Town Talk

Wanganui Chronicle, Volume 80, Issue 248, 19 October 1937, Page 6

Town Talk

Airliner’s Visit. Yesterday afternoon a visit was paid to the Wanganui Airport by Union Airways De Havilland airliner Korimako, which was flown by Commander B. A. Blythe, with Mr P. Matheson as co-pilot. During the afternoon landing practice was carried out by the co-pilot. New Fire Engine. The Wanganui Fire Board’s new Dennis fire engine, delivery of which was taken recently, is at present havi ing a body built on it in a Wanganui I coach-building factory. It is expected I that the work will be finished within ■ the next three to four weeks, when I the new engine, which is replete with all the latest fire-fighting equipment, will be placed in service at the central station. ' Old-Time Racing. How a spring-cart horse had won a hurdles race at a meeting of the Wanganui ffbekey Club 50 or 60 years I ago was related to members of the J Wanganui Rotary Club yesterday by j Mr F. I. Jones, during the course of , i an address on early Wanganui. Mr ' Jones said that a member of a wellknown Wanganui family had driven • into the city in a spring-cart. The horse was then unharnessed and won a hurdles race at the meeting. The Mug’s “Mug.”

The mug’s “mug” won by Rotarian R. G. Taiboy's at the recent returned soldiers’ golf tournament for the player returning the highest score was on exhibition at yesterday’s luncheon of the Wanganui Rotary Club. The trophy was passed along the tables and filled with “coppers” by Rotarians, a small sum being raised by this mean’s for the club's sunshine box. At the previous weekly luncheon Rotarian Taiboys was “fined” for winning the trophy by the sergeant-at-arms. Trains and Races

The suggestion that railway excursion trains to races and Rugby football matches in Wanganui should not detrain their passengers at the racecourse or Spriggens Park but bring them to tlw town station was made at last night’s annual meeting of the Wanganui Tourist and Development League by Mr G. H. Pownall. Ths speaker said that taxi-drivers, restaurants, the trams and business houses lost business by the passengers detraining at the sports grounds. Ob his motion it was decided that the incoming executive should take such action as considered necessary.

Wanganui Shipping According to the harbourmastei (Captain F. E. Naylor), whose report was received at the monthly meeting of the Wanganui Harbour Board yesterday 45 vessels, representing a gross tonnage of 33,459, arrived at the Port of Wanganui last month. The arrival included two overseas vessels (berthed at Castlecliff), one Home liner (loaded in roadstead), and 12 lighters. The Japanese freighter, Naniwa Maru, with a maximum draught of 15ft. Bin., discharged 1009 tons of sulphur from Japan and loaded 131 tons of wool and general cargo. The Bank Line motor-ship Larchbank, drawing 15ft. 10in., discharged 2780 tons of Nauru Island phosphate.

Harbour Improvements In accordance with the Wanganui Harbour Board’s improvement scheme at Castlecliff, the raising ot the moles is progressing satisfactorily. According to the monthly report of the works foreman (Mr R. C. Coss), received at the meeting of the board yesterday, 76 10-ton concrete blocks were manufactured in August. So far, approximately 152 concrete blocks have been deposited on the south mole. Seventy-one blocks were on hand- at the end of last month, when a total of 290 had been manufactured. Gravel was obtained from the river, near Imlay Wharf, and last month the board’s bucket dredge was almost constantly employed on this work. bicidence of Fires. Figures given to yesterday’s quarterly meeting of the Wanganui Fire Board by Superintendent N. M. Ross, showed that during the half-year ended September 30, 67 calls were answered by the brigade, 28 of the calls being to actual fires, 17 to grass fires and 13 to chimney fires. September was the worst month for fires, 19 calls being received, and Wednesday was the worst day of the week (17 calls), with Monday (12 calls) next. The damage to insured buildings was £3290« and insured contents £lOOO. The damage to unisured buildings was £3O, and uninsured contents £172. The 67 calls represented an increase of 26 over the number of calls received for the corresponding period of last year. Causes of Fires.

The folowing causes of fires in the Wanganui Fire Board’s area during the six months ended on September 30 were given by yesterday’s quarterly meeting of the board by Superintendent N. M. Ross, the number of calls being given in parentheses where more than one call was received: Children playing with matches (3), spark from loco. engine, unknown (6), short circuit (3), careless smoking (2), spark from open grate, sparks from chimney (2), cigarette butt, kerosene lamp, dry firewood, wooden box near chimney, candle left burning, curtains in contact with lamp, spark from copper fire, fat boiling over and suspicious circumstances.

Coastal Railway Route Authority for the president (Mr W. J. Gibson Hughes) to call a public meeting if necessary to discuss the coastal railway deviation put forward by Mr W. Drafiin was given by the Wanganui Tourist and Development League at its annual meeting last evening. Mr Hughes said that the league was leaving no stone unturned in its desire to bring the matter under the notice of the citizens of Wanganui. The Railways Department would bring forward a strong case in opposition to the deviation but the league would not let the city be sidetracked again. Mr W. J. Gilberd said that the department had said that it would take 10 men two years to survey the route. The route, however, had been surveyed 20 years ago and the pegs were still in the ground at Kai Iwi. Mr Hughes expressed his appreciation of the support received from the Wanganui Chamber of Commerce and its action in setting up a special committee to further the proposal.