GENERAL NEWS

Wanganui Chronicle, 3 October 1947, Page 4

GENERAL NEWS

Anonymous Donation An anonymous donation of £2O was received yesterday by the Wanganui branch of the Royal Society for the Health of Women and Children. Car Taken From Raetihl

Police inquiries are being mad e for a four-door sedan, dark green painted motor-car, with the front bumper painted red and white, which was taken on Wednesday night from outside the residence of the owner. Mr. H. Hansen, Seddon Street, Raetihl. The licence number fa 98406. Short Trip For Firemen

Firemen from the Central Fire Station had a short trip to a fire yesterday afternoon—a house across the road from the station. The alarm was given at 3.55 p.m. and the call was to Mr. A. C. W. Orange's residence, 59 Wilson Street. Clothes airing above a stove had caught alight, but the outbreak was soon suppressed with a bucket pump. Damage was confined to the clothes. Appeal to Ratepayers

Because of the cost of interest on I bank overdrafts, the Rangitikei County Council has decided to appeal to all ratepayers whose rate s are £5O or more to make payment as early as possible. A circular to this effect'will be sent out to the ratepayers concerned, and it was stated at the monthly meeting yesterday that their co-opei--ation would be appreciated. Earlier payments would save interest costs on bank overdrafts, said the county clerk, Mr. F. L. Nicol. Since the rate demands had been sent out on September 4, £6200 had been collected. The amount levied was £72,069. Commerce Convention

The opening session of the fourth convention of the New Zealand Junior Chambers of Commerce will commence in Wanganui today. Delegates will be officially welcomed by the Mayor (Hon. W. J. Rogers, M.L.C.) in the afternoon. The convention dinner will be held tonight. Later in the evening the oratory contest for the Stotter trophy will be held, followed by a smoke concert. The convention will be continued tomorrow, and a church parade will be held on Sunday. Rainfall at Bulls

According to records kept by Mr. K. W. Dalrymple (Parewanui), 2.28 inches of rain fell on 12 days in the Bulls district last month, the average for September over the past 50 years being 2.87 in. During September, 1946, 3.11 in, were recorded on 12 days. Rainfall for the year so far is 26.96 in., compared with 30.50 in. last year and an average of 30.02 in. Only once in 50 years has the September rainfall been below one inch. This was in 1914, when there were only six wet days and .92in. was recorded. The heaviest fall was 6.40 in. in September, 1943, when there were 18 wet days.

Council Meeting Cancelled The special meeting ot the Wanganui City Council scheduled for this afternoon to discuss the transport question has been cancelled because of the inability ot some councillors to be present. One of the matters to be discussed was an offer from Mr. S. A. Crichton regarding the operation of the city transport system. The matters set down for the meeting will now be discussed at the ordinary meeting of the council to be held on October 14.

Rangitikei River Erosion. River erosion at Kakariki, where the Rangitikei County Council has a crushing plant, was causing constant concern, statde the engineer, Mr. H. Murray Reid, in a report to the council at its monthly meeting yesterday. He added that council employees were continually engaged in preventing erosion on the island opposite the mill. "The position is serious, because If the river should make .. major break it would endanger the anchors and perhaps stop the works," the engineer stated. "In its present course the river is not carrying stone to the pond, and we may have to take other .teps to assist it before the summer is ovei.” 4

Aid to Britain Conference A conference to discuss the question of Intensifying the Aid to Britain campaign is being convened by the Hon. W. J. Rogers, M.L.C., Mayor o’ Wanganui, and will be held in the City Council Chambers on Friday, October 10. All section's o£ the city and rural committees will be represented and addresses will be given by Mr. K. McL. Baxter, secretary of the New Zealand Federation of Labour, and Mr. D. A. Robertson, manager or the Shaw, Savill Line, who is chapman of th e Overseas Shipowners' Allotment Committee. The conference will begin at 10.30 a.m. Fanners’ Difficulties.

The difficulties experienced by farmers required by law to keep their properties clear of noxious weeds, but unable to do so because no laboui was available, were referred to by the Rangitikei County Council s noxious weeds inspector, Mr. J. Rooinson, in a report to the council at its monthly meeting in Marton yesterday. Mr. Robinson stated that he had been interviewed by five farmers who bad said that they were unable to obtain men or accommodation for them. "These farmers are in a small way, milking cows, and though they are willing to pay to have their gorse cleared they have to rely on day labour. which at the present time is not available," Mr. Robinson stated. "In each case their request is that if the county could make the men available, also travelling and accommodation, they would be able to comply with the law regarding noxious weeds."