JOTTINGS FROM WANGANUI.

Dominion, Volume 4, Issue 1233, 15 September 1911, Page 3

JOTTINGS FROM WANGANUI.

(By Telegraph.—Special Correspondent.)

Wanganui, Sept. 13 The Wanganui Borough Council, which has recently been considering the question of enlarging the Municipal Opera House, has instructed a local builder ami architect to report on the- possibility of increasing the height of the building with a view to put ting in another gallery and making more stage accommodation." A deputation of local waterside workers waited on the Borough Council last evening, and complained that (hey wore debarred from handling coal imported from Newcastle for tho municipal gasworks. This coal, they stated, was discharged by the crews of the Australian-owned vessels which brought it. During discussion on the matter, tho merits of New Zealand and Australian coal were compared, the Mayor stating that Wanganui's experience showed that more gas per ton could bo made from tho Australian article, and this was the reason for importing it. The council's contracts, added his Worship, provided that coal was only paid for when landed on the wharf. A suggestion that futuro contracts should provide for the dischargo of imported ccal by local labour was referred to the Works Committee for favourable consideration. Tho first lot of timber to be used in tho construction of tho new Dublin Street traffic bridge has arrived, and has been carted to the site.

The death ■ occurred this morning of Miss Grace Aitken, eldest daughter of Mr. Aitken, headmaster of the District High School.

The Government Statistician has informed the Borough Council that the figures for Wanganui East will in future bo grouped with these of Wanganui in the monthly returns of the vital statistics, as this practice is only followed in the case of areas under the authority of tho borough. Tho Mayor, commenting en tho matter last evening, expressed tho hope that the Gonvillo local authority would consider the matter of converting that suburb from the town district to the borough.

OPERATIONS OF MEAT COMPANY.

Wanganui, September 14. Bush fires at Umaranui, near Maxwell, on Tuesday did damage, which at one time threatened to bo serious. Panned by the wind, the fire travelled over several miles of country, burning a considerable amount of fencing, and menacing farm buildings. The bushmen's camp was burned out, and the uicu lost all their iood supplies. Finally the (lames were checked by a strong force of fire-fighters. Splendid soaking rains have fallen during tho last 24 hours, and these have been hailed with delight,, especially by farmers. Country reports state that areas a few miles inland stood tho drought well, but tho coaslal lands have been verv thirstv for weeks, and the situation, especially for dairy farmers, was beginning to look serious.

Somo significant things wero said at the

annual meeting of the Wanganui Meat Freezing Company. In moving the adoption of the report and balance-sheet the chairman of directors (Mr. E. A. Campbell) regretted that he was not able to announce a better state of affairs. The loss shown by tho balance-sheet was practically due to tho fact that tr.o company had to pay Id. per pound more for stock than in tho previous year, while the prices in London had been Id. per pound less. Tho heaviest loss was on the first four of the season's shipments, which wcro very large. The company had, however, other meat on tho market and to arrive. This the directors hoped would return a surplus. Anticipations of opening up newmarkets in Europe for New ''Zealand meat had not been realised to the degree hoped for, and he thought that the only' new market to be expected in the near future was British Columbia. Tho opening in this country would be greatly facilitated by tho new steam service to Vancouver. In answer to a question the e'jairman gave the following figures of stock handled during the year, including abattoir operations:—Cattle, 6797; calves, 312; sheep, 100,472; lambs, 90,217; pigs, 2038. A couplo of speakers criticised the company's management, bat (ho majority sympathised with the directors in a trying situation. Mr. D. Ross, who expressed appreciation of the directors' efforts, said that the weak spot lay in tho largo amount paid in interest on borrowed money. The company had never had enough capital from the start, and he urged that more be called up, and thus savo interest. Mr. C. L. Duigan also sympathised but said that the outlook was very dark, and there woro many large shareholders who had no return for their money. He thought that the best plan would bo to offer the works for sale as a going concern, and he was sure that there would be no difficulty if this were done iu the shareholders receiving 20s. in the £. He moved in that direction. The chairman remarked that ho could not accept a motion of time kind without notico being given, but ho suggested that Mr. Duigan should call a special meeting to consider the matter. The motion for the adoption of the report was put and carried.