Town Talk

Wanganui Chronicle, Volume 80, Issue 254, 26 October 1937, Page 6

Town Talk

Heavy Traffic Traffic on road and rail this year on Labour Day has been exceptional. It would be safe to say that it has never been heavier. Some Shops Will Be Closed A number of Wanganui retail premises will remain closed to-day because of the fact that they remained open on Easter Saturday of this year Under the Retail Shops Assistants’ Award it has been provided that any shops observing Easter Saturday an open day must give the day following Labour Day in lieu thereof.

Ski Sports Postponed. With heavy rain developing on Saturday evening and continuing most of Sunday conditions at Dawson Falls were sue: that the North Island ski sports and Taranaki championships had to be postponed. Many people made the trip to the hostel in the hope of seeing the skiers in action and the hostel’s accommodation was fully taxed.

Overhead Bridge. The work of constructing the approaches for the overhead bridge at Bonny Glen is proceeding apace and a good deal of filling has been deposited on the site. The deviation in the road that has been necessary through the work is in a very rough condition at the present time and after the recent rains necessitates a good deal of caution by motorists in negotiating it. Painful Accident

A Wanganui resident was the subject of an accident yesterday which may affect him for some time to come. He was driving nails when one struck him forcibly in an eye. The pain was intense for several minutes and the strain imposed on the other eye has affected it to such an extent as to cause almost complete blindness. Big Hui al Parihaka.

The memory of the supporters of Te Whiti and Tohu, whose remains lie in the cemetery at Parihaka, was honoured and recognition was given the work of two of the leading chiefs at Taranaki to-day, Powhareumu Toi and Nihomairangi Te Whiti, at a hui which concluded at Parihaka on Sunday. As a memorial to those who stood by Te Whiti in the troublous days of 1881 a stone wall round the burial place was consecrated. Blackbirds Increasing

A decided increase in the number of blackbirds has been noted in the Wanganui district. These birds seem to be thriving much more readily than thrushes, although both species are fairly plentiful. Thrushes have decided us'bs in the early spring despite their destructive agency when young fruit develops. They attack the snails and cunningly use concrete or asphalt surfaces to crack the hard shells to get at the palatable interior. Rain on Labour Day

In the past few years rain on Labour Day has become something in -the nature of a tradition and yesterday was no exception to the rule. Similarly to last year, rain fell early in the day but the weather cleared later. A cold southerly wind made conditions somewhat unpleasant and few ventured out without overcoats. A number of sporting fixtures were abandoned owing to the conditions prevailing in the morning but cricket matches were played in the afternoon.

Unique Flower. Au Australian waratah, a species of scrub flower, has bloomed in a Wanganui resident’s garden. Although the shrub had been in the garden for a considerable time it had never bloomed before and its identity was unknown. The flower is of striking appearance, and is the subject of comment by passers-by. Approximately three inches in diameter it is of a rich red shade. A number of stamens of exquisite shade and shape rise from’ a base of brick-red and terminate in wax-like globules. Women’s Hairdressing

“In 1929 there were only about 15 women’s hairdressing shops in Auckland city and suburbs, and the charge for a permanent wave was from £3 3s upward,” said Mr W. E. Anderson, secretary of the Auckland Employers Association, during the hearing of the hairdressers’ dispute in the Arbitration Court on Friday. "There are now 186 such establishments in the area, and prices range from 10s upward,” he added. “There must be a lot more permanent waves,” remarked Mr Justice O’Regan. Duty of Young Men

“The young men who should be volunteering for military training are those with some education and ability to take up positions as officers,” said Sir Cecil Leys, who presided at the annual meeting of the New Zealand Territorial Association at the Auckland Drill Hall. He urged the association to use its efforts to make n evident to the rising generation that some form of training which would equip youths to take their part in the national defence system was an obligation they should not avoid. It was a national obligation, which young men did not appreciate as they should. Guy Fawkes Day

Although it is still nearly a fortnight to Guy Fawkes Day (November 5) the juvenile life of the city has developed the “cracker" sense very definitely. Purchases in readiness foi the great day have begun in earnest, and in nearly every instance patience has not been strong enough to withstand the slow progress of time. Bursts of crackers ever anon come as vivid reminders to the adult section of Wanganui that it will pay to neon the “'copper standard” on the morning of November 5 to satisfy the repeated demands for “a penny for the Guy.”

Military Exercises. Military exercises are to be carried out next week-end by the First Battalion of the Wellington Regiment, which is to bivouac on the property of Mr. Eric Riddiford, at Orongorongo. The troops, who will be under the command of Colonel E. M. Stace, are to take up a defensive position on the beach and do elementary training in repelling an imaginary attempted landing. The operations will include night manoeuvres. Under the new defence scheme the Wellington Battalion is a fortress battalion whose duty it is to defend the city and the coastline for a distance of approximately twenty-five miles on either side, and for this reason all training is being carried out within that area. A second bivouac of a similar nature will be held on November 20 and 21. Major A. L. George will be second-in-command, and Captain L. W. Andrew, V.C., adjutant.