kerby, secretary of the Wanganui Hospital Board, that from April I until May 10 no fewer than 195 families were assisted during the “stand-down wook.” The number of families receiving meat each week has increased to 387 a week. Empire Day To-morrow will be Empire Day, which originated with tho birth of Queen Victoria on May 24, 1819. Queen Victoria’s reign was one of the most momentous in British history, for it was during the time that she occupied tho throne that the greatest changes occurred at Home and abroad. The Queen died on January 22, 1901. Counterfeit Coins. Counterfeit Australian florins, dated 1927 and 1931. which have come under the notice of the banks in Auckland

and Wellington, arc regarded as excellent imitations and it is stated that they could easPv bo passed and accepted as genuine. The banks have issued a warning to the public, to keep a sharp look-out for the spurious coins and examine carefully all 1927 and 1931 Australian florins. It is stated that the nitric acid test will not apply to them unless the silver coating is rut into and the hnse metal exnosed. Tho base metal will then turn black under the action of nitric acid. The counterfeit coins are short, in weight bv about tho weight of a sixpenny piece and the lettering '<n the reverse side is not, as sharp and clear-cut as in tho genuine coins. Wants and Necessities. With so much distress prevailing now, older people sometimes wonder whether the cause cannot be laid to there being too much of everything, and the luxuries of the past being regarded as the necessaries of the present. The following passage from a recent work by an American writer discloses tho growth of the people’s needs: “Statisticians have calculated ’hat 100 years ago the average person had just about 72 wants, of which 16 were necessities; whereas the average person to-day has 484 wants, of which 94 are nowadays rated as necessities. Furthermore. 100 years ago there wore not more than 200 items urged npov. the average man by the seller, whereas to-day there are something like 32,000.

A home containing all tho modern inventions and improvements available to-day would have a. grand total of about 100 separate mechanisms.”

Imprisonment Imposed Failure to maintain his wife and three children living at Waipukurau led to Robert Edward Barkes being sentenced to six months’ imprisonment at the Wellington gaol when he appeared before Mr. J. 11. {Salmon at the Magistrate’s Court on Saturday morn-

ing. Senior-Sergeant D. A. McLean described the case as being bad, for accused, who had not maintained his wife, had gone to Wellington and had become engaged to a single girl He had then gone to Waverley, where he had had intimate relations with another girl. He had not attempted to obtain employment under the relict schemes but had preferred to livo al Waverley for his keep. Barkes said that his misfortunes had been due to war experiences and to his house being burnt to the ground, lie had lost all his possessions. Camp at Waverley

Perfect weather, good rations and keenness arc said to have been the combinations which made «ho Queen Alexandra Mounted Rifles Regiment's

camp an outstanding success when i* was hold at Waverley last week. Troop and squadron drill, tactical work and field drill, were carried out successfully and sports, competitions and the Waverley Ball helped to supply a lighter side to camp life. On Thursday General Burgess, officer commanding the Now Zealand Forces, aceom panied by Colonel Symon, of the New Zealand Staff Corps, inspected the camp and expressed satisfaction at. the man nor in which it was being carried out The men return home to-day. Some 32 officers and over 200 men with 164 horses attended. Lieut.-Colonel J. B Davis was in command, with Major T. L. Gibbs second in command. Major B. W. IT. Smart, Captains E. F. Law? and A. Hastie were commanding head quarters, A and B squadrons respectively. Tho permanent staff was rep resented by 'Major Bolter, Lieut. Henry, Staff Sergeant-Majors Bell, Rowe, King, Stevens and Staff Quartermaster Sergeant Quayle. Enthusiastic Oarsmen. Enthusiasm and optimism were the keynotes of the meeting of Wanganui oarsmen and citizens at the Union Boat Club shed yesterday morning. The purpose of the gathering was to discuss recognition of the honour done Wanganui by the selection of Mr. E. Gullcry as the coxswain of the New Zealand eight for the Olympic Games at Los Angeles this year. It was decided to set up a committee to raise a fund for the purpose of ensuring that Wanganui should be suitably represented at the Olympiad. This committe will raise £lOO by guarantee in units of £l, and will then proceed to collect money with a view to repaying the guarantors at the earliest moment. Evidence of the enthusiasm of those present was furnished by the announcement after a brief canvass that guarantees for an amount exceeding £6O were in sight. One avenue by means of which the committee, opes to raise a substantial portion of the money required is a benefit performance by way of a civic, farewell in the Majestic Theatre during the first week in June. It is understood that Mr. Gullory will be leaving with the New Zealand team about June 1-1.