Town Talk

Wanganui Chronicle, Volume 83, Issue 1, 3 January 1939, Page 6

Town Talk

Grass Fire. The Central Fire Station received a call at 11.21 a.m. yesterday to a grass fire on the railway line opposite the corner of London Street and Lowther Street. The fire was eliminated without damage being done. Scouts’ Greetings. Scoutmaster Allan Dale, formerly of Wanganui, had the honour of being the first speaker in a link-up with the New Zealand ZB stations on New Year's Eve conveying greetings from Dominion Boy Scouts attending the Centennial jamboree at Sydney. Marton Race Train. When the special train for the Marton races left Wanganui yesterday morning it tarried 100 passengers. However, passengers were picked up at intermediate stations and when the train arrived at Marton Junction it had a complement of more than 300 race patrons. Motor-Cyclist’s Escape. A Wanganui motor-cyclist had a lucky escape from serious injury yesterday, when he was stricken with an epileptic fit while travelling on the No. 3 Line. Falling from his machine, the unfortunate victim of the attack suffered minor abrasions, and was assisted homewards. Motor-Car Overturns. When his car left the Warrengate Road and overturned at about 5 p.m. on Sunday, John Malcolm May, -of Keith Street, suffered head injuries which necessitated his removal to the Wanganui Hospital. His condition, which is serious, was reported last night to be unchanged. Youth Injured. Suffering from injuries received when he fell on his head in the club dressing sheds, L. Thomas, a member of the Castlecliff Surf Section of the New Zealand Royal Life-Saving Society, was admitted to the Wanganui Hospital on Sunday. His condition was reported last night to be satisfactory. Gorge Road Warning Whether Friday's earthquake was in any way responsible is open to conjecture, but the officials of the Public Works Department in the Manawatu Gorge state on Saturday that a fresh landslide was imminent at the same spot where a fall a week ago blocked the road, reports the Evening Post's Manawatu correspondent. The greatest care is necessary on the part of those using the highway. _ Museum and Gallery Almost 1000 people have passed through the Wanganui Museum since the beginning of the Christmas and New Year holidays, many of the patrons being visitors from overseas countries who have paid tribute to the worth of the institution. Some of the overseas visitors were surprised to see such a fine museum in a city the size of Wanganui. The Sarjeant Gallery, too, has been visited by a large number ot people and has also been the subject of much favourable comment.

Another Young Kiwi. Another young kiwi has been hatched on the property of Mr. J. P. Turnbull, Kaiwaka, Hawke's Bay. A kiwi's nest was discovered last week by Mr. Turnbull in close proximity to the nest found by him only a few months ago, and investigation revealed that the nest contained two eggs. It was not known how long the bird had been sitting on the eggs, but within two days of its discovery the adult bird and one chick had disappeared. The second egg was not fertile. The nest was located on a ferncovered bank near a patch of bush. Tug-of-War Contest. An event which created considerable interest at the United Wanganui Friendly Societies’ annual picnic at Aramoho Park yesterday, was a tug-of-war contest between teams of five. The first pull resulted in a win for a team named the Nomads. The winners were promptly challenged by Constable Willetts, of the Aramoho Police Station, and his four husky sons, Charles, Ernest, Sydney and Jack. The combination of youth and experience proved too tough a proposition for the Nomads, who were defeated by two straight pulls, the victors receiving a great ovation from the crowd. Luxurious Caravans Some of the caravans which have visited the Aramoho Park motorists’ camp site during the Christmas and New Year holidays could almost be termed homes away from home. Many of the caravans are the last word in luxury with practically every facility that one would find in a modern house, including running hot and cold water, electric light, stoves and ovens, radios and comfortable easy chairs. Holidaying under canvas or in caravans is becoming increasingly popular each holiday season and this season there have been hundreds of caravans and trailers of all shapes and sizes on the road. Some of the caravans are rather crude-looking affairs but the majority are well laid out and luxuriously appointed. Praise for Museum

A visitor to the Wanganui Museum on Sunday was Miss Jan Bela, of the Dutch island of Bali, a well-known American anthropoligist, who sails for Sydney to-day after a short tour of New Zealand. Miss Bela telephoned the museum from Chateau Tongariro on Saturday to enquire if the institution would be open on Sunday. After being . shown through the museum. Miss Bela intimated that she had learned of the Wanganui Museum through its Carnegie loan collection of carved bailers which she had seen at Auckland. Miss Bela paid tribute to the fine display at the museum and said that she intended to make a further visit to New Zealand at a later date when she would have more time at her disposal.

“Bumper” Race Meetings. The New Year’s Day holiday yesterday was marked by “bumper” attendances at race meetings in New Zealand, the Marton and Stratford fixtures in particular being notable in this respect. At Marton 1300 motorcars occupied the car-park, and there were 240 on the roads leading to the course. At Stratford over 1500 cars were -parked at the course and it was estimated that 500 cars were “parked” in streets adjacent to the course, though there was ample space in the official enclosure. The “deparking” of the cars at Marton took a considerable time, and it was estimated that the first of a long stream ot cars had reached Wanganui before the last 'cars left the course.