Town Talk

Wanganui Chronicle, Volume 76, Issue 167, 18 July 1933, Page 4

Town Talk

Tender Confirmed. Acceptance of a tender of £6B 14s 6d, from tho Wanganui Steel Pipe Company, for the supply of a new tumbler for the bucket dredge, was confirmed by the Harbour Board yesterday. Ping-pong Enthusiasts. Evidence of the phenomenal popularity of ping-pong in the district is furnished by the fact that a large party of Wanganui players intend paying a visit to Hawera on Thursday. A match will be played against South Taranaki representatives. Wangaehu Railway Bridge. Steady progress with the construction of the new railway bridge across the Wangaehu River is reported. Provided there is no interference with operations through flood water, the main construction work should be completed by the end of August. Valueless Cheques. Information received in Wanganui last night led to tho arrest of two men by Constable Compton, at Bulls, on charges of issuing valueless cheques al Wanganui on June 26. The men will appear before the Court at Wanganui. It is understood that similar charges arc pending against the pair at New Plymouth. Scrap Iron. A firm is contemplating purchasing scrap iron in Wanganui, and may send a steamer into the port for .ho purpose of lifting such cargo. At a meeting of the Harbour Board yesterday a request from these people to supply the rate of outward wharfage on iron was referred to the 'chairman and managingsecretary with power to act. Books Wanted. A supply of books and other reading matter is wanted for tho men camped at Papanui and at the 35-milo peg on the Parapara Road, according to advice received by Rev. 11. G. Goring, who last night conducted a service at the 14-mile ‘camp. Books may be left at tne office of tho fi Chronicle,” where they will be picked up by Mr Goring, who may also bo communicated with by telephone. Rapid Rise of River. That the rain on Saturday and Sunday was fairly heavy in the back country was proved by the rapid rise in the level of the Wangaehu River on Sunday. Between 12 noon and 6 p.m. tho river rose about four feet, being some five feet above normal early in the night. Though still running high yesterday, the river had not threatened anything in tho nature of an abnormal flood. Relief Workers’ Rates. An understanding has been reached between the Wanganui City Council and Harbour Board with reference to relief workers occupying properties under lease from tho board who are unable to meet payments of rates and rent in full. In order to keep the tenants in the properties tho two local bodies have agreed that any revenue shall be devoted, first, to payment of insurances and such expense as is necessary to safeguard tho asset, and that the balance shall be divided between the local bodies towards rates for tho council and rent for tho board. Dairy Rationalisation. When m'jition of dairy rationalisation is made it must not bo overlooked that in studying economical collection of cream, which means studying also the interests of suppliers generally, the Wanganui dairy companies have decided that cream along the routes could be collected by tho companies’ lorries, but that the drivers may not go beyond the stands at the farmers’ gate. It must also be remembered that no subsidy will bo paid for carriage to the cream stands. From that point, however, tho dairy companies will, as heretofore, carry the cream at tho factory’s cost, which means no individual charge to the suppliers. Who Was Responsible? When the vessel Dun robin, which berthed at the Castlefcliff wharf last year, broke her moorings in the teeth of a heavy gale, a certain amount of damage was done to tho Harbour Board’s property and a claim to cover the cost was made by the board on tho owners of the ship. When tho board met yesterday advice was received to tho effect that tho owners denied liability on tho ground that the happening was tho result of an act of God. They considered, for that reason, that the matter should bo allowed to drop and in such a vase both parties would boar their respective losses in the matter. Tho managing-secratary to the board (Mr W. J. Gardner) was instructed to write to tho owners regretting that they had adopted such an attitude. The board’s claim was really for something in tho nature of salvage. Sequel to Strike. “You must now realise the folly of your strike. You say you wore dragged out by your union, well I hope you will have something to say to your union,” said Mr. J. 11. Salmon, S.M., in the Magistrate’s Court at Wan ganui yesterday morning to a witness concerned in a maintenance case. ‘‘Yes, I have, sir,” was the reply. “You see you gave up the certainty of work for the miserable pittance you are now receiving,’’ remarked Mr. Salmon. Witness, who was applying for a variation of his maintenance order, had stated that he was in poor circumstances and on relief work. He had been employed at the Imlay Freezing Works for 14 years but this year had Icon “dragged” out on strike by h’s union with tho result that he had experienced great difficulty in keeping five children and a wife, from whom he was separated. Fined for Bookmaking. A fine of £25, in default of payment imprisonment for two months, was im posed upon Florence May Burns by Mr. J. H. Salmon, S.M., at the Magistrate’s Court at Wanganui yesterday morning. Defendant was convicted on a charge of keeping a common gaming house at Aramoho. Detective J. Walsh said that complaints had been received regarding betting in her shop, which was searched on Saturday afternoon. The sum of £2O 17s 6<l, evidently representing tho day’s betting, was found. The detective added that defendant had never been in trouble before. In admit ting the charge for his client, IXIr. T. W. Blennerhassett said defendant had acted as agent, for another in order to supplement her income, receiving Is 6<l in every £. Tn pointing out that tho Act provided a penalty as high as £lOO tho magistrate remarked that tho fact that defendant had acted as agent, for another could not. affect the Court,, for she had done so with her eyes open to tho. penalty. I