Town Talk

Wanganui Chronicle, Volume 82, Issue 305, 24 December 1938, Page 6

Town Talk

‘‘The Chronicle” will not be published on Monday next, December 26, that day being observed as Christmas Day. There will be no publication on I the Mondey following, January 2, I that day being observed as New : Year’s Day. I Christmas Church Services. i Special Christmas services will be i held in Wanganui churches. Features i of the services will be the singing of I Christmas carols and Christinas I hymns. I Marriage Licences. i Marriage licences issued in Wanga- ■ nui to date this year aggregated 305, as against 289 for the year 1937. The ■ ! peak year was in 1926, when 325 were I issued. ! Contrast Art Exhibition. Comprising sixty faithful rcproducII tions of works by old masters and modern paintings, a contrast exhibif tion is now on show at the Sarjeant f I Gallery. The exhibition is the gift of , the Carnegie Corporation of New I York to the National Gallery, WelI lington, and has kindly been loaned I for display in Wanganui. Increased Tariffs. The tariff charge of hotels in many parts of the North lisland has been increased by Is 6d daily because of rising costs, the price of casual meals being increased by sixpence. This is due to increased wages and less hours of work under the latest award. Holiday Tram Service. The city tram and bus service wili continue running to-night until 11 p.m. from the Post Office and special trams and buses will leave for all the terminals at midnight. No tram service will be run to-morrow, Christmas Day, but on Monday and Tuesday, December 26 and 27, the ordinary weekday tram service will operate. If weather conditions are favourable the holiday service will be maintained between the city and Castlecliff Beach. From Monday, December 26, to January 2 an observation bus will leave the Post Office at 2.15 p.m. daily for a 24-mile tour. Rowing Not Harmful. ‘‘lf we could lay the bogey that rowing strains a person’s heart,” said Mr. B. Walker at a meeting of the executive of the Canterbury Rowing Association, ‘‘then we would do a great deal for the sport. We often read in the newspapers that rowing strains the heart, and although this may be refuted, the refutation never seems to stick like the wrong impression. Only the other day the Petone Rowing Club offered a couple of fours to a boys’ school, but they were refused because it was said, ‘rowing strains the boys’ hearts.’ ” ■ Seventh Day Adventist Camp. No less than 180 tents have been - erected on the Palmerston North Showgrounds to accommodate the 700 people who will be attending the annual camp of the Seventh Day Adventists, which opens next week. In charge of the camp will be the president, Pastor, H. G. Moulds, who comes from Tasmania. This is the second year in succession that the camp has been held in Palmerston North, the central situation of the city and the suitability of the grounds contributing to this decision.

Motor Licensing Plales. Wanganui motor vehicles will bear numbers from 169,501 to 177,500 next year. The plates will be orange with the figures in black. During the current year the highest numbers are being carried on motor vehicles registered in Christchurch, but for the next re-licensing period, Wellington district will top the position numerically. The lowest numbers are to be allocated to Invercargill, starting from 2001 for private cars, and they will increase in geographical order going as far as Blenheim. Then the next consecutive numbers are to be allocated to Auckland, starting with cars at 73,501, and increasing in the south until the highest point is reached in Wellington, starting with 190,501. Cars number 1 to 200 will be reserved for private hire and rental cars. New Zealand Tartan.

While there is general approval of the proposed selection of the tartan of the famous Highland regiment, the Black Watch, in the event of the establishment in the Dominion of a Highland battalion, a suggestion has been advanced by a New Zealand Scot in Auckland that a special tartan should be designed for the kilts of the troops. He also suggests that the native greenstone should be adopted in place of the traditional cairngorm. The tartan, he submits, should be based on the green and crimson colours of the pohutukawa, the native Christmas tree. The plaid brooch should be of greenstone with the silver fern and the thistle entwined. The head-dress is suggested as a Balmoral with green and crimson band, and a badge shaped from greenstone surmounted by the tail feather of some native bird —a black feather with a white tip in imitation of the hula as used by the old Maori warriors would be ideal, the correspondent suggests. The sporran should be of deerskin, hose to match the colours of the kilt, and to be worn without spats. The shoes of the pipers only should be adorned with buckles inset with greenstone. The correspondent states he feels confident that a tartan of this description could be made in New Zealand.