General News

Wanganui Chronicle, Volume 85, Issue 33, 8 February 1941, Page 4

General News

Grass Fires. Two calls to grass fires were received by the Wanganui Central Fire Brigade yesterday. No damage was done in either instance. Unpaid Rates. The Wanganui City Council announces that a ten per cent, penalty will be levied on all unpaid city rates after Thursday, February 13.

Intercession Services. Services of intercession were resumed at Trinity Methodist Church yesterday. Begun after the outbreak of war, the services are conducted on Fridays by the Wanganui Ministers’ Association. To enable the attendances of business public with different hours for the mid-day interval, the services are divided into two-hour sessions.

Makirikiri Sports. Special preparations are being made by the Makirikiri Sports Committee this year to cater for a big crowd. The programme has been made as popular as possible, and as the sports ground is easy of access by the public, and in view of the fact that the profits will help to enlarge the patriotic funds, it is anticipated that the attendance will be a record. Marching Display.

Several teams from other centres. Wellington and Hastings included, will take part in the Wanganui Marching Association’s competition next Saturday. It is to be preceded by a street march, the teams being judged in a specially detailed portion of the Avenue on their way to Cook’s Gardens. Brilliant costumes have been created for the event and drill instructors have been busy coaching the teams during the past few weeks.

Appeals Struck Out. During the sittings of the No. 3 Armed Forces Appeal Board in Wanganui this week, two appeals set down for hearing were struck out for want of prosecution. In each case the name of the appellant was called by the secretary to the board, and repeated within and outside the Courtroom by the orderly. When the persons concerned failed to come forward the appeals were struck out by direction of the chairman, Mr. A. Coleman, S.M.

Rail Traffic Busy. Traffic on practically all lines has been busier than usual during the past week, due to a large number of people returning to their homes in time for the reopening of schools and colleges. Accommodation on express trains has been heavily booked in advance, and extra carriages have been necessary to cope with the demands. Week-end traffic is particularly heavy, and the expresses between Wellington, Wanganui and New Plymouth are being well patronised.

Eager to Join. So great was the rush bf applications in Wanganui to join the new Women’s Auxiliary Air Force following the announcement made by the Prime Minister, the Rt. Hon. P. Fraser, that all the application forms were taken in a short space of time. Miss D. Soeberg said there was a deluge of applications from all parts of the city and district. A fresh supply of application forms has now arrived in Wanganui. All applications are forwarded to the authorities in Wellington.

Outbreak of Mumps. Because of an outbreak of mumps at the Children’s Health Camp, Wanganui. no visitors will be admitted to the institution till further notice. The school medical officer has advised that it is more desirable to keep the children in the camp than evacuate the institution, as there is a danger of other children being infected If inmates of the camp were allowed to return to their homes. The matron and staff at the camp, it is stated, are doing all in their power to make the affected children comfortable, and medical attention is available at all hours. The outbreak is of a mild nature and there is no cause for parents to be worried about their children.

Appeal Board Sittings. The No. 3 Armed Forces Appeal Board, which sat for three days in Wanganui this week, will hear appeals in Stratford, Hawera and New Plymouth next week, and in Palmerston North during the following week. The board has its headquarters in Wanganui, and deals with all appeals by reservists drawn in the ballot for overseas service, and with appeals from Territorial ballots based on conscientious objection to military servile. The board will hear appeals in Stratford on February 11, New Plymouth on February 12 and 13, and in Hawera on February 14. The Palmerston North sitting will last four days, from February 18 to 21, and on February 24 and 25 the board will sit in Taihape.

The Treaty of Waitangi. The Treaty of Waitangi, often referred to as the Magna Carta ot the Maoris, was signed on February 6, 1840, when Captain Hobson called a meeting of native chiefs at the entrance of the Waitangi River. Before the sovereignty of the Queen over New Zealand could be proclaimed, it was necessary to obtain the consent of the Maori chiefs. They acknowledged Queen Victoria as ruler of the country, and in return Her Majesty agreed that the Maoris should continue owners of the land and that they were entitled to British protection. This document, the first of agreements made between Maori and pakeha, was responsible for the building up of an alliance which has been manifest in the wars to preserve democracy, when Maori and pakeha fight side by side.