General News

Wanganui Chronicle, Volume 86, Issue 64, 17 March 1942, Page 4

General News

Blackout Time. The time for the drawing of blinds in Wanganui to-day is 7 p.m. Air Force Recruits Examined. .Preliminary medical examination ‘ of volunteers for the Air Force was a new feature of interviews by a board in Wanganui -yesterday. The examination was carried out by Captain FL A. Keith. Thirty volunteers were in- ] terviewed yesterday. A Fine Response. Only 35 of the 5638 residences al wmcli postmen call in Wanganui have failed to provide letter boxes at the gate, as asked by the Post and Telegraph Department as a means oi reducing the effects of the wartime shortage of labour, said the chief postmaster, Mr. D. R. McCowatt. Manctiester Unity. The hudredth anniversary of the ' establishment of the Manchester Unity independent Order of Odd- 1 fellows in New Zealand, which occurs on April 7, will be celebrated by a Dominion conference in Nelson. The Grand Master, Mr. N. B. Bellringer, oi New Plymouth, will preside. E.P.S. Information Bureau. An E.P.S. information bureau is being set up at the office of the organisation in the Wanganui City Council , offices. The bureau will be staffed by 1 members of the Wanganui Women's War Service Auxiliary and will pro- . vide information on such subjects as ■ emergency signals, blackout requirements, and shelter trenches. Anzac Day Dawn Service. ‘‘The dawn service of remembrance will definitely be held in Wan- ■ Iganui on Anzac Day, April 25, v his year,” said the president of the Wan- ■ ganui l\eiuin- -.i Services’ Association, 1 Mr. R. G. Taiboys, yesterday, in view of the fact that a certain amount * |-f direct light from torches and 1 vehicles would be unavoidable, it has 1 been decided in some other cities m New Zealand that the function will not take place this year. I The New Comet. The new comet is becoming brighter. It is now just about the stage of naked eye visibility and can be easily nicked up with an ordinary pair of binoculars. Ln spile of the weather it has been kept under observation by several aslionomers during the last few nights. One observer describes it as having a fairly long tail, which is rather indecisive towards its end. The comet is in the northern sky moving westward toward the sun. Shortage of Labour. The difficulty experienced in obtaining adequate labour for the Wanganui Flarbour Boards quarries at Kaiwhaiki was stressed by the engineer, Mr. R. R. Dav.son, at the monthly meeting yesterday. He added that this difficulty was becoming more acute. Every endeavour was being made to obtain men through the Labour Department; but so far without success. “It is most desirable j that at least a further 1000 tons of rock be obtained for maintenance purposes ” Mr. Dawson states. E.P.S. Vs’orks Company. Forty recruits, most of them with a knowledge of various trades, attended l heir first parade with Ihe E.P.S. Works Company on Saturday and were posted lo various units. ; The sanitary section was engaged i in providing temporary sanitary conI veniences for a tirst-aid station on i Durie Hill. Paths al the back were metalled and a shelter built with ■ sawn slabs. The rescue and demolii tion section was engaged in special 1 raining in rigging, explosives, and the use of heavy jacks. The services section did further work in preparing and making pipe .joints. St. Patrick’s Day. To-day is Ihe feast of St. Patrick, patron saint of Ireland. Though not a public holiday, it was previously observed by banks, but according to recent regulations Ihe feasts of saints will no longer be bank holidays. St. Patrick’s Day is celebrated by Irishmen in all parts of Ihe world. Catholic schools in Wanganui will have either full or part-day holidays. A later Mass will be celebrated at S'l. Mary’s Church, Victoria. Avenue, and at night the annual Irish national concert will be presented in 1 he Opera House. The proceeds will go 1o '.he Home of Compassion.