LOCAL AND GENERAL.

Wanganui Chronicle, Volume L, Issue 12145, 12 March 1908, Page 4

LOCAL AND GENERAL.

The Qhamb'or of Commerce members are reminded of tho meeting to be held at the office, 14, Wicksteed Place, on Friday, 13th inst., at 10.30 a.m.

In another column- the Kaukatea Road Board1 invites tenders for the delivery of 260 yards of metal en the No. 3 Line and other roads.

Captain Edwin wired at 1 p.m. yesterday, as follows:—Westerly strong winds to gale glass fall; tides good; sea considerable; rain probablo.

The railway authoritieds announce special train ; arrangements with regard to tho Warrengate races (Fordell), on the 19th March. Particulars in another column.

At Rangiwahia the February weather return was—Rain fall .70, hosts 5, wet days 1, wet nights 2, average temperature at 9 a.m. 04.8, average barometer 28.3, west winds 8, east winds 6, calm da 3's 15s.

It : is. not intended that the WebbTresidder boat race shall be forgotten by Wanganui people. There is to be a "Webb terrace," and' a "Tresidder road," and the suburb' in which these honoured thoroughfares bask will »3 called "Dime Vale."

The directors of the Eltham Dairy Company have decided to build a. new factory in concrete on the far side of "the Waingongora River, and to utilise turbines tor the power. The "factory will be en tho gravitation principle.

At the Police Court yesterday morijring, before Mr Stanford, S.M., Francis Halligan was charged with selling an express and horse (over whkih he held a bill of said) to John Wilkinson, solicitor1 of Diuiedin, the sale being made without the permission of the grantor of the bill cif sale. Mr Treadwell appeared on his behalf. The accused was remanded to appear at Wellington today, bail being allowed in two sureties of £20 each.

intimation has been given to> the Labour Department by the Department of Public Works that no more labour is required at present on -the Northern Main Trunk Railway. The Department still lias openings for competent men on tho railway works in the railway ■works' in the Stratford district.

Queen's Park Croquet Club commence a tournament on Saturday next for a trophy kindly presented by the ca]>tain. This young club is steadily increasing in membership, and the lady n- embers should "rally" together, anil so" make '■ the tournament an exicting one. With the splendid rain experi" .enced of late the ground • should be in good order. •

A paragraph in our yesterday's issue relative to the fact that the dairy farmers interested in the Rapanui factory had decided to abandon Cheesemaking, and to return to .butter making was calculate:! to convey an erroneous impression. The paragraph stated that tne manufacture of cheese had not been satisfactory, but this is not the case, the sole reason for the change being that on the present state of the market butter is the more profitable product.

Sii:. Joseph Ward believes it will be found that the damage by bush fires is not nearly so bad as was'stated" in. the. first instance. From information laid before him before he left Auckland, it h evident the grass seed required for. re-grassing., w^ere the fire swept the country ,will not run into more than £20,000 or £30,000 .fpr" the whole of the Auckland provincial district. Considering the urea affected, and the extent of the fires,-this--was not by.-any means a large sum.

As tho outcome of his recent success as Madame Melba's accompanist, Mr Harold Whittle lias received a handsome offer from the great 6inger to become her permanent accompanist in her Nurture concert tours of the Old World. Mr Whittle-, who is a son of Mr W. Whittle, of the Wellinaton staff of tlis Bank pf New Zealand and a member of the . Wellington Bowling Llub, leaves for London shorty in Melba s wake to take up Ins new "duties. The Ashburton Guardian speaking of tile Key J. Flanagan's lectu'-e savs-'"lt is impossible to give anything' but a faint idea of Mr Fkngan's address, but tor two hours be held without difficulby tho clone attention of his auuience, as lie told them the interesting story or? ■his-lift- in London. The grave and>ay were freely mixed up together, and' he was equally good in z-eeordingsomo amusing incident ns in pieturinp^the saddest scenes He has a style peculiarly his •own. and for effectiveness he has few equals on the platform:" This master of ojoquemfcee will lecture in t'-e Ope.-a House to-morrow evening on "Fourteen .Xears in Darkest London," when his Worship the Mayor will preside. Th=. Mission continues this evening at 8 p-m. A 'bus will leave Aramoho «t 7.15 l;lios3 int-endinn: to be present should a^-i-ivo early. Mr Stephens sines each evening. Seats may b> reserved "ot Messrs H. I, Jones and Sons. On Sunday afternoon at the Men's Meeting. Mr Flanagan will speak on "Hew I Won, Jack tho London Burslar." and in the evening will relate the story of his conversion.

An Auckland wire states that the yacht seen drifting in the harbour on 'her beam ends, during the recent gale is believed! to have been the Mahaki) winch had broken from her moorings, but weathered the storm safely.

The demolition of one of the oldest and best known buildings in Wangan'ii was commenced yesterday, preparatory to the erection of thoroughly up-to-date premises in brick. We refer to Mr A. E. Kitchen's pharmacy in the Avenue', and in this connection clients are asked to not© that satisfactory arrangements nave been, made with' the contractor for Mr Kitohen to occupy apportion of the old building, which will absolutely prevent any dislocation of business. "

The total estimated receipts of the Patea-Wanganui Charitable Aid Board for the. year ending this month aro £3118, this sum being made up as follows:—Balance from 1907 £1118 17a 8d; contributions on rateable valuations of whole district, at 2s per £1000, £661 7s sd; Government subsidy £918 17s; patients' payments £378 2s 9d; interest. (on deposit of £750), £26 ss; sale of pigs from Jubilee Home, £14 lls Id. The expenditure during the year totalled £1697. which, will leave a balance for the commencement of the 1908 year of £1520 13s 3d. The chief items of expenditure were:—Management £182 12s; Jubilee Home, £1061 13s lOd; outdoor relief ""£483 4s, contributions to the , Industrial Sch-ools, £143 Is IOd; allowances to old age pensioners. £26 ss. For the coming year the estimated revenue was put down at £3413, including £1520 brought forward, £783 from a rate of Is 9d in the £1000 of rateable, valuation, of district whicfh is 3d less than last year, and which will result in a; decrease'of £100 in local bodies contributions; Government subsidy £783; patients' payments £300; interest on fixed deposit of £750, £26 ss. The estimated expenditure for the year 1908-9 was put down at £1780. which would leave a balance at the end of tlie year of £1622.

An inquest was held at the Courthouse yesterday, concerning Winata Matakatea, who - was drowned in the river last Thursday. The Coroner (Mr Stanford) presided, and the following jury were empanelled: Messrs Hastings Moore, Jas. Matheson, F. Carvell, R. Lovegrove, Alf. Brewin, arid J. Miller. The evidence adduced by two witnesses, named' Glover and Turner, showed that the saw the deceased walk into the river last Thursday evening. He was dressed,- also wearing an oilskin. He waded into the water oh the;foreshore, and tvW e;l over a rone with which a b&at was moored j seeing; that"'the' man, "was in danger Turner (acting on Glover's advice) got a boat to go. to Qvs assistance of the man. A search was made near tlie first cylinder of the Town, Bridge, and afterwards near the wharf, birt no trace of the man could be found. The deceased was up to his shoulders in the water,'when the witnesses last saw.-him-,'•.and he appeared,to be quite sober. The jury brought in a Yeidict of accidentlv drownecl.