General News

Wanganui Chronicle, Volume 87, Issue 59, 12 March 1943, Page 4

General News

Anzac Day Service. It is the intention of the Wanganui Returned Services Association to hold lhe dawn parade, the Maori service at Moutoa Gardens, and the commemoration service in the afternoon on Anzac Day, which this year falsi on Easter Sunday. Arrangements will be made so as not to interfere with the ordinary church services on that day. Amateur Cycling. Under the control of the Wanganui Amateur Athletic and Cycling Club a 1000-metre trial took place on Cook's Gardens last night. It resulted as follows:—F. Clinton, Imin. 24 3-ssec., 1; K. Dunlop, Imin. 26 l-ssec., 2; C. Pidwell, Imin. 26Jsec., 3; T. Philpot, Imin. 27 l-ssec., 4; H. Hodson, Iman. 35sec., 5. In a five miles scratch race F. Clinton was first and K. Dunlop second. The winner's time was 12min. 30sec. No running events were held. College Rowing. The first series of races in the Wanganui Collegiate School inter-house rowing contests were held on the Wanganui River on Wednesday, when Hadfield beat Selwyn by three lengths and Marris beat Grey by two lengths. A second series will be decided this afternoon. Further races will be held to-morrow and on Monday and Wednesday. The competing houses are Grey, Hadfield, Harvey, Marris and Selwyn. Power Board Revenue

February meter readings and assessments, at £9618, were approximately the same as last year's ngui’e, and brought the total income for 10 months of the financial year to £124,956, reported the secretary, Mr. G. A. Ammundsen, at a meeting yesterday of the Wanganui-Rangitikei Power Board. “It seems evident now Ilia, the year’s income will be not less than £140,700, on which the estimate/, were prepared at the start of the year,” Mr. Ammundsen added. Shortage of Bottles. The milk department of the Wellington City Council is experiencing difficulty in securing a sufficient supply of quart-sized milk bottles to meet the greatly-increased demand for milk. The general manager, Mr. E. L. Benseman, stated that the department uses up to 160,000 bottles daily, and it was thought that some thousands of bottles may be lying idle in he homes of customers, who are Being urged to release every available bottle.

Heavy Rain. In contrast to the beginning of the week, the weather in Wanganui for the past two consecutive days has been wet and boisterous. Early yesterday rain of unusual violence was experienced and flooding occurred in low-lying areas of the city and suburbs. A cold wind In the morning added to the discomfort of the day, which was cheerless until after noon, when an improvement took place, lhe rainfall recorded yesterday at the New Zealand Friends’ School, St. John's Hill, was .171 n.

Apple Brought 1000 Dollars. One thousand dollars for an apple! It. sounds like American enthusiasm, and it was. When Joe E. Brown, who is now in Auckland, was doing a radio show fcr war bonds in the States, he happened to take a bite out ot an appie. Before he could take another a small boy, quick as lightning, offered him 1000 dollars for the apple because the famous actor had taken a bite from it. The lad evidently came from well-to-do parents, and the deal was made, the thousand dollars being used to buy a war bond. Power Line Faults. Several intermittent faults had occurred on the Marton-Greatford-Bulls 6600-volt line, reported the engineer, Mr. H. Webb, at the monthly meeting yesterday of the WanganuiRangitikei Power Board. He added that the line was carefully inspected and trees which may have caused the trouble were cut back. “Momentary faults of this nature, which may last for a short period only—one or two seconds —are very hard to locate, though the fault is of sufficient magnitude to blow high-tension fuses,” Mr. Webb stated.

Level-Crossing Collision. When a light motor-truck tried conclusions with an “Ab” class locomotive at the Kaikokopu Road level-crossing, Aramoho, late yesterday afternoon, the front portion of the truck was extensively damaged, but its driver had a fortunate escape from injury. The locomotive, which was running light, was coming in off the triangle before setting back to Aramoho station yards for a crossing with an outwardbound mixed train. The motor-truck was travelling in the direction of Westmere when it struck the locomotive near the cab. The engine was undamaged.

Opossum’s Fate. How an opossum caused an interruption to the power supply in the Hunterville district early on the morning of February 20 was described by the engineer, Mr. H. Webb, in his report to the Wanganui-Rangitikei Power Board yesterday. The opossum climbed a pole and came in contact with an 11,000-volt line, with the result that the top of the pole was burnt off. Temporary repairs were carried out and power was restored slightly more than four hours later. Mr. S. J. Harris, after the engineer had read his report: “Mr. Webb has not told us what happened to the opossum'” The chairman, Mr. F. Purnell (Marton): “Mr. Webb can leave that to your imagination, gentlemen.”