Town Talk

Wanganui Chronicle, Volume 80, Issue 275, 19 November 1937, Page 6

Town Talk

Main Highways. It is understood that the Main Highways Board will assume responsibility on Monday for the maintenance of the Wanganui-Waitotara portion of the main Auckland-Wellington highway. Four Ex-Mayors

Four ex-Mayors were present at a social gathering at Foster's Hotel yesterday afternoon—Mr Hope Gibbons, Mr A. G. Bignell and Mr N. G. Armstrong, all of whom have qpuf.:e< : the Mayoral chair in Wanganui, and Mr George Baildon, an ex-Mayor ol Auckland.

South Island Horses. Twenty horses from the South Island (draughts) arrived in Wanganui yesterday and a further 20 arrive to-day. They are to be offered for sale to-morrow, indicating that owners in the South feel confident of a ready market for that class of horse in the Wanganui district. N.Z. Pilot’s Record Flight

Considerable interest was taken throughout the Dominion in the progress of Flying-Officer Clouston during his record-breaking flight to the Cape in view of the fact that he is a New Zealander and a club-trained pilot. Prior to the present flight, the best time for the journey was 3 days 6 hours 25 minutes, established by Miss Amy Johnston (Mrs J. Mollison) last year. Popularity of Caravans

Each summer sees an increase in the popularity of caravans for camping purposes and each year these homes on wheels become more luxurious. Some can almost be described as miniature homes with many of the amenities of home life, even to the inclusion of running hot and cold water and electric light. However, there are many motorists who are unaware that the Traffic Regulations, 1936, define these caravans or trailers as motor vehicles and that, as such, they must possess a warrant of fitness. Farmers’ Fleece Contest Wanganui woolgrowers are being reminded of the fleece competition held in March each year and sponsored by the New Zealand Farmers’ Union. Mr T. Currie, the president of the Wanganui Provincial Centre of the Union, stated that last year, owing to the wet shearing season, it was difficult for farmers to pick out their best fleeces when shearing. With the straight run which everyone is experiencing this year, however, he expected a large number of fleeces to be sent separately into the wool stores, for the competition. The competition is for any count of wool in “natural condition.”

The Tymeric’s Anchor The missing anchor and 60 fathoms of cable from the British steamer Tymeric at Castlecliff have been conI nected to a winch on board the steamer. This was done by the Wanganui Harbour Board’s staff on Wednesday, a number of lengths of wire mooring line being utilised. The steamer was unable to depart yesterday, but when she clears the port today, if weather conditions are favourable, the wire rope will be wound in as the vessel moves toward the harbour entrance. When the Jost cable reaches the vessel’s deck it will bt connected to a chain already on board and wound in by the anchor windlass.

Partial Eclipse of Moon. A partial eclipse of the moon, visible throughout New Zealand, took place last evening but in Wanganui was marred by heavy clouds at the most interesting stage. The moon, which was very low on the horizon, entered the earth’s shadow just after 7.30 p.m. The eclipse was scheduled to reach its maximum at 8.18 p.m., when one-sixth of its surface would have been hidden, but at this stage the orb was hidden by clouds and was not visible again until after the eclipse was over. Several residents gathered at the observatory in Cook’s Gardens to view the phenomenon through the telescope but were disappointed.

R.S.A. Hospital Association. The question of establishing a Returned Soldiers’ Hospital Association in Wanganui, whereby members could receive hospital treatment on the same lines as friendly societies, was discussed at the quarterly meeting of the Wanganui R.S.A. on Wednesday

night. The Dannevirke scheme was referred to. Mr. H. M. Keesing stale.! that so far as Wanganui was concerned it might be a good plan to approach the Friendly Societies’ association and, with its consent, approach the Hospital Board to allow members of the R.S.A. to receive the same privileges as extended to Friendly Societies. He thought that it was more likely that the board would be willing to allow returned men privileges in that way than to establish a separate association. This suggestion was adopted and the executive" recommended to look into it and, if possible, put it into effect. Tin Hat Club.

The future of the Wanganui Returned Soldiers’ Association’s Tin Hat Club was discussed at a quarterly meeting of the Association on Wednesday night. Mr. C. la Roche, who has been largely responsible for the activities of the club of late, made an appeal for greater support for the Tin Hat activities. He said that a great deal of trouble had been gone io to make the programmes attractive and the talent available was as good as could be obtained in the city. Next Thursday the Club intended’holding its final “Tattoo” of the current year and it would be a ladies’ night. Mr W. H. Cannan and other speakers spoke in a similar strain and urged the rank and file of the association to support the Tin Hat activities as fully as possible. “Now that we have the old club room in St Hill Street back in our own hands the Tin Hat activities should prove very popular, in that we will be able to run them on the night in the week most suitable to members,” said Mr Cannan.