RATA NOTES.

Wanganui Chronicle, Volume XLIX, Issue 12590, 1 September 1905, Page 2

RATA NOTES.

(From Our Own Correspondent). „-, We have just had a visit from our old i friend W. Thompson, the late and popular secretary of our Football Club. He tells me that he finds this part of the country vei-y cold after Auckland. Certainly the weather was very unkind to him, for during his stay with us we had very cold" bleak days, and since he has left us for the north we have had a succession -of lovely spring weather, which I am only too much afraid is too good to last. Rupert Gray for some, years assistant at the, factory here, has left us for Rangiwahiaj where he takes a better position in the fac£6~ry there. Good luck to you; Rupert, but 1 think yon will find it precious cold under the ranges. Mr. Signal, who has been milking for Mr. John Hammond, has also left, with his family, for Rewa. Our loss is Rewa's gain. He for some time was both chairman and secretary of our School Committiee, and up- to his departure an energetic member of that body. I understand he is leasing about 160 aci-ea on Mr. Short's property. Adam Walden is also amongst the departures, going with bis family to Pahiatua. His sAfagJDick, was-a prpmss>jv^. isiiig Cadets, and .:,.' h.-*\ alLjuji' comrades^^^|^ very sorry to 1 lose "him. '"*"'- "■'* X Up to now. my chronicle of events is -nearly all departures, arid I .am afraid , .„. s:L.I. shjaU-soon have to.add^tiie list, as "* our*' saw.mill is closin^ISo^Wi|/>=alttd iithe Messrs. Smith are gom^tb^T&imkps, where they,.have taken a miH^anifehave a fine bush, which promisesrto last' for many years. > - Young Leonard Green, who, as a boy at school, promised to make a name as a high jumper of no mean \order-, goes with Messrs. Smitlf. Perhaps at Taihape he will take up athletics again, and show us what he is really of doing. Mr. Pybus, who for so many years has beeii our postmaster, is, I hear, desirous of giving up that part of his business. We shall be hard pressed to fill his place. A putXic meeting was held on Monday at the factory to decide what steps to take in the matter. Its was finally decided to petition Sir Joseph Ward to give us a permanent porter in chargo at the railway station, and to unite the duties of postmaster, etc., to those connected with the railway service. Should this be done, it would be a great convenience, but if not feasible, it is to be hoped that someone will step into the breach and take up those of postmaster alone. Several rumours have been floating, but I had better not mention these at the present time. I had forgotten to mention that Mr. Bettridge and his sons have taken the shed vacated «by Mr. Signal, and that R. Windleburn bias returned to the factory.

Part of the timber for the schoolmaster's house is on the ground, and very scon the carpenters will be Imsy. The arehiteef's design is goodj and the building when finished will be a decided improvement to the settlement.