Town Talk

Wanganui Chronicle, Volume 79, Issue 201, 28 August 1935, Page 6

Town Talk

Notes of the shining cuckoo will be heard any day now. These birds migrate every year to the Solomon Islands and it is now due to return to the Dominion to spend the warm weather. When it undertakes the flight over the many miles of sea it travels at a velocity of about 60 miles an hour, according to Mr R. A. Falla, ornithologist of the Auckland War Memorial Museum. Representative Rugby Wanganui’s next i eprese nt alive Rugby match will l>u that against Hawke’s Bay. The ’Bay team is due to pay this union a visit, and, naturally, there will be a great hope among local followers of the game that Charlie. Sihiitli* the dashing Maori winger, will be included in the team. It is understood that this match has been offered to the Rangitikei Union, provided sonic satisfactory arrangement can he made about a guarantee. Distribution of Trees. . The Wanganui Acclimatisation Society has now completed the distribution of eucalyptus, ieucoxylon, Rosea and Campbell trees in Wanganui and district and judging by the number of inquiries received there are large numbers of people greatly interested in the protection of native birds. All the trees distributed produce masses of honey-bearing flowers over the early winter and spring months and have a special attraction for many native birds, such as the tui and bell bird. Health Camp Campaign, A campaign, under Government approval, to raise at least £lO,OOO as funds for health camps for children is being organised throughout the Dominion. The honorary organiser, whose intentions have been commended by the Minister of Health. Sir Alexander Young, intends to launch the campaign between September 29 and October 4. Arrangements have been made for appointing over 1000 committees under the campaign. The patronage of the Governor-General has been obtained, and the Post, and Telegraph Department is assisting. Radio Inspectors’ Work In an effort to minimise man-made interference with radio reception, the Post and Telegraph Department maintains a large staff of radio inspectors, who investigate all complaints lodged by listeners. These men carry portable receiving sets,' •which arc used in detecting interference caused thjmiyh defective electrical installations, faulty fuses and faulty insulators. The portable sets also are used jn checking up on interference, as it. is often found that what is alleged to be outside interference is caused through a defect within the radio set. Plunket Exhibition. The Wanganui Plunket Society’s exhibition of baby portraits, which has occasioned so much interest lately, is to terminate to-night at 5.15 p.m. Each penny counts as a vote and public interest will be centred in two phases of the campaign—as. to who wins la the various classes and as to how much, the effort will produce to assist the finances of a body which is doing such a great deal of good for humanity. Dr. Martin Tweed, medical adviser to the society, at a conference held in Wanganui recently, stressed the fad I that the Plunket Society was concerned with prevention, not cure, and, because of that, should be supported by everybody. Visitors Depart The many visitors who wore in W anganui for the inter-collegiate Rugoy tournament left yesterday. There were animated scenes in the central portion of the city on Friday last and until yesterday morning, when the last of the visitors took their leave. It was quite refreshing to see the large number of cars parked in the Avenue, and to see the populace swelled so materially. Even at the midnight hour on Saturday the Avenue was a busy place, and those places of refreshment which were open for trade were well patronised. Judging by the number of visitors on this occasion the depression is certainly cn the down-grade. “Safety First Campaign.” Wanganui motorists, as a whole* seem to be solidly behind the proposal of the North Island (N.Z.j Motor Union to promote a “Safety First” •campaign. A “Chronicle” reporter tested the opinion of several wellknown users of the road yesiterday, and they all agreed that it was time every effort should bp made to “organise” the dangerous driver off the road. In the early days of automobile associations, Dr. E. E. Porritt, of Wanganui, who was one of the pioneers of the movement, repeatedly advocated that the best rule of the road was to “drive to the common danger.” In other words, to “drive with safety.” It was stated by. a prominent motorist yesterday, that a thoroughly organised “safety first” campaign would have far-reaching effects. Pa tea Fleet at Wanganui. Unfavourable weather has again prevented the three Patea motor-ships, the Kapuni, Hawera and Inaba, which have been sheltering at Wanganui during the past few days, from crossing the Patea bar. The three vessels left Castlecliff early yesterday morning, but on arriving off Patea found that the bar was again unworkable owing to the strong westerly gale which sprang up before daybreak. The vessels put back to Wanganui and were berthed at the town wharf. It has now been decided to discharge their Patea cargo at Wanganui. The kapuni unloaded Tarakohe cement yesterday and to-day the Hawera and Tnaha will commence discharge. Included in the Hawera’s consignment?- is a quantity of benzine from Wellington. The cargo from these three ships | will be railed to Patea. The vessels will leave Wanganui when fh,« weather moderates. Dominion Apples in Finland. Appreciation of the export of Xcw Zealand apples to Finland is contained in a letter that has been received by the Auckland Chamber of Commerce from a Finnish importing organisation. “You arc probably aware that the export of apples from New Zealand to Finland has been increasing from year to year, and that this year's crop especially was greatly appreciated by our importers,” the writer states. “Up to the present our importers have received your products chiefly from th? Europeans markets, that is, Hamburg, London, and partly Rotterdam. There is a tendency, however, to come in direct contact with the land of origin. This fact induces me Io ask you whether there is any possibility of our coming in direct contact with your fruit exporting organisations.” The letter has been forwarded by the. Auckland Chamber of Commerce to the Fruit Export Control Board.