General News

Wanganui Chronicle, Volume 86, Issue 308, 31 December 1942, Page 4

General News

The “Chronicle” will not be published to-morrow, New Year’s Day, but will appear as usual on Saturday. Advertisers and others are reminded that matter for insertion in Saturday’s paper must be posted in time to reach Wanganui to-day or else forwarded by other means than by mail. Wool Store Accident. When struck by a bale of wool in a city wool store late yesterday afternoon, Mr. Thomas Brown, 96 Alma Road, received a dislocated shoulder and was taken to the Wanganui Public Hospital by the Free Ambulance. His condition last night was reported to be satisfactory. Grass Fires.

The summer weather of the past week has resulted in several grass fires. Yesterday the Central Fire Brigade and Castlecliff Brigade responded to calls, the former quelling three outbreaks and the suburban one. One outbreak on Carlton Terrace took an hour and a-half to extinguish. Shopping Rush Over. Following the rush., of Christmas shopping, the city has quietened down a good deal this week, but there are many visitors to be seen in the streets. With the continuation of fine weather shops catering for soft drinks and ice creams are experiencing a busy time in coping with the demand.

Durie Hill Elevator. The Durie Hill elevator, taken over by the Wanganui City Council a few months ago, has also had its share of the holiday rush traffic. The elevator is now under the control of the Tramways Department, and an official expressed satisfaction yesterday with the returns of tickets sold during the Christmas period.

Supplies of Copper. A building construction notice in Lhe New Zealand Gazette requires all holders of copper tube, sheets, shapes and circles capable of being used for any construction work to declare full particulars to the Building Controller not later than January 15. It is also ordered that importers of any such materials must provide the controller within seven days of importation with a statement describing the material, its grades and quantities. Trading Banks Busy Trading banks in Wanganui experienced a particularly busy period when they opened on Tuesday morning for the first time since Christmas Eve. Most firms took the opportunity of banking their Christmas takings, and in most cases record sales were reported. One retailer said that in spite of his range of wares being restricted, and the coupon system of rationing. Christmas week was the best he had ever experienced. This comment was fairly general among businessmen. Holiday Reading. The staff of the Wanganui Public Library has been kept working at full pressure since Christmas, and it was stated yesterday that the New Yeai rush for books had already started. On Christmas Eve 1400 books were issued to subscribers in the adult section. but this figure would have been substantially increased had the juvenile department been open. The number of books issued was an increase of about 200 when compared with Christmas Eve last year. Many of the books taken out were extras, subscribers taking sufficient reading matter to last them over the holidays. Affidavits There was a tendency on the part of some people to treat affidavits lightly and as a matter of form, said .Mr. Justice Fair when he pointed out during divorce proceedings in Auckland that the age >f a child of the parties in a case had been incorrec-.lv given. Any person making an affidavit, or declaration, should great care to ensure that the statements made in it were correct', His Honour added, as the making of statements on oath was a ven serious n after. Any person making deliberat'Gy an incorrect statement was liable to be charged with perjury. Bacon on Toast Bacon and eggs, so well known a feature in many restaurants as the satisfying snack meal for all hours of lhe day, is being affected by the egg shortage at Wellington. Menus in many restaurants show only "bacon and egg,” and at one big establishment this became later one day “bacon on toast.” On the other hand, those who travel in the provincial areas find chat two eggs go with their breakfast bacon without the waitress showing even amusement when “bacon and eggs” are requested while in the shops any reasonable quantity of eggs can be purchased. The Rationing Year. With the close of the calendar year rapidly approaching, inquiries are being made by a number of people as to whether the old ration books, long since disused for everything but clothing and footwear, go out of currency at. the end of December. They do not. Whatever M and O coupons are left in the old books are the only clothing and footwear coupons that will be available until the end of May, for the M coupons in the newer books will not be redeemable until June at the earliest. As far as fully-fashioned women’s hose, either silk or rayon, are concerned, the only coupon available until January 31 is X 7. Auckland Bicycles. The fact that the import of bicycles through the port of Auckland was greater than that of Wellington, Lyttelton and Dunedin combined was mentioned by an Auckland cycle dealer when discussing the tyre and tube position. He estimated that there were well over 50,000 bicycles in the Auckland area, extended from Waiuku to Warkworth, and the expansion of the suburban area had resulted in a growing demand for bicycles. Only about 100 tyres and tubes were allocated .0 the district a week, and special application must be made to a committee before xepiacements could be obtained.