WANGANUI NOTES

Dominion, Volume 19, Issue 86, 6 January 1926, Page 4

WANGANUI NOTES

A Wanganui City Council employee, who was "up with the lark to clean up the Avenue after the New Year’s Eve festivities, states that he had never known so much confetti to be strewn about on 'anv other similar occasion (states the ’‘‘Herald”). ‘‘We sent dravloads of it down the channels to the river,” he remarked.

Farmers have suffered severely in the Wanganui district this season as a result of the vagaries of the weather (states the "Chronicle”). The unusual number of variable winds gave pastures little chance to come away m the spring, and as a consequence the hot Christmas weather has dried up the countryside to a greater extent than in recent rears. Ihe week-end rains have proved very beneficial to pastures generally, and bare relieved the situation, temporarily at least, for farmers, who were becoming anxious in regard to making provision for their stock.

Thieves have been active at Castlecliff beach during the Christmas and New Year holidays (states the “Wanganui Chronicle”). Some bathers, who neglected to take precautions and leave their valuables in charge of the caretaker, have been relieved of their spare cash The authorities are keeping a strict-lookout for the offenders, and as a result of certain traps set, it is probable that the thieves will be brought to book and made examples of.

The name “Cyrena” will not be forgotten for a long time yet. Portions of the ill-fated ship’s gear, bearing this name, have now found their way on to other vessels trading to New Zealand ports and in this way the story of the wreck will be perpetuated for manv vears (states the "Wanganui Herald’’). Silver teaspoons which once graced the snowv linen in the officers’ mess on the Cyrena are now the treasured possession of the captain of a well-known, coaster, who brings them forth when entertaining bis friends, when his vessel is in port. The spoons are no different from any others only that the, name Cyrena is inscribed thereon. The collection lias decreased considerably as the result of pettv thieving since they were acquired at a salvage sale, and will be seen only within a glass case after this.

“The Wanganui people do not let much slip through their fingers or pockets,” remarked a visitor to the citv recently (states the "Herald”). He arrived by* motor at an early hour, and walked about until the hotels opened, keeping alert for any stray coins he could find on the street. ' He picked up fourpence altogether, and handed it over to a Citv Council employee to give to bis children.

A Maori at Jerusalem, up-river, was fined £lO and costs for cruelty to a horse and pig (states the ‘‘Wanganui Herald”). It was alleged that lie had ridden a horse to Raetihi and through the absence of stuffing in the saddle the tree had penetrated the horse’s back and caused a wound. The story of the pig was that this animal had been tethered in the pah by a piece of wire, and the dogs of the vicinity were allowed to make occasional visits and take a piece out of the animal. It was found Io be minus its cars and a portion ci the hind-quarter.

Some years ago the council, in its wisdom, erected a rest-house on the river bank, near Moutoa Gardens, for the benefit of the Afaoris, and as time went on this civic asset faded into the background (states the “Wanganui Herald”). It is positively quite unknown to the modern stylish Afaoris who come to the city on a visit from Ratana. Inconspicuously, the resthouse stands in the midst of a sea of rat-tailed grass, and but for the fact that it is labelled on the doors “T'auc” and "Wahinc” might easily be mistaken for a seaside bach. It is now, more or less, used as a doss house, but lias one redeeming feature that it is abundantly supplied with Okcliu; in fact, so well supplied that there is sufficient water going to waste to supply half the gardens in Gonville.