Loading...
HomeMy WebLinkAboutThe Wingham Advance-Times, 1963-10-24, Page 9Campers Are Impatient Several times this summer we have re- ceived inquiries about the new camping ,�p� site which is being developed adjacent to "'� the Lower Town pond by the Riverside Parks Commission. in each case we have assured the outdoorsmen that the grounds will soon be ready for use. Without ex- ception they are looking forward with eagerness to the time when they will be able to spend week -ends in Wingham under canvas. Development of the camp site is go- ing ahead steadily, the latest move being to plant out shrubbery which will enhance the beauty of the area and provide a greater degree of privacy around the in- dividual tenting areas. The Parks Commission has been re- ceiving complaints because the water in the ponds was drained out early in the fall season and odors from the exposed weed beds and mudbanks have become a nuisance in the unusually warm weath- er. It should be noted, however, that the Parks people do not control the de- cisions about water levels in the ponds; the work is done by the town's works department. In fact the Parks Commis- sion would be very happy to have the normal water levels maintained until cold weather has set in. One of the purposes in lowering the water in the Lower Town pond is to pro- vide access to the river bottom. A scheme is under study at the present time to have earth -moving equipment moved in during the winter and clean out the weed beds while the ground is frozen. If this operation can be Carried out the ap- pearance of the entire park area will be tremendously enhanced. There are, of course, some objectors to this plan. Apparently they fail to real- ize that park areas have a very real value to a community --not only in the relax- ation and pleasure they afford to the resi- dents of the community, but in their ability to attract visitors to the com- munity. When we finally have the pond cleaned out and boating is possible; when the tenting sites are completed and the full attractiveness of the park area be- comes apparent, we will see a sizeable influx of tourists to our town. And tourists are usually good spenders. The provincial and federal camping sites are so jammed during the summer months that hundreds of families are seeking spots such as we will have to of- fer; places where small boats can be used, and where there is a little less crowding and competition. The Riverside Park program is one of the most worthwhile projects to be under- taken in Windham for a long time. We should all back it to the hilt. Let's Be A Little Depressed Apparently the Brantford area has been let in on a pretty good thing. Fol- lowing recent federal legislation to aid "depressed" areas, the Brantford sector was placed in this category — and ever since it has been a thorn in the flesh of other Ontario centres. The Kitchener -Waterloo Record carries the details of one recent industrial move, is typical of the incidents which are mak- ing other communities more than a little unhappy. Magnetic Metals of Canada, a company which has its headquarters in Camden, N.J., had decided upon a building site in Guelph when word of the new legislation came through. The company immediate- ly decided to re -locate in Brantford, and within 24 hours of its first inquiry had completed arrangements for the switch. Why did Guelph lose an industry to its neighboring city? Because the federal legislation offers very substantial induce- ments for industries which are established in these designated areas of "depression." In this case the company, which will build a 20,000 square foot factory immediately, with a 10,000 square foot addition plan- ned for next year, will save approximately $400,000 by its decision to move to Brantford. The saving will be effected by a three year exemption from corpor- ation income taxes; accelerated depreci- ation allowances for both equipment and buildings. The city will also benefit by accelerated federal works programs and an increase from 50 to 60 percent in winter works allowances. All this sounds wonderful — for the firm which was in a position to move and for the Brantford district in which it will locate. The rub, of course, is felt chiefly in Guelph, where civic leaders claim there is every bit as much "depression" as there is in Brantford. It would appear that the government has walked itself right into a big patch of burrs. To follow this thing to its logical con- clusion we would recommend that a study be undertaken at once right here in Wingham. Perhaps we are more depres- sed than is Brantford. If we do this thing properly it may be that we can pick up the next industry to move out of Guelph. Poor Reward For Progress For untold centuries mankind has benefited from the industrious character- istics of a particular species of birds— namely seagulls. Gulls are not merely graceful ornaments placed around sea- ports and lake fronts to add a touch of atmosphere for visiting artists. They per- form a very useful service by instantly disposing of all garbage thrown upon the waters by careless humans. Were it not for the presence of seagulls many of our most beautiful waterfront areas would be completely fouled and polluted by sail- ors, picnickers and little people with banana skins and half -eaten sandwiches. Nor have things been any too easy for the gulls, Local by-laws have created a definite shortage in some types of gar- bage so that an honest and hard-working gull has been finding it tough enough to gain a decent livelihood. Another dis- appointing factor has been man's latest form of pollution known as detergents. This form of waste is one which the big birds simply cannot deal with. They don't have the right equipment. Perhaps it was the problem posed by the modern implications of detergents which decided the gulls upon a progres- sive step. Realizing, no doubt, that ships are no longer the only means of human transportation the seagulls have in recent years been haunting the country's air- ports—no doubt in a conscientious effort to keep up with their obligations to humanity. Now ungrateful man has decided they are a nuisance in their new location. Just because they have been caught in and have damaged a few jet aircraft engines they are to be driven away. Latest decision is to train some peregrine falcons to kill the seagulls—or at least to kill enough of them so that their fellows will be terrified into returning to the waterfront. It all seems pretty sneaky. The gulf has tried to keep up with the times. Nc doubt he feels life is already hazardous, what with being sucked into jet engines all the time. And now that he has brought his thinking up to 20th century levels he will have to face an enemy he hasn't even heard of since the Middle Ages. And all this because there have been a paltry 400 accidents in the past three years caused by birds in aircraft engines. Total damages didn't amount to more than $2 million. THE WINGHAM ADVANCE - TIMES Published at Wingham, Ontario, by Wenger Bros, Limited W. Barry Wenger, President - Robert 0, Wenger, Secretary -Treasurer Member Audit Bureau of Circulation; Member Canadian Weekly Newspapers Associ- ation; Member Canadian Community Newspapers Representatives Authorized by the PoSt Office Department as Second Class Mail and for payment of postage in cash Subscription Rate: One Year, $4.00; Six Months, $2.25, in advance V.S.A.; $5.00 per year; Foreign rate, $5.00 per year Advertising Rates on application REMINISCING OCTOBER 1913 Miss Monte McPherson, tea- cher of stenography in the Wing - ham Business College, holiday- ed at hex home in Amberley. An enjoyable social evening was spent at Holmes' school house on Thursday evening last by the teachers, pupils and friends of the Sunday School, After a pleasing program had been rendered, Mr, and Mrs. Wm. Linklater were made the recipients of a Mantel Clock, and Mr. L. Fyfe with a silk neck scarf and a parr of kid gloves, by the attendants dale S,S, Mr. Linklater is the Superintendent and Mr. Fyfe is assistant. Ritchie and Cosens report rhe sale of Wm. Nicholson's resi- dence on Frances stmet to Mr. Joseph Underwood of Howick. We understand that Mr. Under- wood and his famil', will move to town about Dec, lst and Wingham is fortunate in secur- ing such good citizens. A goodly representation of this locality will avail them- selves of another opportunity next week at Teeswater of hearing Sir Wilfrid Laurier and Geo. P. Graham speak on the political issues of the day. 0--0--0 OCTOBER 1926 A reception was held at the home of Mr. and Mrs. R. J. Currie, Friday evening, Octo- ber 22nd, when the many rela- tives of Mr. and Mrs. Currie gathered to wish them a happy and prosperous wedded life. The bride and groom were the recipients of many costly an useful gifts. The evening was spent in games and dancing, and a good time was enjoyed by all. David Perrie, of Knox Col- lege, occupied his father's pulpit in St. Andrew's church on Sunday last and gave splen- did discourses. Mr. W. G. Gray has ac- cepted a position as auto sales- man with A. M. Crawford. Mr. Gray and Mr. Jas. Gilmour took the Monday morning train for Oshawa, and returned with new Chevrolet sedans. One for Mr. Gray, and the other for Mr. Adam Johnston. 0--0--0 OCTOBER 1938 Misses Hazel Wilson, Ruth Wheeler, Eileen Galbraith and Rev. J. F. Anderson attended the meetings of the United Church Young People of the London Conference which was held on the week -end in Lon- don. Sunday morning in St. Paul's Anglican Church, Wingham, was observed as Family and Children's Service. The Rite of Holy Baptism was administer ed to Douglas Ian MacKay, in- fant son of Mr. and Mrs. Gor- don MacKay, and to William Morton Connell, infant son of Dr. W. M. and Mrs. Connell, Messrs. James and Stewart Campbell, Alvin Mundell and Arnold Jeffray, all of Glenan- nan, attended the International Plowing Match at Barrie last week. Mr. and Mrs. Peter Gowans left on Tuesday for St. Peters- burg, Florida, where they will spend the winter. 0--0--0 OCTOBER 1948 Captain Goodwin of the local Salvation Army received notice last week of his transfer to the Dundas Corps. He has been stationed here for the past eleven months and it is with re- gret that word of his departure was received. Mrs. Ann McNevin enter- tained at her home on Patrick St, last Thursday evening in honour of Mrs. Alwyn French, who left for her new home in London on Friday. At the close of the evening the guest of honour was presented with a small sum of money as a token of friendship and goodwill. Rev. W. A. and Mrs. Bee- croft are in Kingston this week attending Queen's Alumni Con- ference of which he is President. The nickname of Iiogtown was given the city of Toronto more than 100 years ago by visitors unfavorably ,impressed by the number of pigs permitted to roam the street. SEVERAL FARM PONDS were visited by members of the Maitland Valley Con- servation Authority when they toured the watershed last Thursday. In this picture members are seen as they looked over a farm pond on the property of Carter Bros., north-east of Listowel, in Wallace Township. Farm ponds, con- structed under Authority specifications receive a subsidy.—A-T Photo. bran AbbancieffZime Wingham, Ontario, Thursday, Oct. 24, 1963 SECOND SECTION M1111IIIIIIIIIIIIIIINIIIIIIIIIIII111111IIIIIIIIIII 111111Il11111NIIIIIIIIB1111111111IIIIIIIIIIIIIIIN111111111111111111!111111IIIIIINIIiN1111111111111111111illi!!II 1111IIHiIIIINIIIIIINI!!IIRNIIIilllil S1JGAR. and SPICE 111111111111111111111ABy Bill Smiley Tai What a difference a few weeks can make in this country! It is no wonder that Canadians carry on a deep, lingering, tongue- tied, love affair with their native land. And they do. Believe me, they do, although you'd never know it from casual observation. They may sally to Florida and Mexico and Europe, but most of them would be sad beyond endurance if they were suddenly told they were to be banished forever from Canada. About eight weeks ago, we drove out to visit friends at their cottage. It was the lush, bosomy end of summer, and the evening air was tropical. We slowed to cross the bridge, and the ever - present, ever - intent anglers peered with patience at the black little river, and the birds chortled and the frogs krumphed. Along the beach, golden girls walked, and brown urchins paddled, and fat ladies slumped in deck chairs, and teen-agers look- ed sophisticated, and dogs ran over sI'eping old gentlemen, and people waved and water Iapped and motors roared and hot dogs smelled good. * * * When we arrived, our friends, about a dozen of them, sprawled under a vast, sighing pine tree, drinking chilled sauterne and eating dill pickles. Their children and ours, from toddlers to bantam delinquents, prowled and squabbled and begged bites of pickle and demanded one last swim, and laughed and cried and wet their diapers and bothered their moms. Out over the take, the sun, almost gone, had a moment of hysteria, slash- ing color across the sky with the ferocity of a Van Gogh. And t h e water; darkening its blue, looked up Iongingly, and the sun flung across it, disdainfully, a few scarlet and gold streamers. And we lounged, in shorts and bare feet, shirtless and wordless, too lazy and con- tent to get up and go in, even when the sun took a deep breath and went down like a bomb, away out at the end of the water. Like good Canadians, we accepted the splendor of the evening with decent re- straint. Nobody sang a son- net to the setting sun. No- body was impelled to sing a dirge to dying summer. It was admitted, upon the urging of a couple of the more flamboyant types, that it sure was a swell night, before we gathered the kids and went home. * * * Just the other night we went back to the same beach for dinner with some friends at their cottage. The air was fairly cur- dling. The car heater felt good. When we reached the little bridge, there were no fishermen, but we stopped to look at the late gold sun on the little black river. And high, away up, went over a wavery V of geese, a lovely sight. Along the beach there was no sign of life. Steely water around green -clump- ed islands. Silver sand. Black and blue sky. Cot- tages boarded up and blank -faced. It was lone- ly and bleak and beauti- ful. When we carne to the cottage, away down the shore road, and saw the yellow Iights shining, it was a good feeling. Inside, there was a great, glowing fire, a warm welcome, friendly faces, and the good, rich smells of rye and turkey and perfumed women. * * * And again, like decent Canadians, nobody made any crude remarks about what a beautiful evening it was, how lucky we were to live in this demi-para- dise, or anything as foreign and sentimental as that. We just stuffed ourselves with food and drink. and went home. BOX 390 To the Editor, Wingham Advance -Times. Dear Sir: The Canadian Author's Asso- ciation is planning to publish for the Centennial Year a Who's Who in Contemporary Canadian Writing. The book will attempt to list all active Canadianwri- ters of books (including trade and text -books), poets, play- wrights, script -writers for radio, Television or films, outstand- ing journalists, and editorial writers. I understand that "active" means a book publish- ed since 1955, or a fairly steady, even if not prolific, output of short articles, poems, etc. It is doubtful if so-called "Vanity publishing" will be acceptable. Chairman Lyn Harringtonhas formed a committee of C.A.A. members all across Canada, who are making preliminary lists of writers in their areas. These lists will later be pruned by experts, and questionnaires sent out. I have been asked to make the list for the area which in- cludes your municipality. It is necessary that anyone who does any writing which fits any of the above categories should send me their name and address with a brief statement of what they have been writing since 1955. I must confess I am woefully ignorant of who is writing and where they live, and this is the only way they can help to make this Who's Who a really useful and complete book. Sincerely yours, (Mrs.) Freda Newton Bunner 1064 4th Ave, A, West Owen Sound, Ontario. Maybe we all had too much Bliss Carman, Wil- liam Wilfred Campbel and Archibald Lampman, when we were in school. Maybe we're just unde- monstrative. But surely there is no nation on the face of this earth that loves its country so much. and sings about it so little. That's why I'm going to sing out once in a while, however cracked the voice, or corny the tune, or bored the audience. Maybe I can incite enough people to form at least a quartet. Leader of a flock of geese to the In rd following: 'Stop that infernal honing -- if you want to pass, pass!"