General News

Wanganui Chronicle, Volume 85, Issue 10, 13 January 1941, Page 4

General News

Legal Offices. After being closed since the night of Monday, December 23, for the Christmas vacation, legal offices in Wanganui will open for the first time in the New Year to-day. Public Library. With the exception of the public-reading-room all departments of the Wanganui Public Library will be closed to-morrow lor stocktaking purposes. In the fiction room, where the stocktaking will take place, there are 8000 volumes. Autograph fiat, Mr. R. E. Cuthbertson, president of the Wanganui Cricket Association, has given a bat for the first century scored from now on. That bat will | be autographed by members of the | executive of the Wanganui Cricket | Association. | Concert at Virginia Lake | The Queen Alexandra Band, under I Mr. A. R. Spurdie, played at Virginia j Lake yesterday afternoon. The proI gramme, which was greatly enjoyed, I included the fantasia, "Poetic BeauIties”; overture, “Ramond”; song I march, "The Empire is Marching. ’ land the quickstep, “Ravenswood.” | Taxis in Demand I Farmers were not the only people | who derived benefit from the rain on ; Saturday, for when Wanganui theai tres came out heavy rain was falling I and taxis were in demand. Tram- ! cars were also well patronised and I were crowded with homeward-bound l patrons. Sport Interrupted. Rain interrupted all outdoor sports in Wanganui on Saturday, and piay in cricket, bowls, tennis, baseball and croquet had to be curtailed. It was the first time in the present season that cricket had to be halted because of rain. Last summer there were several Saturdays in which cricket had to be postponed because ol rain.

Delayed by Rain. Rain delayed cargo operations at Castlecliff on Saturday afternoon, where the Canterbury Company’s coastal motor-ship Breeze was loading cheese for Wellington. The vessel arrived at the Town Wharf on Friday with general cargo from southern ports, and was to nave left on Saturday evening, but will now sail to-day. Rifles Av .able. A number or rifles is available for Home Guard training purposes, and it was stated at the coniei.nce of commanding officers, held in Wanganui yesterday, that the Army authorities were ce-operating with the Guard. Ev-ery endeavour will be made to supply the men with rifles Uter the requirements of the Army have been met. Home Guard Uniform. At present the uniform of the Home Guard consists merely ol tlie armband which is issued to all enrolled members, but the type of uniform to be worn has been approved, small badges, suitable for wearing in the lapel of a -oat, will also be made available at a nominal cost. Uniforms will be issued to members as soon as possible.

Moderate Gale. Because o£ the moderate westerly gale experienced at Wanganui yesterday, few people were at Castleclift Beach, though the weather was otherwise line and sunny. After the rain on Saturday night the light westerly wind began tc freshen, and by one o’clock yesterday morning it was approaching gaii force. Heavy seas were running on the Wanganui River bar, and were pounding tne moles at the harbour entrance all day. Health at Trentliam Camp. Since it has been in use for training men of the Expeditionary Force in the present war, the Trentnam mobilisation camp is stated to have had a daily sick wastage of two men in 1000. The figure wnich experience had taught the Army to regard as normal is three in 1000, and, while epidemics of measles and influenza, coinciding with similar outbreaks among the civilian population, have caused fluctuations, there have been periods when the daily sick return has been below one for every 1000 men in the camp. New Sports Body. It was decided at a meeting held in Parikino on Saturday night to form a Wanganui River Settlers Sports Club. There was an attendance of 30, over which Mr. P. L. Wickham presided. The following officers were elected: Patron, Mr. T. Baker; president, Mr. P. L. Wickham; secretary and treasurer, Mr. M. Osborn; assistant secretary, Mr. D. Murray; executive committee, Messrs. V. Cripps, C. Yates, J. T. Murray, T. Kumoroa, R. Ratana, N. Tyson, D. McNaught, K. Peina, and J. Thompson. A sports meeting will be held next month, the date of which will be announced later. Half of the proceeds will be given to the Wanganui City Patriotic Fund.

Extremes Meet. Once a civilian dons khaki his sense of values changes. Things which were of no importance before suddenly become significant. For instance, anyone who has talked freely with officers and men of the New Zealand Expeditionary Force in training in New Zealand knows that they resent any suggestion that territorials should be equipped with battle dress. The old field serve khaki is regarded as essentially a home defence uniform. A curious commentary on this comes from the heart of the Western Desert, in a letter written by a First Echelon man. "We have had to hand in our khaki serge," he complains, “and have been Issued instead with the new battle dress, which we have never had before. There goes our last distinguishing sign between ourselves and later contingents, all of which arrived with battle dress." Hence, it appears that what is regarded as merely a home defence uniform is held in high esteem in the Western Desert, as the distinctive “issue" of the earliest volunteers.