Town Talk

Wanganui Chronicle, Volume 83, Issue 257, 31 October 1939, Page 6

Town Talk

Esperanto Club. A visit was paid on Saturday to the Wanganui Esperanto Club by the Palmerston North Club, some 20 mem- ■ hers coming for the occasion. A social was held in Victoria Hall when songs, plays and competitions were conducted almost entirely in Esperanto. International Magicians’ Day. Saturday, the 11th. anniversary of the death of Houdini, master escapologist and magician, was observed throughout the world as International Magicians’ Day . Many Dominion magicians took part by doing free shows at hospitals and other institutions. Mixed Rowing Doubles One of the features of the opening of the rowing season next Saturday afternoon at the Union Boat Club’s boathouse will be mixed pairs racing in the coaching boats. The strokes will be young women and the bow oars club members, and a series of exciting, if not fast, races is expected. Oarsmen’s Church Parade Members of the Aramoho Boating Club will hold a church parade next Sunday evening, when they will attend St. Laurence’s Church, Aramoho. The service will be taken by the vicar, Rev. D. H. Datson. who is a vicepresident of the Aramoho Boating Club. “Popular” Parking Place. “In fact, is the ’Zig-zag’ a popular parking place for motor-cars?” asked Mr. J. Hussey of a witness in the Supreme Court at Wanganui yesterday. The witness replied that it was, whereupon Mr. N. R. Bain, Crown Prosecutor, asked what he meant. The witness replied that what he wanted to convey was that it was popular for cars in which there were spooning couples. There were no lights about the place! x Native Bird Protection The protection of native birds was discussed by the council of the North Canterbury Acclimatisation Society at a meeting recently when it was pointed out that in Wanganui trees were planted to attract, the native birds. It was decided that the Game Committee should consider the question of trees suitable for native birds with a view to following the example set by the Wanganui Acclimatisation Society,

Special Military Reserve The quota of recruits for the Wanganui military district in the second echelon of the Special Military Reserve is 335, compared with 354 for the first echelon. No advice has been received as to when the medical examinations will start again or when the men will report to camp. The Wanganui military district includes the districts of Wanganui and Palmerston North and is officially known as Area 6. The Grand Jury. A longer time was taken than usual by a grand jury empanelled in the Supreme Court at. Wanganui yesterday. Alter the formal declaration by the Court crier that the Court was open, which took place at 10.30 a.m., the grand jury was sworn in and listened to the charge given it by the presiding Judge, Hon. Mr. Justice Smith. It then retired and considered seven criminal cases, a task which took it until 12.40 p.m. True bills were returned in all seven cases. Prize for Medel Aeroplane. Advice has been received that the first prize of £2O in a- model aeroplane competition conducted by the Dominion Court officials of the centennial exhibition has been awarded to Ml. R. McAffee. of Wanganui. The prizewinning model \vas of a Lockheed Elecrta, the z w-wing two-engine machines used by Union Airways. The model has a wing span of 55 inches and is now on view in a window in Trinity Buildings. The winner is a member of the Modelair Flying League and has constructed many successful models. Complete Fire Loss. In the early hours of Saturday morning, a dwelling owned and occupied by Mr, Albert. Hay, a>d situated on the Ohakune Road some three miles from Raetihi, was burnt to the ground. Mr. Hay had moved into Ihe house only a few days previously. The cause of the fire is unknown. The occupants escaped in their night attire. A small dog in the residence was

burnt alive and its yelping awoke the occupants. Not one article of the contents coula be saved and the dwelling itself is a complete loss. It is understood that the residence was insured for £6OO, .but that there was no insurance cover on the contents.

N.Z. Rowing Meeting A number of important matters, including the rowing of the championship races over Olympic distances, will be discussed at the annual meeting of the New Zealand Amateur Rowing Association at Wellington to-night. The Wanganui Rowing Association will be represented by its resident delegate, Mr. A. Godfrey, formerly of Wanganui, and Mr. E. J. Crotty, the secretary and treasurer of the association. Another important question to be discussed is a suggestion that the holding of the New Zealand championships be deferred until November because of the outbreak of war in Europe. The Wanganui Association, at its annual meeting, agreed that the championships should be held as usual.

Social Security Contribution. In this issue appears an intimation from the Commissioner of Taxes that an instalment of the registration fee becomes due on November 1 and that on the same date there also falls due the third instalment of the social security charge on income other than salary or wages derived during the year ended March 31, 1939. Payment may be tendered at any money order office. The quarterly registration fee is payable by all male persons of 20 years of age or over. Employers may- deduct the amount of any overdue registration fees from the wages payable to employees. The social security charge on income other than salary or wages is payable at the rate of one shilling in in the pound by all persons, male and female, who have attained the age of sixteen years, other than those in r • ceipt of a war pension in respect total disablement.