LOCAL AND GENERAL.

Wanganui Chronicle, Volume LXVI, Issue 17571, 15 May 1919, Page 4

LOCAL AND GENERAL.

We have received from Mr. Jas. Higgie a contribution'of £2 towards the fund for the relief of the Stevens family.

At yesterday's meeting of the Patriotic Association, a resolution of condolence was passed with Private F. K. Foster, whose wife had passed away at the Hospital that morning. Sincere sympathy was expressed for Mr. Foster in his sad bereavement.

At a meeting of chrysanthemum enthusiasts held hs tevenin^ at the Borough Cham hers, it was decided to form a society, to be called the Wanganui Chrysanthemum Association, -with the object of holding a large show yearly, this show to be on a large enough scale io attract prrovvors from all parts of the Dominion. Canvassing committees were formed, arid a further met-ting will be held tm Wednesday, the 28th inst.

As the outcome of a prosecution by the Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals, at the Magistrate's Court on Monday, a man named Harry Brown was fined £2 for working a horse with a sore shoulder.

"A witness in the Supreme Court at Palmerston Xorth caused a bright v smile to pass round by a naive answer to & leading question. Witness said he had fallen down in the street, and was asked by counsel who picked him up. _ "Hie man who collects the rubbish in the streets." -was the simple reply.

At the meeting of the Borough Council on Tuesday night, when it was decided to proceed with the formation of Taupo Quay and the Aramoho streets metalling, Cr. T. B. Williams urged that the matter should be referred to the Works Committee to consider what w<er© urgen works. He considered that with the approach of winter it would be bad policy to cart metal over good roads to repair a had one. He asked where the inetnl -would be procured for Taupo Quay. The reply given was that Belmont metal would be used and that it would be delivered by rail.

An overseas snip lauded a draft of returning &oidiers at Wellington on ttaturday, but the Government did not order as usual that the hotels be closed, and they remained open for the saie oi liquor tor the whole of the day. The Acting-Prime Minister (Sir James Allen), when asked about the matter said that on advice he had received he determiner! not to close the hotels on Saturday to see what the effect would be. He would receive a, report in due course on the result of the experiment, and until he had received that report he would not be in a position to say what would bo done in the future.

In reference to the serious losses of stock which are threatening graziers in iiawke's Jbay owing to the suortage ot feed due to the continued drought, Mr T. M. Campbell has made another appeal to the Government to relieve ilie congestion at the freezing works. He sent a telegram to the Minister m Charge of the Imperial supplies in the rollowin£ terms: '" Can we somehow impress upon you that the farmers' position hero is desperate. It cannot b<? overstated, sheep already being boiled down, and many cattle must die of starvation this winter. Before alloting space elsewhere could you send representatives to inspect and inquire and thus satisfy yourself that no district m, the Doiiiinion can be so hard pressed. Season here, the worst ever experienced." ,

Cargo pillaging lias been discussed by the Wellington Chamber of Commerce for many years, but probably the losses incurred by the commercial community in this direction have never been no great as during the past two years. The position is more serious owing to the nigh price of commodities, states the annual report of the Chamber. Insurance companies have found it necessary to increaso their rate for cover against pillage. The matter has been discussed by the Harbour Board, and during the year there have been many cases upon which convictions have been obtained in the Magistrate's Court. It seems difficult, if not impossible, to find a remedy. Pillaging may take place in the country of shipment, in the docks, and at oversea ports on the voyage, during discharge in New Zealand, or in the Harbour Board sheds.

• The Westpbrt Harbour Board interviewed the Minister for Mines, the Hon. W. I). S. Mac Donald, in regard to the operations of sections 108 and 109 of the Finance Act, 1915, and the regulations based thereon, under which the Government iiftposed 21 ,per cent, additional charges on the Wesfcport-Mokihinui railway and wharves, for war purposes, but left the' Board to pay all the additional charges for material and maintenance, also wages and increases of salaries to its own harbour staff out of the ordinary revenue. This will result in the Board being; financially crippled. Up ifi March 3rd last the Government had taken from this source over £46,000. The "Westport News" contends that the Government's action is illegal 'Xf that it cannot override the Act of 1884, by which the Bbard was given endowments for specific purposes, and which endowments are given as securities on which from time to time the iwjard has borrowed for harbour work construction. ,

At the special meeting of the Borough Council on Tujesday night, the Mayor applied for an additional loan from the pinking funds on behalf of a client who had property at Raetihi. The Council considered ihe margin in respect to the valuation .satisfactory, but Cr. Burnett on principle opposed investments made outside Wanganui, and considered that there was ample scope in that direction locally.. Cr Williams objected to applications of the kind being made by the Mayor, as under such circumstances the latter could not give the Council a lead. The Mayor replied to the points raised. He said it Was diffcult to .get investments for small amounts in Wanganni, and that investments at Ra/stihi had created a splendid bond of feelin<* with Wanganui. As to the point raised by Cr. Williams, he considered he had the right to make tnn application, the same as any other solicitor. In such instances he always refrained from votinsr. The application was approved, the Mayor not voting.