Town Talk

Wanganui Chronicle, Volume 80, Issue 251, 22 October 1937, Page 6

Town Talk

A.A. Meeting Adjourned. Following the annual meeting of the Automobile Association (Wanganui) on Wednesday evening, a meeting of the executive was held. The agenda paper comprised a number of important matters necessitating serious deliberation and for this reason the meeting was adjourned for a week after routine matters had been dealt with. Ambulance Cases.

During the month of September the Wanganui Free Ambulance conveyed a total number of 67 cases in the course of its duties, and travelled over 1000 miles. The cases were from Wanganui (57), Tutaenui (1), Upokongaro (1), Turakina (1), Maxwell (1), Marybank (2), Marton (2). Since the inception of the service a total number of 2314 cases have been attended and 31,810 miles covered.

Early Settlers’ Association It was ’seven years ago that the Wanganui Early Settlers’ Association •was founded by Mr L. J. B. Chapple .and others interested. Since that time the association has made good progress and now its activities are followed with interest by a large number of people in Wanganui and district. The gatherings of the association are held three or four times a year and are invariably attended by a large number of old people. Farmers’ Union.

To urge Dominion headquarters to do everything possible to secure the closest co-operation of the Sheepowners’ Federation with the union was decided at a meeting of the Wellington Central Executive of the Farmers’ Union held in Marton on Tuesday. A letter from the Feilding district branch assuring the co-opera-tion of the federation was read to the meeting and it was agreed to reply that the executive welcomed the offer of co-operation. A.A. Patrols and Parking

The opinion that since the A.A. patrols had assisted in the task of parking motor-vehicles at sports gatherings their popularity had increased by at least 500 per cent., was expressed by Patrol L. F. Dowling at this week’s meeting of the executive of the Automobile Association (Wanganui). Patrol Dowling said that the patrols were previously just tolerated but since the value of their work had been proved, they were welcomed by sports clubs at their meetings. Hospital Statistics. During the month of September 154 beds were occupied in the Wanganui Public Hospital, the patients comprising 81 males and 73 females. During the month a total of 15 patients died. Treatments for radium and deep therapy and X-ray examinations totalled 156. In hospitals in the Wanganui board’s district the numbers of patients under treatment were: Taihape 20, Raetihi 16. The Marton district nurse paid 262 visits, the Wanganui nurse 323, and the Ohakune nurse 95. To the Jessie Hope Gibbons Maternity Hospital 26 patients were admitted.

Forthcoming Show The number of entries so far received by the secretary of the Wanganui Agricultural and Pastoral Show would indicate that every section will be well up to former standards. The chief stewards are now visiting the Hawke s Bay and Manawatu show's in an endeavour to obtain further entries from successful exhibitors. Members of the General Committee arc .holding a working bee on the racecourse on Tuesday and Wednesdav next, commencing at 8 a.m. and anticipate that a number of voluntary workers will assist in preparing the grounds for the show 7. Breeders and exhibitors are reminded that entries in all sections close at the office of the secretary, Mr J. P. Wells, on Wednesday next.

Accidents on Deviation. Several minor accidents have occurred to workers employed on the Turakina-Okoia railway deviation this week. On. Monday A. Ryman, foreman fitter, was injured when a jack fell and a prong pierced his right foot; S. Mitchell, head tunneller, had his right arm slightly injured when the ribs of a tunnel collapsed; J. C. Treewek received injuries to his fingers when they were crushed between an electric locomotive and a truck, and A. E. Simms had a narrow escape when he fell off a face and through a “Chinaman.” He was buried in a fall of earth but escaped without injuries. Yesterday F. O’Keefe was admitted to the Wanganui Hospital with a fractured leg, received when he was struck by a fall of earth. His condition was reported to be satisfactory last evening.

Taihape Camping Ground. The suggestion that the executive might give a donation toward the purchase of electric cookers for the Taihape motorists’ camping ground was made by Mr. T. C. Kincaid at Wednesday’s meeting of the executive of the Automobile Association (Wanganui). Mr. Kincaid said that last year the association had made a grant of £25 for the camp site, which was now a delightful spot and thoroughly up to date. The amount of money spent on the area to date was £859. He had been requested to solicit a grant from the association toward the cost of providing electric cookers. The president (Mr. A. S. Burgess) said that he did not think the association should contribute toward the cost of equipment at the camp site but assist in effecting general improvements. The matter was referred to the executive for consideration.

Early Wanganui Fires The fire which destroyed the early Rutland Hotel on Christmas Day oi 1868 was recalled by Mr F. Webn Jones, the speaker at yesterday's gathering of the Wanganui Early Settlers’ Association. The building stood on the site which its predecessor at present occupies, and the Intense blaze ignited buildings on either side. Where Hallenstein Bros.’ building now stands was a hospital in which, were a number of soldiers who had been wounded in the Maori wars. When the structure caught alight they were carried to safety. Another fire which remained clear in the speaker’s memory was that when the new Presbyterian Church, which stood in the block between MeGruer’s and the Majestic Theatre, was destroyed. This was in 1869. when the church had been but recently completed. The lack of suitable fire-fighting equipment left the onlookers helpless and they could tn. nothing to prevent the spread of the flames.