General News

Wanganui Chronicle, Volume 85, Issue 293, 12 December 1941, Page 4

General News

Twelve Months Ago. Twelve months ago to-day in the Western Desert offensive the enemy retired on Solium. Lord Lothian. British Ambassador to the United Stales, died suddenly in Washington. Greeks smashed General Soddus desperate attempt to recapture the northern heights of the Mokra Mountains.

Driving Tests. Twenty-three new applications For driving licences were received by the Wanganui City Council I rathe department last month. Each driver had to pass driving and eyesight tests. Two failed in the practical lest.

Canada's War Effort. A survey of Canada’s war effort is to be made and films of that Dominion's life, scenery and industry are lo he shown in the Savage Club Hall tonight. The speakers will be the. Rev Dr. S. McMaster Kerr. Vancouver, and the Rev. S. Robertson Orr, Canada.

Drivers’ LictMlces. Drivers’ licences issued by the traffic department of the Wanganui City Council for the month of November totalled 67. Tills made a total of 4835 licences issued since the beginning of the licensing year. Thirteen heavy traffic licences were also issued last month.

“Don’t Talk” Campaign. Visitors to the Marlon Amatcui Athletic and Cycling Clubs electric light sports meeting on Marton Park on Wednesday were impressed by the words, “Don’t Talk." printed i*i white on the grass outside the cycle track, in full view of the grandstand. ( all to Fire. A call to the Jubilee Home. Upper was received by the Wanganui Central Fire Brigade at 11.30 a.m. yesterday. The call proved to be a justified false alarm and was caused by the accidental setting off of the automatic installation in the building. School's Patriotic Work. The amount of money raised by the Wanganui Technical College toward patriotic funds totalled £4lO 12s 7d. stated the principal. Mr. I. E. Newton, in his annual report. The amount was made up as follows:- War Loan £lOO, patriotic concert £5l 19s 4d, bazaar £l6O 2s 10d. pupils' fund (in lieu of picnic) £25, Queen Carnival £73 10s sd. Emergency Hospital Closed, The emergency hospital in St. Pauls Hall. Wanganui, in which soldier patients from Waiouru Camp suffering from measles have been cared for. was closed on Wednesday. The womens committee representative of the St. John and Red Cross Joint Council will continue to provide cakes and scones for soldiers w ho are inmates of the Wanganui Public Hospital. Donations may be left at Henson and Co.’s premises. St. Hill St. Power Board Revenue. “This year s revenue figures are still ahead of last year’s by £985, and are better than 1939 by £5494." reported the secretary. Mr. G. A. Ammundsen, at the monthly meeting yesterday of thu Wanganui-Rangitikci Electric-Power Board. “The comparatively small increase this year," he added, “may he attributed directly to the emergency provisions and there is no doubt that as soon as we can get back to normal working conditions again the position will right itself very rapidly." Technical (dllege Roll. The Wanganui Technical College had a roll during the school year just closed of 2027, compared with 2080 during the previous year, stated the principal, Mr. 1. E. Newton, in his annual report. Of these, 573 were in the Technical High School, 519 in evening school, and 935 attended manual training schools. Technica. High School pupils were distributed according to courses as follows: Art. 1; agriculture, 40; commercial. 142; domestic, 25; engineering, 134, general. 230. Of the 572 pupils in the Technical High School, 416 were hoys and 156 were girls, compared with 472 boys and 179 girls in the previous year.

Conserving Electricity. In three consecutive weeks last month. the Wanganui-Rangitike; Ele< tric-Power Board’s demand on the Public Works Department for hulk power supply was below that of the same period last year, even though the hoard was permitted an additional three per cent., stated the secretary, Mr. G. A. Ammundsen. in his monthly report to the board yesterday. "This drop gi\es some indication of the extent lo which consumers are doing without electrical service to meet the cal! for conservation of units, and the spirit w'hicn prompts this response in our area is to bp commended. ’’ Mr. Ammundsen added. R cent Power Failure. The serious interruption to supply in the whole of the Wanganui-Rangi-tikei Power Board's area between Bonny Glen and Waverley, which occurred between 8.45 and 10.45 on the morning of Saturday, February -’9. was referred to by the engineer, Mi. 11. Webb, in his report to the board at its monthly meeting }»sterday. “The shut-down," Mi. Weoit reported. i "was due to a failure in the switchIgear at Okoia sub-station and it was necessary io by-pas.s this equipment before power could be restcied. This equipment, which was originally installed by the board, but is now the property of the Public Works Department, has given considerable trouble ever since it was installed, and ba • been responsible for a number of serious interruptons to supply. This gear to be replaced early in the New Year." An arrangement has been arrived at between the heads of leading jeweller} establishments throughout NewZealand. to close for 17 days after finishing up on Wednesday night. December 24. Members of staffs will not report for duty until Monday. January 12. We thought this arrangement best for a number of reasons. Business in our line between Christmas and New Year and immediately afterward is not what one may call brisk. We are al' short staffed, particularly in the workshops, and we cannot be left still shorter by letting half the staff away. There is. too, the difficulty of obtaining many essentials necessary for our business. This arrangement will also enable the staffs to take their annual holidays at the same time?