Wanganui Items.

Star (Christchurch), Issue 5801, 14 December 1886, Page 2

Wanganui Items.

♦ [Special to the ''Stab."! THE NEXT RIFLE ASSOCIATION MEETING. WATEE METERS AND THEIR USES.. BRYCE t. BALLANCE. WANGANUT, Dec. 13. The river improvement patty have resumed work on the Wanganui river, after having discontinued it for about six months. Government are pushing on the track from Pipiriki to the Central railway line,, and by the time it is completed the river will have greatly improved, so that railway material may be taken up. While he was in "Wanganui last week, Colonel Bailey, the President of the Board, of Military Education, had a> long 1 conversation with Captain Somerville, the Chairman of the New Zealand Rifle Association^ describing the manner in which the Indian* Association is carried on. Captain. Somerville informs me that things are going on satisfactorily, with regard' to the meeting in Christchurch. The • original ground chosen at Ahuriri isobtainable, but one nearer Rabbit Island i [Railway Station lias been secured. - There will be a telegraph station onthe ground and a telephone to the targets. With reference to hie wish to allow RifleClubs compete in a team match, he finds it meeting with such general opposition that the idea is # likely to be dropped; but instates that it never was his intention to •• allow members of a Rifle Club to coaipete every year, as he knows good shots >- would : leave the Volunteer force for clubby but' thinks that if it is done this year it will bea good thing financially. As the result of the first two months' use - of water-meters, it has been found what enormous waste has been going on in some • large hotels and similar institutions. By • the new by-law passed recently extraordinary consumers have to pay la per 1000' gallons. The Hospital has to pay .£Sl lOs for two months, the Collegiate School £11 43 Gd, and the Albion Hotel M 2 7s. It is not considered likely that the Borough. . Council will enforce this penalty, but it •-. will, at any rate, have its effect in corn--serving the water supply. It has been rumoured that there is ;a>possibility of a contest between- the Hon J. Ballance and Mr Bryce next year, ifthe Redistribution of Seats Bill alters theboundaries of Mr Bryce's constituency greatly ; but it is hardly probable, as Mr - Bryce's interests, for several years past, have been diametrically opposed to those oox£ x the town of Wanganui. He is more likely to stick to his country seat.