General News

Wanganui Chronicle, Volume 85, Issue 301, 22 December 1941, Page 4

General News

Gedye Pairs. Racing tor the Gedye Pair-Oar trophy was conducted by the Aramoho Boating Club on Saturday afternoon when the final was won by A. McNicol and V. Bell, who beat F. Coker and B. Coughlin by a length. In the semifinals, Coker beat J. Gurven by two lengths, and McNicol beat L. Clark by hall’ a length.

Life-saving Certificates. Winners of life-saving examinations during the year at the Gonville School were presented with their awards at the annual break-up ceremony. Recipients of Hie Bronze Medallion were: Doreen Tyler, Ruby Nintmo. Vera Green, Dorothy Marshall, John Massey, Colin Anderson, and Allan Lockett.

Restricted Road Service. Petrol restrictions have necessitated a reduction in the number of daily trips made by (iie road motor services between Wanganui and Palmerston North. Instead of four daily each way there will be two, those at 7.45 a.m. and 12.15 p.m. being discontinued. The usual 10.30 a.m. and 4 p.m. services from Palmerston North have i.tso been dropped.

Coastal Vessels Depart. With an improvement in the weather al the week-end the first shipping movements at the port ol Wanganui lor more than two days were recorded. On Saturday, the Inaha, arrived front Wellington, and yesterday the Hauturu, arrived from New Plymouth. There were four departures yesterday. Both the Foxton, and Inaha, sailed tor Patea, the Hokitika sailed for Tarakohe, and the Breeze departed for Wellington.

Householders Gan Help. Postmen are havin’ a busy time, the Christmas rush and the once-a-day deliveries resulting in extra large loads for postmen to sort and deliver. In Wanganui, in spite ot starting at the early hour of 5 a.m., postmen had not completed their deliveries at 5 p.m. To-day they will be particularly busy, and householders can help if, on hearing tile postman's whistle, they are handy to Hie front gate, because some of the narrow letter-boxes are not wide enough for Christmas parcels and packets. Roof Spotters Needed. "The time has come when roof watchers should be stationed on the roofs of all the principal buildings in lhe city, particularly those in the central area, over 24 hours a day," declared Mr. R. 11. Webb, when members ol the Manufacturers' Association in Christchurch discussed the part business and industrial firms could play in emergency precautions. Mr. Webb added that the experience of the United States, which had been caught napping by Japan, should provide a lesson in preparedness. Arts and Crafts Exhibition. Inability to secure transport from Dunedin has resulted in a delay in the arrival al Wanganui of the British Art Loan Collections Society's exhibition of British art, according to advice ievolved on Saturday. As a result it has been decided ti continue the Arts and Crafts Society's exhibition in ihe Sarjcnnt Gallery till Friday next (Boxing Day), instead of closing as from yesterday, as was originally intended. It is expected that the extension of the current display will be appreciated by Wanganui art lovers. Leaving Certificates. Thirty-eight leaving certificates were presented at the break-up ceremoil.) of the Gonville School Inst week. The recipients were:—Girls, M. James, M. White, D. Tyler, R. Ross, N. Carter, S. Brown, F. Rountree, 51. Denman, N. Smith, L. Young. 51. Roekell, V. Green, S. Ryan, B. Whiling, L. Sheppard, 51. Hendry, D. Marshall, G. Leslie, and R. Garuiner; boys, G. Strachan, J. .Massey, A. Janies, C. Bunker, R. Reid, P. Edwards, G. Dunn, K. Sammons. .K. Meu, C. Beck, C. Anderson, W. Kenyon. G. Sayring, E. Muir, A. Lockett, W. Ross. B. Gilbert, T. Cresswell, and H. Bennett. Special Church Services. Special Christmas services were held in Wanganui churches yesterday. In Trinity Aiethodist Church the Rev. E. B. Chambers took a musical service at which choruses front “The Messiah'' were sung. The soloists were Miss Olive Spencer and Mr. Alan Brown. In Aramoho the Rev. J. F. Martin took a special children's service. Al each service there was a retiring collection for the Masterton Children's Home. In St. Paul's Presbyterian Church last night, there was a church parade of the Central Nursing Division of St. John Ambulance. Special Christmas music was played at all the services. No Boxes, No Letters. As a result of a recent survey and report regarding gate letter-boxes, a number of householders in Wanganui will receive notice to the effect that, unless gate letter-boxes are provided within 14 days alter the date of the notice, delivery of correspondence bj postmen will cease. These householders will be required to call at the post office for their correspondence, it will also he necessary for those householders whose boxes lie oacit from the street line to remote the boxes to the street line, and any box which is beyond the reach of the postman while standing outside the gate is to be regarded as being too far back from the street tine. Failpre to remove the box if required to do so will be dealt with as if no box were provided.

I se of Gelignite by Home Guard With the Home Guard acknowledged a properly-constituted military entity, facilities for the training ot Guard personnel are rapidly becoming available. Some three weeks ago. the Group Director. Lieut.-Colonel K. D. Hardie, D. 5.0., initiated a syllabus of instruction for the employment of gelignite in varying phases of defence. The syllabus, carried out under the direction of Captain E. J. Elliott and staff instructors, being based on live practice, was exceptionally well received by the officers and n.c.o.'s, and was appreciated as a substantial contribution to fieldcraft training, in which a high standard had alreadybeen achieved. Rifles bayonets and webb equipment have been distributed, pro rata to the strength of units, and now the first consignment of automatic weapons, in the form of Thompson sub-machine-guns, has arrived for re-distribution to battalions within the group. . * •