Town Talk

Wanganui Chronicle, Volume 79, Issue 238, 8 October 1936, Page 6

Town Talk

“Maid of the Mountains” A cast, including principals, chorus and ballets, totalling to just over 100 has been rehearsing steadily for lhe Wanganui Amateur Musical and Dramatic Society's forthcoming production of “The Maid of the Mountains,” which is to be staged during show week. Mrs Cecily Tabor Gregory, who is to produce “The Maid,” arrives in Wanganui next Monday. Life-Saving Awards. During the 1935-36 season the number of, awards issued by the Wanganui branch of the Royal Life-Saving Society (N.Z.) was 137, according to the annual report to be presented at the annual meeting to-night. These included 79 elementary and 33 intermediate awards. Since the branch commenced its activities 26 years ago 6016 awards have been issued. Aviation Scholarship. The following were the results of the aviation scholarship carried out at Hawera under the control of FlightLieutenant lan Keith, pilot-instructor to the Western Federated (N. 1. Flying* Club:—Mr J. D. Hurley (Patea) 1; Miss J. Greager (Wanganui) 2; Mr S. D. Spiers (Hawera) 3. A total of 42 entries were received from all parts of the Taranaki district. Athletic Broadcasts. The council of the New Zealand Amateur Athletic Association has arranged for a series of athletic coaching talks to be broadcast from Station 2YA, Wellington, at 7.45 p.m., tomorrow, November 6, and December 4. The broadcasts will provide young athletes with a unique opportunity of picking up valuable training hints from experienced men in the field of • amateur athletics. I Aero Instruction. The Western Federated (N. 1. Flying Club's pilot-instructor, FlightLieutenant lan Keith, arrived from New Plymouth yesterday morning. During the afternoon he was engaged in giving dual instruction to members of the Wanganui Aero Club. Flight-Lieutenant lan Keith will spend three weeks at Wanganui carrying out training work at the air- ; port. Training Pilots. Testifying to the encouragement of air-mindedness by the Western Federated Flying Club, 124 pupils trained by the instructor, Flight-Lieutenant lan Keith, have been successful in gaining their pilots’ licences. Prior to joining the dub, Flight-Lieutenant Keith was an instructor at Auckland, where he trained 12 pupils. Those he trained in the Western Federated Club include 58 pupils at New Plymouth, 40 at Wanganui, and 14 at Hawera. Torches Not “Lights.” “Many cyclists appear to have the impression that they are complying with the by-laws if they have an electric torch instead of a head-lamp on their machines,” remarked a Wanganui traffic officer yesterday. It was pointed out that the regulations are so worded as to make it clear that holding a lighted torch over the handleoars does not enable the cyclist to comply with the requirements of the law, and it would not ,be surprising to find more than one offender dealt with in order, as the French put it, “to encourage the others.” Home Liner Delayed. The showery weather experienced at Wanganui yesterday had an effect on lightering operations in the roadstead, with the result that the Federal freighter Hertford was unable to complete loading the Wanganui portion of her Homeward cargo. The steamer arrived from Wellington last Friday morning and is taking on board large quantities of frozen meat and dairy produce for Great Britain. It is now hoped to despatch the vessel for New Plymouth to-day. From Taranaki she will proceed to Auckland, her final port of call on the New Zealand coast. A Sign of Summer. Indicating the approach of summer, the Wanganui Central Fire Brigade received two calls to grass fires yesterday. The first came at 5.15 p.m., and a machine was despatched to Somme Parade, where some toi toi bushes and grass were on fire near Halswell Street. The outbreak was quickly suppressed, and no damage resulted. The second call, at 8.25 p.m., sent a machine to George Street, Aramoho, where a gorse fire occupied the attention of the brigade for a short time. This, also, was extinguished without difficulty. Schools and Life-Saving. The awards gained by various schools and clubs in the district covered by the Wanganui branch of the Life-Saving Society during the past twelve months totalled 137, and or these the main contributors were Wanganui East School (64) and Gonville School (37). The following comment is made in the report to be presented at the annual meeting tonight: “The Wanganui Girls’ College is particularly conspicuous by its absence. Until last year it was far our best member and for ten consecutive years gained the highest number of awards of any school or club. Others we would like to see in the field during the ensuing season are Collegiate, Aramoho, Queen’s Park, Hunterville, Intermediate and Marist Schools. We are always pleased to give assistance in the formation of classes at schools.” Airport Activity. Yesterday morning, Mr. C. Allison, a member of the Christchurch Aero Club, who has been making an aerial tour of the North Island, took off for Palmerston North in the Moth ZKAAR. Before his arrival at Wanganui on Saturday afternoon, Mr. Allison had called at the Blenheim, Rongotai, Masterton, Hastings, Rotorua, Hamilton, Auckland, Waipapakauri (North Cape), and New Plymouth aerodromes. He proposes to visit Palmerston North, Nelson, and Hokitika, before returning to Wigram. Yesterday morning Lhe Manawatu Aero Club’s Moth, ZK—ABV, piloted by Mr. L. G. West, with Mr. E. Harvie (assistant instructor at Milson) as passenger, made a brief visit to the airport. Another visitor during the morning was Mr. C. Lightband (ot New Plymouth) in the Western Federated (N. 1. Flying Club’s Moth ZK—AAX. He was flying to Palmerston North and Nelson and carried a passenger as far as Wanganui. He is expected to return during the weekend. At 2 p.m. Mr. B. Harrington arrived from Hawera in ZK—ACZ with Miss E. Harrington as passenger. They took off immediately ZK—ACH for Hawera.