Town Talk

Wanganui Chronicle, Volume 79, Issue 141, 16 June 1936, Page 6

Town Talk

I Frosts at Rotorua. A Wanganui resident who is spending a holiday at Rotorua, reports that up to Monday of last week Rotorua had experienced 27 consecutive frosts. Kain fell on Tuesday, breaking the lengthy succession of frosts, which had been followed by glorious sunshine. Australian Soccer Visitors Arrangements are being made for the adequate entertainment of the party of Australian soccer players who are to be in Wanganui for play in July 25. A civic reception is to be accorded them by the Mayor (Mr W J. Rogers) and a trip to Parikinc is planned. Lights and Brakes. It is understood that a “safetv first” campaign for the inspection of the lights and brakes on motor-cars | will be launched in the near future. In anticipation of this many members of the Automobile Association are having | their headlghts and brakes examined ! and adjustments made if required. Town Wharf Administration. Intimation that the Minister of Railways (Hon. D. G. Sullivan) was investigating the matter of the Wanganui ■ Harbour Board taking over the administration of the Town Wharf was received at yesterday’s monthly meeting of the board from Mr. J. B." Cotterill, M.P. for Wanganui. Mr. Cotterill acknowledged receipt of a letter asking for the promotion of legislation to vest control of the wharf in the board, and stated that he had made representations to the Minister of Railways. The Minister had replied bv letter that he would be pleased to go into the matter. Siltation in Kiver. The question of siltation in the Wanganui River, following heavy floods earlier in the year, again came up for consideration by the Wanganui Harbour Board at its monthly meeting yesterday. A letter was received from the Wanganui Rowing Club stating that the last flood left a gradually increasing mud-bank immediately below the club’s pontoon, which is now high and dry at low tide. The letter pointed out also that an adjacent sewer empties itself on the dry mud. The club was at a loss to know how to cope with the position and asked for advice through the board’s engineer. The consultingengineer (Mr. R. R. Dawson) was authorised to meet the club and offer suggestions. Ketailers’ Association

Judging by expressions of opinion made by representatives of various sections of the retail trade operating in Wanganui at a meeting called by the newly-formed Tourist and Development League yesterday, there is urgent need lor the formation of a Retailers’ Association in this city. It was pointed out that, at the moment, each section trade had is own association which, taken by a large, was very keen, but there wa s no e<:-ordination between them. Mr W. J. Gib-on Hughes, president of the league, said that the league’s aim was co-opera-tion, and if a retailers’ association was the natural outcome of the activity of the league in calling the various trades people together it would be something worth while to look back upon. Government Subsidy.

Notification from the Department of Labour, advising that the Government was agreeable to providing a subsidy of £2 5s per man, was received at yesterday’s monthly meeting of the Wanganui Harbour Board. The letter stated that this subsidy was applicable to casual labourers on full-time work, conditional upon the board paying the minimum Public Works standard’’rate of 2s per hour or award rates, whichever is .the higher. This proposal was acceptable to the board. A further letter from the Department of Labour asked the board to pay f or the broken time to enable Scheme 5 men to be given .employment to the nearest halfday. The managing-secretary (Mr. W J. Gardner) pointed out that this would cost the board approximately £5OO per annum. Members of the board were of the opinion that the cost would be too high and the Labour Department is to be notified accordingly. Snipping at Wanganui.

During the month of May 71 vessels arrived and 74 departed, stated the monthly report of the harbourmaster (Captain F. E. Naylor) which was received at yesterday’s meeting of the Wanganui Harbour Board. The arrivals included 29 coastal traders two intercolonial vessels, one overseas steamer (berthed at Castlecliff), two overseas vessels (loaded in roadstead), 06 lighters and the steam salvage tug Kahanui, returning from Wellington after her annual overhaul. The gross tonnage of the arrivals amounted to 4v,592. Overseas vessels which worked the port were the s.s. Salvus and the s.s. Chifuku Maru, both of which discharged at the Castlecliff Wharf. The Chifuku Maru was draw-ing 16ft. 7in. when she arrived. The two overseas steamers which loaded in the roadstead, were the Tc-ngariro and the Middlesex. The former vessel took on board 13 lighter loads, and the latter Carnival at Christmas Whether the week between Christmas Day and New Year’s Dav is the best period in which to promote seven days of Carnival activity in Wanganui is to be the subject of investigation by city retail traders, manufacturers and industrialists. The matter was raisea again at a meeting called yesterday by the Wanganui Tourist and Progressive League at which representatives of a number of retail trade organisations were present. Dr. G. J. Adams, chairman of the league’s organising committee, outlined the suggesticu maoe that every asset Wanganui bud should be utilised to attract people to the city at the height of the zest holiday period of the year. Every 'ports body, on land and on water, could utilise its resources to the full, he said, and, with the business people and industrialists co-operating, he visioned a jreat week of activity in Wanganui. He was of opinion that an industrial display lasting over a week could te promoted during the period h c had in uvnd On the suggestion of Messrs J & Jeffs and A. E. Snelling, the league vv’2l vail a meeting of all sections of retpil trade, manufacturers and industraJists to consider the proposal. It w?is expressly asked that Dr. Adam s should address that meeting. and a sug/eslion was made that the Mayor 'Mr \V. J. Rogers) should preside. “We are seeking unity,” said the preside.! t of the league, Mr W. J. Gibson Hughes, “and I would like to see a date for that meeting decided on i.-nme iiatcly.” The meeting concurred and Thursday week was fixed.