WANGANUI.

New Zealand Mail, Issue 1260, 23 April 1896, Page 19

WANGANUI.

The result of the appeal by the Hospital I Lull’ll to the inhabitants of Wanganui Hospital District for funds to complete the new hospital has been most generously responded to, and last week the Mayor, who note 1 as treasurer to the fund, handed Air A. J. Parsons, chairman of the Hospital Hoard, a cheque for T22HO Ss 1 Id. There are some further sums yet to come m, as also the half proceeds of to-day’s athletic feta, tlie profits of which aro to be divided lift ween the Hospital and Brunner Relief Funds. Mr Parsons, who inilii tod the funner fund, has succeeded beyond even his own most sanguine expectations, and lie is no pessimist. The result is ail eloquent testimony to the prosperity of this part of the Colony, and tho generosity ot those who live in it. Fortunately, there are very few large landholders residing in it, and the land is held in moderate-sized areas, which means that a very much larger population is being supported oil this side of the North Island than oil the opposite. The census, when the figures come out , will show that no part of New Zealand has made more solid progress than this during the past live years, during which settlement has increased wonderfully, and the population of the town proportionately. The amount of bush felled and burnt in tho hack country during that period must total up to many thousands of acres, as small settlers have been hewing homes tor themselves and their families out of “ the forest primeval.” How they have done so in tho face of the difficulties they have had to contend with is a marvel. What they suffer through the want of passable roads during the winter and spring months can only be imagined, as outsiders would never face a trip over such tracks when pack lenses sink up to their knees ill mud at each step, and die by dozens every winter between Raetaelii and Pipirilci, and along Field’s and other so-called tracks into the back country. Tho heavy rains of the past fortnight have already rendered many of them all but impassable, and those who have not laid in their supplies for the approaching winter aro proving lor a lew v.cells line weatucr o that lliev call do s >.

The criminal calendar of the Supreme Court was a very small one this time, and none of tho cases were iff a very grave character, except that of shooting with intent, on which charge Charles Swan, of llaleoinbe, was convicted and sentenced to four years. 'The ease arose out of a family quarrel. The civil list is also a very small one, tlie chief case being an appeal against tho judgment of District Judge Kettle in the case of A 1 array v. Ross, in connection with a brake accident by which the plaintiff lost his leg, for which he had received a verdict, against which tho defendant is appealing on the grounds that the verdict was against the weight, of evidence and that it had not been proved that there was any neglect oil ihe part ot delendailts servant, who was driving at the time ot tho accident. The Jiarbour Board, at its last meeting, wisely decided to invito Air Leslie Reynolds, C.E., to visit Wanganui and advise the Board as to tiio necessary steps to be taken to protect the South Spit against the erasion oil the river side now so rapidly going, and which, if not speedily cheeked, will allow the river to break through and make a vagrant channel. Should this happen, the navigation of the port will be ‘neatly endangered, if not suspended, until the breach is repaired. Such an occurrence would cause immense loss to the traders of Wanganui, and should ho averted at any cost.