LOCAL AND GENERAL.

Wanganui Chronicle, Volume LX, Issue 17143, 21 November 1917, Page 4

LOCAL AND GENERAL.

Schools in the Wanganui Education .Board's district will close for the. Christmas vacation at noon on December 19th, and re-open on February Ist.

The old and empty building at Lan-guai-d Bluff, known as Mitchell's freezmg works, was destroyed by fire last night, nnd the reflection in the sky caused a good deal of speeula'tion. A portion of the building was burned a short time ago.

The "Taranaki Herald" makes the following candid remarks- about Waiiganui :—Wanganui fortunately (or unfortunately) grows apparently witliotit miic-h eifort, .-md will be the fourth city in the Dominion before lung, no thank's to its public men. Wanganui's greatest desiderata at the present time are pushful, persevering, and prominent public men without mediocr c talents to air or axes to grind,, and who outer public life determined to do their bit in the iiieo of the usual interested obstructionists whose self-interests arc so strong as to in some cases roach the border line to the prejudice! of good and good citizenship.

A petition in bankruptcy has been filed in Napier in the estate of Walkare Knraitiana, Maori, of Hastings, the assets totalling £21.888 and the liabilities £17,554. Amongst the creditors ar e tli c Woodvill© (£66), Ma«terton (£lo), Gisborne (£8), and Auckland (£G) Racing Clubs.

Mr VV. 14. Jtiaselttuu, S.M., was engaged in tiJ© Magistrate's Court yesterday morning m hearing a ciann ior jl;*U Drought by Alfred Alleock,,ol Wangauui, drover, against rienare M'aitere, of Turakina. it was alleged that dciendant while driving a motor car ran over the plaintiff's dog. After hearing evidence iris ■ Worship gave judgment for defendant, with costs amounting to £2 IBs. 4d.

The American V.M.C.A. hut in J^ha Strand, London, is now open. It provides beds for 350 men, leading, writJug, and game rooms, a real American soaa iountai/i, a "quiet room" for study, reading and devotion, and the one place in London where "Sammy" hears "American as she is spoken.' Sight-seeing parties are made up here to "do" London. The Ambassador and leading-Americans in England are on the committee.

The meafc industry representatives met in conference last week to discuss matters of importance in the working of the industry. Tho conference was not one of thos c convened by the Government, but the Minister of Agriculture was present b y invitation, and he took advantage of the opportunity to give the companies some of the views of the Government on the conduct o* the industry. The conference has not been open to the Press.

i rom the circular issued by the Education Department, it would appear that nil employees of Education .boards, including oflice staff and temporary as well as permanent teachers, will receive the war bonus. Teachers under 18 years of age will only receive a bonus of £3, unless they are not living at home,' when they will be paid £7 10s. The bonus will" probably be paid with the next, salaries.

Mrs Perrott, of Dannevirke, who for years past has been a regular exhibitor of fancy butter at the New Plymouth A. and P. Show, has agnin won use first prize this year, which makes the eighth year in succession. To r.ark this record the Society have awarded Mrs Perrott a gold medal besides the certificate of merit.. Among the designs which have carried off the honours each year are a model of the lake and surroundings in the New Plymouth gardens, a factory cart loaded with butter, and many other quaint designs.

An event which always attracts very considerable interest is the Gonvilla Methodist Sunday School Anniversary. Last year's performance by the children and large choir, assisted as they were by a fiuo orchestra, will not be readily forgotten, and during the past few weeks the singers and players have again !>*en preparing for another equally fine /performance, n,n<3 next^ Sunday will; we feel sure, realise the anticipations of those who are looking forward to this event. There are some very fine hymns and choruses among the items to he rendered, also some beautiful part singing by some of our leading singers.

The committee of the Wanganui Orphanage wish to thank the following Jor donations of useful goods, all of which are hrgMy appreciated: mous," cas c of bananas; Mrs Olapham (Wanganui Kast), butter: Miss Jones, cakes; Miss Roberts (St. 'Hill Street), frames; Mr Carrad, hymn-books; Miss Handly, handkerchiefs, coats, ana skirts; Purser's, butter; Mrs. Bennett (Masterton), clothing; St. Andrew's Church, sweets: Mrs. He in, vegetables; Mrs. Cheeseman, • vegetables; Dustin's, cakes and buns; George and Kersley's, cakes; Mrs Parnell. senr., box of tea; Mrs Mcßeth %'Westmere), butter and cakes; Mrs. Paul, butter and clothing; Mrs. McKenzi© iGonville), cakes; Red Cross, cakes; working mob, two loads of wood; Mr. Barton, apples and sweets; from the late Miss Alexander (per Mrs Cooper), Christmas gift? and nuts; from the Show, eatables; "anonymous," handkerchief.

The sequel to a marriage arranged in Auckland recently by means of a matrimonial advertisement was the appearance oi; the parties at the Magistrate's Court on Monday, the wife having applied for an order of separation and maintenance against her husband. Mr Moody, who appeare/1 for the husband, f<aid that the latter's first wife had died and left him with four young children. As a way out of the difficulty he had advertised for another mate, and as a result married the complainant, a general nurse, who haH a child of her own. The parties were absolutely incompatible in temperament, and th c result \va,s a most unhappy state of affairs. The Magistrate. Mr E. C. Cutten, after hearing evidence, said that the husband must first support his four children, and as the man's wages were small, he could not see his way to make an order of maintenance. Ho suggested that the proceedings should be dropped and the parties should live apart and maintain themselves, as they did before they met. After a conference it was announced that the parties had decided to adopt the suggestion.

JNow that a start has been made with the calling up of ahe Second Division lor war service, it is quite evident that should the war continue until next season the women folk of the district will have to be requisitioned to a greater extent for farming operations next year (says the "Poverty Bay Herald"). That young ladies of this district are a bio to render practical assistance in this direction was demonstrated on Saturday, when the Misses Nona and Katie McKenzie, daughters of Mrs. McKen*;ie, late of Patutahi, successfully drove a mob of sheep from Kaitaratahi to Kanakanae. Th e journey occupied all ciay, and being a particularly warm day, and the mob comprising woolly sheep, ihey required careful handling. Thoy were held up for a considerable time with the first crossing of the Kanakanae stream, and the fording provided some exciting incidents (including the lescue of bogged animals), not to mention the exercise of a good deal of patience. At the next crossing the drivers met with assistance, and had the satisfaction of handing over the mob nt their destination. The appearance of " drovers" of the fair sex on the road aroused no little curiosity, and the young ladies are reported to have displayed quite an excellent knowledge of the working of their dogs. As an illustration of what can be done, their performance is deserving of commendation.

The usual fortnightly meeting of the Patriotic Association will be held this atfernoon at 3.0.

Tlie Garrison Band and the National Reserve will assemble at the Drill Hall at, 6.30 to-morrow mornuig to escort tiie draft of men who are leaving for camp by the early train.

The membership committee of tho Chamber of Commerce, of which Mr. P. .tligginbottom is chairman, has launched a membership campaign. The appeal is based on the achievements of the organisation and the possibilities as associated with the future. The work of the Chamber not only safeguards Wanganui's commercial and business interests, but has secured many advantages of benefit to the town and district.

The 33rd Infantry Reinforcements will leave Featherston Camp for Trentham A rJa the Rimutakas on Thursday morning. They are to take two days en route. The march from Featherston to Trentham was for a long time an important feature of the training of every reinforcement in this country, but it was suspended eady this year owing to various causes, "*rhe last draft to do the march was the 24th Reinforcements. The journey is now to be re-established as a part of the training scheme