Town Talk

Wanganui Chronicle, Volume 75, Issue 190, 13 August 1932, Page 6

Town Talk

Replies Not Collected. The following replies to advertisements are awaiting collection at the “Chronicle” branch office, Victoria Avenue:—Wl2, Wl5, W22, W39, WlO5, WlO6, WlO9, Will; NG, XB, Xl3, XlO4, X. 106, XlOB, XIII, XII 4, XllB. Wanganui River Road A furl her 9 miles 20 chains of the Wanganui River Road has been handed over to the Wanganui County Council by the Public Works Department. This length extends from the Ruapcrau Bridge to the point where the road crosses the Manghoie Stream. Merely Figures’ When giving evidence in the Assess meat Court yesterday Mr Varcoe, Gov ornment Valuer, said that he and Mr. JI. J. Duigan really had no differences. Mr. Duigan viewed the position from one angle and he from another. Mr. Duigan: That is quite true, it is merely a matter of figures. County Appreciative When the Wanganui County Council decided yesterday to pass a dona tion of £5 to the Wanganui Town Clock Fund, several councillors expressed the opinion that the country people had felt the loss of the clock a great deal more than those in the town. Wanganui County Rates Jt was decided by the Wanganui County Council yesterday to confirm the following rates in the respective ridings at next meeting: Alangamahu, 5-8 d in the £; Kaitoke, Jd; Purua, 5-8 d; Kaukatca, 5-8 d; Upper Wangaehu, Id; Morikau, Id; Alungawhcro. Id. Cr. J. J. Lissette considered that Id was too high for Mangawhero, but when it was pointed out that id would not carry the year through, he agreed to support tho higher figure, which was based on the new. valuations. Primary School “Caps”'

During the interval of the TaranakiWanganui Rugby match on Spriggens Park this afternoon the Wanganui primary schools’ Rugby representatives will be presented with their caps by the president of the New Zealand Rugby Union, Mr. G. H. Pownall. On Friday of next week the Wanganui team will leave for Wellington to take part in the annual Rugby tournament. The caps were purchased with funds secured at an appeal to Rugby patrons at the King’s Birthday match on Spriggens Park.

Paying for the View Under cross-examination at the Assessment Court yesterday Mr. R. J. Duigan said he did not agree with Government valuations put upon sites having particularly good views. Mr Duigan remarked that Mr. Varcoc, Government Valuer, coming from Pal merston North, which was built o’’ level country, so that there was Review, was inclined to over-estimate the value of Wanganui sections having a good view. Wanganui had a large number of magnificent views, and for that reason residences which had a good view should not be assessed at a very much greater value. Assessment Court

The Assessment Court sat throughout yesterday, coming to a decision with regard to valuations of a number of properties at. St. John’s Hill. Doric Hill and College Estate, after which the Court took evidence on values of further properties not within the business area of the city. The Court will not resume until 2 p.m. on Monday. There are yet a largo number of properties which the members of the Court desire to inspect personally, after which it is hoped that the business area section of the city will be reached, in all probability, on Wednesday. A great deal of interest is being taken in consideration of land values within the business area. Picturesque Australia. Picturesque Australia is the title given to a delightfully-produced brochure of photographs and camera studies issued by tho Australian National Travel Association. For those who desire to get an idea of tho attractions which Australia has to offer the tourists of tho world, this brochure which will be a pleasure to study. It is not overladen with letter press, the effort has been made to reveal beauty to the eye through the use of first-class illustrations. Those have been admirably printed and can stand in comparison with anything produced elsewhere by the printer’s art. This is a commendable production and should do the work for which it is intended, namely whet the appetites of many to visit Austra-

Farmers’ Lorries. In order to ascertain the views of rural local bodies, tho Transport Department has issued circulars with regard to the heavy traffic taxation collected from farmers’ motor lorries, asking whether this imposition should be continued in view of the special circumstances. At yesterday’s meeting the Wanganui County Council decided that farmers should pay heavy traffic, taxation as well as other lorry owners. Cr. D. Mackintosh, the chairman, said that if a farmer hired a lorry he had to pay the taxation. If a farmer’s lorry was exempt all the rest should bo. Cr. W. Craig: Why do farmers have to hire lorries? Because they have had their own taxed off the roaj. It doesn’t pay a farmer to have a lorry to-day It was pointed out by the clerk that light, trucks (one ton weight of true*; and one ton of load),, escaped heavy traffic taxation. This was considered quite reasonable enough and it was decided to advise the Transport Department accordingly. Freights on Sugar. The adoption of a railway freight on sugar from Auckland to Wanganui by the New Zealand Railway Board, which was likely to eliminate coastal shipping services and create a railway monopoly of tho business, resulted in a deputation from the Wanganui Harbour Boh rd interviewing the Minister of Railways, Rt. Hon. J. G. Forbes. At that interview, the chairman of the Harbour Board suggested that the difficulty might be overcome by conference between representatives of tho Railway Board and the Harbour Board. Mr W. A. Veitch, ALP., who introduced the deputation, has now received advice from the Minister that the Railways Board would bo only too pleased, at any time, to receive any suggestions and representations from the Wanganui Harbour Board, and if it were found possible to come to any arrangement whivh was mutually satisfactory, the Government Railways Board would be only too pleased to facilitate such a position.