Town Talk

Wanganui Chronicle, Volume 80, Issue 243, 13 October 1937, Page 6

Town Talk

Visiting Aircraft. Piloted by Mr. E. V. West, who was accompanied by a passenger, the Middle Districts Aero Club’s Moth ZK-ABV arrived at the Wanganui Airport yesterday afternoon. The ’plane returned late in the afternoon. Parcels for Shanghai. 1 The chief postmaster at Wanganui (Mr. G. Nelson) advises that the parcels services for Shanghai and North China has been resumed. Parcels can be sent at the senders’ risk. Museum Attendances During September a total of 999 persons visited the Wanganui Museum. For a corresponding period last year 982 people inspected the institution. Terms Examinations Commencing to-day the terms examinations for the Victoria University are to be held in St. Paul’s Hall and will continue to-morrow and conclude on Saturday. When candidates have qualified in these examinations they are eligible to sit for the degree examinations which will commence on November 1. Visit of Airliner.

Yesterday afternoon the Union Airways De Haviland airliner Korimako arrived at the Wanganui Airport from Palmerston North, piloted by the company’s chief pilot, Commander B. L. Blythe, with Mr P. Matheson as copilot. Landing practice was carried out by the co-pilot, and at 4.30 p.m. the machine returned to Milson. Several passengers were brought from Palmerston North on the Korimako.

Popularity of Rowing. “Considering the population of this city it is to be wondered at that there is not a greater interest in the sport of rowing in Wanganui,” said Mr. R. J. McDonald, president of the Wanganui Rowing Associati >n at the annual meeting of that body held last evening. He stated that there were approximately 100 members in the three clubs at the present time, and with the facilities available this number could be greatly increased. Many youths who were disengaged during the summer months could be interested and the sport would benefit accordingly. CastleclifT Beach.

A complaint of a Wanganui resident that the crowd attending Castlecliff beach last Sunday had not been properly catered for was referred to the town clerk (Mr. George Mur ch) yesterday. He said that public conveniences were always open on the beach on the old kiosk site. They were cared for by one of the council’s staff. It was not the council’s practice to open any portion of the bathing sheds until the bathing season commenced. Last Saturday’s weather was bitterly cold ana tne fine, warm conditions which followed on the Sunday were totally unexpected. Interest of Engineer

At yesterday’s meeting of the Wanganui Museum Board of Trustees, Mr Hope Gibbons thanked Mr G. W. Samson, Public Works engineer for Wanganui for the personal interest he was exhibiting in the work of recovering moa bones on Mr J. A. Todd’s property. The chairman said that Mr Samson’s enthusiasm was beyond that which he would exhibit in an official capacity and it was his personal interest which would mean a lot in the success of the work. Mr Samson, in reply, said that it was in the city’s interest that this work was being done, and this was one of the chief reasons for his keenness. Ths board signified their appreciation by hearty acclamation. Moa Bones

It is anticipated that work on the excavation of moa bones on Mr J. A. Todd’s property at Makirikiri will commence shortly. At yesterday’s meeting of the Board of Trustees of the Wanganui Museum, Mr G. W. Samson, Public Works engineer, outlined the scheme he proposed for the excavations. He said that although an area had been pegged out it was not definite where work would be commenced. He considered that with the scheme he advocated it would be possible to drive to a depth of 3u feet and logs encountered would present no difficulty. A 12ft. cut from one hole to the river had been considered but this had been abandoned because as quickly as the excavation would be drained it would fill again.

Shortage of Tradesmen. The statement of the president of the Wanganui Chamber of Commerce (Mr. F. H. Bethwaite) made at a meeting of the chamber’s executive on Monday night, that there were 12 journeymen carpenters working as labourer's on a Public Works undertaking near Wanganui, was referred to the Placement Officer (Mr. W. J. Guildford) yesterday. In reply, Mr. Guildford said that if that statement had been made some three weeks to a month ago it would have been more or less correct, but in that time all the tradesmen had been absorbed in their own trade. The erection of further workers’ dwellings near Turakina had absorbed several of them. Mr. Guildford added that the Placement Office was in touch with all tradesmen in the employ of the Public Works Department.