General News

Wanganui Chronicle, Volume 84, Issue 178, 31 July 1940, Page 4

General News

Army Rugby Team. It was reported at last night’s meeting of the Management Committee of the Wanganui Rugby Union that with the exception of travelling expenses and accommodation all proceeds of the Army match against Wanganui to be played on Spriggens Park on Saturday, August 24, will go to the National Patriotic Fund.

Heavy B’og. Further fog in thick density covered Wanganui and suburbs yesterday. So thick was it that a car going down St. John’s Hill found it necessary to have its lights on at 8.30, while other vehicles had lights on in traversing the roads in some of the suburbs. It was not until about 1030 that the sun broke through and dispelled the fog.

150-Milc Route March. Some 6500 men of the Seventh Division A.I.F. will march 150 miles next month from Inglcburn along the Great Western Highway over the Blue Mountains to a new camp at Bathurst. It is expected that the march will last a week. Local councils and residents along the route are expected to co-operate with the military authorities, especially in providing billets for the men.

Claim for Damages. At 10 o’clock this morning a jury will be empanelled in the Supreme Court at Wanganui to hear a claim for damages for alleged negligent driving of a motor-car. Because the criminal cases set down for hearing were not proceeded with on Monday and were adjourned to the next sittings of the Court, jurymen called for the session had to be discharged until this morning. Defence of Coastal Areas. At a meeting of the Southern Hawke’s Bay branch of the Farmers’ Union, it was stated that farmers on coastal properties could aid in the defence of the country. One member said a South Island farmer had organised his station hands, and armed and drilled them daily. It was pointed out that if an enemy were to land on some isolated part of the coast, it would be the job of the local farmers to hamper his movements till a mobile force arrived. College Rugby. Accompanied by Mr. T. Latham, the First XV of the Wanganui Collegiate School left for New Plymouth yesterday The annual match against New Plymouth Boys’ High School will be played there to-day. The first fifteen of the Collegiate School will take part in the Collegiate tournament at Nelson on August 17 and 19. Teams taking part will be Nelson College, Wellington College, Christ’s College and Wanganui Collegiate School. Railways Stall. The average number of persons employed in the Railways Department last financial year was 25,710, compared with an average of 24,342 lor the previous year, states the general manager, Mr. E. Casey, in the Railways Statement. The actual number on the staff at March 31, 1940, was slightly over the average, the figure not including 424 permanent and 434 casual employees who were serving with the armed forces. A total ol £58,085 was paid under the Workers’ Compensation Act during the yeaY to members of the second division of the service who suffered injury in the course of thair employment. Order for Maintenance. When an application for a decree nisi in divorce to be made absolute came before His Honour, Mr. Justice Blair, in the Supreme Court at Wanganui yesterday, counsel stated that the parties had agreed upon terms as to the maintenance of the wife during her lifetime. His Honour questioned whether the Court had the power to make such an order. He pointed out that in the event of the husband dying before the wife the position would be that she had an order against a dead man. His Honour suggested that possibly if the order was expressly made by agreement between the parties it might be enforceable against, the estate of the husband. Munitions For Australia. Australia is now making almost ah the munitions she requires, except tanks and Bren guns, me manufacture, of which has not yet started, i ne latest weapon put into production is the 3.7 inch anti-aircraft gun. it is the most modern and most oeadiy oi its type in the world, and tires nigh explosive shells fo a height of 40,UU)u feet. Its manufacture entails the machining of 1500 component parts. Plans have been prepared for the manufacturing in Australia or predictors for these guns. The predictors are intricate instruments which calculate the point in the air where a shell must burst to bring clown an aeroplane moving, perhaps, at a speed of 350 m.p.h. or more. Tale of a Rat. “You will see a little parcel lying near our front door when you go out,” said an executive on the staff of a city office, when a reporter called the other day. “Don’t pick it up,” he added. In reply to a question, the executive explained that it was the caretaker’s way of getting rid of a dead rat. It was his practice to tie the rodent up in a neat little brown paper parcel, leave it at the front door, and invariably some curious person took it away. The reporter arrived at the front door in time to see an elderly man pick up the parcel. The finder of the parcel did what an honest man shouta do. He carried the little parcel up two flights of stairs, handed it in at the office, and explained that he had found it.at the front door. Reserve to Use Cook’s Gardens. An application by the special Wanganui company of the National Military Reserve for the use of Cook’s Gardens for a certain number of parades on Sundays was favourably received by the City Council last night. Subject to the approval of the engineer the application was granted. Captain D. W. Curham, M.C., officer commanding the company, in a letter to the council, said that there would be a minimum of marching and the proposed type of training would not endanger the turf. It was suggested by Cr. J. J. Scott that when the company is advised of the willingness of the council to allow the reserve to be used the right of the Cricket Association to have the ground on Sundays in I the summer time should not be overlooked.