GENERAL NEWS

Wanganui Chronicle, 9 June 1948, Page 4

GENERAL NEWS

Rolls of Ratepayers,

Support for the recent protests of the Wanganui Electors’ Association against the action of the annual conference of the New Zealand Municipal Association in seeking to have authority for the raising of loans without a poll of ratepayers was expressed at yesterday’s meeting el tne Waitotara County Council. High Barometer.

Barometric pressure at Wanganui yesterday was comparatively high for almost midwinter, tha reading at 4 p.m. being 30.50 in, compared with 30.40 in. 24 hours previously. There was almost a complete absence of wind, but the sky was cloudy for the most part and temperatures were still low. At Castlecliff a moderate swell was running.

Many Cars on Road. The return to Wellington of motorists who spent King’s Birthday weekend further afield, left an impression on at least one Wanganui v.sitor to the capital. Leaving VVeain„;.r, at 6 p.np yesleiuey, she encountered a ■‘a-n of traffic on the nain highway, and was prompted to keep a tally of the cars which passed. Between Wellington and Paekakariki, a distance of about 25 miles, more than 300 vehicles were counted—an average of 12 to a mile. Heavy Traffic Collection. The suggestion that local bodies in the No. 8 Highway Traffic District should continue for a further period of a year the present method of allocating heavy traffic fees was made in a letter from the Wanganui City Council, received at yesterday’s meeting of the Waitotara County Council. “The present method of collection is most satisfactory to this council.’’ We can do with as much money from heavy traffic fees as we can get,” sa'd the chairman (Mr. W. McKee). Training of Shearers.

The New Zealand Wool Board plans to continue its course for training shearers In the coming season. The scheme provided for the training of men in shearing sheds or at technical colleges, or both, trainees being paid a sunsidy of £3 a man-week up to three weeks. Last season 104 shearers were trained in this way. Full details of the scheme are available from the Department of Labour and Employment.

Maxwell Pedestrian Crossing. Advice that he was arranging for a departmental officer to provide him with a report on traffic conditions in the Maxwell township was received from the Commissioner of Transport (Mr. G. L. Laurenson) at yesterday's meeting of the Waitotara County Council. At the May meeting the council decided on the suggestion oi the Automobile Association (Wanganui) that a pedestrian crossing should be provided at Maxwell.

Bible Class Camp An application from the Wanganui District Committee of the New Zealand Presbyterian Young Men's Bible C;ass Union for the use of the Mowhanau Domain from April 14 to 19, 1949, for its annual Easter camp was agreed to at yesterday’s meeting of the Nukumaru Domain Board. The applicants stated that they had already been granted permission by the Y.M.C.A. to use its camp hut on the domain.

Nukumaru Domain Board A credit balance of £9BO 12s 4d, of which £779 13s is in national savings, was revealed in the annual report of the Nukumaru Domain Board yesterday. The year began with a credit balance of £7BO 14s sd. The amount co.lected in rents during the year was £292 12s 6d. The areas controlled by the board are the domains at Nukumaru, Westmere, Waitotara, Mowhanau and Ototoka and the Maiika and William Birch Parks.

Fine Hockey Record Members of the Wanganui Technical College A hockey team have an excellent record this season. So far they have not been beaten. On Monday, playing in a seven-a-side tournament at Hawera, they won the final for the second consecutive year. The team plays in the Wanganui Hockey Association senior grade and this season won the Spicer Cup. The coach of the team is Mr. C. J. Keats, a member of the teaching staff of the college.

Filins of Rowing. Moving films of the New Zealand championship regatta at Dunedin early this year and slow motion pictures of the club's eight-oar crew in training were shown to members of the Union Boat Club last night by a club member, Mr. C. Couh. The programme also included a film of the 1932 Olympic Games and an American athletic film. There was a large attendance of club members and friends and aftei- the showing of the films a dance was held. Football for School.

Appreciation of the gift of a new Rugby football, from the Wanganui Rugby Union, was expressed in a letter from the Turakina School, received by the union's management committee last night. It was stated that tile football would be put to good use in matches with neighbouring schools. Further to this policy of encouraging school footballers, the union granted permission for four sets of jerseys to be purchased for use in the revived Saturday morning schoolboy competition on Spriggens Park.

Coal From West Coast. Bringing 800 tons of coal from Westport, the Anchor Company’s steamer Rata arrived at Castlecliff late on Sunday night, but because of port congestion is unlikely to complete discharge before tomorrow. Some of the vessel's coal is consigned to the Railways Department for distribution among locomotive depots in the Wanganui district. Four vessels were in port at Castlecuff yesterday and three more are due this week. Advice was received yesterday, however, that the m.v. Holmglen, originally expected today from Port Waikato, will not call at Castlecliff, but will continue her passage to Wellington. The Holmglen was ,o have loaded wool, but because of so many ships being in port this programme was cancelled.