General News

Wanganui Chronicle, Volume 90, Issue 167, 22 July 1946, Page 4

General News

Taxi-Driver Injured When he was struck by a passiftg car while walking across *iagway Street on Saturday night. Mr. H. Dunstall, taxi-driver, 37 Bell Street, received a cut over one eye and slight concussion. He was taken to the Wanganui General Hospital by the St. John Free Ambulance, his condition last night being reported as satisfactory. Accident Victim Dies Mr. William Fenton, aged 86, of 3 Heads Road, died in (he Wanganui Public Hospital on Saturday night as a result of head' injuries received when he was struck by a tram at the junction of Guyton Street and Ridgway Street extension on Thursday night. An inquest was opened by the district coroner, Mr. S. M. Dixon, yesterday, and adjourned sine die after evidence of identification had been given by Constable L. J. Stevenson. Hockey Player Injured While playing hockev at the Wanganui Technical College grounds on Saturday afternoon, a Feilding player, H. W. Haydn, 21 Camden Street, Feilding. received a cut over his left eye. caused when he was struck by a hockey stick. M. H. Jannings, 27 Webb Road, Wanganui, who was playing Rugby on the same grounds, 1 received an injury to his left shoulder. Both were taken to the Wanganui General Hospital by the StJohn Free Ambulance. After receiving attention in the out-patients' department, they were discharged. Gratuities Still to Como It. is estimated that about 1000 war gratuities payable to ex-servicemen in Wanganui have yet to come to hand Several thousand have already been authorised and credited to Post Office Savings Bank accounts here, but it is not known in Wanganui when the remainder will be finalised. The delay is stated to be at Base Records in Wellington, where there is a shortage of staff. This has been caused by departure of a large number of women and girls from the office when the manpower restrictions were lifted. Many of them had been directed to work at Base Records. Few Informal Votes Comparatively few of the votes cast in the municipal by-election in Wanganui were declared informal on the preliminary count, 26 out of a total of 46 informal votes being at three polling places, St. John’s Hill and the two Gonville booths. Aramoho, however, had the best record for correct voting papers, there being no informal votes at the Hylton Hall, where 1359 were cast, and only one at St. David’s, Upper Aramoho. The principal booth, located in the annexe of the Opera House, also had a good record, there being only three informal out ot a total of 4269. At St. John’s Hill, however, where only 832 votes were cast, 12 were informal. Lost—One Harbour Among the facetious remarks made at the Wanganui Savage Club “korero” on Saturday night, when a raiding party, some 60 strong, had come south from Hawera, was one directed at the Wanganui harbour and the famous Wanganui River. The “Rapgatira" of the Hawera Club (Savage D. Ryan), replying to the welcome, said that Wanganui was noted for its muddy river and now ’t had no port, “You have given your port away,” he said, “just, cut it off and thrown it into Taranaki, into the Patea electorate.” A voice: “That wasn’t us.” Rangatira Ryan: “And now your muddy river is a space for wahines and piccanninies to bathe in.” Hawera Band “Is your band coming to the New Zealand contest at Wanganui next February?" was a question put to Mr. H. C. A. Fox, conductor of the Hawera Band, on Saturday night. “Certainly, replied Mr. Fox, “and as an A grade band.” The Hawera Band is the present B grade champion band of the Dominion. Mr. Fox, who is the conductor, is also the conductor of the Hawera Savage Club orchestra, several members of which came to Wanganui on Saturday night with a “raiding” party which produced a programme in the Wanganui Savage Club’s “hapu.” The visitors were augmented by several from the Wanganui Savage Club’s orchestra, and in all, 28 players responded to Mr. Fox's baton during the night. It was a musical treat which the large number of members of the Wanganui club greatly appreciated. One of the numbers played was “Panis Angelic,” in which the conductor's son, Mr. L. R. Fox. played a cornet solo. He is the champion cornet player of the Dominion. He also played "Alpine Echoes.” in which a distant cornet, away in the far hall of the Savage Club building, provided the echo.