Town Talk

Wanganui Chronicle, Volume 76, Issue 303, 23 December 1933, Page 8

Town Talk

The “Chronicle” will not be published on Monday, Christmas Day. Lato Shopping Night. Late shopping night will be observed in Wanganui to-night, and retail shops will remain open until 10 o’clock. Butchers' shops, however, will close at 5 p.m. “Fresh Air?” Speaking at ihe Fordell School jubilee yesterday, Mr. J. P. Cowie said that all the male teachers who were single when they came to Fordell went away married. That, he thought, was a tribute to thc fine, fresh air of Fordell. Loading Delayed. Owing to the sweeping westerly wind which blew throughout yesterday, lighters were unable to continue loading Wanganui cargo on the Northumberland, in the roadstead. The vessel therefore, put out to sea lo wait more favourable weather. Fairly heavy seas were rolling shorewards throughout the day. Gift Appreciated. A very line response has been made to Mr. Duncan Mackintosh’s appeal to farmers for lamb to be distributed to unemployed men on the council’s list. It is anticipated that every man employed by the council will receive a quarter of Jamb averaging .some JO to 121bs. in weight. A start was made to distribute the meat yesterday, and the men were extremely pleased with the gift. The lamb is excellent quality. A Bel! Did Sound. At the Fordell School Jubilee yesterday, when Mr. Alex Stuart, M.P. for Rangitikei, was speaking, somebody,) either on purpose or inadvertently, picked up the school bell. The tongue, stirred by the movement, clanged three times, and Mr. Stuart appreciated the joke. “I often hear that in thc House,’’ he said, “but they always give you five minutes longer after the bell rings.’’ A voice: Fordell makes it half a minute. (Laughter). Christmas Cheer. Some of the good things associated with Christmas were distributed to children of unemployed returned soldiers by Father Christmas at the Victoria Hall yesterday afternoon. Some 400 bags of sweets and cakes, in addition to toys, donated by the Empire Veterans’ Association, were given to some 200 children, who were, immensely pleased. There were a large number of parents present, and the function provided a pleasant touch of the festive season. Aramoho Camp Popular. Holiday traffic has already made its appearance at the Aramoho Park, and during the last few days some 20 cars have stayed overnight. It is expected that a large number of people will stop there for Christmas and Boxing Day. Visitors to date have made full use of the tramcar bodies, which are being utilised as caravans, and they have preferred to sleep in them rather than pitch their own tents for the night. Thc average number of people in each car. it is stated, is in the vicinity of five, while two cars arrived with a load of seven and eight passengers respectively. Everyone has been very pleased with the camp. An Interesting Photograph. A most interesting li: I with early Wanganui has been sent to the Mayor, Mr- N. G. Armstrong, by Mr. W. F. Gordon, of New Plymouth. It is a reproduction of the room lent by the late Captain J. P. Watt for tho Wanganui Rifles Band, the first band that Wanganui ever possessed, in which to practice. The building used to stand at the , corner of St. Hill Street and Taupo ’ Quay, and the photograph shows Mr. Gordon standing outside. Mr. Gordon has expressed tho wish that the photograph shall bo deposited in the Alexander Museum, and this will be done in tho course of a few days. Mr. Gordon, who must now be approaching 90 years of age, was noted in Wanganui as being a remarkably good penman and artist, and there were many telegraph boys in those far-off days who were glad of his prowess, for Mr. Gordon was a member of the telegraphic staff. Should a boy not know a resident to whori he had to deliver his message, Mr. Gordon would often sketch that person’s likeness, and his versatile pen would aid the telegraph boy in his search. Old Records. Subjects of great interest at thc Fordell School Jubilee yesterday were the record books (diaries) of school masters of the past. A “Chronicle’’ reporter was privileged to look over some of these. Here are some of the extracts which caught the eye:—.lB79: “Admitted four boys and one girl, three from. Deniair, having come here because of a dispute over there.” “The boys have been playing with bows and arrows and 1 have a complaint that one. boy fires at animals and has actually killed hens. I have asked them to stop this.’’ 1898: “The committee met to-night to discuss the caning trouble. They have recommended me to use a strap in place of a cane. I have no objection and will do so when 1 get a suitable strap. The committee are not averse to punishments but think a stick is liable to injure the hand.” 1900: “Punished to-day for swearing at , with six cuts with a supplejack on a hand. As he has been behaving better latterly 1 was not more severe.’’ “Surrender of Cronje and Relief of Marking. The school closed. God Save the Queen.” “Gave six cuts with a supplejack for breaking windows. ’ ’ Liability for Fees. Reserved judgment was given by Mr. .1. H. Salmon, S.M., at the Magistrate’s Court at Wanganui yesterday, in favour of the Wanganui College Board of Trustees against Mrs. Martha Bird for fees amounting to £7B Bs, balance for board and tuition for her son at St. George’s Preparatory School. The board claimed the amount from Charles Newson Bird and Al art ha Bird. Mr. Salmon, in his judgment, said there was definite evidence that Bird had expressly informed the board’s secretary that he would not bo responsible for the fees alter a certain date, and it was clear, therefore, that he revoked any authority which he had given previously to his wife to pledge his credit fur (he tees. In addition to this, the evidence of plaintiffs’ secretary that Mrs. Bird told him to send thc accounts to her in future and that after February, 1932, such accounts as were paid in respect to the boy were paid by Mrs. Bird. It was clear, therefore, that the plaintiff board accepted tho position that Mrs. Bird would be re sponsible for the fees and that it looked to her for payment. Judgment was entered against the defendant Mrs. Bird, in respect to her separate estate with costs. Costs to plaintiff as against Mrs. Bird were: Court £2 10s. solicitor £-1 19s. Costs to -C. N. Bini irere £6 7s.