General News

Wanganui Chronicle, Volume 87, Issue 62, 16 March 1943, Page 4

General News

Church Parade Members of tiie military section of the W.W.S.A. will attend a church parade in the Trinity Methodist Church next Sunday. The unit will fall-in at the Drill Hall at 6.30 p.m.

Son for Film Star Maureen O'Sullivan, the wellknown screen actress, has given birth to a 9iib. boy. Her husband, Lieut.Commander John Farrow, R.C.N., is at present in Hollywood on sick leave.

Newsprint Rationed The curtailment in the size of 1943 issues of the Christian Science Monitor, which is published in Boston, is caused by an order from the War Production Board restricting the amount of newsprint that any American newspaper may consume.

Waste Paper Collection. Collectors of waste paper in the business area on Saturday reported a substantial increase on. previous Saturdays, about 12 bales being collected. A pleasing feature was that there was very little foreign matter in the bundles left out. Rental Cars

Commenting that, there was too much carelessness in the hiring of rental cars to unlicensed drivers. Mr. J. H. Salmon, S.M., in the Magistrate’s Court, Wanganui, yesterday said that he could nor regard offences of this type as trivial. An unlicensed driver, he added, might not be capablt and might cause considerable damage to property, or even life.

Contents of “Handles" When a witness in the Auckland Police Court said that he and two companions had had five or six “handles” of beer each, Mr. J. H. Luxford, S.M., asked what was 'the content of a “handle.” The witness did not. know, nor did Senior-Detective Walsh, the latter remarking that he thought the thickness of the glass at the bottom had to be taken into account.

Soldiers Catered For. During last week more than 300 meals were served to members of the armed forces at the A.N.A. Club, this including over 100 during the weekend. The United Services Club held its usual club activities on Saturday and social gatherings were held on Friday and Sunday nights. There was a large crowd in the Lyric Hall for the Catholic Services Club function, the assisting artists being Miss June Benson and Private M. Larsen. Gas Alarm Instruments.

Seventy wooden rattles have been received at Wanganui E.P.S. headquarters for issue to law and order wardens. The rattles, which will be issue on a percentage basis to the law and order districts, will be used only when the presence of war gases has been reported. Made in Christchurch, tiie rattles are of strong wood and when twisted make a loud crackling noise. This type of alarm for war gas is used extensively in England.

Strange Sleeping Quarters Visiting servicemen cannot always find sleeping accommodation at Wellington. Two foot-weary soldiers, made sleepy by their potations, noticed in a furniture display window in Manners Street some comfortable chesterfields. The sight was evidently too much to resist, for the heavy plate-glass window was smashed, the men crept in through the jagged gap, and were comfortably disposed on the chesterfields. A few minutes later they were discovered and removed to otner quarters.

Harbour Depths The maximum depth of water available at the harbour entrance last month was 20ft., high water, ordinary spring tides, reported the harbourmaster, Captain F. G. Taylor, at a meeting of the Wanganui Harbour Board yesterday. The depth at the entrance, high water, neap tides, was 17ft. Captain Taylor added that depths from the mole ends to the Castlecliff Wharf were 18ft. 6in. (h.w.0.5.t.) and 15ft. 6in. (h.w.n.t.) Other depths were: Mitchell’s Reach, 12ft. 9in. and 10ft. 6in.; Town Wharf and approaches, 13ft. and 10ft. 9in.

Dredge Kaione. The suction-hopper dredge, Kaione, had returned from Wellington on completion of survey, docking and painting, reported the harbourmaster, Captain F. G. Taylor, at the monthly meeting of the Wanganui Harbour Board yesterday. Since February 7, Captain Taylor added, the vessel had been laid up at the Castlecliff Wharf. Deck machinery had been overhauled and replaced. The top sides had been painted and general maintenance carried out. The Kaione was in firstclass condition to carry out future work.

Troop-Carrying Plane. The presence of the body of a largi troop-carrying plane in Victoria Avenue last night created a deal of interest to passers-by. The body, minps wings, tail and undercarriage, was swung on a special girder-rein-forced trailer, drawn by a speciallybuilt four-wheel Diesel - powered vehicle. The body of the plane was about 50 feet in length, and slung on each side were steel dinghies. The size of the plane even surprised some Americans visiting the city, one being heard to exclaim: “That's some ship!” to which his friend replied: "You're telling me!” Staff Picnic.

The staff of the Farm Equipment Company spent a very happy aay on the Wanganui River and at Hipango Park during the week-end. The day was not sunny but the overcast sky did not spoil the outing, everyone enjoying and appreciating the river scenery and the native bush. Luncheon was served cafe style, after which the party went swimming or hiking to the hills behind the park, returning in time for tea before the trip home.