Town Talk

Wanganui Chronicle, Volume 79, Issue 182, 6 August 1935, Page 6

Town Talk

1 “Do Yon Speak English?" I “Do you speak English ?’> a iked ( His Honour, the Chief Justice (Sir • Michael Myers) of an Indian witness i \ ho had just taken the stand in the | Wanganui Supreme Court yesterday I and preparation was being made to | swear him in through an interpreter. I The witness solemnly shook his head. Demand for Reading Matter. The demand for reading matter at the Wanganui Public Library continues to increase, according to the latest inI dications. This can be attributed, in ' part, to the weather making the inI doors appear more comfortable, but to a considerable degree the excellent conditions under which subscribers arc catered for is believed to be responi sible. A steady increase has been re--1 corded for several years past. Chamber of Commerce. The executive of lhe Wanganui Chamber of Commerce last night decided to hold its annual meeting on Monday. September 16. The chamber celebrates its jubilee this year and the occasion is to be marked by the holding of a dinner on the Monday night following the annual meeting. Arrangements for lhe function were left in the hands of a small sub-com-mittee. Petrol Prices Compared. Petrol prices came up fur discussion at last night's executive meciing or the Wanganui Chamber of Commerce when Mr. W. J. Gilberd drew several comparisons between the price ruling in Wanganui and the retail prices in some other centres. Mr. Gilberd asked I the reason for petrol being retailed in Wanganui at 2s Id per gallon, as compared with Is lUd in Wellington, Palmerston North and Carterton, and 2s in Woodville. “The retailers are not making undue profit out of petrol,” Mr. J. Goldstone remarked. ‘‘There is no profiteering going on.” The prosi dent, Mr. A. S. Burgess, commented that it was not a good thing to see Wanganui dearer than other places. He suggested that the matter could be referred to the chamber’s imports committee. “ Investiations might reveal that in other centres the price for petrol is being cut by the retailers,” said Mr. Burgess. ‘‘Perhaps we have better organisation among cur retailers in Wangonui.” The suggestion of Mr. Burgess was adopted. Popular Ship’s Pet. Throughout Sunday there was a constant stream of visitors to the Castlecliff wharf, where two overseas vessels, the Norwegian steamer Aelybryn and the motor-ship Oak bank, were moored. The central object of attention, however, was “ Jimmy,” the pet turtle which belongs to Miss Pauline Sevensen, the five-year-old daughter of Captain Thorval Sevensen, master of the Aslybryn. It is rarely that a turtle comes to Wanganui, and during the day Captain Sevensen, who figured prominently in the Tahiti wreck, received dozens of requests from people , who wanted to see “ Jimmy,” wfio, among other peculiar habits, embarks on fasts whicn sometimes last for six months at a time. ** Jimmy ” docs not eat in cold weather and it is only in the tropics or very hot climates that he will take food. ‘ ‘ He will eat anything you like to give him, but is very fond of cabbage leaves and bread,” remarked Captain Sevensen. “ Jf very hungry he will try a piece out of linger. Jimmy has no teeth and swallows all his food." i Coal Prices Differ. The fact that slack coal from the Waikato district, which is used by many manufacturing concerns, was 8s a ton dearer in Wanganui and Welling ton than in districts north of Waitotara was revealed by the president, Mr. A. S. Burgess, at. last night's meeting of the executive of the Wanganui Chamber of Commerce. Mi’. Burgess said that slack coal was being sold in Wanganui at 32s (id a ton and in Wellington, which was over a 100 miles further away, at the same price. In districts north of Waitotara the same coal was being sold at 24s (id, a difference of 8s a ton. The comparison was not so great as far as household coal was concerned. Wellington and Wanganui were paying 3s more a ton for ; this coal than Taranaki districts. The matter was referred to the imports committee for investigation. i Grand Juror Fined. | A well-knuwn Wanganui account i ant, who had been summoned to sci\c his country as a Grand Juror at the opening of the quarterly sittings of the | Supreme Court, subject to revision iu I the event of good cause being shewn, was fined £5 for non-attendance when his client had taken up his time and he ha.i been some minutes late in consequence. His Honour, the Chief .lustice (Sir Alichavl Myers): Very well, then, I will reduce the amount to twenty .shillings. The juror: Couldn’t you see your way to make it a little less? We dc-n’t get paid for our services. His Honour (smilingly): 1 know, but it is an honour to serve. Don't you think it is worth something for having been deprived of that honour? The juror looked dubious. His Honour: Very well, J will reduce the fine to 10s. The juror: Thank vou, sir. It. is the first time I have ever been late. Police and Press. Excellent progress is being made with the selling campaign on behalf of the Police and Press. Those two bodies have been iu co-operation xor some four years now and their combined efforts have resulted in £1652 12s Id being raised for charitable purposes. The charity Rugby match is to be played on Spriggens Park ne.xr •Saturday week, between a strong team of Wellington police, containing approximately Ju Wellington senior club players, and a team chosen from the combined Police ami Press of Wanganui. A very close muster of Wanganui talent has been made and a River City team of very fair strength will be put in the field. Players nominated are now in training. An art union is being promoted in connection with the match, and the purchase of a ticket admits lhe holder tc attend the football and also participate in a chance to win £5 alluvial gold. Invitations have been extended to the Minister of Justice (Hon. J. G. Cobbe) and the ( ommissioner of Police (Mr. W. G. Wohlniann) to be present. As a cur-taiu-rais'’r teams representing the banks and stock firms are to engage in their annual match. Writing from Wellington. E. Barry, the captain of the Wellington team, says: ‘‘We will have a strong side and we want a ‘real’ game of football.” A reply has gone forth from Wanganui stating: “ Wanganui has a solid team, which also wants a ‘n'al’ game of football.'’