General News

Wanganui Chronicle, Volume 87, Issue 39, 17 February 1943, Page 4

General News

Justified False Alarm. The Wanganui Central Fire Brigade received a call at 7.36 last night to a justified false alarm at the N.Z. Friends’ School, St. John’s Hill. The call arose through a misunderstanding by a member of the domestic staff. Pairs Bowling Postponed. The Wanganui Bowling Centre’s open pairs tournament, which was to have commenced yesterday morning, was postponed until this morning because of heavy rain. Should conditions prevent play this morning the tourney will be postponed until next week.

School Closed Because of a decline in the roll of the Western Rangitikei School to six it has been closed. The matter was referred to in a report tabled at the Wanganui Education Board’s meeting yesterday, when it was stated that the children were now being conveyed to the Marton District High School.

Wanganui East School. The remodelling of the wooden building of the Wanganui East School is now nearing completion as far as the constructional work is concerned, stated Mr. E. R. Hodge, architect, in his report to the Wanganui Education Board yesterday. The painting of the interior is well advanced but it will be about 10 days before this work is finished. Fire Extinguishers. It was reported at the monthly meeting of the Wanganui Education Board yesterday that 10 bucket pumps to extinguish lires had been distributed to the following schools: Raurimu, Ohakune (secondary department), Waverley, Rangiwahia. Hunterville, Oroua Downs, Orangimea, Apiti, Owhango, and Rangataua. The pumps replace extinguishers which have become unserviceable.

Missing Juror “Have him brought before the Court to explain why he is not here,” said Mr. Justice Smith in the Supreme Court, Wanganui, yesterday, when a common jury was being empanelled and a juror failed to answer his name. When the missing juror appeared a short time later he explained that he was under the impression that the Court sac at 10.30 a.m. “Very well,” said His Honour, “you are excused on this occasion.” Visit to Schools *

“In company with Mr. W. G. Price and the architect, Mr. E. R. Hodge, I visited the Wanganui East and Castlecliff Schools,” stated Mr. E. F. Hemingway, chairman, in his report to the Wanaganui Education Board meeting yesterday. The additions co the Wanganui East School should meet the requirements of the district for a long time to come, he report added. The painting of the Castlecliff School was favourably commented on by Mr. Hemingway. New Paper Products. Some of the latest developments in paper products which were replacing vital metals in America were mentioned by Mr. S. J. Robinson, a recent visitor to the United States, in an address to the Auckland Creditmen’s Club recently. Aeroplane wingtips, made of laminated paper, had been found to be lighter, stronger and cheaper than those of aluminium. Waterproof and fireproof maps and toothpaste tubes were made of paper, which was certainly playing its part in winning the war.

Fruit and Vegetables. Decision to ask the Government to extend the control of marketing of all fruit and vegetables so that children could get an adequate supply at reasonable prices to maintain health was made by the Wellington School Committees and Educational Association. It was described as a “disgrace” and “scandal” that fruit and vegetables should be the price they are in New Zealand. A motion that the Government be asked to extend the free fruit allowance to school children to .include stone fruit as well as apples was not carried.

Outsizes in Onions. A resident of Rotorua recently produced what might be called a horticulturist's dream. In a bag he had seven onions, of a total weight exceeding 81b. Brown Spanish onions, they were from four to five inches in diameter, and the largest, which weighed about lilb., was about 3iin. deep. These specimens were grown in the pumice country, on the eastern outskirts of Rotorua, and were selected at random from 1000. There had been no special cultivation. Crops of large onions were quite common in Rotorua this season. Their size, however, made them unsuitable for commercial marketing. American Presidents. American sailors seem to find out many odd places to seek information about New Zealand. Rummaging through an old council chamber room which had been vacated for some time they came across a number of group photographs of councillors, with the Mayor figuring in the centre. The pictures were all stacked behind one another with the faces to the wall waiting for a place where they could be properly hung. Turning them over and scanning them carefully they remarked. “You people seem to think a lot of your mayors and councillors, but in our country we don’t pay much attention to them after they are once out of office, but we do feature our Presidents, especially the big fellows well over 6ft. tall like Washington and Lincoln, who were both 6ft. 4in. in height. The Attackers’ Reward. Extensive manoeuvres in the southern Manawatu district provided many humorous incidents for all concerned. One of these occurred last week, when a “Japanese” force of Bren carriers was stationed at a point in Otaki township, expecting infantry to come into view .along a stretch of road. Seeing the men lying behind their Bren-guns outside her home, a kindly-disposed woman made them tea and placed a tray of cups and cakes on the front fence. The men were about to partake of her hospitality when one looked up and yelled “Tanks!” In a second guns were loaded, and the entire force was retreating post haste. In short time the first of the tanks appeared, to stop opposite the tray of morning tea. It did not take the thirsty crew long to discover their good fortune, and they quickly dismounted and began the disposal of the goods and drink left by the “enemy.”

Olive Oil Supply. Many doctors in the past prescribed a dessertspoonful / daily of fresh olive oil for the patients. Some continued to take the oil for long periods, and one died lately, nearly 100 years old. He attributed, his long life to the beneficial effects of the oil. At first half a gallon could be bought for 7s 6d, and this was six ■months’ supply. At the srart of the war the price doubled, then it rose to 20s, and now users say that the latest rise is a “corker.” It has been "bumped up” because the oil is produced in some of the warring countries and the trade is undermined. “It is not generally known,” said a medical man, “that it is no use hoarding olive oil when it is cheap, for in countries where it is prepared it is only considered first grade when it is used before it is a year old. After that, it is considered to have lost half its value. Not. till after the war will olive oil be plentiful again. Mean-

while it will be sparingly used as medicine.”