LOCAL AND GENERAL.

Wanganui Chronicle, Issue 20027, 10 March 1914, Page 4

LOCAL AND GENERAL.

Special cars will run between the Post Office and Glasgow Street from 7 to 8 this evening for the convenience of those attending the big Maori entertainment at Virginia Lake reserve.

One of the largest consignments of Holstein dairy cattle which has come to New Zealand, reached Auckland yesterday morning by the steamer Cairncross from Toronto. It consists of 24 cows and heifers and seven calves. Gunn and Sinclair of Raetihi are the importers.

- The "no smoking is allowed" notice is to be removed from^railway platforms. The by-law has notoriously been more honoured in the breach than in the observance, and the authorities have decided to withdraw the notification from circulation. The effect will be that people may smoke on the platforms until anyone complains. If thereafter they persist in their nefarious operation, they will be subject to a penalty of £5 under the railway by-law.

"What is a native agent?" is a query that was asked by His Honour, Mr. Justice Edwards at the Palmerston Supreme Court on Saturday morning. Mr. Graham suggested a native agent was a person who assisted in native transactions for remuneration. His Honour replied that ho underestood the person to be one who did what was required of him in his work, but did not do the work of solicitors in preparing transfers. The question had bearing upon a case in which a native agent was claiming for work done in facilitating the transfer of a block of native land to defendant.

Th© Wanganui Nursing League wishes to acknowledge with thanks the following donations to the annual collection on Saturday. Some of these cheques were placed in the collection box and aro included in street corners; others were sent direct:—Dean Holley, £1 Is,Mr. J. H. Keesing £1 Is, Mr. W. G. Bassett £2 2s. Mr. J. R. Foster £1 Is. Mr. T. B. Williams £1 Is, Mr. G. Couper £1 Is, Miss Alexander £5 ss, Mr. E. Perrett £1 Is, Messrs J. Thain and Co. £10, Mr. J. T. Werry £1 Is, Mr. J. M. Wells (yearly) 10s 6d. Mr. C. W. Poynter (yearly) 10s, Messrs Tingey and Co. (yearly) 10s 6d, Mr. F. G. Moore £2, Mr. Trcmewan £3 10s, Mrs. Wright £1 2s 6d, Mr. Willets 18s.

Destruction by fire was the fate nearly met by the well-known old coastal steamer Stormhird yesterday morning. The vessel was lying at the Town wharf with a general cargo that was to be discharged that day. At 6.30 smoke was noticed issuing from the forward hatch, and immediately steps were taken to ascertain the seat of the fire. The hatches were removed and volumes of smoke indicated the seriousness of the outbreak. After some smart work by Captain Dowell and his men, it was found that two oases, situated under the bridge, were on fire. These contained thn fortnightiv supply of drugs for the Wanganui Hospital. The fire was quickly extinguished. It is estimated that the damage done amounted to about £30. How the fire originated is not known.

"rYVAOFLTVF/.'" 'KirvT" "TEN SKSTTTNE" fV>Tno'>tfc fm- W^kices

The Rev. A. Thomson, of St. David's Presbyterian Church, Petone, passed away yesterday, after a short illness.

The latest additions to the telephone exchange are No. 932, Mr Robert W. Orton's residence, St. John's Hill; No. 1031, Messrs Bain and Hussey, solicitors, Campbell^Place; No. 1034, Mr T. B. Slipper, solicitor, Kimberley Chambers, Rktgway St.

His Worship the Mayor (Mr T. B. Williams) informed & "Chronicle" reporter that he bad been approached by several councillors and asked to stand again for the Mayoralty of Wanganui for another term. He did not know whether anyone else had signified his intention of standing in opposition. Mr. .Williams held that in view of the proposed loan and other financial matters, the borough has in hand, it would not be advisable to have a change of Mayors.

In sentencing Frank Marton to four years' reformative treatment for indecent acts, Mr. Justice Denniston (at the Christchurch sittings of the Supreme Court yesterday) said: "I have more than once commented on the senseless prudery which 'leaves children without warning on the points of offences as the result of evil habits acquired in youth. No sensible man would be willing to entrust a complicated piece pf machinery to ignorant mechanics, but parents and teachers consent to leave children without knowledge of that marvellous machine, the human body."

While discharging cargo yesterday from the barquentine Wanganui, a young seaman named Frederick Hardwood fell and broke his left leg. Hardwood was standing on a platform on the wharf, when he got in front of a sling of cargo that was being landed. The weight of the cargo threw him off his balance, and he fell to the deck of th© ship, some fourteen feet below. He suffered excruciating pain. Dr Wilson was summoned and treated) the sufferer, after which ho was removed to the hospital. On inquiry at the hospital last evening, it was learned that the injury was a compound fracture, of a serious nature.

It is not generally known that within the Borough of Wanganui there is a prohibited area of from 180 to 200 acres. Such, however, is the case, as is evidenced by the following provision contained in the leases of the Collegiace School estate: " The lessee shall not carry op., or suffer to be carried on, upon the demised land, any noisome or noxious or offensive trade or business, or occupation which shall in any way become or grow to be a piiblic nuisance to any occupier or occupieils of land or buildings in the neighbourhood of the dean 3ed land, nor use oi permit the buildings «. I'lcli are or may be erectad thereon to be used as an hotel or licensed publicmi se, or tor a».y illegal or iminora". pirpose."

The Hon. James Allen, Minister of Defence, speaking at Wellington yesterday, stated that there was every prospect of H.M.S. Philomel being handed over to the New Zealand Government in a few months' time. The Imperial authorities have to find a commander who will be a naval adviser to the Government, and also a crew who will have to sign for probably three years. The Minister also said he had applications from a number, of young men who were willing to enter on a course of training for the British Navy for which the Philomel is to be utilised. There is accommodation for about 60 nienj and Mr. Allen does not anticipate any difficulty in getting that number. s

The claims of Holland. of Wanganui to be included in the Newi Zealand . cricket., team were,emphasised by the Rev. E. O. Blamires, who is well-known throughout the Dominion as a cricketer. Speaking about cricket prospects, *raid at Dunedin: "My opinion is that when a New Zealand team is being picked some consideration should be given to the 'claims of players in the smaller districts. We may find good material there. I think I can mention one very promising young man. I have played against most of the New Zealand bowlers, and none have impressed me so favourably as Holland, of Wanganui. He is a fast medium-pace bowler, and the off-break that he gets on a fast wicket is remarkable. I should like to see him given a chance. I can tell you also of a good batsman. McMahon, of Oisborne, who is, in my judgment, in the first flight to-day. Ho is fit to go in any team. He learned his cricket in New South Wales."

Many re&iieni:* -md visitors ti> the town have beo.i considerably annoyed during the !»*st \\<-ek or more by the ihiportunities of a small gill and boy who, with placards on their breasts and. t:.u mugs in rh«T hands, sop"; f >.- a man , apparently their father, who is £ii ricken-with paw .lysis, and who is «ei>erally near at hand in a light sarritge, and working a graphophone. The mother is also in attendance. These facts were mentioned at the meeting of the schools committee last night, and the chairman, Mr W. Bruce, drew attention to the fact that the children were under school age. He remarked that the public sympathised with th 6 man, and gave generously. The children. were much pitied. He said there was no need for the practice they indulged in in New Zealand. Tli© police had been approached, but they hold that the case was one for the educational authorities. A member of the committee pointed out that if other children were compelled to attend school, then these children should as well. It was decided to draw the attention of the Education Board to the case.

With, reference to the recent school excursion of the Victoria Avenue $choo! children to Gastlecliff, Mr J. Aitken, the headmaster, -made the following remarks in his report to the School Committee: "I would suggest that representations be made to the Tramway Department asking them to make some better concession than they do at present. For the very large majority of the children who made the trip to Castle-c-liff, there was no concession whatever, nor was there any for the teachers. Concessions were made only for the comparatively small number who were over 12 years of age. Moreover, in the two cars and two trailers there was not seating accommodation for more than about two-thirds of the excursionists. Not that this was a serious matter in so short a journey, but I mention it to emphasise how easily the Tramway Department earned the £9 7s 6d which the teachers collected for them and handed over, leaving them no trouble except to count the money. The funds of the Tramway Department would not suffer through treating generously the children of their regular customers, and I think that the committee would do well to apply for a rebate or at least suggest to the tramway authorities the desirability of making "better terms for a larger concession than their present arangements amount to." It. was decided, -in view of the fact that there would not be another excursion for a year, to take no action.

For the first six months' running the JMapier tramway system produced revenue of £4441 17s. 9d. A total of 754 912 passengers were carried. The revenue tor the period exceeds tha original estimate for the first six months.

Mr George Smith, the well-known artesian well borer, has just completed putting down a bor c for the Wanganui Fiesh food and Ice Company on the Bite or their St. John's factory. The well is driven to a depth of 500 feet and an excellent flow of splendid water is now avaia.be for use in the company's operations. •

The mid-week service at St. Paul's Unurch to-morrow evening will be conducted by Mr-Arthur. Taylor, of the China Inland Mission. Mr Taylor is a young London University man and his wife is a daughter of Judge Button, of Auckland. They are at present on furlough in New Zealand

The Tyser liner Bawke's Bay, which; is lying in the roadstead, has reeeivea on board 13 lighter loads of meat. One. and a-half loads have still to be put on board, after which six lighter loads of crates, 1000 bales of wooJ, casks of tallow, casings and pells. It is expected that the steamer will get away for Wellington on Wednesday.

A cas© of iufantile paralysis has been reported to the local health authorities, the patient being a girl 15 years of agej whose parents reside at Aramoho. Steps were immediately taken to have the house properly fumigated, and the victim removed to the hospital. It ap^pears that the girl had1 just returned from Duntdin where this serious disease is so prevalent, so that the case serves to strengthen the idea that the disease is infectious. This, apparently, is the fourth case within tine Wanganui Hospital and Charitable Aid Board's district.

The takings at the Ne>v Zealand-Aus-tralia cricket match for the three days amounted to £358 3.55. It being a test match, Mr. Sims takes 50 per cent, of the gross takings (£179 7s 6d). In other matches he takes 60 per cent; 20 per cent, goes to the lessees of the ground (£7l 15s), and 30 per cent, to the NewZealand Cricket Council (£lO7 12s 6d). Out of the Council's quota, all travelling expenses of New Zealand players, advertising, etc., have to be paid, so it seems highly probable that the Council will sustain a loss over the match.— Press Association.

A meeting of the Wairoa He-Union Committee was held in the Waverley Town Board meeting room on Friday evening. The members present were: Messrs W. J. Davis (chair), D. Noake, S. Aiken, W. J. Watkins. L. Irvine, D. McLean and D. B. McDonald. An apology of absence was received from the secretary. It was decided that the Association be called "Tk> Old Wairoa Light Horse and Mounted Rifle Association," the annual meeting to be held on Okutuku day. A letter was received from Major G. Howie, thanking the Association for electing him a vice-presi-dent. He enclosed a donation of £1 Is.