LOCAL AND GENERAL.

Wanganui Chronicle, Issue 12857, 28 January 1913, Page 4

LOCAL AND GENERAL.

The Surf Club is ordering two more reels for use on the Castleeliff beach.

Wairoa Road Board doets not consider it necessary to strike any special rates thia year.

The Ngutuwera Horticultural Show next month promises to be very successful and no effort is being spared to make it' so.

The mountain guns of the D Battery (Wellington) have been found to be obsolete, and have ibeen returned to England to be replaced by weapons of S3ven years' later design.

The Waver ley- Wai totara, Sheep Dog Trial Club has definitely arranged the programme- for the coming trials, the sum of £32 7s having been allotted as prizis-moi^y* :'n addition to special prizes and trophies

With to-day's "Chronicle" the Ocean Accident and Fire Corporation. Ltd. (Mr C. F. Milhvard, chief agent and Mr G. A. A. Burton, sub-agent), is issuing a tide table for Wanganui, which, no doubt, wil be found very useful by our readers.

The Garrison Band has kindly consented to assist at tho New Zealand Swimming Association's chamr.iionship meeting next wreck. On Monday evening (opening night) th,3 Band will march up the Avenue to the District High School ibaths, leaving the Post Office at 7.30.

We hear on good authority that the Native Minister (Dr. Pomare), and perhaps other members of tho Government, intend to pay a visit to Jerusalem on the- 19th February, for the purpose of holding a meeting in reference to Native matters. It is hoped, if possible, to get his Excellency the Governor (Lord Liverpool) to come.

During the hearing of a, Court cast* yesterday, it was stated that an effort had been made to get additional conveniences for commercial travellers on the trains, but so far "without effect. It was estimated that the commercial travellers of wholesale houses in Wanganui were worth from £1200 to £1500 per annum to the Railway Department.

- A party of amateur fishermen at Napier, comprising two »i>ns of Mr J. V. Brown, Messrs F. Moaller, P. Martin, and a few others, had a. "trying experience on Sunday night. They went out in the bay for a day's fishing, and whtan several miles up the coast the motor broke down. The launch was adrift all night, bub fortunately tht. weather continued fine. The party was picked up by a. trawler yesterday morning and towed into port.

- Amat«ur anglers and especially juveniles, ar,e sometimes inclined to be careless and clumsy in the throwing out of 'their lines. Fishing on the Castlecliff wharf a day or two ago a mother and •daughter suffered a painful demonstration of what may happen when the whirling sinker goes astray. The young lady jv'as throwing out 'her 'Jin-?, but the sinker, instead of going • seaward,' struck her mother a nasty blow on tho temple, while one of the hooks fastened itself iso tightly in the bridge of her nose as to require the services of one of'the Freezing Works officials to cut it out.

Tha inquiry instituted by the Government in±o the shortage of labour experienced-* in the manufacturing industries during the past year is now well under way. It is not restricted aa has bsen erroneously stated to manufacturers alone. Ar the Government has given instructions that secretaries of Labour Unions in the trades concerned are to be consulted as well as the leading manufacturers, by this means it is hoped to secure absolutely reliable data. The investigation is now being carried out in Wellington by means of personal interviews by the officer charged with the work, Mr J. W. Collins, of the Labour Department and before long he will have to proceed to other centres for the same purpose. Though the present inquiry is limited to the manufacturing industries, it is understood that other branches of tho industry, such as agriculture, will ba dealt 'with later and separately.

A " Chronicle" reporter was yesterday shown some samples of wool grown on sheep depastured on the hilly land near Okoia on No. 3 Line, and for appearance and length of staple it<would bo hard to beat, being fully 13 inches. The fleece was shorn off a wet ewe three days short of twelve months' growth. There was also -an exhibit taken from a lamb five months old. the staplo measuring fully six inched in length. Tho wool was also of excellent quality. Mr Herlihy, the owner, informed th? pressman that, his snoop. 8 years ago,: were Lincoln \ and smco then ho ha<t them crossed -with Romney rains. He has bought no sheep for the past twelve years, and tho excellent result? achieved, he thinks should be a (sufficient inducement for other flock masters to work on the sum© ltnes, _ pajrticular'Jy as Ifch© growth of wool in "this Dominion will for many years to come be one of the principal industries.

On Saturday last, three young urchins who were bent on mischief of a particularly objectionable kind suffered a sharp surprise, supplemented, in tlv* case of one of them, by well deserved punishment. .A well-known citizen ivas dnvinjg, t utp,'jfrom the Heads when he overtook: three- lads who were munching qirrots. : Just as h© was passing tliem one of tho three stepped close up to the vehicle and deliberately spat a. mouthful of chewed carrot into the face of th,e driver, evidently on the assumption that his victim would not risk leaving hk horse and trap unattended in order to give chase. The driver, however, was "not built that way." Fortunately, he had a pretty tight hold of the reins at the time, :t '.'''H*fo*e ;the astonished youngsters to realise what was happening tl)e horse was .pulled up sharp and jthe driver was in hot pursuit of the 'offender. The young scamp gave him « run for his money, so to speak, but was eventually caught hiding behind som.9 bushes on one of the sandhills. He was treated to a sound drubbing, the memory of which will linger -with him for some time to come. On returning to' the road the irate citizen wa*; pleased to find that his pony had patiently awaited his return, (but"there was no sign of the other two boys.

Friday ivext is the last day for the payment of Rangitiked County Council: rates by all who wish to ©scape the 10 per cent. fine.

The Commissiqner of Crown Lands notifies that land near Kalcahi ana Erua will be open for application on the optional system on Wednesday, 19th February, 1913.

An extraordinarily vivid and brilliant electrical disturbance was to se seen far out to sea in the direction, of Oape< Kidnapper last evening, states a Napier Press wire. The flashes appearied to extend across nearly half the length of the bay, and were observable for quite a long time.

The appeal made to people of New Zealand by Commissioner Richard of the Salvation Army for £10,000, to enablis the Army to build a training college for officers as a memorial to the late General Booth has met with a very sympathetic response. Up to January 17th last the sum of £6818 had been received at headquarters, Wellington.

In connection with the Press Association message published yesterday relative to the motor car smash near the Silverstream bridge, we have been asked to state that the occupants, of both oars were not thrown out. <as* i» r.eeult of the collision, only the occupants of the oar driven by Mr Joe Foster being thrown out. The occupants of the other car were uninjured.

On Saturday evening the prizes for the Firt Brigade art union will be on view at Messrs Purser and Son's shop, Vijbcnia Ayemue, rand ithfc GairrJison Band will give a programme of popular music in the vacant section opposite, commencing at 8 o'clock. Th© prizes are valuable ones, and tickets for the art union may be obtained from Messrs Purs?r and Son and members of the Brigade.

The Druids of Waverley held a special meeting on Saturday night, when D.P. Bro. Pearcs and a number of Aramoho aiid Wanganui brethren attended, and the question of tho death levys discussed. Other matters of interest to the Lodge were discussed. Bro. .Saunders was appointed secretary and Bro. H. W. James treasurer. It us interesting to note that Aramoho and Wanganui's contingent returned honio on cycles. ™

_ Since tho trams £omn»;iiK7Hl .Punning to Oastlecliff, our popular seaside resorfc has become even more popular than ever. It iis evident that it ii destined to be the watering place for the b:g district of which Wanganui is the centre. The attractions at thf seaside, too, are only in the embryo stage. The first is, of course, the kiosk. Since this fin© building was opened for business, it has been exceedingly well patronised and seems to indicate that the other departures on which th© Westtourne Seaside Coy. propose embarking will ' receive good support. When the full programme is carried out the.attractions at the beach should be enough to draw paople from a largo radius. The company is catering well for the 'public. Afternoon tea js supplied at the usual price of 6d, white private parties luncheons and dances can be arranged for.