General News

Wanganui Chronicle, Volume 87, Issue 50, 2 March 1943, Page 4

General News

Injured Hand. Suffering an injury to a hand when working at the Fordell Timber Company, yesterday. Mr. J. Glentworth, aged 18, was admitted to the Wanganui Hospital. His condition last night was reported comfortable. Guard of Honour.

As a mark of respect to Private E. C. Lett, an old boy of the Gonville School, nupils will form a guard of honour outside St. Peter’s Church, today. at the conclusion of a service preceding interment at. the Aramoho Cemetery.

Erosion Toll. The heavy toll taken by erosion during the record centennial flood in Wanganui in February, 1940. was referred to yesterday by a Wanganui engineer, who said the river on that occasion brought down 1,600,000 tons of soil in 24 hours. Bad Farming Practice.

In the course of his address to the Wanganui Rotary Club yesterday. Mr. A. E. Watkin said it had been stated by competent authority that in recent years 4000 square miles of land in New Zealand has had to be withdrawn from production because of bad farming practice. Air Force Week

The Wanganui Air Force Relations Committee commenced its Air Force Week campaign yesterday with a house-to-house collection. This will be continued to-day, and to-morrow a street collection will be held and the "market” opened. Air Force Week is organised each year to raise funds for Wanganui’s patriotic quota.

Crippled Children Appeal An appeal for the Wanganui Rotary Club to obtain 70 new members for the Wanganui Crippled Children Society and thus make good its pledge given last year to enrol 500 members for the society, was made at the weekly luncheon of the Rotary Club vesterday by Mr. F. H. Bethwaite. He asked that members obtain the required number before the end of the month.

St. David's Day The annual festival of St. David’s Day the tutelar Saint of Wales, fell yesterday, March 1. Few historical facts throw light on St. David, but he is thought to have been born about 500 A.D., and to have lived to a great age. He founded the cathedral that bears his name, and over 50 churches as well and his fame has increased with time, his shrine becoming popular as a place of pilgrimage.

War Savings Quota Wanganui hoisted the Wat Savings "quota” flag yesterday within a few hours ot the opening of the week's business. Actual cash receipts for the day, £1865, were more than £4OO ahead of last Friday’s high figures and with the £7OO surplus from last week the day’s figures were £llOO above the weekly quota of £1450. This is the 72nd. successive week in which Wanganui has raised the quota flag.

Earthquake Shock. With a definite swing from east to west a fairly severe earthquake was experienced in Wanganui at 7.45 last night. On this occasion no warning rumblings were heard. Buildings creaked and light pendants swayed, but no damage was reported. The visitation lasted for about *l2 seconds. When inquiries were made at the three Wanganui theatres regarding the ’quake it was learned that only a sprinkling of patrons had noticed the jolt, and no attempt was made to leave. • Drive for Membership

The drive for new members inaugurated last month by rhe Wanganui Chamber of Commerce had been very successful so far, said Mr. W. S. Rennie at a meeting of the chamber’s executive last night. He added that the membership committee met twice last month and, as a result of good team work 12 new members had been obtained. “Members are to be commended for their excellent work,” said the president, Mr. C. S. Jeffs.

Rotary Club Luncheon Presided over by Mr. B. R. Dobbs, the weekly luncheon of the Wanganui Rotary Club was held in the Savage Club Hall yesterday. Visitors included Messrs. G. R. Mayer (Auckland), G. Fear and the Rev. W. N. Flett (Wanganui). The speaker was Mr. E. A. Watkin, who continued his talk on "Soil Fertility and Human Health,” stressing 'the difference between good farming and bad farming, good gardening and bad gardening. On the motion of Mr. A. Doig, Mr. Watkin was given a vote of thanks. Closing of Mails The 9 a.m. mail at the Wanganui Chief Post Office closed at a very awkward hour, said the president, Mr. C. S. Jeffs, when suggesting at a meeting of the Chamber of Commerce last night that 9.30 a.m., or even 10 a.m., would be a more suitable hour. Mr. Jeffs added that he appreciated that the post office was working under difficulties with a short staff, 'but he suggested that a committee from th j chamber might wait on the chief postmaster, Mr. C. B. McNatty, and make representations for a later closing of the mail. The chamber agreed to this course of action. “Wrong Number!” An Auckland girl has an enhanced opinion of N.Z.E.F. post office methods in the Middle East. She was bewildered by her sweetheart's sad cablegram announcing "No letters for a long time.” Had she not written faithfully week by week? Indeed she had! It was too bad the way her soldier boy's mail went astray. Someone should be taken to task. Then came a letter: "Darling, 1 received quite a lot of your mail all at once. It’s a wonder I ever got it. Instead of writing my military number in front of my name you had put your own telephone number on every letter!” Must Attend School If children were absent from school without the excuse of being sick, parents were liable to penalties, said Mr. J. H. Salmon, S.M., referring in the Magistrate’s Court, Wanganui, yesterday, to the Education Act, 1914. The magistrate added that the Act provided for a penalty of 2s a week for each week a child was absent from school. Dismissing a charge against a Maori woman whose child, aged -5 years, was away from school for several days, the magistrate commented that the Act was silent on the point of a child under the age of 7 years who attended school voluntarily, but held that every chile- between tile ages of 7 and 14 years’ must attend school.

Veteran Cyclist. A veteran of amateur cycling, Percy Griffen (late of Palmerston North> and well-known in- Wanganui, has taken up his residence in Auckland and has decided to assist the sport in that centre officially. He may even be awheel again! Griffen was one ot New Zealand’s best pedallers in his day, scoring many notable successes. He raced from 1910 to 1922. Among his outstanding rides was the winning of the half-mile championship at the Auckland Exhibition in 1913 in one minute dead, on a grass track, when he beat Phil O'Shea and "Jumbo” Wells. At Timaru the same year Griffen won fhe New Zealand halfmile and three-mile championships (Phil O’Shea being runner-up), and at Gisborne the two-mile championship. He assisted in geeting the Auckland Clul» started in 1925. ‘ <