General News

Wanganui Chronicle, Volume 87, Issue 275, 20 November 1943, Page 4

General News

Weight of Lambs. The average weight of each lamb in the recent export lambs competition at the Wanganui A. and P. Association’s Show was 31.781 b. This is a high average in comparison with similar competitions at Hastings and Masterton, where the average weights oi lambs were 27.7 and 28.3 respectively. Only 20 Days.

Britain was only 20 days’ travelling time from New Zealand, for FlyingOfficer K. I. Street, D.F.M., who recently arrived at New Plymouth to visit his parents. The Atlantic crossing took five days, the train journey across the United States five days, and the journey by water across the Pacific 10 days.

Rowing Visitors. Accompanied Iby their coach, Mr. A. J. Dunn, members of the first and second fours of Christ’s College, Christchurch, are to arrive this afternoon. They are to row against Wanganui Collegiate School first and second fours on the Wanganui River on Monday, over the Aramoho course. The visitors will row in boats made available by the Aramoho Boating Club. Chocolates for the Blind.

Eleven thousand blind people throughout New Zealand will receive chocolates this Christmas. In a room at the Blind Institute in Auckland are piles of boxes of chocolates which will be sent out to every blind person in the country, together with a note from the institute wishing them a happy Christmas and New Year. This gesture is made every year by the institute. Fine Weather Returns. After the cold southerly weather of last week-end, the brilliant sunshine of the past two days has been appreciated in Wanganui. The weather improved as the week advanced and on Thursday morning there was a light frost, insufficient to damage even tender plants, followed by a fine, sunny day with warmer temperatures. Yesterday there a light westerly wind which faded out at sunset. Night temperatures were pleasant. Wanganui Poultry-Keepers. Forty-two members attended the annual meeting of the Wanganui Registered Poultry-keepers’ Association. Officers elected were:—President, Mr. R. B. Green; committee. Messrs. W. A. Chainey, G. Wilkinson, G. Short, J. Patterson, G. Clark, E. A. Carveil, E. Wellard; honorary secretary and treasurer, Mr. Wilkinson. The meeting following the election of officers was addressed by Mr. Green, who gave a, review of problems relating to the industry. New Motor Route.

A new road linking Taumarunui with Tokaanu and opening up a large block of little-known country -'ying between the western shores of Laßt' Taupo and the Main Trunk railway is open. For some months a steady, stream of local traffic has been using this route, which brings Taupo between 30 and 40 miles nearer Taumarunui, but the ’motorist, due to the restrictions placed upon him due to the war, as yet knows little of the delights in store for him when he first passes over this magnificent new scenic route. Vocational Guidance.

A decision to form a Wanganui branch, of the New Zealand Vocational Guidance Association was agreed to at a recent meeting held in Wanganui. A provisional committee was elected to draw up a constitution and suggest a programme of work for the branch. This is to be submitted to the inaugural meeting which will be held ■earjy next year when the election of officers will take place. It is hoped to have a speaker from an outside centre experienced in the work to addi?ess the meeting. Vocational guidance centres have been established in the four main centres of New Zealand and they have accomplished much good work.

Holiday Bookings. A start was made on Thursday, a month before the holidays, with bookings lor express trains scheduled to run during the Christmas and New Year period. As yet, lew people have booked seats on Wellington-Wanga-nui-New Plymouth trains, but it is expected that a steady flow ot inquiries will be received from next week onward. Extra trains will be run to cope with the heavy demands, but it aas stated that as these specials are 'limited early reservations are advisable. Busiest days of the holiday period are likely to be Thursday, December 23, and the following day— Christmas Eve. In past years express trains running on these days have oeen booked out well in advance. Intensive Production.

To graze 70 cows on 50 acres and produce 20001 b. butterfat in tne present season is the objective of a Monavale dairyman, according to a member at a Waipa County Council meeting. The statement was made during consideration or a request by the farmer lor a visit from the ragwort eradication gang to check tne spread of noxious weeds. The farmer, it was stated, could not possibly spare the time to clear ragwort, out would* willingly pay to have the work done. Most ol tne councillors were dairymen and were very interested in tne statement that 70 cows on 50 acres were expected to produce 20,0001 b. of fat. It was explained that the owner did not expect to winter his herd on the 50 acres.

Co-operation of Parents. The need for parents to co-operate : with teachers was expressed by Mr. W. E. Fossette, principal of the Intermediate School, at a gathering of parents and friends held as part of the school celebrations recently. It was desirable, he said, that parents and teachers should pool their knowledge when making any decisions' affecting a child’s future. The intimate knowledge gained and records made of individual pupils were available to all parents. The senior inspector of schools, Mr. B. N. T. Blake, said the school could function properly only when there was close cooperation with the home. Recent investigations into child delinquency had disclosed thai though more was expected of the school, those in a position to judge were of the opinion that the school could function only as a reinforcement to the influence of the home.