Town Talk

Wanganui Chronicle, Volume 79, Issue 63, 14 March 1936, Page 8

Town Talk

The fact that New Zealand is affected to some little extent by the war at present in progress between Lne Italians and the Abyssinians is evidenced by the following notice displayed in the Wanganui Chief Office: ‘ ’Telegrams for Ethiopia will be accepted provided that the codes are deposited with the Ethiopian Government. ’ ’ Parapara Hoad. 'l’vnts are springing up along the I’aiapara Road in readiners for the Public Works Depart meat to take o'er the long-awaited task of reecnstrutting this route to first-class highway slal> dard. Yesterday the Wanganui County Council, by special resolution, passvd for payment the first quota of maintenance money it will be called i upon for under lhe agreement. Work has already commenced. Presentation of Colours. All those interested in the wellbeing and progress of the 1J th Taranaki Rvgiment will doubtless make every clfort to be present at the presentation of Colours which takes place in New Plymouth to-morrow (Huiiday) week. Realising the importance of the function the .Railway Department has arranged another popular excursion from Wanganui for the convenience of those living outside New Plymouth. Particulars will be found in our advertising columns in this issue. Gathering for Parikino Sports. An indication of the elaborate nature of the catering for visitors to the Parikino sports to day was given by Mr. J. J. Lissette in conversation with a reporter yesterday. Air. Lissette said that the gifts inc.uded a bullock, JO pigs, 20 geese, six sheep and numerous fowls, in addition to over a ton of potatoes. The fuod was being cooked by i'hc Maoris yesterday and -will be served in marquees, at the sports this aft ernoon. Pipe Band Contest The stirring strains of Ihr pipes, music which stirred the lnood of Bruce and of Wallace in the days of Scotia’s glorious pnsl, will be heard al Wanganui at Faster. No less than 18 Highland Pipe Bands will be here to compete in the Dominion contest. Eleven A. grade bands will face the judge on Faster Saturday, and some seven B grade bands o;i the Hasler Monday. The Dunedin Band will he the most claboiafcly-cquippeii band a New Zealand rrntiT- has ever sent to a contcsl. When if. arrives in Wanganui it will bring with it uniforms valued at £1250. j South Island Air Pageant. , i'hrrc Western Fcdcratvd Aero Club 'planes arc attending the South Island I official air pageant, which opened at Dunedin yesterday and conclud-es to*day. A number of Taranaki pilots will take part in the competitive living • events. Two machines, piloted by i’lying-Ofliccr Jan Keith ami Mr. C. Linn, went from New Plymouth to Dunvdin earlier in the week, the flights being made in easy stages. .Mr. IL W. Ligiitband also took a ’plane to Dunedin, piloting ZK At.'H, after it. had been taken from Wanganui to New Plymouth for overhaul before ib> long flight. .Mr. C. Cook was a passenger with .Mr, Linn, Mr. J. Stewart with Flying-Oliiccr .Keith, and Mr. 8. ENeilson, secretary of the New Ply* mouth Aero Club, travelled south with Mr. Light ban'l, Men’s Shelter. “I have Io repi.it ihal, during the month the numbe;.-, have remained : fairly stationary,” Hates lhe monthly i report of the uianag*‘r of the men s : shell-cr,’’ Air. 11. Law rcix-e. “ I he usual routine has bren followed and has been : quite salisfactory. 'l'hcre has been a slight increase in the pay received by the men, but 1 have jnade no alteration in the amount io be paid to the shelter funds toward.-, their board as undoubtedly the extra lew (hillings is needed for the replacement of clothing and boots. Donations for the month were gratefully received from the lullowing:: -M r. 1.. Baker, meal; E. Norman, brawn; City Meat. Company, meat; Senior ami Bennett, meat; Bacon Company, pigs’ trotters; John Calvpr, meat; Farmers’ Meat Company, meat; Mrs. Stewart, onions; anonymous, beans, Athletic and Cycling Club, pies ami cakes; Mr. M., peaches, cabbages and rhubaib; Mr, Atkinson, rhubarb.” Future of Main Highways. At the moment tire J mure of Main hangs in the balance. Jt is assumed, from Miuisteritil announcemeats made from time to time, that control of such routes will soun automaticallv pass from county councils to the Main Highways Board, lu many respects it is believed that this change will largely benefit counties, in that . they will be freed from responsibility for certain roads. Jt is thougnt in some quarters that it will lead to the a.bolilion uf ridings, and counties, lieneeforth, after finding their quota for highway subsidies will pool the remainder of their revenue fur use on sid« roads. So far as the Wanganui County is concerned it is fairly certain that lhe Parapara. I’oad and lhe . No. 1 Line will be absorbed by the board. So certain i»* the county on that point I hat it has decided to cancel a decision to tar seal t-h-e length from tiie city boundary to Upokongaro on the assumption that the board will have jurisdiction in the very near future. The council, also*, has not expended too deeply on repairs to the road since it became known that tae change of control was intended. Exodus of Shipping. Late on Thursday night and carb yesterday morning was one of the busrest periods experienced, at the pou of Wanganui for some time. Six vessels departed and c*nc arrived, in addition to which the Ixalingo came up the river from Castlecliff and berthed at the Gas Wharf. J’our coastal vessels, the Storm, Holmdale, Kapiti and Hau turu cleared the Town Wharf, and the Breeze arrived from Picton. lhe two departures from Castleclilf were the ccustal motor-ships Alexander and i Hawera, for West port and Wellingion respectively. The Storm, Holnidale and Kapiti sailed for Wellington and the Ilauturu was bound for (Jnehungi direct. Three oven-eas vessels which i have been in port all the week arc ex ■ peeved to sail to >my. The Triona sails i for Nauru Ismml, via Westport, earn this morning, the Kalingo goes to Aka- ■ roa and the Surrey is to leave the roadstead for Wellington. An c-verseas ■ vessel expected at the Town Wharf to- ! day is the Union Company’s intercolonial trader Gabriella, which will > load a big consignment of timber for Sydney and Melbourne. During the part few days a large number of rail way wagons have arrived at Wanganui with timber from Main Trunk mills 1 which is to connect with this steamer.