WANGANUI NOTES.

New Zealand Herald, Volume XXX, Issue 9269, 3 August 1893, Page 6

WANGANUI NOTES.

«. — The local Women's Franchise League still continues to enjoy a vigorous and prosperous existence. Their last meeting in the Druids'

Hall was well attended. Mrs. Bullock, the vice-president, occupied the chair ; and addresses were read by the following ladies :-- Miss Harrison, Mrs. Cremer, Mrs. Randal, and Mrs. Williamson. The utterances of the mebtner for Wanganui in regard to the female franchise question came in for lively discussion, and a resolution was ordered to be forwarded to the effect that the League disapproved of his action in making statements calculated to produee the impression that the majority of the women of Wanganui were opposed to the reform ; and adding that, while regretting the inaccuracy of his remarks as published in Hansard, they hoped his expressions were more the result of inadvertence than intention. The League also passed a resolution, to be forwarded to the Premier, urging the necessity of passing the Electoral Bill as early as possible, so that the women of the colony may have the opportunity of registering their votes in time for the approaching general election. The gratifying news that Mrs. Rallancc was pleased to accept the presidency was received. At a special meeting of the Harbour Board certain correspondence bearing on harbour improvement was considered. Letters dealing exhaustively with the subject, from Mr. A. Filmer and Mr. (i. W. Freeman, assistant engineers, of Portland, Oregon, U.S , wen; read. Mr. Freeman's letter went fully into details as to the construction of contraction dykes and jetty work now in progress on the Columbia river, which, on a smaller scale, it was considered, could be practically applied in the direction of deepening the channel of the Wanganui. The matter was fully discussed, but no direct decision was arrived at. At the same meeting the question of representation «f the Waitotara County on the Board was considered. The result of the conference between nominees of the two bodies was put before the meeting, which was to the effect that the borough of Wanganui should be represented by four elective members and the Mayor, county ot Wanganui one elective member and chairman, and county of Waitotara one elective member and chairman. Nine members were thus provided for. The Government should be asked to strike out their nominee, but if in the event of the Government refusing to strike out their nominee the number of representatives be increased to ten, to take in the nominee member. Objection was made to increasing the number, and an amendment striking out that portion was proposed and carried.

The Parliamentary trip took place on Sunday week, being attended by about twenty members. They arrived on the Saturday preceding, being received at the station by the Mayor and other officials. On Sunday morning they set out in the up-river steamer Wairere for Pipiriki at 0.45 a.m. The weather, however, was unpropitious, and, although it did not rain, a cold wind was blowing all day. They reached their journey's end, after having made four stoppages on the road, at three in the afternoon, where they were met by Major Kemp, the Hon. Mr. Carroll interpreting. The run home -was accomplished in good time, it only taking the steamer barely five hours to do the distance, something over sixty miles. The party reached the wharf at 8.15, having apparently all enjoyed themselves thovougllly. [Owu Correspondent.)