General News

Wanganui Chronicle, Volume 87, Issue 232, 1 October 1943, Page 4

General News

Britain’s Total War Effort. The British Army has not only fought in Europe, Africa and Asia, but has contained the enemy in strength in Iceland, the British Isles, Gibraltar, Malta, Cyprus, Palestine, Irak, Syria, Persia, Madagascar, India, Sicily and Italy. New Members. Messrs. G. Williams, C. Tufiin, C. Head, J. Johnston, H. Stenberg, WStephenson and K. Gudsell were elected members of the Marist Cricket Club at the annual meeting. Wool Levy Fixed. The levy on this season's wool for the purposes of the Wool Industry Promotion Act is set out in a Gazette issued last night. The levy will fee 6d per bale, 3d per fadge, and Id per bag or sack.—Press Assn. Opening of Angling Season. The angling season will open to-day. Most of the rivers in the Wanganui and surrounding districts, have been in flood during the past week or so and will not be in good fishing order. Indications, however, point to a successful season. Warrants of Fitness. The motor inspection depot of the Wanganui City Council has been particularly busy during the week with motorists applying for their warrants of fitness. The renewals were accentuated, no doubt, by the check-up by city traffic inspectors on Wednesday, for many were weeks overdue. Heavy Rain. With a sudden drop in barometric pressure heavy continuous rain was experienced in Wanganui for several hours yesterday. Including yesterday, rain fell in the city on 19 days in September. Up to 9 a.m. on Thursday 3.62 inches of rain had been recorded. Last June rain fell on 19 days, when 5.56 inches was registered. Vital Statistics.

According to vital statistics in Wanganui for last month there were two more births than in September, 1942, the figures being 48 compared with 46. There were 37 deaths compared with 43, for the same period last year. Marriages totalled 19 as against 27 for 1942. The figures for the past nine months are: Births 447; deaths 275; marriages 169. Letters of Appreciation. Several letters expressing appreciation of prompt and efficient service were received at the monthly meeting of the St. John Free Ambulance, held this week. One letter was from a resident of New Plymouth who extolled the skilled attention he had received from the personnel of the Ambulance staff. Three new members were elected at the meeting, which was presided over by Mr. S. J. Harris. Customs Revenue. Customs revenue collected from all sources in Wanganui last month totalled £24,593, compared with £23,431 for the same period last year. The comparative figures with those for September, 1942, in parentheses, are as follow Customs duty, £5989 (£5783); beer duty £446 (£478); sales tax, £4373 (£4428); war customs, £256 (£450); war beer, £355 (£382); war sales tax, £9526 (£9104); miscellaneous, £3468 (£2806).

Real Estate Officers. The Real Estate Institute of New Zealand (Wellington branch), at its annual meeting this week, elected the following officers:—President, Mr. R. A. Large; executive committe, Messrs. E. Whiteacre, D. H. Benge, D. Sloane, A. A. Gellatly, G. A. Blundell, V. Williamson, A. R. Truebridge; councillors, Messrs. Large, J. G. Harcourt, A. McAlister, N. E. Gifford; trustees, Messrs. A. Large; executive committee, Messrs Williamson; auditor, Mr. S. E. Lambert.

Higher Output of Lime. During the last six months a steady increase has been recorded in the output of lime in Southland, the Winton railway figures showing that more than 60,000 tons were handled for the period. This is an increase of about 25 per cent, over the same period in 1942. The record was reached in the week ended May 1, when 4663 tons were dispatched. The recently established works at Fernhills are now turning out about 40 trucks a day, and the new works at Lady Barkly will be ready to begin operations shortly. Check-up by Traffic Inspectors. Checking of motor-vehicle licences and warrants of fitness were carried out this week by inspectors of the Wanganui City Council’s traffic department. At the city end of the Town Bridge all vehicles were stopped and particular attention was paid to trucks with heavy loads. Inspectors reported that the number of drivers who could not produce licences was comparatively small, and those without licences when stopped were given the opportunity to present them later to the authorities. Prisoners Expected Italy’s Fall. That New Zealand prisoners of war expected the fall of Italy and the possibility of such a period of confusion as must now be existing is suggested (states the Auckland Star) in requests recently contained in a number of letters from prisoners of war and in reports from repatriated men. A number of men have written asking to be supplied with badges or rank and other identification badges. For instance, Medical Corps men have asked for Red Cross brassards. Former prisoners have reported, too, that for some months prisoners had been saying some of the food sent to them in private and Patriotic Fund Board parcels. Some prisoners, it is stated, had sufficient food in store to last them for up to three weeks in case of any breakdown of supplies.

Second-hand Envelopes. “Is this show hard up?” Mr. E. S. Parker demanded at a meeting of the Marlborough Power Board. “We get our notices in old second-hand envelopes. It costs more to paste on new fronts than it’s worth. The lawyers and the power boards seem the only mean ones.” Mr. A. H. Nees said he objected, too. “When I get the board’s envelopes I just can’t use them again,” he said. Mr. Parker added that the Borough Council sent out its notices in new envelopes. “But aren’t they an extravagant crowd?” the chairman inquired, innocently. The secretary explained that the practice of using envelopes a second time was adopted to be m line with the Government’s policy.