WANGANUI.

Hawera & Normanby Star, Volume I, Issue 2, 17 April 1880, Page 3

WANGANUI.

(from ottr own correspondent.) Wanganui, Thursday.

Almost the only excitement in town of late has been the Volunteer Review last Monday, and the disastrous fire at Messrs Tork and Oornfoot's sash and door factory and timber yards on the previous Thursday. The Volunteers mustered for the parade in good force, "with the exception of the erstwhile redoubtable Alexandra Cavalry, who, through alleged insufficient notice, made a miserable show. The review was, on the whole, a success, although an unsteadiness was noticeable in some of the more intricate movements. Colonel Leckie was fairly well satisfied. By the fire mentioned above, Messrs York and Cornfoot are indeed heavy losers, as only a small proportion of the damage is covered by insurance. The fire was the hottest Wanganui has seen for several yeers, and the members of the local brigade — forty strong — had their pluck and endurance severely tested, and their skins well scorched into the bargain. How well they worked, for a period of four hours, can only be known by a visit to the ruins. I am glad to say that the firm has made arrangements for carrying on its business in the premises once occupied by Mr. Cruickshank, in Ridgwaystreet.

The unfortunate stoppage of works at the Foundry has thrown a large number of men out of employment, and the wants of these, and the larger number already requiring work, have induced the Government, on certain prescribed conditions, to find work for some of them on the Taupo Road. The date of the next W.J.G. meeting has been fixed for the 19th June. A notice of motion to hold a steeplechase and spring meeting on consecutive days will be considered at the next meeting of members. The following programme has been arranged : — Handicap Steeplechase, 175 soys ; Grand Stand Steeplechase, 50 soys; Maiden and Consolation, 50 soys and 30 soys respectively. Nominations will be received until- the 15th May, and weights will be declared on the 29th May. Entries cloee on the 12th June. The club contemplate recognizing the very valuable services of Mr. F. R. Jackson, Hon. Sec, to whose good management is ascribed the success of the last meeting, A fund has been startsd, and a committee formed, for the purpose of presenting him with a substantial testimonial.

It is reported here that the popular manager of the National Bank has been pi'omoted to the Inspector's Office at Wellington. Business men will regret the loss of an officer who is very widely esteemed, and under whose supervision the Back's business has greatly improved. In my next I shall give your readers a condensed report of the meeting called by the Mayor to consider the attitude assumed by the town members of the Harbour Board with reference to the proposal to widen Taupo Quay from the Bridge upwards. There has been a deal of valuable time and. money spent already over this subject, and it is unlikely that the resolutions passed by the meeting will tend very materially to settle the matter. Our Licensing Bench will shortly present a very different appearrnce. Messrs. Duthie and J. Moore, it is understood, will be retiring, and the chairman has recommended the appointment of Messrs. D» G. Poison and G. S. Robertson as Commissioners in their stead.

The Library Committee are engaged just now considering the competitive designs which have been sent in to them for a Library and Museum. I think "Wanganui may be said to be fond of canine pe(s)ts, and perhaps your readers may think so-too when I tell you that over £100 Aas bfien already got together this year by the dog-tax collector for the borough.