Town Talk

Wanganui Chronicle, Volume 76, Issue 107, 9 May 1933, Page 4

Town Talk

Election Poll. It is interesting to note that the total number of voters who exercised the franchise at the municipal election in Wanganui last Wednesday was 886-J. The total number ou the roll was 16,611, so 53 per cent, of those entitled to vote did so. In 1931. a total of 9,620 voters did their duty from a roll total of J 4,806, 64 per cent. Staff Congratulated. At yesterday’s meeting of the Waitotara County Council, Cr. L. T. Jones, moving that tho chairman (Mr. W. Morrison) be thanked for his annual report. congratulated the chairman and staff on the year’s work. "The council is doing its best on a lower rate to maintain the roads at a good standard,” he said. Cr. F. R. Richardson seconded and the motion was carried unanimously. An Injured Ankle. A. Westmere settler had the misfortune to sprain an ankle seriously as the result of putting a foot into a pot-hole left in the roadside by workmen erecting power poles. It was notified to the i meeting of the Waitotara County Council yesterday, by the engineer to the Wanganui-Rangitikci Electric - power Board (Mr. 11. Webb), that instructions had been given to board employees to exercise care and not leave pot-holes at tho roadsides. That Credit. "The exact amount of the credit balance should be made clear before the figure is published in the Press,” said Cr. H. G. Birch at the Waitotara County Council meeting yesterday. It should be pointed out that tho £6OOO odd mentioned in the chairman’s report includes the harbour rates, which we simply collect and hand over, and special rates.” The acting county clerk (Mr. T. Dix) stated that the net balance w T as £3680. Included in the £6202 gross credit was £l3OO, held on behalf of the Wanganui Harbour Board, and £1622 on account of special rates. Municipal Election. Official counting of the voting in the recent Wanganui Municipal elections has been completed and the Returning Officer (Mr. G. Alurch) has declared the respective candidates for the Mayoralty and respective local bodies duly elected. Mr. N. G. Armstrong’s majority over Mr. J. T. Hogan in the Mayoral issue finally became 898, and there were 78 informal votes. Official checking of the votes has made no change in the personnel of the elected candidates in any issue. Tho totals of votes cast in each candidate’s case have altered, of course, but none of those who were elected on the rough count made at the close of the poll have been displaced. Farm Mortgages. The Wanganui Chamber of Commerce, in conjunction with tho Farmers’ Union, has arranged for a luncheon to Mr. R. G. Buckleton to be held on Thursday in consequence of the guest being unable to be in Wanganui on Wednesday. As Mr. Buckleton’s scheme deals specifically with mortgages on farm lands, and attempts to afford relief from the burden of mortgages thereon, Mr. Buckleton’s address should have a wide appeal to the interest of farmers, and the speaker is hopeful that many farmers will be included in his audience. It is for the convenience of farmers that a mid-day appointment has been mack. It was impossible for Mr. to be hero on Wednesday, otherwise tho luncheon would have taken place on that day. Paparaugi Road. "I admit that the 1 green-eyed monster’ (jealousy) entered my head a bit this morning,” said Cr. L. T. Jones, at the Waitotara County Council meeting yesterday, in a reference to the good state of the road from Paparangi. He said that it was due to the engineer an* staff that this route was conspicuously good at present. It was par excellence for a secondary highway. The route had been an expense to the ratepayers, who had rated themselves for it and had received valuable assistance from the Highways Board. Cr. Jones hoped that now that road, and the Waitotara Valley route had received attention the county would concentrate on the Tokomaru Road. French Matrimonial Methods When he was in Sydney some years ago he had been approached by a French lady and gentleman who wished him to marry them, said the Rev. J. Paterson, speaking at the weekly luncheon of the Wanganui Rotary Club yesterday. Ho made enquiries and was surprised to hear that they were both married, but had left their husband and wife because of disagreements. Mr. Paterson told them that he was unable to marry them, upon which they were most disappointed and asked him whether he would not give them his blessing. "I told them I could not do that either, whereupon the lady said that they would return to Noumea and announce that they had been married by the most charming clergyman in Sydney,” said Mr. Paterson. "Chloroform the Pup” "When I was in Broken Hill, Australia, I used to try to keep a garden, an extravagant luxury,” said the Rev J. Paterson, when addressing tho Wan ganui Rotary Club yesterday. "At the same time a small brother of mine, used to keep a, .fox terrier, although I warned him that if the pup played havoc with the garden the pup would have to go. One day it did get loose in the garden and made it obvious that the garden and tho dog could not thrive together, so it received an over dose of chloroform. Shortly afterwards an assistant of mine was taking a children’s service and, dealing with the subject of gardens, asked what it was necessary to do to keep a garden. Instantly one of the children replied. ‘First chloroform your pup.’ ”

Australian Burr. At yesterday’s meeting of the Waitotara County Council, Cr. A. G. Goldsbury produced a specimen of the Australian burr which ho said had been found at Okoia. This wood was a serious menace, he added. It had thorns as effective as those of barberry and the burr caught in sheep’s wool and gradually worked into the skin where tho thorns caused blood poisoning. Ho considered that tho Department of Agriculture should be notified of the discovery of this plant in New Zealand and asked to take prompt steps to ensure that it does not spread. It was decided to draw tho attention of the Wanganui County to tho matter, in view of the favt that t-ho specimen plant tabled had come from land within its jurisdiction. It was understood that the burr was already on the first, schedule of Noxious Weed Act.