Town Talk

Wanganui Chronicle, Volume 83, Issue 254, 27 October 1939, Page 6

Town Talk

Recruiting Slow. ‘‘Recruiting for the second echelon of the Special Military Force is proceeding slowly in Wanganui,” said Major J. W. Barry, officer in charge of the No. 6 Military Area, yesterday. Soldiers and the Show. Members of the Special Military j Force who attend the Wanganui A. ' and P. Association’s show next month in uniform wil] be admitted free of charge, said the secretary, Mr. A. R. Donaldson, last night. Girls’ College Roll. The school roll stands at 346, reported the principal of the Wanganui Girls’ College, Miss M. E. Baker, to yesterday’s meeting of the Board of Governors. Five girls had left, one to enter a bank, one to learn tailoring. two to remaiq at home and on fi whose people had left lhe district. New Reel and Costumes. I New competition costumes and a i new reel will be purchased by the ’ Patea Surf and Life-Saving Club this season, it was reported at the annual meeting. The old reel is now out of I date and cannot, be used for competitions, while the costumes are faded. Improved Train Seats. Although no official statement has been made it is stated that passenger accommodation on the Wellington-Aramoho-New Plymouth railway line will be improved with the placing of six composite cars from the Main Trunk Line in the service. The carriages are at present undergoing alterations in the railway workshops ’ Surf Shed for Palea. The building of a surf shed for the I Patea Surf and Life-Saving Club. I which was discussed earlier in the year, has now been definitely held over. The Government advised that it wa.s unable to help with a grant or subsidy, and the raising of the money locally, unfortunately, clashed with the centennial baths effort. Glass on the Roads. A Wanganui taxi-cab driver said yesterday that broken glass was a constant source of worry to motorists in the city. He said that the law compelled owners of motor vehicles involved in an accident to remove broken glass from the road surface, but it appeared to him that this regulation was being honoured more in the breach than in the obserxance. I St. Peter’s Church. The Mayor of Wanganui. Mr. W. J Rogers, and as many City Councillor.' as are able to attend have accepted the invitation of Rev. V. C. Venimore lo be present at the special Day of Giving service lo be held at St. Peter’s Church. Gonville, next Sunday evening. Archdeacon W. K. Bullock of Wellington, who is al present representing the Bishop of Wellington and is vicar-general of the diocese, will be the preacher. Wanganui Kennel ( lob. It is intended by the Wanganui Kennel Club to promote a centennial show this year in conjunction with the Wanganui A. and P. Association. ' It will be a two-day event held at I the same time as the A. and P, Show ' on November 8 and 9. Mr. W. F. , Durward, formerly of Palmerston ' North, is the judge and it is anticipated that his task this year will bo particularly heavy. A comprehensive schedule has been issued by the club and entries close on November 3. Bank of New South Wales. One of the cJfects of the war is the decision of the Bank of New South Wales at Wanganui to reduce the hours at the agency in Upper Victoria Avenue. In future the agency will be open from 1 p.m. to 3 p.m. on week-days and from 10.30 a.m. lo 11.30 a.m. on Saturday. Previously lhe agency observed usual banking hours. This change in hours in no way affects the mam branch of the bank, which is located in the lower portion !of the Avenue. Eclipse of Moon. A partial eclipse of the moon will take place to-morrow night, only part, of the phenomenon being visible as the moon will not rise until the eclipse is half over. The moon will rise at 6.51 p.m. to-morrow and most of itr surface will be obscured by the shadow of the earth. The shadow, however, will be moving off lhe face of the moon and to all intents and purposes the eclipse will end at 8.18 p.m. Were the whole of the phenomenon visible in Wanganui .992 of the surface of lhe lunar orb would be covered by the earth's shadow. Retail Petrol Prices. The retail prices of pctr;il. as from yesterday, became 2s 6.1 and 2s 7d a gallon in Wanganui. This was brought i about, by an increase of Id a gallon in ' the retail price throughout. New Zea-| land. Previously the price ruling in Wanganui, which was fixed by Government regulation, was 2s 5d and 2s 6d a gallon. The increase is stated to be attributed to lhe depreciated value of sterling in relation to lhe dollar. Details of the companies’ increased costs had been submitted to the Department of Industries and Commerce, which, after close investigation of the position, approved of the increase. Air I'orce Trainees. Five Wanganui members of the Civil Reserve of Pilots left yesterday for the new training centre of the Royal New Zealand Air Force at Weraroa, near Levin. They were Messrs. R. Goldstono, D. G. Cowper, J. Falconer, T. E. Cooper and S. Smith (Taihape). These pilots were trained at the Wanganui Airport by Mr. H. L. Tancred, who is now Instructing at Auckland for the . Air Force. On Wednesday candidates for admission to the mechanical trades, branches of the Air Force were examined by officers of the Air Department and medically examined by Wanganui doctors. Busy Time for Painters. In anticipation of an influx of visitors for the Centennial Exhibition, hotels, accommodation houses, and other establishments in Wellington which cater for the travelling public have been undergoing a general renovation. This activity began during .last year, and has given rise to an exceptionally heavy demand for paints and wallpapers. There has also been a continuous unsatisfied demand for skilled labour, and a considerable amount of work has had to be passed over, due to this factor. As an indication of the positin, one leading firm alone has been employing more than 1. 300 workmen, and could have p ()- jvided work for more if they had been available.