LOCAL AND GENERAL.

Wanganui Chronicle, Volume L, Issue 12166, 6 March 1909, Page 4

LOCAL AND GENERAL.

The Baptist Young Men's Bible Class* hold their monthly tea to-morrow sifternoon at 5 -o'clock. All interested are invited to attend.

The" inter provincial cricket match, Southland v. Otago, concluded abruptly on Thursday, Southland winning by 97 runs. This is the first time for 11 years that Southland has beaten Otago. A cable from New York states that ten thousand persons greeted James Jeffries, the retired champion boxer of the world. He verbally promised to meet Johnson* the champion, but only if he, can train to his old form. He is being banquetted every night.

The danger of fire among dry grass was exemplified yesterday at noon, when an outbreak occurred on the side of the hill-at Taylqrville. The flames spread rapidly, ,butj,,wore extinguished, by the Fire..Brigade before much damage was done.

At the annual conference of the South Island branch of the National Dairy Association, held at Lytteltbn* on Thursday, a long" discussion took place relative to the 4ai ry regulations, which it was unanimously decided should be. given a fair trial. It has been decided by the "Cabinet that the foundations of the new Post Offices at Wellington and Auckland shall bo constructed by the Public Works Department by day labour. As in each case the foundations will cost some £8000, the works .will provide employment for a! considerable number of men. The works will be commenced shortly. A correspondent has drawn our 'attention to the fact that the smoke from the donkey engine used in connect) oa with the repairs to the Town Bridge causes considerable annoyance to dwellers in the vicinity. He suggests that if the smoke stack pf the engine were -extended a few feet'the trouble would be obviated^ as the smoke would then be carried over the buildings. At the meeting of the Wanganui County Council yesterday Cr. Lilburn referred to the wharfage charge of 4d per head made on all sheep driven to the cattle yards and shipped from Wangenui. This'charge, ,he said, was exorbitant, and, if persisted in, would result in dealers shunning the port. It was resolved that the Council's representative o» the Harbour Board drawattention to the matter.

According to the opinion .expressed hi shipping circles, the repairs to the Ulimaroa will run to close upon £8000 beforo she is ready for sea. again. It is said that there are no plates in the Dominion suitable for replacing those which, are damaged, and it is exceedingly doubtful if there are any in the Commonwealth. According to present prospects, it is just possible that an extra, straike will have to'fte put in to utilise the smaller plates which are available, but as the damage is all under water tho difference in width will not be noticeable.

The bleeding methods of the Valuation Department was a subject of comment at the Wanganui Comity Council's meeting yesterday. One councillor considered that the Department was worse than any leech, and said that if the total amount paid each year by the local bodies was published it would open the eyes of ratepayers. Another coH^hcillpr, while ■.- corhmenting on. the charges made by the' Department, said that valuers were not paid sufficiently to allow them to do" thtit work properly.. ■■ ■ ■ :

At a meeting of the Dunedin Trades and Labour Council on Thursday night an animated discussion took place regarding a communication from the Auckland Trades, and Labour Council with reference to the appointment of Mr Harle Giles as Conciliation Commissioner. The following resolution was carried: —"That while the Auckland Council may be justified in protesting, against the appointment of Mr Giles as% Commissioner, this Council does.not approve of the methods adopted by the Auckland Council- 'i|*.; Peeking to have Mr Giles removed from his position; and, further, this Council is of opinion that Mr Giles, having been appointed Commissioner under the Act, is entitled to be treated with respect and be given a fair opportunity of proving his ability to fill the position."

At the meeting of the Wanganui County Council yesterday a member who had been: absent for three meetings again did not put in an appearance, but applied for leave of abence. Cr. Sommervillo complained that such behaviour was not fair. He thought that if a man undertook the responsibility of becoming a member of a local body h& should' make an effort to attend meetings. Cr. Fletcher, while agreeing that I a member should attend meetings if possible, said that so long as the ratepayers were satisfied the Council was powerless. Cr. Mannington doubted whether the Council was powerless, as there was no obligation upon members to grant leave of absence. He said that tho habit of non-attendance was very aggravating to members who did attend, and he mentioned that lie and another councillor had on two occasions recently left their shearing and travelled a, long distance to attend the Council meetings only to find that there was not a quorum.

The special reporter of the Christclmrch "Evening; News" telegraphed from Broken River on Thursday that although there is a good deal of dissatisfaction on the railway works beyond Broken River the trouble does not appear at the present time to have assumed very serious dimensions, being confined to what is known as No. 17 cutting, in which about 130 men are employed. The men had hitherto been receiving 9s a day, and were satisfied with that amount, but recently the Government issued a mandate that ifc was not going to pay by day labour in future, but at the rate of' Is 3d per truck. This intimation was received with resentment by the co-operatives, who went on strike on Tuesday. If they were going to be paid per'truck, they said, they must have 2s. On the assurance of the overseer that they would be paid at the former rate of 9s a. day till the difficulties were solved they returned to work to-day. They held a meeting yesterday, a motion being sent to the Minister of Labour protesting that the contract price of Is 3d per truck did not permit of a living wage. A later message says that there are no further developments.

Two men were arrested by the police yesterday on charges of vagrancy. They will be brought' before the Court this morning.

Messrs Dalgety and Company, Ltd., advertise entries for Waverley sale on the 12th inst. Some good lines of useful sheep will be coming forward.

We understand on good authority that Castlecliff has now been accepted and gazetted as a Town District, and that the first election of Commissioners will bo held on the 31st March.

The ordinary meeting of the School Committees Association will be held tonight (Saturday) at the Borough Council Chambers. A full attendance is re- ' quested, as several important matters will come up for discussion.

Several counterfeit sovereigns were in circulation on the Racecourse on Thursday, a couple of which are now1 in the possession of tho police. Tho imitations are clever ones, and the public should, in their own interests, exercise every care that'they are not made victims.

On Thursday evening a party from Wanganui journeyed to.Fprdell to assist the Presbyterians* of the latter place in their annual social. The Rev. B. Hutson presided, and the evening being fine there was a large attedance. The programme was a lengthy one, the audience not separating till 10.45 p.m., and much satisfaction was expressed with the programme, most of the items being enthusiastically encored. The Wanganui party reached town about midnight.

The Castlecliff Railway Company's Sunday trains will run to-morrow as usual, leaving Wanganui at 10 a.m., 2.15 p.m., 3 p.m., 5.20 p.m., and 7.20 p.m. Leave Castlecliff at 9.30 a.m., 1.45 p.m., .2.35 p.m., 5 p.m., and 7 pan. The first trams from Aramoho, both via Dublin and Glasgow Streets, will catch the 2.15 p.m. train from town to Castlecliff. The train will be delayed five mimites if necessary to wait for the cars. ■, ■ .'..-..,■■

Members of the Borough Council and others expressed great satisfaction with the manner in'Avhicii the contract for the uniforms for the motormen and conductors of the traimvays was carried

out. Certainly tho officers present a very smart appearance in their new uniforms, and Mr J. J. Littlejohn, who " was the successful tenderer, is to be congratulated for the manner in which he had executed the contract. At the invitation of the Headmaster,

Mr Clement Wragge, accompanied by Mrs Wragge, visited the District High School yesterday afternoon. Mr Wragge addressed the pupils of Standards 5, 6, and" 7 to the number of.; close on 200, and, as may be thought /charm"cd them with that style which, is so peculiarly his own. >It is, quite .impossible adequately to report Mr Wragge— he must be heard to be fully appreciated —but when he had finished a threequarters of an hour address the boys and girls broke into spontaneous cheers. Messrs W. Bruce (chairman of the School Committee), arid Mr F. R. Field were also present,. and the latter moved a hearty vote of thanks to Mr Wragge for his admirable address, the vote being given with enthusiasm.