Wanganui Chronicle AND PATEA-RANGITIKEI ADVERTISER "NULLA DIES SINE LINEA." WEDNESDAY, MAY 21, 1879.

Wanganui Chronicle, Volume XXI, Issue 4046, 21 May 1879, Page 2

Wanganui Chronicle AND PATEA-RANGITIKEI ADVERTISER "NULLA DIES SINE LINEA." WEDNESDAY, MAY 21, 1879.

Mitoal Improvement Class —There w*re about thirty members present last «venin«. Tbe President having taken tbe chair, two neyv members were nominated. Mr Wycbodir. essay on "Time" was then read, and very favourably criticised., It was resolved that extemporaneous speeches be delivered at tho: next mcc ing on the following subjects ■"'The Naiive Difficulty," Mr Law ; "The Depression of Home Trade," Mr Paton; ' (>as v. Kerosene," Mr Bennie ; " Criticism," Mr G-. A. Hurley. It was also resolved that tickets of membership be! printed. r r

Change of Pbopbibtaby.— It will be seen by an advertisement in another column, that Mr McKenzie has purchased tke baking business lately carried on by Mr tlugh Rose. We wish the new proprietor every success. -j^ Meeting of Pbesbyteby.— The WeT lington Presbytery will meet this morning, at St Pauls Church at eleven o'clock. Addresses will be delivered by members of the Presbytery at the ordinary prayer meeting to be held in the evening. Upset.— A spring cart driven by a lad was upset yesterday near the river bank and the boy thrown out. Fortunately, however, no harm waa done, and the vehicle having been righted the Jehu reassumed the reins ar-d continued his travels. Collision inl'the Avenue.— A collision occurred about half-past five o'clock last evening, between a pair horße buggy driven by Mr Adam Johnson, and one of Mr Gordon's cabs. One of the shafts of cab was broken, as , 'was the swing-bar bolt of Mr Johnson's bug^y, bnt no farther damage was done. Al-EEation op Date.— We difeet attention to the fact that the Oreti sails for Wellington and the South to-night, and that this evening also the Patea will leave for Patea-' As both vessels have been advertised for Thursday, we deem it expedient in the interests of passengers lo bring under their notice the alteration of date. R.M. Coubt. — A large of cases had been set do**n for hearing yesterday, but they were all, with the exception of two, settled oat of Court. A claim for £31 on a promissory note by Mr D, Peat, represented by Mr Hutchison, against A. Hutchison, waß not contested, and judgment was given for plaintiff for the amount, professional fee £3 3s, and cos,tß, of Court £1 lis. A claim for £9 14s lOd, for rates, was .proved, by G-. Brooking, Clerk to the Borough, against P. Moony, who did not 'appear. Judgment was given far plaintiff ' -or l amount claimed, costs of Court 16s, and professional fee £1 Is. M_rEo_o-oGiOA_ Obsbevations.— The following are taken from self-registering instruments, recording observations taken each twenty-four hours previously, ended Saturday, May 9th: — Weather during the week fine, with steady barometer. The highest barometer recorded was on the 16d1i, 30 "20. Lowest oh the llth. 29 90. Mean for the week 3010. Highest temperature in the shade on the 16th, T2°. Lowest on the 12th, 40". Mean highest, 66°. Lowest, _4«. Highest velocity|of wind for the 24 hours, was, on the llth, 520 ; 12th, 175 ; 13th, 135.; 14th, 150; 15th, 107; 16th, 130; 17th, 113 miles. No rain was measured during the week. Life Assurance.— The Nelson Colonist concludes an article on this all-im-portant subject inthe following terms; — Various opinions prevail as to the description of office that is most secure, and strong arguments are not wanting in favour of each. The proprietary companies trust to the security offered by a number of wealthy shareholders, whose fortunes are a guarantee, aad as competition has driven these to offer a participation in profits, the money advantages have become much more like those of the mutual societies, where every policy holder is a sharer in all risks in return to being entitled to a full proportion of any gains. In New Zealand, Government Assurances give the choice of a third kind of advantages, the entire colony being responsible: Choose which they may, if the institution is sound there can be no question that persons laying by small sums cannot do so well for their families in any other way as by insuring the payment of a given sum in case of death. The certain advantages far exceed what any doubtful experiments of speculation can afford, and the sums paid into a safe institution more generally represent a reduction in foolish extravagance, than an abstraction from profitable investment. . The Upokongaro Feery.— The Mayor and Mr D.Peat. ou behalf of the Harbour Board.on Monday met Messrs Smith and Kennedy, with whom was Mr Low Foreman of Works, on behalf of the County Council, at Upokongaro. to consult about the advisability of raising the ferry wire, so that itjgho.uld be out of the way of the contractor's steamer. An objection was made that if the wire was raised the ferryman would be unable to pull the punt across by it, as the current is not always strong enough to carry it across without such assistance. It was suggested that oars should be used, but the members of the Council were afraid that if the work was made more troublesome than. it is at present, they would have to pay a premium to have it done instead *of receiving rent for.it. After some conversation about the accident that had, taken place some time ago, the Mayor pointed out that while it would be comparatively easy to stop the boat when going up the stream with empty punts, it w quid be totally impossible to do so when she was coming down with the tide, and at full steam, with 100 tons of stone in riunts behind her ; and, that in case she then came against the wire she would inevitably be destroyed, and probably life would be lost. He advocated ; jraisinpr the wire. It was finally decided that the wire remain as it is, that the County Council would take the responsibility, and that a red light showing both up and down the stream should always be alight at night when the wire is lowered. The details were left to Mr Low to arrange.