LOCAL AND GENERAL.

Wanganui Chronicle, Issue 12856, 25 October 1912, Page 4

LOCAL AND GENERAL.

The wireless telegraph station, Radi6 (Auckland), was opened yesterday tor public business. A local business man, whose disappearance has been causing his people some anxiety, has returned to his homo. A motor-car owner stated at Marton Court yesterday that he made £10 a week with his motor in plying for hire, and sometimes he made £20 a week. Members of St. Paul's choir journeyed to Turakina last evening and submitted to a good audience a programme that was much enjoyed. Technical College students are asked to ,noi\& that there will bo a-vonfng classes at the College as usual on Monday (Labour Day), though the College will be closed during the day. The Wanganui Employers' Association has decided % to observe Monday next (Labour Day) as a holiday. Iti consequence, there will be no holidajr on Thursday. Mr Swanger, secretary of the Board of Education, proceeded to Feilding yesterday in connection with an alleged case of forgery by a school boy at Halcombe ten years ago. Mr Swanger returned to Wanganui last night. A man named R. Huston, who was under arrest for burglary, and had to appear at the Police Court at Whangarei yesterday, broke from custody whilst the constable was getting prisoner breakfast. The police and civilians are searching. Further donations towards the Labour Day prize fund were received from the Tobacconists' and Hairdressers' Association 1 guinea, Luxford and Co. tin of biscuits, Madame Gilbert handpainted table centre, Foster (chemist), "Sympathiser," Mitchell and Co. sheep for weight judging competition. Tho hon. secretary of the Wanganui Amateur Athletic Club has received a letter from the Wellington Centre of the N.Z.A.A.A., asking if the 'local club could see its way to finance a meeting in Wanganui at which the American athletes, who are expected to :<■'+ New Zealand early next year, would compete.

Owing to differences with the Ferry Company concerning the conditions of the proposed agreement, the Eastbourne Borough Council has abandoned the negotiations for the purchase of two of the company's steamers to establish a municipal harbour ferry service. - The Borough Council will mow : make inquiries with -a view to purchas- , ing -a steamer elsewhere. —Press wire. i "What I want to see," shouted Mr. G. W. Russell the other night,. " is the Conservative policy in action." Mr. Russell must not be impatient (says the " Christchurch Press.") Assuming that he nieant the Reform policy, and that he is alive and in the House, he will have -an excellent view of it in operation next year and for years to come, from the cool and shady position that he now occupies. The Garrison Band, under Conductor Wade, will give the following programme on the balcony of McGruer's buildings to-morrow evening: March, "Old Comrades"; selection, "HM.S. Pinafore"; raise, "Coldstream"j cornet solo, "II Bacio" (soloist, Bandsman Wood); intermezzo, "In the Shadows"; valse, "September"; Morceau "Cochico"; march, "Action Front." The concert will commence at 7.45, and, given iino weather, should be much appreciated by a large audience. A former butcher of Marton who .had supplied meat to a resident, and was obliged to sue for the recovery of the amount represented, said in the Court yesterday (writes our travelling reporter), that of all the many accounts i on his books the case before the Court was the only one he had to sue for. Ho did not mind wiping out deserving cases, but when a man was left £1000 as the defendant was, he (the defendant) should be compelled to pay for the tucker that he and his family ate. Mr Charles McMahon, of Wellington, reports that the leases of the New Theatre in Wellington and the Queen's Theatre at Auckland have been sold to a syndicate which is now forming a company to take over these two houses, and also the picture threatre now being erected in Cathedral Square, Christchurch. Five thousand pounds is said to have been paid down by the syndicate as a deposit on the purchase price. Tho management of the two theatres mentioned Will for the time being bo as at present. The syndicate is also arranging for the purchase of theatres at Dunedin and Onehunga. The Bishop of Kimberley (South Africa), is very proud of being a New Zealander. So he has informed the Bishop of Auckland (Dr. Crossley) in .-i letter just to hand. The writer' is the Right Rev Gore Brown, and he is a son of the first Governor of New Zealand. His letter states, inter alia, "all tho young Now Zealanders whom I met out here seemed to me to be virile honourable men. My parents always spoke of New Zealand as a colony of the first quality. So it has been a very great liappiness to know that, at the time of my consecration. I was being remembered at the altars of Auckland." The 28th annual meeting of the D.I.C. was held at Dunerhn vexteternoon. The net profits from tho past year are £20,094, which with the £8,----312 brought forward, shows a total to tho credit of the profit and lose account of £29,306. The directors recommended a payment of a dividend at tho rate of 6 per cent, on preference shares, for the half year ending August 20 (absorbing £3750); a dividend of seven per cent, on ordinary shares (£7516). Tha chairman (Mr. Hart) in congratulating the shareholders on tho good year, said that the nee profits wero £622 less than last year. Although tho gross profits are £2533 moro, tho expenses had grown by £3,----159, a larger amount than usual haying bec-n spent on the company's buildings and fixtures. There were other minor expenses, but they wore not rrcurring. Tho retiring directors, Messrs W. F«!s >and P. L. Hallenstein, wero re-ole-cted.