Page 6 Advertisements Column 4

Evening Post, Volume LXXXIII, Issue 30, 5 February 1912, Page 6

LOCAL AND GENERAL, ■♦ . ■ The mails which left Wellington on 2nd January, per the 11. M.5. Maitai, arrived in Ban Francisco at 8 a.m. on the 2nd inst. Mails whioh left Welling ton on 29th December, per b.s. Moeraki, and connected at Sydney with the Brindisi mails per R.M.S. Mooltan, arrived in London on the afternoon of the 2nd inst. So far as ordinary freight was concerned, the shortage of railway trucks was acutely felt by Masterton merchants last week. A plan was laid on the table of the Wanganui Harbour Board, on Friday) showing the soundings at the river mouth. In September, 1810, there' was only 13ft of -water in the bax channel; now there is 21ft. Soundings are shown lor a distance of 1660 ft beyond the moleß, and there the depth of water is 27ft. The h&rbour scheme- provides for the extension of the moles to a distance of 1000 ft beyond this depth. • Those employees of the Gear Company who do' not belong to the' Slaughtermen's Union or any other union, have formed themselves into a separate uniou, and formulated demands. for an increase of wages. Representatives of the company and the men will confer on the subject to-night. One Of the first step 9 of the new union; it is stated, was to apply to the company for an increase in wages, and also asking for an improvement regarding their condition of employment generally. These, it is understood, have already been partly considered by the company. Both sides are very reticent regarding the claims. The men's demands, so a Post reporter was informed, are being strongly supported by the butchers. • Two small boys with matches were responsible for what at one time promised toj be a serious graes fire at Sea.toun yesterday. The lire started at the foot of the hill adjoining Mr. J. Boon's property, and, aided by a light breeze, swept up the hill, through the fence, and to within 10yds of Mr. Boon's house. The loca-1 Volunteer Fire Brigade was quickly on the scene, and, assisted by the neighbours, after att hour's hard work succeeded in getting the fire under. However, it broke out again during the day. Mr. Boon's fence was slightly damaged, and some shrubs destroyed. During the progress of the fire Foreman Macfarlane fell and injured his back, and Mr. Thomas Fawcett was severely burned about the legs. It wa« fortunate that the fire did not occur on a week day, for the brigade has no means of sounding an alarm.. A word of praise is due to' the newly-formed brigade for tho way in which it worked, At a recent meeting of the council of th« Philosophical Society, it wa» decided to approach the Wanganui County Council with the object of drawing attention to the desirableness of preserving tho spot where the Gilfillan family, were maeeivcred by the Natives in the eariy days. The spot in question is pituated in the Mfttarawa Valley, on the property of Mr. Manson. It was suggested by* the society, in a letter to the council, that possibly that body might be willing to acquire this small site or to erect a memorial thereon, ajid that the present was a favourable opportunity lor so doing, t>s the property in question was, it was understood!, just now changing hands. "It is almost unnecessary, we think," concluded the letter, " to mention now groatly increasing in historical interest will all such spots become as the years go by, and fl this society would gladly see some steps taken in the direction indicated." According to the Herald, the council had regretfully to reply that the matter was oeyond its powers. George Alfred Tracey (theft, two charges), appeared at the Supreme Court to-day for sentence. Mr. H. H. Ostler appeared for the Crown. His couns«l (Mr. A. L. Herdman) said the compon sation required for the articles etol«n was onJy 28s. His client had home & good character, and he asked that ho b« convicted and ordered, to come up for sentence if called upon. Mr. Justice Chapman: "I propose to take that course. You (prisoner) don't seem to have been in ' any need, but to have been actuated by some morbid mood, which made you raid tho houses in tho neighbourhood." The sum mentioned was ordered to be paid as well a« £5 towards the cost of the prosecution, and Traeey was ordered to come up for sentence if called upon. Kirkcaldio'6 summer oalo will be held all this week, and a number of fresh bargains will bo available. Kirkoaldio aud Stain*) Ltd.— AdVt,