General News

Wanganui Chronicle, Volume 87, Issue 65, 19 March 1943, Page 4

General News

Gordon Pairs Bowling. The Wanganui Bowling Association’s annual competition for the Gordon Cup will be played on the St. John’s Club green to-morrow, commencing at 9 a.m. Entries must be in the hands of the secretary, Mr. F. Barclay, by 5 o’clock to-day. Anonymous Donor

An anonymous donation of £4O has been accepted by the Wanganui Hospital Board and will be placed on fixed deposit for the future purchase of an operating table for the Raetihi Hospital. The thanks of the board for this generous gift was expressed by the chairman, Mr. W. E. Broderick (Maxwell) at the monthly meeting yesterday. Dancing and Piping A dancing and piping programme will be staged in Wanganui at an early date by the Wanganui National Dancing Association. Application is being made for the use of Cook’s Gardens for the gathering. The programme, which includes competitions for novice and lady pipers, has been drawn up by the Dancing Association officials, and good entries are anticipated. 4

Sentry Puzzled by Oxford Accent. The North Africa correspondent of the Chicago Tribune says that an American sentry from Brooklyn stopped a British officer, Captain Thomas Rowarth, an Oxford graduate, at the gate of the United States headquarters. When Captain Rowarth, in an Oxford accent, explained that he wanted to see the colonel, the sentry told him to wait, entered headquarters, and reported: “There’s a suspicious character outside speaking broken English.”

W.W.S.A. On Parade. Martial airs, sung by feminine voices, echoed down Victoria Avenue last night, and caused curiosity among by-standers and theatre-goers. However, it was only a company of the W.W.S.A. participating in their weekly route march. Rain was falling steadily at the time, but this did not damp the spirit of the girls who. with heads high, shoulders thrown back and arms swinging, voiced “Kiss Me Good-night. Sergeant-Major” in the good old military style. Railway Patients

The need for an ambulance at a railroad junction such as Ohakune was stressed by Mr. E. B. Lothian when deputations waited on the Wanganui Hospital Board yesterday to make representations concerning the location of the new Waimarino ambulance. Mr. Lothian said Ohakune Junction had 200 railroad employees, in addition to which calls were sometimes received for people requiring medical attention on Main Trunk trains. About 50 per cent, of these calls were unnecessary, but the remaining 50 per cent, usually required transport to hospital. A Soldier’s .Mother.

Two airmen who recently returned from overseas shared a table in a restaurant recently with a woman who, when she had finished her meal, put her hand on the shoulder of one, placed an envelope in front of him and walked away. On the envelope was written, “Have a drink with a soldier’s mother who is proud to have sat at the same table.” Inside was a ten shilling note. The woman, having disappeared by the time they had opened the envelope, the men had no opportunity of making acknowledgment of her kindness. It happened that the note was most useful to one, for he had had his money stolen. JCen-mile Cycling Championship. The Wanganui Amateur Athletic and Cycling Club conducted its last cycle championship event of the season on Cook’s Gardens last night. This was the 10-mile (40 laps) humanpaced championship, which attracted six starters—F. Clinton, H. Pidwell, G. Pidwell, K. Dunlop, H. Hodson and T. Philpot. The last lap proved to be one of the most exciting of the season and resulted in a win for F. Clinton, with K. Dunlop second and G. Pidwell third. The season for Wanganui athletes and cyclists will close with the big services athletic championship meeting to be held on Cook’s Gardens to-morrow. Free Ambulance

During February the St. John Free Ambulance, Wanganui, attended 57 cases, including seven due to accidents and 46 medical and surgical, stated the transport officer and secretary, Mr. W. B. McNaught, in his report to the Wanganui Hospital Board yesterday. Of these cases 38 were located in Wanganui and the rest came from country districts, including four from Marton and two each from Raetihi, Ranana and Makirikiri. Two calls were cancelled before the ambulance left the garage. Since its inception the service has attended 7881 cases and the vans have travelled 96,542 miles.

Hospital Statistics The average number of occupied beds a day at the Wanganui Hospital last month was 173.5, state-d the medical superintendent, Dr. H. L. Widdowson, in his report, to the board at its monthly meeting yesterday. At the beginning of the month 178 patients were in the institution, 194 were admitted during February, eight deaths occurred, and 161 patients remained in hospital at the end of the month. The radiologist, Dr. B. T. Hooper, reported that 1077 X-ray examinations were carried out during February, of which 934 were for out-patients and 143 for in-patients. Fees charged totalled £673. Facilities Improved

Facilities for out-patients requiring treatment at the Wanganui PublicHospital have been improved, and according to the engineer, Mr. Martin S. Smith, in his report to the Wanganui Hospital Board yesterday, the department may now operate under more congenial conditions. A new washing-sink and hand-basin have been provided, heating points have been placed in convenient positions, and a room fitted with shades, etc., for eye examinations. “A suitable waiting room has been fitted out and the increased number of cases may be attended to in the least possible time and under much improved conditions,” Mr. Smith added. War Savings

In connection with the special war savings drive which is v being conducted cn a Dominion-wide basis during the present month, the Wanganui War Savings Committee is making a special appeal to citizens , who have funds available to participate. To meet the convenience of investors an alteration has been made in the purchasing price of 3 per cent, bonds of the £1 and £lO denomination. The purchase price of these z bonds are £1 and £lO respectively and they have a redemption value of £1 2s 9d ant. £ll 7s 6d. The £lOO bond, the purchase price of which is £B7 16s Bd, is not aflected by the alteration. These bonds are State guarantee, transferable and trustee security, being bearer securities they are readily negotiable and may be transferred or sold at anytime. They also constitute an important feature in the maintaining of the weekly quota scheme in all districts throughout the Dominion.