GENERAL NEWS

Wanganui Chronicle, 21 November 1950, Page 4

GENERAL NEWS

Scrutiny of Rolls. The scrutiny of the electoral rolls and the official count for the elections held on Saturday began at 10 a.m. yesterday morning. The job will take several days.

School Closing Down. As the roll has fallen to three, the Taumatatahi School will close at the end of this year. This information was given to the Wanganui Education Board yesterday by the secretary, Mr. G. N. Boulton.

Dredge For Survey. The Wanganui Harbour Board’s dredge, Wanganui, sailed for Wellington yesterday morning to undergo her annual survey. The dredge will go oi. the Patent Slip at Evans Bay and should be back in Wanganui at the week-end.

Wool Sale Catalogues close. Catalogues for the first Wellington wool sale on November 28 have closed with a full offering of 30,000 bales. About 30,000 bales will be offered at the first Invercargill sale on December 13. Although the catalogue there closed last Saturday the stores are still receiving wool, all of which is described as “extra good.’’

Speed Boat Successes. Wanganui and district were well to the fore at the speed boat regatta held at Wellington on Saturday. Miss Waverley won the New Zealand Vbottom championship and took a second and a third place in other events. Alvern won one race and was second in another, ana Mosquito secured a win and two seconds.

Blind Typist. The New Zealand Institute for the Blind has been advised that Miss Teresa Boyce, of Takapuna, who is “commercially blind,” is doing well as a shorthand typist in Sydney. She recently went there to visit an eye specialist she knew, but he had left for England the previous day. She will work in Sydney until she can see him on his return. Backward Children. The Wanganui Education Board is to seek information regarding the number of mentally handicapped children in the district. This follows the receipt of a letter from the Education Department yesterday containing details of conditions necessary for the organisation, administration, and accommodation required for the establishment of an accupational centre for mentally handicapped children. Sixteen pupils were required before a school could be established.

Lonely Polar Bear. A Polar bear cub reached Auckland from Brussels in September after a six weeks’ sea trip. She has been lonely at the Auckland Zoo, but will soon have three companions, which are to be flown from Brussels. Because of shipping delays, the Avicuitural Society of New Zealand has arranged the consignment by air. The bears will fly in fairly roomy crates on airliners across Europe, Egypt, India, Australia and the Tasman Sea. The City Council would like to have them here for the school holidays.— (PA). Record-breaker.

An outstanding athletic performance was put up by a competitor in the Feilding Agricultural High School’s recent sports meeting. The competitor, David Bell, broke two records and equalled a third. In all, he gained six firsts and two seconds. He won the 100 yards and the 220 yards, and was second in the 440 yards. He won the high and long iumns and tne discus throwing, gained a first in another event and another second placing. He is a son of Mr ana Mrs D. Bell, of Rangiwaea. P. and T. Advise.

The chief postmaster, Wanganui, Mr. W. O’Connell, advises that the air sevice to Papeete via Fiji and Aitutaki has been suspended. Air correspondence from New Zealand cannot, therefore, be sent to French settlements of Oceania and mails will have to be sent by surface as the chance offers. The Australian Post Office also advises that the air service to French Settlements has been temporarily suspended. The next surface mail is due to close tomorrow, November 22. ,