General News

Wanganui Chronicle, Volume 87, Issue 273, 18 November 1943, Page 4

General News

St. John Ambulance. Tributes to the high standard reached by the East Town Division of the St. John Ambulance Brigade were paid when members paraded recently before Commissioner W. Bourne, District Officer W. J. Carr, and Corps Officer E. Hamline; for their annual inspection. Demonstrations of drill and exercise were watched with keen interest by the inspecting officers.

A.T.C. Unit. The mobile instructional unit ot the R.N.Z.A.F., which has been in Wanganui since Thursday of last week, left yesterday and will be on exhibition in Hawara to-day when an official reception will be held. Recently a Squadron of the Air Training Corps was formed in that, centre, and a campaign for recruits is in progress. Son Seen on Screen. When a Christchurch mother attended a cinema theatre recently, she saw on the screen her son, who left New Zealand two and a-half years ago. The picture is a newsreel showing one of the latest aircraftcarriers, and includes a sequence in which an aircraft takes off, circles round, and returns to the ship. When the pilot of the aircraft got out and came right up to the camera for a close-up, Mrs. B. Steven, Peterborough Street, recognised her son, Sub-Lieutenant Gilmer Steven.

Universal Language. The Wanganui Education Board at its monthly meeting on Tuesday supported a recommendation forwarded to the Education Department by the Canterbury Education Board that encouragement should be given, especially in secondary schools, to teachers who desire to introduce the use of Esperanto to their pupils. A detailed report on the advantages of a universal language was submitted by Mr. F. A. Bates, of the inspectorate staff, and he was thanked for his view on the matter.

More Coal Coming. A further shipment of coal from West Coast mines is expected at. Wanganui to-morrow when the Anchor Company’s coastal steamer Titokl arrives with about 600 tons. The vessel was to have left Westport last night and is. due at Castlecliff early this morning. She has 400 tons of domestic coal and 200 tons for the Railways Department. Earlier this week the same company’s chartered steamer Holmlea discharged approximately 600 tons of coal at Castlecliff. The Holmlea loaded at Greymouth last week.

Heavy Race Traffic. According to Patrol G. C. Gray, in a report to the Automobile Association (Wanganui) received at a meeting last night, 700 cars were parked at the racecourse on the occasion of the Waverley Racing Club's Labour Day meeting last month. Eight motorists attending the races had punctures, and three others who had locked their cars with the keys inside were assisted by Automobile Association patrols. “I suggest that people be warned to make sure they have their keys before locking car doors,” Patrol Gray added. A.A. Sy-”/ The progress made with the erection of additional road signs in the district was referred to at a meeting of the Automobile Association (Wanganui) last night, when Patol L. Raisin reported that he had erected six new signs on the Bulls-Hunter-yille highway. In addition, four days were spent straightening and painting other signs in the area. Patrol G. C. Gray reported that eight camp signs -were replaced, and others on the main road to Whenuakura had been painted and straightened. Two road signs were replaced at Waverley, and Patrol J. Stone reported that similar work had been carried out in the Taihape district. Back to Normal.

A further indication that the Dominion is gradually returning to a more normal footing, following Allied successes in the Pacific, was given at a meeting of the Automobile Association (Wanganui) last night, when Patrol G. C. Gray reported that 18 headlight restriction signs had been taken down and stored in a shed. The signs were erected when stringent lighting restrictions were imposed in coastal areas nearly two years ago. Under these regulations motorists in the Wanganuit city area were required to run with one headlight dipped and the other on a restricted beam.

Gardening Table. A useful table for the home gardener has been published by Massey Agricultural College for free distribution. It is designed to give guidance in providing vegetables all the year round for a family of four or five. It sets out the amount of seed required to ensure that wasteful quantities are not bought, the cost of the seed, the date of sowing, the date of maturity, and general instructions about cultivation. The table is based on several years of experience in Palmerston North, where the college is located. Copies are obtainable from the registrar of the college. Home Servicemen.

Further steps toward the formation of the Wanganui branch of the Home Services Association were taken when the provisional committee appointed at a sneeting recently met in the rooms ot the Returned Services Association oil Tuesday night. Mr. F. Watson presided, and also in attendance were Messrs. J. B. Cotterill, M.P., V. R. Broadhead, J. T. Avispn, H. I’. Work, W. G. Davidson and J. T. Appleton. Suggested rules, regulations and objects of the association were discussed and Mr. Watson was appointed as Wanganui delegate to the conference of Dominion representatives which will be held in Wellington on November 27. A further meeting will be arranged to receive a report of conference proceedings, after which a general meeting of the newlyformed association will be called.