General News

Wanganui Chronicle, Volume 88, Issue 203, 25 August 1944, Page 4

General News

Twelve Months Ago. Twelve months ago to-day a separate South-east Asia Command was set up for operations based on India and Ceylon, with Lord Louis Mountbatten as Supreme Allied Commander. N.Z.E.F. Casualties.

Among the list of wounded in a 2nd N.Z.E.F. casualty list issued last night appear the names of Private Walter L. Webb, husband of Mrs. M. Webb, Wanganui, and Private Thomas Cribb, son of Mr. S. Cribb, Hunterville. First Wanganui School. It is 99 years ago since the first school for Wanganui children was opened in Wanganui. At that time the population was estimated at 200 Europeans and over 1000 Maoris. The first Rutland Hotel was also built in that year. Pipers to Parade. The Wanganui Highland Pipe Band will parade and play in the main streets this evening as part of Wanganui’s celebrations. It is expected that the muster will consist of twenty pipers and eight drummers, under Drum-Major D. A. Almond and PipeMajor E. C. Morgan. Schools’ Rugby Tourney. The final matches in the primary schools’ Rugby quadrangular tournament were played on Spriggens Park, Wanganui, yesterday. The tournament honours were won by Taranaki, with Manawatu runners-up. The next tournament will be played in New Plymouth. Members o£ the visiting teams, who were billeted by Wanganui residents, will depart to-day. Westerly Gale. After two days of fine weather, following a southerly gale at the beginning of the week, the wind freshened from the west early yesterday morning and before noon had reached gale force. As a result heavy seas were running at Castlecliff and dredging operations were postponed for the day. The morning was overcast with occasional rain squalls, but the afternoon was fine with passing clouds. At 4 p.m. the barometer was steady at 29.88in5. Aramoho’s Objective.

“This is a tremendous hurdle for Aramoho, but an enthusiastic committee has been formed and is already working,” said the .district organiser, Mr. J. Gillick, commenting at a meeting of the Wanganui City Victory War Loan Executive Committee last night, that Aramoho’s quota was £50,000. “I am very pleased to say that though we have never saddled them with an objective before, this suburb will start the first week of the campaign with more than one-fifth of its quota,’’ Mr. Gillick added. Cement Cargo Expected. With the progress of repairs to the tunnels on the Tvrakina-Okoia railway deviation, the demand for cement is increasing, with the result that coastal vessels from Tarakohe are more frequent visitors at Wanganui. Due yesterday, but delayed by the westerly gale, was the Anchor Company's m.v. Nikau, which left Tarakohe at 5 p.m. on Wednesday with 170 tons of cement. The vessel arrived off the Wanganui bar yesterday, and it was hoped that she would be able to enter port late last night. After discharge at the Town Wharf, the Nikau returns to Tarakohe.

Wanganui Successes. The following Wanganui successes were recorded at the Hawera Competitions Society’s annual festival:— Margaret Bullock won the operatic dance in the 10 and under 12 section. Mary Richdale and Jacquelin Low won the piano duet, 10 years and under 14. Miss Low was also successful in a piano solo, obtaining first place. Nancy Wilson (Turakina) was second in the Irish jig, 8 years and under 11. Shirley Webster and Lorna Sargison shared equal honours in a dance due, 13 years and over. Rona Wilson was placed first in the sailor’s hornpipe, 8 years and under 11. Enthusiasm For Loan.

The capitulation of Rumania and other encouraging news from Europe should have a stimulating effect on the coming loan, said the district organiser, Mr. J. Gillick, at a meeting of the Wanganui City Victory War Loan Executve Committee last night. One firm in Wanganui, Mr. Gillick added, had already given a practical demonstration of this. Delighted at the news from Europe, Hr. H. Holroyd, managing-director of the Wanganui Woollen Mills, had telephoned that afternoon to say that his firm was prepared to make an initial contribution of £5OOO.

War Savings Groups. Four or more members of a staff could form a war savings group, and tfus be of material assistance in the War Loan campaign, said the district organiser, Mr. J. Gillick, at a meeting last night of the Wanganui City Victory Loan Executive Committee. Where there were fewer than four on a staff individual accounts could be opened, but in cases of difficulty in finding time to deposit the money at the post office, collectors could be arranged. Much valuable work could be accomplished by canvassing small shops, and by obtaining promises of investments on forms specially provided for the purpose.