Town Talk

Wanganui Chronicle, Volume 80, Issue 279, 24 November 1937, Page 6

Town Talk

Garrison Band Fund A further donation of 17s 6d from the employees of A. D. Willis, Ltd., for the Wanganui Garrison Band’s Sydney centenary fdnd has been received by the town clerk.

Queen’s Park School. Good progress is being made with the additions to the Queen’s Park School. Accommodation has been taxed heavily of late and the extra room being erected will ease matters considerably.

Anzac Parade Bridge It is the intention of the Wanganui City Council to replace the existing bridge in Anzac Parade over the Matarawa Stream with a new ana modern structure. The present bridge affords right of way to one car at a time and as such is a danger to traffic. Tenders for the new work, a single-span ferro-concrete job, are being called now.

Durie Hill Flagstaff The old flagstaff on Durie Hill, which has long since passed into disuse after a Jong period of service to river-going shipping, is fast falling to decay. During the recent heavy gales it was expected that the old staff would fall, but it is still holding on to life as though determined to outdo many another landmark which has disappeared.

Wanganui Police Force. The strength of the Wanganui police force is gradually being built up to allow the day off a week which is permitted under recent legislation. Constable C. L. Bourke arrievd yesterday on transfer from Wellington. A number of new arrivals have been added to the Wanganui strength of late, but in some instances they have replaced others who have been transferred elsewhere. The Placement Service

Positions filled in Wanganui by the Placement Office from April 1, *1937, to November 20, total 1372 and are made up as follow: Permanent (exceeding three months), 476; casual (up to one week), 747; temporary (week to three months), 149; during week ended November 20, 67. The total placements for the Dominion for the same period were 27,748 and weix. made up as follow: Permanent. 11,011; casual, 9878; temporary, 6859; during week ended November 20, 969.

Resting in the Park. Both Queen’s Park and Moutoa Gardens provide havens of rest for mahy classes of people during the mid-day hours from 12 to 2. City girls were seen yesterday eating their lunches in Queen’s Park, some of them knitting, others reading. A middle-aged man was sketching and an older one at another point was enjoying a quiet noon-day nap. Although very dry as the result of the current summer weather, the parks are in distinct contrast to the busy city streets.

Sulphur for Wanganui. A shipment of 1500 tons of sulphur is being discharged at New Plymouth by the German steamer Salamaua for Kempthorne, Prosser and Co.’s chemical works. The sulphur is being forwarded to Wanganui by rail. The Salamaua, which is on its maiden voyage to New Zealand, has borne three names since she was built in 1920. At first she was named Milverton, which was changed to Glentara and then to Salamaua. The Bank Line motor-ship Myrtlebank is expected to discharge more than 3000 tons of Ocean Island phosphate at Castlecliff next week for Kempthorne Prosser and Co. Rail Excursions

Day and week-end excursions by rail are becoming increasingly popular and it is the intention of the department to continue them throughout the summer season. On the last week-end of this month an excursion is to travel to New Plymouth from Wanganui. A train is to run from Marton to Wellington every week-end as long as the traffic warrants it, ano it is expected that it will terminate at Easter. In. connection with the New Zealand senior swimming championships to be held at New Plymouth on January 9, a special train will run from Wanganui. An excursion from Wanganui to Napier will also probably be run early in the New Year.

Tawhero School Fernery A feature of the Tawhero School grounds is the fernery and rockery which has been built under the supervision of the headmaster, Mr XV. P. XV.'iliams. The fernery is about 25(t. by 20ft., with substantial supports and is partially lined with punga trunks. An effort is being made to procure sufficient manuka branches to thatch the fernery, and when the ferns and other plants have grown up the whole should provide a striking picture. The bright flowers and the alpine plants in the rockery, together with the many different hues among the roses, assist in providing a pleasing background.

Purchases for Christmas That Christmas is not far distant is being more forcibly brought to mind by the appearance in city window displays of goods calculated to make an appeal as presents. The problem of selecting suitable and satisfying gifts for friends and relations will soon become a burning matter and one of serious moment for those who take a serious view of gift selection. The problem is made more bewildering each year by the wider and more attractive range of articles offered. Those who are wise will do their Christmas shopping early and not only give themselves more time in which to select their gifts but help to obviate the customary last-minute rush.

XX'ork on Airport Ceases Reconstruction and developmental work on the Wanganui Airport has been brought to a conclusion and the final gangs of men have been transferred to other works in the city. The work was carried out for several years as an unemployment relief undertaking under the No. 5 subsidy scheme and provided employment for up to and over 300 men at times. About a year ago the work was taken over as a Public Works Department undertaking and the workers employed full time at standard rates of pay. The airport is now considered to be equal to any landing field in New Zealand both so far as surface and area are concerned and is now a valuable asset to the city and district. Lengthy runways have been constructed in every direction and artcapable of handling larger 'planes than at present in use in the New Zealand air services. During the winter months trouble was experienced with surface water after heavy rains but it is hoped that the drains and sumps recently installed will remove this difficulty.-