LOCAL AND GENERAL.

Wanganui Chronicle, Volume L, Issue 12145, 8 January 1908, Page 4

LOCAL AND GENERAL.

We-have received from tho Atlas Assurance Company. Limited, a very handy blotting pad.

Civ. McDon-kl and Walker will be the only candidates for the Dunedin Mayoralty this year.

A meeting will be held next week to consider ths formation of another mounted infantry corps for Dunedin..

A Dunedin wire says the price of oatmeal has been reduced from £1S to £17 as from Monday.

Captain Edwin reported as follows at 12.45 p.m. yesterday—Northerly strong winds to gale after i'u hours; glass fall after ten hours; tides high; sea heavy.

The tender of -McWilliams and Andrew, of Wellington, has been accepted for the reconstruction of Hoarding's Road bridge (near "U'oodville). The price is £2427, and there were .three other tenderers.

The Postal Department, has arranged a mail service, twice weekly, between tho Makirikiri Post Office and Makirikh'i Valley as far as Lambert's . The mail will be delivered on Tuesdays and Fridays as from the 10th iust. $ ■

At Wellington, yesterday morning, Elizabeth Black and Denrigio Tolley were remanded to appear at "Wanganui on tho 14th inst., charged with breakng and entering tl\e dwelling house of Rosa O'Hara at Watiganui on January Ist.

Th«re will be a sraiid Scotch concert in the Opera House on January 22nd, the evening of the Caledonian sports. The Caledonian Society has been fortunate in securing some of the best Scotch talent in the Dominion. Tickets 3s, 2s, and Is.

The time- for entering for handicap events at the Caledonian sports has been extended to Friday, the 10th inst., at 9 p.m. After ths hour no entries will be received. This applies to amateur events as well as others. The amateur events are 120 yards and 830 yards; entrance fee 2s each.

The first term at the Napier High Schools for 1908 will commence on Tuesday, February 11. These schools havo. the advantage of an excellent climate, and have had a successful record. Both senior and junior pupils are received, and boarders are under the charge of the principals, from whom prospectuses may be obtained.

A business man in Wanganui left town on Christmas Eve for a short holiday at Pipiriki, and met with an unpleasant experience. Being anxious to take some snapshots of the surrounding country,, he set out one morning with his camera and disappeared into the bush, where he lost himself, and was there for three days.

A deputation of cab-drivers,, led by Mr. C. T. Jefferson, waited upon the Borough Council last evening and drew attention to the hardship the Council's bye-law imposed upon them so far as Sunday fares were concerned. They wished the bye-law altered so that they would not be compelled to send out a cab on Sunday, or, if they did, that the •ordinary charges would not be in force. The Council is to consider the matter.

Twelve bands have entered in A grade for the approaching band contest at New Plymouth, and seven in B grade. The following are additional entries :— Baritone solo, 17; flugel horn, 10; Eflat bass, 15; ■B-flat bass, 8; BB bass, 12-; euphonium, 14; B-fiat cornet, 36; E-flat cornet (soprano), 13; tenor trombone, 20; bass trombone, .8; tenor horn, 27; trombone trio, 11; quartette. 18; drums, Teach.-,So far no bands, have notified their withdrawal from the contest.

. The work of making extensions in connection with the Gasworks is now being pushed steadily on: During tho holidays the work has been at a, standstill owing to the shortage ;of hands. The extensions will nearly double the present capacity of the works, giving about twice as much storage room for coal as is now available, while the addition to the retort house will give space for four benches of eight retorts each, or 32 in all. With the 36 retorts in the old retort house this should overcome the difficulty under which the staff worked last year.

Those on tho look out for farms, whether dairying, pastoral, or agricultural, should hot by any chance overlook the exceptional opportunity of acquiring a suitable holding, which is opened up by the'impending sub-divi-sion of the Marainanga Estate, Akitio. Messrs. Handyside, Roberts and Go., are •cutting up altogether 36,600 acres. This area will be converted into twenty-two blocks, of from 580 to 4720 acres, each of which is adequately watered, while nearly every sub-division is ring-fenced. The sale takes placo in ■the Town Hall, Wellington, on Wednesday, 15th-January,"and the terms are most easy. The advertisement which appears from time, to time in this journal furnishes all requisite information.

A. case "which, will be of interest to cab drivers and persons who are in the habit of hiring vehicles avss.heard.iiv.the S.M. Court yesterday, morning! ""Mr. C. T. Jefferson', livery' stablekeeper,sued Ed. "Wagner for £2; the cost "of hiring, a cab to take a nurse from tovni to the. defendant's house at Okehu, a distance of over 12^ miles, the journey occupying five hours. The plaintiff stated.that the cab took from 6.30 p.m. to 11.30 p.m.to complete the journey: The defendant declared that the cab reached his house at 8 o'clock, leaving 3V hours to return;to town. He objected to paying: the amount as-he thought it excessive, coiisidering the time the cabwas in his hire. The plaintiff considered the charge was quite reasonable according to the bylaws' allowances! The S:MT gave judgment for the plaintiff for the amount claimed, and £2 los costs.

Following is the copy of a letter for-: warded to the Premier by the, president of the Wanganui Chamber of Commerce (Mr. J. H. Keeeing):—Wanganuiy 6th January, 1908. Sir Joseph Ward, Premier, Wellington. Dear Sir,-—it beg that your serious and immediate attention "be given, to the very important question of the! preservation of native scenery on the banks of the Wanganui River. A great deal has been said in; this regard, but apparently nothing has "been done in consequence of the many departments or governing bodies, etc., interested, I appeal t0..y0u.-', as-from the Chamber of Commerce of Wanganui, to think of the magnitude of the loss to the Dominion, not only at present and in the near future, but for all time, if this glorious attraction, which, •once lost can never be replaced, is allowed to be destroyed. The value of this native beauty should not be estimated as from a tourist point of view only, for as our territory becomes more closely settled our own population will require such change from business humdrum of life as no other resort can so well afford. I am aware that the Government has wisely conserved the lands referred to which are their, but other owners are allowing the beautiful native bush to be cut down indiscriminately, in some cases upon land that will scarcely pay for the felling, especially between VVanganui and Pipiriki. The object of this appeal is mainly to urge that the Government take immediate steps to consult and arrange wih, other owners, so as o at once stop the desruction of what is admitted by all to bo an invaluable asset to. the Dominion. Trusting to hear that you approve and will make .special efforts in this direction, —I remain, etc., J. H. Keesing, Chairman Chamber of Commerce, Wanganui. . .