General News

Wanganui Chronicle, Volume 88, Issue 94, 21 April 1944, Page 4

General News

Use of Electric Radiators. By an amendment to the Electricity Contro] Order. 1943. gazetted last night, the period of May to September, during which electric radiators in shops and offices must not be used between 4 p.m. and 6 p.m., is extended to include the month of April. Defence Area Farming. Authority for the Minister of Lands to carry on farming operations on land set aside for defence purposes, but not, for the time being, required for those purposes, is provided by the Defence Areas (Farming) Emergency Regulations, 1944, gazetted last night. Official War Paintings. A good deal of interest is being taken in the collection of paintings by the official New Zealand war artist, Captain Peter Mclntyre, now showing at the Sarjeant Gallery. Special arrangements are being made for school children to see the exhibition, reported to be the best the gallery has shown. Wearin’ o’ th’ Green. Presented with a sum of money raised by means of a collection at a gathering of the women of the parish, the Ven. Archdeacon J. R. Young, vicar of Christ Church, was told that it was for the purchase of a new cassock. "Just so that you will not be accused of wearin’ o’ th’ green,” remarked one of the parishioners. Constable Escapes Injury. When a car hit the cycle he was riding on Wednesday night, Constable A. A. Fraser, of the Central Police Station, Wanganui, had a narrow escape from serious injury. Just as the car was almost on top of him, Constable Fraser managed to throw himself clear, but his bicycle was badly damaged. Invitation to City Council. An invitation has been extended to the Mayor and members of the Wanganui City Council to attend a service in Christ Church at 7 p.m. on Sunday, when the Bishop of Wellington, the Right Rev. H. St. Barbe Holland, will preach. The occasion will be a dual one, the celebration of the centenary of Christ Church and observance of the national day of prayer. Dedication of Tablet. As part of the Parish of Christ Church centenary celebrations, a procession of witness will take place on Sunday afternoon at 3 o’clock, when parishioners will march down Victoria Avenue, headed by the Wanganui Garrison Band, to the eastern end of the Selwyn Buildings. Here, set into the face of .the Government Life Insurance building, the Bishop of Wellington will dedicate a memorial tablet to mark the site of the first Christ Church building, erected in Wanganui in 1844. Patriotic Parcels. Of particular interest to people and organisations who pack patriotic parcels is the visit to Wanganui next. Monday of Lieut enanf-Colonel F. Waite, the National Patriotic Fund Board’s Commissioner in the Middle East. His, story of how the parcels arrive, how they are distributed, the happiness they cause, is one of the most interesting of the war. Packing is one side of it, well known to those in Wanganui, but the other side, in the sands of the desert, the mountains of Italy—that is the side Colonel Waite knows all about. Absent-minded Vicar. The absent-mindedness of the Rev. T. L. Tudor, vicar of Christ Church, Wanganui, from 1874 to 1893, did not detract from the affection in which he was held by his parishioners, related Mrs. J. C. Wickham at a centenary garden party held on Wednesday. The children held him in special regard, he said, and one sermon was preached by him so often tliat they knew it by heart. A few daS'S ago, said Mrs. Wickham, she had mentioned this sermon to her sister, who promptly recited a passage from it, so firmly was it implanted in her memory. Hospital Statistics. The average number of occupied beds at the Wanganui Hospital during March was 160.7, reported the medical superintendent, Dr. H. L. Widdowson, at the monthly meeting of the Wanganui Hospital Board yesterday. At the beginning of March 167 patients were in the institution, 226 were subsequently admitted, 217 were discharged, and 17 deaths occurred. At the end of the month 159 patients remained in hospital. The radiologist, Dr. B. T. Hooper, reported that last month there were 789 cases for X-Ray diagnosis, of which 640 were outpatients and 149 in-patients. In addition, 340 treatments were given, of which 278 were out-patients. Record For Ambulances. "This is the busiest quarterly period the organisation has ever experienced,” stated the transport, officer, Mr. W. B. McNaught, reporting at a meeting of the Wanganui Hospital Board yesterday. Since the eNw Year the St. John Free Ambulance had attended 420 cases, compared with 223 during the corresponding period in 1943. During the quarter under review the ambulance vans travelled 5637 miles, as against 3881. During March the service attended 132 cases, bringing the total to 9258 since its inception. Wanganui City, with 117, contributed most of the cases, the balance coming from country districts. The mileage for the month was 1519. Cars at Hospital. Following a letter from Wanganui taxi drivers, seeking permission to bring passengers to the main entrance of the Wanganui Hospital on visiting days the Wanganui Hospital Board, at ’ls monthly meeting yesterday, decided to grant this privilege to all

ears, provided they leave the entrance immediately they have deposited their passengers. Private cars must continue to occupy the parking area if they wish to remain at the hospital. The new scheme will be given a trial for a month, but in the event of any congestion at the hospital entrance the board will reconsider its decision. A traffic officer will be stationed at the main entrance to the hospital, instead of at the gates as previously, when private cars and taxis were prohibited from coming up the drives on visiting days.