General News

Wanganui Chronicle, Volume 86, Issue 295, 15 December 1942, Page 4

General News

Brownout Time. The time for the drawing of blinds in Wanganui to-day is S p.m. Band at Hospital. On Sunday the Wanganui Garrison Band gave a concert at the Public Hospital, a varied programme being presented. Opportunity was taken to visit all the wards and entertain the patients. Wool Appraisal The second wool appraisal of "the Wanganui season began yesterday and will continue to-day and to-morrow. The number of bales to be appraised is 27,312. The wool, it is stated, has opened up in good condition. Work For Army. Farmers in the Waikato requiring bridges on their properties have been invited to communicate with the Army Department. The explanation is that a unit of field engineers has men available who require training in bridge building and is willing to do tne work provided the material is supI plied. Service Clubs Busy Service clubs in Wanganui were as busy and crowded as usual last weekend. Servicemen and women alike gathered at the various clubs to enjoy the hospitality provided. Energetic and entertaining committees who serve in an entirely voluntary capacity were kept working at high pressure in making their guests genuinely welcome. New Liqour Laws. A suggestion that in cases where there was no flagrant breach ot the liquor laws the police might lay information under the Licensing Act, instead of the Licensing Act Emergency Regulations, 1942 was made by counsel for a licensee in the Magistrate's Court, Wanganui, yesterday. Counsel said that when an information was laid under the new regulations the Court was obliged to impose a minimum penalty of £lO when entering a conviction. Maximum Bar Depths Maximum depths of 20ft. 3in. (high water, ordinary spring tide) outside the harbour entrance, and 18ft. inside the entrance, were reported by the harbourmaster, Captain F. G. Taylor, at the monthly meeting of the Wanganui Harbour Board yesterday. Captain Taylor added that the .shoal inside the entrance was thrown up during recent heavy westerly weather and rough seas, but would improve with line conditions. The depth at the approaches and Town Wnarf berthage was given at 13ft. Tomatoes Faring Well. Auckland’s tomato crops have progressed substantially as a result of the recent rains, and most growers are busy with staking and spraying. Blight has been a nuisance this year, but so far there have been no reports of the virus disease known as spotted wilt or bronze top, which is reported to be showing up extensively in commercial tomato-growing areas in Christchurch. The Riant Diseases Station at Mount Albert states that this disease attacks, besides the tomato, asters, anemones, chrysanthemums, dahlias, lettuce, zinnias, and other plants and cannot be eradicated by spraying. All that can be done to prevent its spread is to root out affected plants and burn them. The disease is spread by insects and handling, and growers are urged to be on the look-out for symptoms, such as stunted growth and curling leaves.