General News

Wanganui Chronicle, Volume 90, Issue 7, 9 January 1946, Page 4

General News

Arts and Crafts Exhibition. A large attendance is expected at the Arts and Crafts Exhibition which opens in the Sarjeant Gallery to-mor-row afternoon. Patrons are advised to be early as seating accommodation is limited. This year’s display comprises a large number of oil and water colour paintings by the society’s members and outside artists.

Water Trough. The need for a water trough for stock between Rapanui and Westmere was stressed in a letter to the Waitotara County Council yesterday from the Wanganui and District Agency of the New Zealand Workers’ Union. It was stated that considerable suffering is occasioned drovers’ horses and stock along the route because of the lack of a trough. The matter was referred to Cr. H. Titter and the engineer, Mr. T. Dix, to investigate and report. Southern Cargo Arrives.

Bringing large quantities of southern cargo from Timaru and Lyttelton, via Wellington, the coastal motor-ship Gale arrived at the Town Wharf yesterday. She began discharge in the afternoon and is scheduled to sail tonight on her return to Wellington, after which she goes to Picton, Lyttelton, Bluff and Dunedin, to load again for Wanganui. With general cargo from Dunedin and Oamaru, also via Wellington, the Holmdale is expected at Wanganui on Saturday. About next Tuesday the Breeze is due from Timaru and Lyttelton. Inspection of Dredge. With a view to ascertaining whether a small dredge of the gran type in Timaru is suitable for tne Wanganui Harbour Board’s requirements, the harbourmaster, Captain R.< D- Stewart, and the secretary, Mr. I. Hedditch, left for Wellington yesterday, where they were to have met Mr. G. Lidgett, a Lloyd’s surveyor. The party travelled south by steamer express last night, and win inspect the dredge in Timaru to-day. A report will be submitted to the Wanganui Harbour Board, which will have a special meeting if necessary. The board already has an option lor the purchase of the vessel. Since the Kaione was sold to a Queensland firm, Wanganui has been without a dredge. Stone Fruit Prices. Maximum wholesale and retail prices for all varieties of apricots, peaches and plums (other than green gages) are notified in a price order recently gazetted. The prices for peaches and plums are. effective from January 1 and all others from January 14. Ceiling prices for the highest and dearest grades ol fruit in the Wellington provincial district (excluding the Wellington metropolitan area) are as follow:—Apricots Is 4d per b.; peaches Is 3d per lb; plums, is per lb. These are only the highest prices; as ungraded fruit must be 4d to 5d per lb. lower than the prices quoted. Retailers are required to display with the fruit a ticket showing the price and whether the fruit is graded or ungraded. Westerly Weather. The weather in Wanganui yesterday was line with a fresh to strong westerly wind which continued throughout the day and abated at nightfall. For the most part there as bright sunshine and temperatures were warm. Due to the high westerly wind, however, seas were rough at Castlecliff and the coastal motor-ship Tiroa, which left Wellington on Monday for Fatea, put into Castlecliff for shelter. She later came up to the Town Wharf and will load dairy produce to-day, after which she saiS for Wellington. The Patea bar was unworkable yesterday. Barometric pressure dropped on Monday night, the reading shortly after midnight being 29.52 in. There was a gradual rise during yesterday, however and at eight o’clock last night the reading was 29.65 in. Polish Children Arrive.

Most of them making their second visit to Wanganui, about 100 Polish children from the camp at Pahiatua arrived yesterday afternoon by special train. With a few exceptions, the same people who acted as hosts when the children were in Wanganui last August are again hosts and hostesses. The children travelled by a special train en route to Taranaki, three cars with the Wanganui contingent being detached at Aramoho. They were met* at the city station by Mr. G. H. White, chairman of the Wanganui Hospitality Committee, which is arranging the visit, and the Rev. Father G. McHardy, S.M. As most of the children have already visited the city, no organised entertainments are being arranged. They will enjoy the hospitality of people whom they have already met and will remain in Wanganui till February 2. Colliers Expected. Two colliers are expected at Wanganui within the next few days. One of them, the Holmlea, was originally due at Castlecliff last Sunday, with 600 tons of coal from Westport, but has been delayed. Advice received yesterday, however, indicated that she was to have left Westport last night, in which case she is due at Castlecliff to-morrow morning. Expected to load at Greymouth on Friday is the steamer Rata, which has been laid up at Nelson during the past few weeks for her annual overhaul. She is to go on the Patent Slip at Evans Bay during the next day or so and from Wellington will sail for Greymouth direct to load for Wanganui. It js understood that the Titoki, which was at Wanganui last week, subsequently loaded at Westport for Tarakohe, after which she goes to Wellington. The Titoki will lay up there for overhaul.