Town Talk

Wanganui Chronicle, Volume 79, Issue 295, 14 December 1936, Page 6

Town Talk

Grass Fire. At 12.58 p.m. on Saturday the Central Fire Station received a call to a grass and lupin lire near the Imlay Freezing Works, Heads Road, Gonville. No damage resulted. Not the Same Duke. Asking on Saturday who would be the new King, a Wanganui child oi tender years was told that the Duke of fork would De the King. "Is that the Duke who had ten thousand men, mummie,” he eargerly inquired. Aero Club Competitions. Pilots of lhe Wanganui Aero Club held their monthly landing and bombing compet.tions at the Wanganui Airport yesterday afternoon in idXd weather. The bombing competition was won by J. R. Franklin, with P. Tennent second and A. Tasker third. The landing competition went to J. Strachan (2 points) with K. Congreve (5 points) second, and M. King and D. Lethbridge (7 points each) equal for third place. An expensive “Dip.” An incident which occurred dunng a visit to an English hotel many years ago was recalled by the Hon. J. G. Cobbe, M.P. for Oroua, when addressing a gathering at Hunterville during the opening of the new swimming baths. Mr Cobbe had inquired the w’hy to the hotel bathroom, and was shown thither by the landlady herself, who carried a bunch of keys with which to unlock the padlocked door. "That bath cost me eighteenpence,” remarked Mr Cobbe, amid gales of laughter. Preparing for Regatta. Setting iii train preparations for the Wanganui annual regatta, to be held at Sandy Hook on Boxing Day, a large working party from the three rowing sheds gathered at the ground over the week-end. A considerable amount of work was done in clearing the ground and marking out sites for the varied activities which will form attractions at the regatta. Further working bees will be held prior to the regatta date. Prize-giving Ceremonies. Both the Wanganui College and St. George’s School will hold.their break-ing-up and prize-giving ceremonies this afternoon. The speaker at the Collegiate School will be Mr. G. W. Currie, chairman of the College Board of Trustees, who returned recently from a holiday visit to England. The college function will commence at j 2.15 p.m. and will be followed at 3.45 p.m. by the St. George’s School cere- j mony. The speaker at this function j will he Mr. W. J. Sim, of Christ- I church. Activity at Airport. Yesterday was a busy day al lhe I Wanganui Airport and two machines, ZK-AAX and ZK-ACH, were in use from early in the morning until dark- | ness. The Moth ZK-ACH was flown I to Wanganui from New Plymouth by Mr. K. Martin, a member of the New Plymouth Aero Club, who returned late in the afternoon in ZK-AAX. During the afternoon Mr. A. Salter, ground engineer to the Western Federated (N.i.) Flying Club called in at Wanganui while en route to New Plymouth from Wellington in ZK-ACZ. This machine has just been overhauled in Wellington. Inter-College Rowing. Keen interest is being displayed in the annual rowing events between the Wanganui Collegiate School and Christ’s College crews, to take place on the Wanganui River this morning. The finishing point of the events is opposite the Aramoiio Boating Club’s shed, the course being about a mile. The first event is due to start at 10 a.m., and immediately afterwards the second crews from each of the schools will row their race. It is anticipated that a large crowd will gather to sec the two races, which will, as usual, be followed by a large number of the school pupils and old boys. I Broadcasting Exams. I Advice has been received from the I Chief Post. Office, Wellington, that j the following have successfully passed all sections of the New Zealand Government Broadcasting Station operators’ examination: F. Emmett, H. Marchant. J. Dean, H. A. Bradley, L. Carter, A. Bustard. The practical section of this section of this was j taken on a 1 kilowatt broad-cast station type of transmitter, built and operated by the boys themselves at the residence of Mr. G. Turner, A.M.1.R.E., who coached them and is the proud owner of one of the most powerful and up-to-date private amateur experimental static ns in Now Zealand.

Waterfront Holiday. As is customary on lhe King’s Birthday, a full holiday will be observed on the waterfront at Wanganui to-day. The only vessel in port will be the Anchor Shipping and Foundry Company's coastal steamer Waimea, which was expected last night from Westport direct. The vessel has 260 tons of coal, all of which she will unload at the Gas Wharf. Two other vessels, the Kapiti and Breeze, were originally due to work cargo at Wanganui to-day. The lastnamed vessel was delayed last week, however, and is expected to complete her Wanganui loading at. Wellington and Picton to-morrow, being due here |on Wednesday. The Kapiti is scheduled to arrive to-morrow morning with general cargo from Wellington. Wanganui Sailing Club. The Wanganui Sa.ling Club’s series of class handicap events for trophies which are being competed for simultaneously were continued on th: Wanganui River last Saturday aft<".noon, when a race was held over <■ six-mile course. Sailing condition! were good, particularly in the earlin stages of the contest. Assisted by a fair S.S.W. breeze all boats i-larted well, but toward the finish the win-J dropped to a certain extent. Sunshine, away at 3.16 p.m. and home at 4.39 i p.m., brought victory to A. and S. Wall, who were followed by J. Indei and C. Armit in Rio, which starter at 3.16 p.m. and finished at 4.401 p.m., and by Eve (E. Domney and W. Deerness), away at 3.24 p.m. and home at 4.41 p.m. Eve also gained fastest time, beating Merlin (F. D. Bethwaite) for this honour by 15 seconds. Merlin, incidentally, started or scratch. Preparations are now being made for the New Year Regatta which will be held in conjunction with the Christmas Carnival.