LOCAL AND GENERAL.

Wanganui Chronicle, Volume XLIX, Issue 12545, 7 July 1905, Page 4

LOCAL AND GENERAL.

TheT m^etmg of the Tongarwo Lodgo called for tibs evening 'has been postponed.

The number of eggs laid by the local P ns "J>:■*? Saturday last, in the Blenheim Egg-Saying Competition, is as follows .--—Townsend amd Green, 90; H E. L Peat, 74; O. C. Silbock, 40; lW Freethey, 30; Thos. Froethey, 17

At the meeting of the Women's Christian Temperance Union ito-day Mrs G. H. Smith will give an account of iher visit to England . The meeting, to which all are invited, will be held in St. Paul's Classroom, and will start at 3 p.m.

Orders for the delivery of the Wa*iga~ nm oairgo ex the Tyser Line, s.s. Hawke Bay," may be obtained at the office, 14, Wickstead Place, on production of bills of Jading and payment of freight (if any) . Mr. J. L. Stevenson is the local agent.

The Committee for the Walking Competition' meet in Mr. Reid's Rutland Saloon, to-night, at 8 o'clock. Several teams have already entered. Gold med«als >are to be awarded to tlhe winnners. The committee desire all entries to be sent in as early as possible:

At the Police Court yesterday morning blfpre Mr. R. "L. Stanford, S.M., a man -oiamed Daniel Ford was fined 40s with costs 7s ion a charge of entering licensed premises during the currency of a prohibition order. A charge of using insulting language was dismissed.

At fhe conclusion of the ordinary meeting of the U.A.0.D., on Monday evening, the Lodge adjourned for harmony, .and in the course of the proceedings opportunity was taken to present P.D.P. Bro. Poyntor with a gold albert as ian indication of the members' appreciation of 'his efforts to promote the welfare of the Lodge.

Judging by the draft programme, a rich musical treat is in store for those who visit St. Paul's 'Hall on Thursday evening next, when a concert is to be given under the direction of Mr Arthur Towsey. From what -we learn, there is a very brisk demand for tickets, and a crowded "house" is certain.^ The programme consists of vocal and instrumental items by some of the best talent in Wanganui.

Judging by tthe demand for tickets, the Opera House will be filled to overflowing on the 17th inst., when a concert wall be held in aid of the Technical School Reference Library. The concert should prove one of the best yet held in Wanganui, as elaborate preparations have been made, and (the services of some of the best local talent have been •secured. Tickets at 2s a-nd Is each may be obtained at the Wellington Piano Company's shop in Rddgeway Street, while the box plan is on view daily at H. I. Jones and Son's. The plan may be seen each evening alt tlie Technical School. . , At the ordinary monthly meeting of the Kaitoke Road Board there were present: Messrs. A. Cameron (in the chair), I). Blythe and C. W. Poyttter. It was decided that in future the Board s meetings be held at 9 a.m. on the first Wednesday in the month. It was resolved that t^he Clerk see tohat the Board is covered by the Accident Insurance Company. In regard to a request by Mr. J. McGregor ithat steps be put up to, his dwelling house, the matter was left in ijhe hands of itihe Chairman and Mr Poynter with power to act. Accounts amounting to £23 3s 6d were passed for payment. It was decided to- instinct ,the roadman to remove the culvert by the Putiki cemetery.

SLUMP IN JACKETS

Great opportunity for thrifty women. Special clearing sale of fashionable goods at the Economic. Having made several heavy purchases, at paralysing prices, Messrs. George and Kersley are now ottering some of the most desperate bargains in Jackets, Costumes. Skirts, and Blouses ever attempted in Wanganm. Ine goods are new, in perfect condition, and tho styles most fashionable. The following are among the numerous bargains now being offered: — Ladies' Tweed Coats, Sac shapes, newest designs, Scotch and heather mixtures, all this season's goods, worth 20s. to 40s. each, now 6s. lid., Bs. lid., and 10s. 6d. Ladies' Mole Plush Coats, thee-quar-te- length, Sac shapes, open revers, trimmed Passementerie, worth 3 to 4 guineas each, now 19s. 6d. each. Smart Tweed Costumes, in Sac shapes, and Russian Blouse, in light grey, dark greys, and heather mixture, trimmed galon to match. 9-gored Skirt, tailor-made, ess than half price. Worth 405., 505., and 60s. Now 15s. lid., 21s. and 295. 6d. Plain Cloth Costumes, in Newmarket, Eussian Blouse, and Sac shapes, English tailor made, worth 395. 6d., 455., and 655., now 215., 295. 6d., and 355. 6d. Tweed Costume Skirts, newest shapes and materials. Worth 14s. 6d., now 7s. lid. each. , About 150 Flannel and Flannelette Blouses. Just half the usual prices, ss. lid., 7s. lid., 9s. lid., now 2s. lid., 3s. lid., and 4s. lid. Jacket Buyers are advised to visit the Economio Showroom to-day, and to remember that for high-clasa goods at genuine bargain prices there's no place lika th« ]£conora:.<>.

Letters 'are Jying at this office addressed to "0.," 'C," "H.T.," and "Willing." Theodore Price made £100,000 in five minutes on the New York cotton market i on Monday, and another £50,000 within the next half an hour.

The committee of the Old Boys Association met yesterday afternoon, and it Tvas decided to hold the annual ball in the Drill Hall on Friday, August 11th. Owing to only some ten or twelve employers putting in an appearance the meeting which was to have been held to consider the Shops and Offices Bill lapsed.

The Royal Humane Society of New Zealand have awarded silver medals to V. Beasley and J. Langridge, for their bravery on the occasion of the drowning of Frank Clinton an the Wanganui river on the 10th of November last. A novelty in gas-lighting is being exhibited at the Auckland Gas Company's showrooms in the form of a pneumatic lighting apparatus. All one has to do to .illuminate or darken & room is to press a button, and the -thing is done. The effect is exactly the same as an electric switch, and just as rapid" in action. What ■corresponds to the switch in electric light is a small air pump, which forces air along an extremely small copper tubing, and moves a little brass 'piston, which admits or cuts off the gas, as the case may be, ignition being made by a pilot light. The copper tubing is no thicker than insulated electric wires, and need be no more conspicuous. There is, of course, no danger of fusing. The. following tenders were received ■by the Public Works Department for the Makatote viaduct contract, North Island Main Trunk Railway:—AlternaItdve C (all concrete and steel work, - erected complete steel work manufactured in the colony).—Accepted—J. and A. Anderson, Cbriistohurch, £53,369. Declined—J. iMcLean and Son, Auckland, £55,141. Alternative A (steel work erected complete, manufactured in the colony)—J. McLean and Son, Auckland, £56210; Cleveland Bridge and Engineering Company, Darlington, England, £38,315; Head, Wrightson and Co., Thormaby-on-Tees, England, £43,639. Alternative D (all concrete and steel work erected complete, steel work imported ready for erection) —J. McLean and Son, Auckland, £53,123. The final meeting to make arrangements for the Catholic social and dance to be held in the Drill Hall on Tuesday, July 11th, took place last night. Every detail in connection with the gathering haa been carefully considered, and the committee are putting forth great efforts to make the social a thing to be remembered. Apart f.rom the pleasure of assisting in a noble work, patrons will spend an enjoyable evening, which we have no doubt will prove something out of the ordinary. When the Catholic ■people of this town determine to do anything, they_ do it in a amnner that leave 3 nothing to be desired. A splendid programme of dances, songs and instrumental items ibaive been drawn up, and there will be additional pleasure of (good music provided by a band of talented musicians. Those requiring tickets are advised to secure them at once. Far particulars see advertisement. A very pleasant function took place in the show rooms of Messrs. R. and E. Tingey and Oo.'s establishment on Wednesday evening, when tihe employees invited Mr E. Tingey, to present to Mr. R. K. McDonald, Secretary to the Company, three very 'handsome gifts, consisting of a silver oruet, toast rack, and biscuit barrel, on the eve of his marriage. Mr Tingey, in making the presentation, said it gave him great pleasure to do so, on account of the good feeling that existed among the employees and the respect in which he knew Mr McDonald was held by all hands. On their, behalf h© wished him a long and 'happy .married life and trusted that the feeling then existing would continue^ He also handed to Mr. McDonald, on behalf of the firm, two very handsome presents, and in doing so conveyed to the recipient the very high appreciation in which he was held by the members of the firm. He hoped (Mr. McDonald would be spared to act for many years, as secretary for the firm. Mr. McDonald, in replying said that itiheir expressions of good will quite took him by surt>rise. He was sure ihe 'had no idea, that (he employees or th© firm were thinkiiig of making him such valuable presents. In thanking the employees, he said _he should always look back on their gifts with pleasure. He hoped they would all be long spared to work'harmoniously together. He thanked the firm for their valuable gifts, land said he could only claim to have done Jiis simple duty. He assured them he would do all in his power to merit a continuance of their appreciation.

In the course of last Friday night's debate on the Imprest Supply Bill, Mr Bedford referred to the treatment of railway employees. Be said that in the Railway Department there were men receiving not more than 6s a day, and a great number receiving only 7s" who, if they had access to the Arbitration Court,, would be getting at least 8s a day. And yet we had a boasted surplus, &nd the Premier perambulating the country and saying ihe did not know what to do with the money he had got— he had such a iredundanoe of money that he whs going to increase the old age pensions reduioe the duty <yj. tobacco (laughter), and do a hundred more equally foolish things in the effort to find an outlet ifor the expenditure of his .surplus—he' was in despair of finding means of .diminishing his surplus, and so he proposed, to reduce the duty on tobacco. (Laught-er.) Mr Bedford called the attention of the Premier to the standard of living to which many men in the Railway Department are reduced as ihe result of very low wages. He had in his 'hand an account of expenditure by a man in the Railway Department an Dimedin, getting 6s a day. The man got in "wages for tho month £7 ss. He was ia teetotaller and an abstainer from tobaqeo. For a month his expenditure was—Grocer £2 10s, (rent £1 Bs, coal 8s 4d, meat £1, lodge contribution ,os, superannuation fund 7s 2d, and union contribution Is, or a total of £5 19s 6d. That left a balance for th<? month of £1 os 6d for boots and clothing. Yet the man had a wife and four children and deolarecl that he had to live in a two-roomed (tenement unfit for habitation, because !his wages would not permdt of has doing otherwise. A wag© of £1 16s a week, said Mr Bedford, is not sufficient to provide any labourer with the ordinary necessaries of life in this colony, when be has a wife and four children to support. It was not a 'living wage, when they considered .the cost of living at the present time. Higher-paid men had receiv**d increases, but these poorly-paid men had received no increases.

The Ashburton Temperance Brass Band ihas decided to compete at the band contest to be held in Temuka on October 11. and 12.

Mr. Remmington, M.H.R., has given notice to ask if the Government will take steps to acquire one of the lakes and the sunrounding land on Heat on Park as a public recreation reserve for Middle Rangitikei."

As tho issue of "N.Z. Tit-Bits,"_ published this afternoon, will contain a largo number of topical * skits and sketches on local subjects of present interest, a great demand is anticipated. In order to meet this extr ademand, a largely increased issue will be publislved, which will ba on sale at all stationers.

In replying to a toast at a dinner in Auckland, Captain Robinson, of H.M.S. Pho&be, made a statement which interested and surprised Uris audience. Speaking of the recent naval engagement in the Korean Straits, he said that Great Britain had three squadrons ready for instant service, any one of which was considerably greater in strength than Togo's, and this was apart from the China, Pacific, and other fleets.