Town Talk

Wanganui Chronicle, Volume 79, Issue 283, 3 December 1935, Page 6

Town Talk

Infectious Diseases During November six cases of infectious diseases were notified in Wanganui. These comprised five cases of diphtheria and one of scarlet fever. Chamber of Commerce. The Wanganui Chamber of Commerce decided last night to hold its next meeting on the first Monday iu February. No visit of inspection to a local industry will be held in January. Library Books. During November 13,900 books were issued to subscribers at the Wanganui Public Library, au increase of 1208 over last November’s total of 12,692. The increase in the juniors’ section was also a large one. Serious Offence Alleged. On a charge of unlawful carnal knowledge at Turakina on November 23, Alfred Webber, an actor, aged 31 years, appeared before Mr. J. H. Salmon, S.M., in the Magistrate’s Court yesterday. On the application of Detective-Sergeant J. K. Robertson accused was remanded until December 10. Troublesome Tar. The tar surface of .the road leading from Anzac Parade to Durie Hill suburb at the present time is in a liquid state owing to the hot weather. The sticky tar flies out from the wheels of passing motor vehicles and pedestrians have to exercise care when negotiating the hill. In order to avoid-the wet surface motorists are in the habit of driving along the centre of the roalway and thus increasing the risks of accident on the hill. Danger of Grass Fires Owing to the approaching dry weather smokers should make certain thtit cigarettes and matches are property extinguished before throwing them away. Housewives, too, should also make sure that ashes are not alight when disposing of them for grass fires, that, might assume serious proportions, are easily commenced. Yesterday afternoon the Central Fire Brigade was called to a grass fire adjacent to the railway line at the back of the Wanganui, gaol. Photograph Presented. Advice was received from the president of the Napier Chamber of Commerce that a photograph of the delegates at the recent annual meeting of rhe Associated Chambers of Commerce was being presented to the Wanganui Chambers. The president, Mr. A. 8. Burgess, said that delegates to the annual meeting had Deen royally entertained. It was decided to send a letter ot thanks to the Napier Chamber for the photograph and the manner in, which delegates had been entertained. Motor-drivers’ Licences During November the Wanganui City Council issued 88 motor-drivers’ licences compared with 106 during the same month of last year. For the six months ended November 30 the council issued 3684 drivers’ licences compared with 2402 licences during the same period of last year. During the month the council issued 13 building permits for a total value of £1645. Thirty-one heavy traffic licences were issued for which £144 15s 6d was collected in fees. Seasonal Greetings Extended. At the conclusion of last night’s meeting of the Wanganui Chamber of Commerce, Mr. R. G. Taiboys, on. behalf of the executive, extended seasonal greetings to the president, Mr. A. S. Burgess, and thanked him for the consideration he had given to the chamber’s affairs during the year. In reciprocating the sentiment, Mr. Burgess said that prosperity appeared to the returning and he hoped that next year would see a big change in conditions. New Zealand was a fair land and deserved a good measure of prosperity. Motoring Offences. A fine of £1 and costs was imposed on Elsie Longstaff by Mr. J\ H. Salmon, S.M., iu the Magistrate's Court yesterday on a charge of passing a stationary tramear. Defendant, who pleaded not guilty, said that she had not arrived in Wanganui until after the time at which it was alleged, the offence had been committed. Two constables gave evidence of having seen

a motor-car, the registration number of which was that of defendant’s car, pass the tramcar. ]n accepting the evidence of the police, the magistrate remarked that defendant might have unwittingly passed the tram. T. J. Wilds was fined 10s for having no tail light on his car. Personnel of the Post Office. Permanent employees of the Post and Telegraphy Department number 8,685. It requires 1,167 supervisors and operators to conduct the telephone exchange business, and 364 mechanicians are also needed to maintain the efficiency of this service. Another large staff maintains and constructs telegraph and telephone lines and cables, the overseers, line-foremen, faultmen, linemen and cable-jointers regularly engaged in this activity all over the Dominion, even its most remote parts, totalling 892. For the delivery of correspondence and other postal packets, 755 postmen are employed, and for the handling of mail and parcel-mail receptacles, and for general duties in the mail rooms there arc 300 adult messengers. The department also has over a hundred chauffeurs on its staff.

The Labour Government. Referring to the election of a Labour

Government for the first occasion in New Zealand at last night’s meeting of the Wanganui Chamber of Commerce the president, Mr. A. S. Burgess, said that while the chamber was a nonpolitical body it would assist any measure introduced by the new' Government which was in the interests of commerce and would strongly oppose any measure that was not beneficial. The election of a Labour Government would be an interesting experiment and

he hoped that at the expiry of theterm of office they would have don much good for the country.

Wanganui Wool Season. Wanganui, which is one of the largest wool selling centres in the Dominion, is anticipating a bright season. Efforts to obtain a pre-Christmas sale were not successful, but as matters turned out that was in some degree fortunate. Owing to weather conditions shearing operations arc a month late. There will be no difficulty, however, in following the catalogue for the first Wanganui sale, which takes on January 16, with a limit of 30,000 bales. It is estimated that there are between 20,000 and 30,000 bales of last season's wool still in store in this centre.