Town Talk

Wanganui Chronicle, Volume 79, Issue 249, 21 October 1936, Page 6

Town Talk

City Council Office Hours Henceforth the Wanganui town clerk’s office is to be closed on Saturday mornings and open on Friday evenings between 7 p.m. and 8.30 p.m.

Armed Constabulary A reunion of old members of the New Zealand Armed Constabulary is to be held in Wellington on Saturday. Mr J. Siddells, of Wanganui, will be among those who will attend.

Interest in Rowing. The present season has every indication of being a successful one for the three Wanganui clubs. A large number of new members have come forward and the clubs’ coaches and training boats have been kept busy easy evening until dark. An indication of the activity can be gauged from the fact that the coach of one club was on the river from 9.30 a.m. to 1.30 p.m. on Saturday training new members.

Fordell Railway Deviation. The preliminary work in connection with the construction of the railway deviation between Turakina and Fordell is at present finding work for 50 men at Fordell. The men, some of whom are carpenters engaged in constructing buildings, chiefly reside in Wanganui, and provide their own transport to work. It is expected that within the next few weeks about 40 men will commence on the actual work of the deviation.

Wanganui Jersey Club. The Wanganui Jersey Club on Friday night decided to allocate the following additional prizes for competition between members of the club: £5 5s points prize, £3 3s first and £2 2s second for best animal in local classes, £1 Is for best two-year-old bull, and £1 Is for best three-year-old heifer. These prizes will be competed for at the Wanganui Agricultural and Pastoral Association's annual summer show next month. Spread of Cape Daisy. The increasing spread of Cape daisy about streets and reserves in-Wanga-nui has given rise to a suggestion that more comprehensive efforts should be made to keep this weed in check. It has a very definite hold in Mouton Gardens, opposite the Courthouse, and in the parking reserve near Spriggens Park. In some of the other reserves it has just made its appearance and early attention on the part of the controlling authority would probably result in checking its spreac from taking complete control. Living in the Towns Large populations in towns compared with country districts in Australia was commented on by Cr. G. Bennett, who was welcomed back to his place by the Wanganui City Council last night. He said that there were two and a-half million people in New South Wales and one and a-half millions were in Sydney alone, in Victoria there were one and threequarter millions and a million of them were in Melbourne. South Australia had a population of 600,000 and 328,000 were in Adelaide. Cr. Bennett was one of the New Zealand party which has just, returned from the Commonwealth. Licence for a Still An item on the order paper presented for consideration at last night’s meeting of the Wanganui City Council appeared under the following heading: "Letter from Collector of Customs —Licence for Still; Bond to be Executed.” The Mayor (Mr W. J. Rogers) hastened to inform the council that the civic authorities of Wanganui were not engaged in any illicit whisky distilling. It was a still required for the gas works' Thus assured the council calmly passed a resolution authorising a bond that the still would not be used for other than its intended purpose and that the collector be asked to forego the usual sureties. Long Relay Race. On Labour Day the annual road relay race front Marton to Wanganui will be staged, and it. is expected that a record number of teams will be competing this year. The A team will run for a 60-guinea trophy, presented by Mrs. W. L. Young and at present held by the Wanganui Harrier Club. In other years the B teams have not had a trophy to compete for, but this year a trophy has been presented lot the race by Mrs. M. Armstrong, an enthusiastic supporter of the harrier sport. In the A division indications are that competition will be very keen, especially between the Marton and Wanganui Clubs, which will be fielding particularly strong teams. The race will be started at the Marton Post Office at 12.30 p.m. and the runners over the final lap will finish with four circuits of the oval at Cook's Gardens. Instruction in Aviation During his two weeks’ visit to Wanganui, Flight-Lieutenant lan Keith, pilot-instructor to the Western Federated (N. 1. Flying Club, spent more hours in the air giving dual instruction to members of the Wanganui Aero Club than has been the case for some time. Weather conditions were unfavourable for instruction on many days during his visit and had it not been for this fact far more hours would have been recorded. Last Sunday, Flight-Lieutenant lan Keith gave more than five hours’ dual instruction and had to turn jown at least another two hours as the club's Moth was required for passenger flights. The three clubs comprising the Western Federated (N. 1. Flying Club, Wanganui, New Plymouth, and Hawera, have a large number of pupils offering at the present time and the need for at least two additional machines is reported to be acute. Tennis in the Country. During discussion at the annual meeting of the Wanganui Lawn Tennis Association on Monday night as to the promotion of inter-club matches, a suggestion was put forward by Mr. D. Evans (Taihape Club) that the association co-operate with the Railway Department in an endeavour to synchronise inter-club tennis fixtures with the annual Tai-hape-to-Wanganui rail excursions. Discussion was begun by a suggestion put forward by Mr. G. P. Williamson (Wanganui East) that the city tennis clubs foster one or more of the clubs outside, such as Ohakune, Taihape, Hunterville and Marton, an. I thus encourage inter-club matches. Transport, of course, is always a difficulty in regard to such matches and Mr. Evans made his suggestion regarding railway excursions to overcome the problem. It was regarded as a most valuable suggestion.