Town Talk

Wanganui Chronicle, Volume 79, Issue 45, 22 February 1936, Page 8

Town Talk

Inquest on Drowned Boy. A verdict of accidental drowning was returned by the district coroner*, Mr. S. M. Dixon, at the adjourned in- | quest on Roy Jack Cal ver, aged eight ; years, at Wanganui on Thursday. The . deceased boy was drowned in the Wan- ' ganui River near the Dublin Street Bridge on the evening of February 19, and his body was later located near the Aramoho Bridge. Bridge-to-bridge Race Off i Owing to the muddy nature of the 11 Wanganui River, which is affected to 11 some extent by floods inland, the i bridge-to-bridge race, wh?ch was to ji have taken place to-day, has been post- • i pond. “It would be impossible to 11 stage a success!up event with the water !j as it is.’’ stated an official of the Cen- ‘ tral Swimming Club last night. He inIjtimated that the race would be swum .J on March 7. More Rain Falls. { Although the rainfall during the past few days has been sufficient for needs ot farmers and gardeners, more heavy rain fell throughout the Wanganui district yesterday. Several peals of thunder were heard in the distance shortly after four o’clock and, with sultry weather prevailing, indications ; were that a heavy thunderstorm would |be experienced. The expected storm, however, did not break. For New Zealand Contest. The A\ anguiiui Garrison Band will leave to-morrow fur New Plymouth, where it will take part in the New 1 Zealand Band Content, which will be I conducted from Monday until Satur- ■ day next. The band will be played i to the railway station and will depart 'at 3.15 p.m. for Araipoho, where it I will connect with a special train which will be conveying the South Island I contesting bands to New Plymouth. I This special from Wellington is cxi pected at Aramoho at 3.28 p.m. and will leave at 3.34 p.m. The Wanganui ' connecting train will return to the I citv after its departure. I Two Native Scholarships I -Viastei- George Matthews, sou of Mr I George Matthews, of Kauangaroa, and | a pupil of Kauangaroa Native School, I has been awarded the Junior Te MaI karinc Scholarship for 1936. This lad, I who is .14 years ot age, leaves for Te Auto College, Hawke’s Bay, on Monday, to pursue his studies, and takes with him the congratulations and good I wishes of his many friends in the disj tricl. Accompanying him ij another j pupil of the same school, Arizona lieu- ■ ben, who has also been awarded a i scholarship at Tc Ante College. Both I boys are tine examples of Maori youth. | and their future may be looked for- ! ward to with much interest. ' Large Pig in Godwin Crescent. Residents of Godwin Crescent were due for a thrill when returning from the city’s picture theatres on Thursday night, when they encountered a large pig nonchalantly meandering around the streets. A motorist proceeding down the street saw the form of the pig on the footway and, in his own woi'ds, “thought that it was a lioness.” Shining his car lights on to the animal, however, he discovered that it was a large, white pig which apparently had strayed from a nearby piggery. In the murky street lights it was apparent that a number of residents were in for an unexpected thrill, or perhaps a fright, when they returned to their homes at a later hour. Heavy Stock Traffic. Due to the lateness of the reason aud the fact that this year stock has b?en moving in February only, whereas ti: previous years it was spread over a period of two months, the Railway Department has been kept particularfy busy. Several specials are necessary I each, week to cope with the amount tf , traffic offering and ordinary services • are “banked” with extra engines. The motive power department at I is being severely taxed to supply the ; number of engines and crews required ; each day, while the wagon supply de- j part men t is also being kept busy. Even on Sunday* special trains arc necessary. To-morrow, for instance, a special consisting of 63 wagons, containing store sheep, will leave ‘Marton for Tc Awaiuutu. Additional wagons will be attached to the train at Hnutcrville. Mangaweka, Mataroa, Utiku, and Tangiwal, Large Overseas Mail. A large amount of overseas mail was brought to Auckland yesterday by the Matson Line’s motor-chip Mariposa, which arrived from Los Angeles, via Honolulu and I’ago Page. The vessel discharged .1624 bags ot English and American mail for distribution throughout New Zealand. The AVanganui letters arc expected to arrive in time for delivery in the city and suburb* this morning. An Australian mail is expected at Auckland to-morrow by the Union Company's cargo steamer Kairanga, which is due to arrive from Sydney. The vessel has mail from Australia and beyond the Commonwealth for New Zealand, including an English air-mail which wa* despatched iron; London on February 2. Advice has been received that the Empire air-mail which left Wellington on January 28 for Great Britain, via Australia and Singapore, arrived at London on February 18. Girl Rescued from River A commendable action is reported from the Castlccliff wharf. A young girl, when cycling along the wharf, tumbled into the river and but for the prompt action of Mr Herbert Gaskin, of Cornfoot Street, would have had difficulty in getting ashore. lie gamely dived into the water and assisted her, probably saving her life. It is stated by residents of the suburbs to have been a particularly game action. Later, the bicycle the gill was riding was salvaged, and there was a rumour current yesterday that it was the selfsame machine whi'ch hafl been found attached to the anchor chain of the boat which had been* used by the two Maoris who went on a fishing expedition earlier in the week and arc still missing. No confirmation of the truth of that statement could be obtained last night, nor could the identitv of the girl who was assisted from the water be ascertained. 3 > Replies to Advertisements. Replies to advertisements awaiting collection at the “Chronicle’s” Avenue office include:—o22, 023, 024, 030, 033, 048. 049. 059, 070, 0101. 0192, 0107. 0109, 0113. 0142, 0146, Pl 4, Pl 6. Pl 7. P 24, P 25, P 3.1, P3S. P 43. PHI, P 134.