GENERAL NEWS

Wanganui Chronicle, 15 January 1948, Page 4

GENERAL NEWS

Prisoner Still At Large The prisoner who escaped from the Waikune prison on Tuesday, Kenneth Earl Wilson, aged 20 years, was still at large last night, according to the Wanganui police.

Petitions in Bankruptcy. Petitions in bankruptcy were filed with the Supreme Court in Wanganui by two persons during the year ended on December 31, 1947, compared with no petitions in the previous year. Last year there was one adjudication on the petitions of creditors and in 1946 there were none.

Phosphate Cargo. Phosphate which is being unloaded at New Plymouth from the freighters Harpsgo and Fort Nakasley is being railed to Kempthorne Prosser and Co. Works at Aramoho. Portion of the cargo was unloaded at New Plymouth for the New Zealand Farmers’ Fertiliser Co; in that centre.

Fire in a Shed A fire in a small shed in the Esplanade at Wanganui East was responsible for a call to the Wanganui Fira Brigade at 9.40 p.m. yesterday. The fire was suppressed with the aid of a bucket pump and little damage was done. The shed, which belongs to the Wanganui City Council, is used for the storage of tools. Decrease in Divorces.

Fifty-six petitions in divorce were filed with the Supreme Court in Wanganui during the 12 minths ended December 31, 1947, compared with 65 during the same period of 1946. The number of petitions heard by a judge alone was 58 compared with 65 in the previous year. In 1947 no divorce cases were held before a judge and jury whereas there was one such case in 1946.

“Honesty Boxes’’ on Trams That Wanganui trams are mostly “one-man" conveyances appears to have saved the ratepayers of the city a loss through those who like to take rides without paying for them. In Auckland last year “honesty boxes" were installed on six trams, two to each tram, in the hope that the passengers who were missed by the conductors during rush hours would drop their fares into the boxes. The honesty of Aucklanders is proven by the results. Only 2d day, on an average, has been dropped into each box, causing the secretary (Mr. J. S. Hester) to state gloomily that it was not likely that more boxes would be installed.

Shortage of Juniors. Wanganui offices and some of the less glamorous trades are experiencing difficulty in securing an adequate numoer of junior employees. There are many offices in 'the city which are understaffed with juniors and the filling of vacancies is a serious question. The incidence of infantile paralysis was responsible for a shortage during the holiday rush period when children under the age of 16 years cannot be employed in places where they come in contact with the public. The vocational guidance officer in Wanganui, Mr. T. R. Buxton, stated yesterday that apprenticeships for the skilled trades were hard to secure and he had many juveniles on his books listed for such positions. Maori Birth Rate Declines.

While the European birth rate in the Wanganui district showed an increase for the 12 months ended on December 31 last, the number of Maori births registered showed a decrease on the previous 12 months. The European births registered for 1947 totalled 923 compared with SOO in 1946 and the number of Maori births totalled 78 compared with 107 in the previous year. Maori deaths registered were 29 compared with 30 in 1946 and Euorpean deaths totalled 347 compared with 394. Marriages contracted during the year showed a decrease, being 394 compared with 463 in 1946. Of this number 66 were contracted in the office of the registrar compared with 64 in 1946.

Fat Abbott, Sculler. Pat Abbott, national r.mateur sculling champion, who collapsed during a race at the Picton regatta, is stated to be going to Dunedin to defend his title at the Dominion championships, next month. Abbott who is well known in Wanganui, won his first New Zealand title on the Wanganui River in 1946 when he beat Bob Smith of Auckland who had won it five times. Abbott with Smith, represented the Dominion in sculling events at the Melbourne Centennial Regatta in 1934. Pat Abbott has several times won the N.Z. Double Sculls. Tn recent months Abbott has been' far from well, and it is his intention to quit sculling after the national championships.

Rifle Shots’ Successes. Wanganui rifle shots were successful at the Levin district championships during the week-end. Wanganui won the teams match with Upper Hutt second. Heavy rain throughout the morning and late afternoon made conditions unpleasant and difficult. F. J. Soler tied with two others for first place in the 500 yards, scoring 35' and tied for first place in the optional match (300 and 500 yards) with a score of 68. In the 500 and GOO yards optional match, Soler and G. Cronin were in" second glace with 67 points. In the aggregate Soler was third with 100 points, the winner scoring 102 points. Other Wanganui competitors who achieved success at the meeting were J. Patterson, L. N. Garner, L. C. Sole’-, R. Shaw, and E. Farley. A.T.C. Flying Training.

Of the three Air Training Cadets being taught to fly by the Wanganui Aero Club, none has yet gone solo although they are making good progress with their Instruction. The fourth trainee learned to fly more than a year ago and had done about. 30 hours’ flying before he was accepted for the scheme. The ab intio pilots have to receive a minimum of eight hours’ dual instruction before they can be sent solo. In all they will receive 18 hours’ dual instruction and 12 hours' solo flying. High winds of recent weeks have curtailed flying at. the Wanganui Airport but by carrying out instruction early in the morning and late in th- afternoon, the instructor, Mr. G. A. Delves, has been able to keep the trainees up to schedule. The trainees have to complete their flying by March 31, but the Minister of D?»ence announced recently that if necessary an extension of time would be granted.