Town Talk

Wanganui Chronicle, Volume 83, Issue 55, 7 March 1939, Page 6

Town Talk

A Hot Day. Yesterday was the hottest day this year, the temperature in the shade reaching a maximum of 82 degrees at the New Zealand Friends’ School, on St. John's Hill. The Ancient Romans. The speaker at yesterday’s luncheon of the Wanganui Rotary Club was the Rev. A. C. McLean, of St. Paul's Presbyterian Church. His subject was the life o! the Ancient Romans. Fish With Tentacles. Several small fish with tentacles six to eight inches long have been noticed on Castlecliff beach during the warm weather. They are blue in colour, and, according to a bathci who came in contact with one, they can sting. Danger to Bathers. The Castlecliff Surf Section of the Royal Life-saving Society reports that the beach in front of the society’s “look-oiH" has scoured out to a depth of about 10 feet at high tide, and in that locality, which is about 300 yards long, the beach is dangerous to bathe in. Import Licences. "We have just got our second lot of import licences for the second half of the year," said the director of one of Wanganui's largest retail firms yesterday. "If the thing goes ion much longer we will have nothing to sell. To say it is drastic is putting it very mildly." Chambers of Commerce. The annual conference of the Associated Chambers of Commerce is to be held in Wellington in November, and because the tax on accommodation will be heavy at. that time early hookings are being made. The Wanganui Chamber decided last, night that it would have three delegates at the conference and booked accommodation accordingly. Big Demand for Seats. Word has been received in Wanganui of a phenomenal demand for scats at the England-Scotland soccer match, which is to he played at Hampden Park. Glasgow, next month. Advertisements have already drawn more than 250,000, applications. "Many will he disappointed,” writes a Wanganui man now in Glasgow, “as the ground can accommodate about 160,000.” Cook’s Gardens Lighting. , The new flood-lighting system in Cook’s Gardens will be officially opened to-night by the Mayoress, Mrs. W. J. Rogers, at the fire brigades’ and athletic display. The lights were tested last night and found satisfactory and will be switched on to-night by'Mrs. Rogers. The lighting is carried on four steel towers 60 feet in height, each tower carrying tightof 1500 watts each. Castlecliff Surf Section. Although it has a small membership of 15, the Castlecliff Surf Section of the Royal Life-saving Society is a keen and enthusiastic body. It has recently added to its "look out" a casualty room and boat shed. The boat is a fine craft and was purchased from the Piha Club, Auckland, and is ideal for surf work. The club captain is Mr. T. R. Luff, and practices are held twice weekly. There are vacancies for new members. Fire Brigades' Conference. Two invitations for Ihe 1940 conI fercncc were received at the annual conference of Ihe United Fire Brigades’ Association of New Zealand at Wanganui yesterday. They were from Blenheim and Whangarei. The conference decided to leave the issuing of invitations open until this afternoon. It is considered likely that an invitation will be received irom Wellington or Auckland for a demonstration conference. Lost the Catch. A man and his wife who had been fishing on the coast just south of the Wangaehu River on Sunday met with misfortune. They caught a good sized schnapper and several flounders. Leaving the fish lied over the spare wheel of the car, they went into a friend’s house for tea. During the meal a commotion dcveqlpeu outside, and on going to investigate the man saw two pigs making off with the fish and three dogs chasing the pigs. Influx of Visitors. More than 1100 excursionists were brought to Wanganui by rail on Sunday, the chief attraction being the West Coast surf life-saving championships at Castlecliff Beach. A train from Palmerston North brought 400 passengers, one from New Plymouth 375, and another from Opunake 440 passengers. Many of the visitors attended the Wanganui Airport, where they were entertained with a parachute descent and a display of aerobatics. Emergency Regulations, The support of the lire brigade associations of New Zealand in connection with the emergency regulations drawn up for operation in the event of an earthquake or othei major catastrophe, was sought by Mr. J. W. Hcnnan, Under-Secretary of the Department of Internal Affairs, at the annual conference of the United Fire Brigades' Association at Wanganui yesterday. The method, discipline and orderliness nt lire brigades, he said, would be a good example to others. Presented With Siren. The presentation of a siren with which to call the meeting to order .f necessary, was made to the president. Secretary D. L. Ferguson, of Gisborne, at yesterday’s session of the annual conference of the United Fire Brigades’ Association of New Zealand by Mr. J. W- Heenan, Under-Secretary of the Department of Internal Affairs. Mr. Heenan addressed the conference during the morning session and returned during the afternoon to outline several matters which he had overlooked.

Pipe Band Championship. Members of the Wanganui Highland Pipe Band will leave Wanganui for Christchurch to-morrow to attend the annual contest of the New Zealand Pipe Bands’ Association. The Wanganui Band will compete in the championships selections, the quickstep and the popular drum-major’s display. The latter event is one of the most spectacular of band performances and in 12 minutes the bands perform a number of intricate movements. PipeMajor W. Budge will act as drumMajor W. Budge wil lact as drummajor for the display.