General News

Wanganui Chronicle, Volume 86, Issue 111, 15 May 1942, Page 4

General News

Blackout Time. The time for the drawing of blinds in Wanganui to-day is 5.50 p.m. Moutoa Flag. To mark the anniversary of the battle of Moutoa, which fell yesterday, the flag was flying at the masthead in Moutoa Gardens. Drivers’ Licences. Drivers’ licences issued by the Waitotara County Council for the past year totalled 894, compared with 930 for the previous year. Quick-maturing Bullocks Seven 2i-year bullocks, which were raised in the Rangitikei district, were sold recently at the average price of £l3 15s. Their weights ranged from 811 to 9841b5., the average being 886 lbs. Kicked by a Horse. Kicked by a horse yesterday afternoon at Pipiriki, Mr. W. I. Hapetu received injuries which were attended io by the Wanganui Free Ambulance. He was admitted to the Wanganui Hospital last night, and his condition was reported to be comfortable. Wrestling at Wellington, Two professional wrestling contests will be held in the Wellingion Town Hall on Monday, when Driver R. Read will meet B. Manastro and R. Lockhead, o£ Hutt Workshops, will meet Gunner Cook. Bouts will be of ten rounds. Called for Duty. The first four members of the Wanganui Air Training Corps who have attained the age of 18£ years have been called for duly at an’R.N.Z.A.F. station. The cadets are D. Sheppard, R. L. Shearman, R. T. Bowes and E. F. Friedrich. Castlecliff Sea Scouts. About ten days ago members of the Castlecliff Sea Scout Troop sealed a bottle containing the name of their troop, and threw it into the Wanganui River. The scouts have received a letter stating that the bottle was picked up on May 8 by W. Loveridge on the Paraparaumu Beach, Near Wellington. Representative, Rugby. The Wanganui Rugby Union will stage the first representative match of (he 1942 season at Spriggens Parkon May 23. Mr. C. K. Saxton, ex-All Black and formerly of Southland, has been appointed Io select Wanganui's opponents from men stationed somewhere in the middle of the North Island. Building Permits. The number . of building permits issued by the Waitotara County Council last year totalled 34. and the value fo the work carried out amounted to £7371, as against 36 permits granted for the value of £8832 for the previous year. Since the Pacific crisis there has been very little building carried on within the country. Sugar Rationing. The first fortnight of sugar rationing has passed in Wanganui without the average household having to plan and contrive to eke out the allocation of 12 ounces a week for each person. In Ihe great majority of instances the amount has been found adequate for family needs, but hotelkeepers and caterers have had to make adjustments between kitchen and tabic'. Film Star Conscientious Objector. .News that Lew Ayres has gone into a camp for conscientious objectors in Oregon came as a shock to Hollywood correspondent, of the Sydney Sun. Lew Ayres made a name for himsell in the role of a German soldier in "Ail Quiet On The Western Front." He says that this had a tremendous influence on his outlook, but his decision not to light was the result of years o! mature consideration. Matches for the Sick. in an attempt to meet the demands of male patients, the city had been searched for matches, the result being a few t in boxes at the cost of -Id a box, reported the acting-medical superintendent, Dr. W. Gilmour, to a meeting of the Auckland Hospital Board this week. Patients asking for matches had had to be told that there were none available unless they liked to share a box. Cost of Living Bonus. A decision to grant the cost-of-living bonus of 5s a week to all cmpioyci s and officers, from the highest paid to the lowest, was reached o.y the Wan-ga.nui-Rangit.ikei Power Board at Jts monthlv meeting yesterday. The chairman, Mr. I*. Purnell. Marton, stated that this increase would cost the board £250 a year. It meant, however, that juniors who were entitled to only 2s 6d a week extra would receive the benelit of the ss. "The best way to get out of any difficulties is to include all the staff,” the chairman added. Smoke Protection. A new method of protection for big industrial plants is being used in America, and has now been adopted m Australia. All day long locomotives steam slowly to and fro on the windward side oi tne plant to be protected, burning with their coal a chemical that gives oil' a dense, black smoke. The factory furnaces also burn this chemical, and the combined result is an impenetrable ,>moke screen, through which an enemy airman has no hope of (listinguisning air, special target, and can only drop his oom is at random. Habits of Common Birds. In a recent issue ot “Freest unci Bird” it is stated that, “i ie mot important birds affecting |be communil;. economically are the most aounu.ani species, not the rule birds. Very little information has been cbta’.ncd about the numerous introduced birds wh’ch frequent the agricultural and pastoicl lands.” For instance, in Bri on the starling is considered o be noil-bene-ficial, "but,’’ says the writ, -r, “Britain is not New Zealand and the contrary may be the case here, burel;/ research and held observa-ian arc required with reference io all such matters.” Atkinson Park Sold Atkinson Park, Aramoho, has been bought by the Government Housing Department -and is to be subdivided for the building of State houses. Atkinson Park was bought by the Wanganui R.ugby Union in 1926 when a new railway station site on the Wanganui Racecourse was mooted, it being thought that Spriggens Park would be taken over also. When the station proposal fell through because of organised opposition, the Rugby Union was left with Atkinson Park on its hands. The ground has been a drain on the finances of that body ever since. But for a few junior games Atkinson Park was not used by the Wanganui Rugby Union for playing purposes.