Town Talk

Wanganui Chronicle, Volume 83, Issue 98, 28 April 1939, Page 6

Town Talk

Newcombe Memorial Fund The treasurer of the Mildred Newcombe Memorial Fund wishes to acknowledge an anonymous donation of £l, .which makes the total amount to date £461 11s. Malicious Fire Alarm The Wanganui Central Fire Brigade answered a malicious call to the Racecourse main gate at 1.41 a.m. yesterday. There is a severe penalty for this offence. Flags at Half-mast Flags were flown at half-mast on Government buildings in Wanganui yesterday as a tribute to the memory of the late Mr. E. J. Howard, Chairman of Committees of the House of Representatives. Girls’ College Roll The school roll stood at 369, reported the principal of the Wanganui Girls’ College (Miss M. E. Baker) at yesterday’s meeting of the Board of Governors. There were 90 boarders and 43 pupils in the preparatory section. That Sky! “There must be some limit to all this,” remarked Mr. A. S. Coleman (Marton), when increases in salaries to workers not covered by awards were being made by the Wanganui Hospital Board yesterday. Mrs. J. J. Scott: Yes, the sky. Three Ministers Have a Say Before the Wanganui Hospital Board can pass a by-law restricting the speed limit along the main drive at the Wanganui Hospital it must have the consent of three Ministers of the Crown—lnternal Affairs, Transport, and Health. That permission is being sought. Seventy-sixth Birthday. Many were the congratulations showered upon Mr. George Spriggens, one of Wanganui's most well-known personalities, when he celebrated his 76th. birthday on Wednesday. Born in England, Mr. Spriggens arrived in Wanganui in 1874, since when he has filled nearly every position in the public life of the city. Winter Tram Service The winter time-table on the Castlecliff tram service will operate from next Sunday when the morning service on all routes will cease. In order to suit the convenience of church congregations, the trams leaving the post office at 8.5 p.m. in the past will leave at 8.13 p.m. The afternoon bus service to Virginia Lake will run as usual this Sunday, but from then will be cancelled until next summer. Technical College Roll Three pupils had been admitted during the month and 12 had left, making the school roll 650, reported the principal of the Wanganui Technical College (Mr. I. E. Newton) at the monthly meeting of the Board of Governors last night. There were 78 boarders at the hostel, 22 of whom were in bed with influenza. The first vacation would be from May 5 to Max--22. Red Crqss as Warning On the motion of Mr. A. J. B. Sicely (Marton) the Wanganui Hospital Board decided 1o recommend to the Minister of Health that the roofs of all hospitals in the Dominion be marked with big red crosses as an indication to hostile airmen of the purpose of the buildings. “They are building aerodromes and fighting planes as fast as they can,” Mr. Sicely said, and while none of us want the worst to happen there is no protection at present from raids." Birth Certificates Sought Since the operation, of the Social Security Act there has been a brisk market for copies of birth certificates from people who will secure benefits under the scheme. Many of the applicants for certificates are unaware of their exact ages or the date of their birthdays, but the majority are securing certificates merely for the satisfaction of the registration authorities. A charge of a shilling is made by the registrar of births for certificates of birth. Dairy Factory Managers Dairy factory managers from the Wanganui, South Taranaki, and Rangitikei districts will attend a course al. Massey Agricultural College from Tuesday next to Friday, May 5. The annual factory managers’ course aric iiged by the Dairy Research Institute provides an opportunity for managers to discuss vXth the research workers the problems of the indus./y. A series of lectures and demonstrations will be given by officers of the institute. Bible the Best Seller That the Holy Bible is maintaining its record as the best seller in the world of literature is shown by figures given by the Rev. John Paterson, M.A., of Stratford, when speaking at the annual meeting of the Wanganui Auxiliary of the British anu Foreign Bible Society. Despite the unsettled conditions in the world the society distributed last year 1,151,009 Bibles, 1,379,509 New Testaments, 8,787,697 pertions, a grand total of 11,318,575 volumes, said Mr. Paterson.

Social Security Registration Extended hours will be observed by the Post Office in Wanganui to-day to receive registrations under the Social Security Act. The registration offices, which is situated in the old city gas building in Ridgway Street, will be open until 6 p.m. to-day and will reopen f.rom 7 p.m. to 8 p.m. To-mor-row the office will remain open during the afternoon until five o’clock. More than 1000 people registered at the office yesterday but. it expected that this figure will be exceeded today and to-morrow. Clash of Show Dates The clashing of the dates of the Wanganui and He J/era shows was the subject of a lengthy discussion at this weed's meeting of the committee of the Egmont A. and P. Association. The secretary, Mr. R. McCay, said that Hawera had applied for November 10 and 11 and had been granted the dates. Wanganui then applied for and was granted November 8 and 9. This would mean that exhibitors would be unable to get to Hawera which had been proved most unsatisfactory last year. It was agreed that the position would be alleviated if the Wanganui association agreed to move | its show back a day. The matter was left in the hands oLthe secretary.