Town Talk

Wanganui Chronicle, Volume 80, Issue 89, 16 April 1938, Page 8

Town Talk

Inspection of Dredge. Following the recent annual inspection of the Wanganui Harbour Board's hooper dredge, the Kaione, a report was received from the ship and engineering surveyor who carried out the work. This was presented at the meeting of the board held yesterday. “The hull was well coated as per contract, and is in really good condition,” states the report.

Power Lines. “A considerable amount of reconstruction has been carried out on low tension lines and services in Wanganui East on the route of the new 11,000-volt line from the railway workshops to Aramoho. This work is nearly completed and the new feeder will be in service in time for the heavy winter load,” stated Mr. H. Webb, engineer to the Wanganui-Rangitikei Electric Power Board, in his report to the board to-day.

Y.M.C.A. Gymnasium at Deniair. The Y.M.C.A. gymnasium for senior lasses at Deniair was opened at the Y.M.C.A. Hall, when there was a fair attendance of members. The pupils were given an hour of interesting physical instruction by Mr. Briscoe, of Wanganui, and thoroughly enjoyed the exercises and games. It is expected that the numbers of the class will rapidly increase. At the junior classes there was an exceptionally large muster of young people present.

’Planes for New Plymouth Rally. Early yesterday morning two Wanganui 'planes set out for New Plymouth—the Tiger Moth, piloted by Flying-Officer Tancred, and the Gipsy Moth, piloted by Miss J. Winstone. Exceptionally bad flying conditions were met with and the Gipsy Moth was forced to return to Wanganui. The Tiger Moth reached New Plymouth via the coast route after two and a quarter hours’ flying. The usual time for the trip is one hour. Waitotara Accident.

A light lorry with horse-float attached, owned by Mr. C. V. Pearce, was returning from the hunt- when the lorry skidded in the loose metal on the Waitotara Hill and overturned. Fortunately, the float did not go over with the lorry. The horses were removed and with the aid of several residents the lorry was lifted up. The iron-work connecting the float to the lorry was twisted and the vehicle itself slightly damaged. The occupants were unhurt. Accommodation for Visitors.

The difficulty experienced by Easter visitors to Wanganui in procuring accommodation has caused the Wanganui Tourist and Development League much concern, and yesterday upwards of fifty people were placed in private homes. Last night several visitors were faced with the prospect of sleeping in their motor-cars, and the president of the Tourist and Development League, Mr W. J. Gibson Hughes, suggests that any Wanganui resident who would be prepared to accommodate paying guests could communicate with him.

Last Board Meeting. The last meeting of the Wanganui Harbour Board before the forthcoming elections was held on Wednesday, with Mr. W. J. Rogers in the chair. At the close of the meeting an informal discussion arose concerning the number of years that various members had been connected with the board. It was found that various members joined the board as follows: Mr. J. Morrison 1923 (elected member), Mr. W. J. Rogers 1923, Mr. J. Patterson 1929, Mr. D. Ross 1929, Mr. R. Farley 1929, Mr. J. Robertson 1931, Mr. J. Millward 1931, Mr. J. Morrison (Government representative 1929, Mr. T. Mitchell 1935, Capt. J. White 1935. Mr. J. Siddells was first elected in 1927, returned in 1929, and was re-elected in 1935. Shell Rock.

“For the past month the delivery of shell rock from the quarries has been increased considerably,” stated Mr. R. R. Dawson, engineer, in his report presented at the monthly meeting of the Wanganui Harbour Board, held on Wednesday. ‘‘Good supplies are expected until the end of this month when deliveries will be suspended for a week or more during which time the balance of shingle required for concrete blocks will be obtained from the river. Good progress is being made with the construction of concrete blocks. There are at present approximately 100 U tons on hand ready for delivery on the moles.’’ The engineer recommended, as the result of an inspection of the river training walls, that up to 1500 tons of small shell rock could be utilised by raising the wall about two feet between the Gas Wharf and the oil wharf. There is a considerable quantity of suitable small rock at the quarries, which the engineer stated could be used. It was decided to carry out his suggestion.