LOCAL AND GENERAL

Wanganui Chronicle, Volume LXXVI, Issue 18163, 27 April 1921, Page 4

LOCAL AND GENERAL

Vote I That is to-day’s first and most important duty. Civic management requires men of affairs who are also men of principle. In mentioning the names of the candidates for the Borough Council election to-day tne Herald last evening omitted that of Mr K. G. Malcolm. As this may have given the impression that Mr Malcolm has withdrawn we think it only fair to say that he has not done so. Mr Malcolm, who is a well-known local builder, announces that he is going to the poll to-day. Wanganui continues to maintain a leading position, so tar as its export trade is concerned, the value of the produce shipped away from this district tor the first quarter of this year being the third greatest for the Dominion. Auckland, with £4,306,000, headed the list, Wellington second with £1,308,000. and Wanganui third with £1,221,000. Lyttelton was fourth with £1,120.000 and New Plymouth fifth with £988.603Travellers by sea from New Zealand are now required to fill in a form for the Customs when booking passages. The forms contain quesI tions which the Customs require answered. Among them are “conjugal condition (married or single),’’ and an intending passenger filled in the answer to ’ this question, "Good.” There is also the question, “Place of residence in New Zealand.” A passenger promptly replied “16ft. by 32 ft."

At the annual meeting of householders of Wanganui East the following resolution was carried unanimously ‘ Having regard to the importance of education in the life of the individual and the nation, this meeting affirms its apprecia-[ tion of the free, compulsory, and secular system of education now in force, | and urges the Government to develop; this system to meet every need of the. times, providing free education from the Kindergarten to the University. We further deplore the decision of the Education Department to curtail grants for, schools and grounds owing to the pre-, sent financial stress, the natural result of which will be a crop of private schools We urge the Government to proceed with the work of overcoming the present lamentable conditions, the result of war-time economy, owing to which children are lieing educated in. buildings suitable only for. and partly used as stables and barns, and to make our national system as perfect as its importance demands.” An opening for New Zealand meat at Honolulu is suggested by Mr A. Moritzson, formerly of Dunedin, who is now manager of the import and export department of the Pan-Pacific Traders, Ltd., Honolulu. Mr Moritzson says if portion of the freezing space on the Auckland-Vancouver steamers can be allotted to Honolulu, and the call at Sydney left out, more New Zealand meat could be consumed. Supplies now came partly from the Hawaiian ranches, partly from San Francisco, and a fair quantity from Australia. New Zealand meat is better liked than Australian, the only drawback being the faulty steamship service. Butchers would not leave their present wholesale dealers unless they were guaranteed supplies. The firms which contract for the Army and Navy meat would also take New Zealand meat if the supply was forthcoming every month. There was enough freezing space at Honolulu for all requirements. A most interesting and inspiring exhibit is now on view in the window of “The Gothic,” in the form of a complete working model of the proposed Karioi hydro electric scheme. The model discloses the whole layout from the mountains to the proposed power house, from which Wanganui and district would draw its supply. The power for lighting the lamps which illuminate the display is generated by a small water turbine, and the result is a most effective demonstration of the working of the scheme. The model is an excellent piece ,of workmanship, and will doubtless be inspected by all interested in the speedy installation of “white coal.” In addition to the model there is shown a large reproduction of an illustrated magazine article showing the opening of a hydro-electric plant in California which was wholly completed within eighteen months. An accompanying notice pertinently asks: “Why cannot the Karioi scheme of 8000 h.p. be constructed in two years?”

Last evening the Borough Council accepted a tender from the Education Board for the lease of four acres in Purnell Street where it is proposed to erect a hostel for the Technical College students. “I saw a woman fall into a hole on the River Bank Road,” said an interjector at Mr Oakley Browne’s meeting last evening when that gentleman was commenting on the state of the roads in Wanganui. “Yes, they are an eye sore” the candidate quickly retorted. The “Taranaki Herald” reports that one of the most unfortunate losses_ in connection with the recent fire in New| Plymouth is. that of Lieutenant L. 'Andrew, W.C., whose papers and records in connection with the award of the Victoria Cross, and also a portrait of himself, which had been specially painted in honour of his bravery, were in Mr West’s shop in the process of being framed, at the time of the fire. At the close of the meeting of the Borough Council last evening the Mayor (Mr T. B. Williams), , thanked the Councillors for the ' assistance they had always given him I and the courteous relations which ! had existed. He also thanked the . officials and the Press representatives. Each Councillor in turn reciprocated the Mayor’s kind remarks, ' and then the officers and Press rffp- ; resentatives present likewise added { a few words of thanks. Before the j old Council went out of office all i ’ present joined in the singing of Auld ■ Lang Syne.

It will doubtless be of interest to those of our readers who may have played a part in “blazing the trail” to that historic spot near Lawrence known as Gabriel’s Gully—the scene of the earliest gold discobery in the Dominion—to know that the citizens of Lawrence, who so successfully carried out the Jubilee Celebrations of 1911, intend to hold a reunion to celebrate the sixtieth anniversary of the late Gabriel Read's famous discovery of the 20th May, 1861. a cordial invitation ’to be present at the function is extended to every old Gabriel’s Gully pioneer of the early ’sixties who may find it convenient to pay a ■ isit to Lawrence and renew acquaintance with the scenes of the golden days of long ago.

A small comet Having considerable interest for astronomers will’ be in perihelion—that is, at its nearest to the sun —in June this year. It will probably be followed by a shower of meteors on or about June 26. The comet is known as the Pons-Win-necke, after two observers chiefly responsible for the investigation of'its mobements, and was discovered in 1819. It makes its journey round the sun in about five years and eight months. In 1916 the visitor passed fairly close to the earth, and a stream of meteors was observed and found to be directly connected with the comet. This year the point of perihelion will fall very close to the earth’s orbit, and it is calculated that the earth will miss the comet by about a fortnight.

Mr. Oakley Browne has apparently been further misinformed, this time concerning the extension works now being carried, out at the Gas Works. He is reported to have said that this work was not let by tender. This statement, so we are informed’ by the chairman -of the Gasworks Committee (Cr. Sigley) is quite contrary to | fact. The whole of the steel work, ; fire bricks, machinery and equipment i necessary to the erection of th> vertical retorts (the only work in proI gress at the Gasworks) were tendered for in England and Australia, an Australian firm being the successful tenderer. The necessary brickwork was tendered for in Wanganui, the tender of Mr. Alderfbn being accepted.

A shortage of labour to fulfil recent demands has been apparent lately on the local waterfront, and [the presence of several oversea col'liers, as well as coastal traders, has caused considerable delay in shipIping. Yesterday, although 140 men were at work, two vessels remained 'for a long time untouched, and two others were only half manned. The c 5 and D- freighter Port Hackling, which should have been here to--day from Port Nelson, is being de'tained there on account of the absence of adequate labour locally. I Several vessels got away yesterday, (and the congestion was to soffie extent relieved, but with the arrival to-morrow of the Port Hacking, and after her of another overseas liner, the trouble may possibly recur.

At the end of the second week of February one-fifth of all workmen normally occupied in Swiss industry and craftsmanship were partially or totally unemployed. Their number is now 123,011,,' of whom 47,520 belong to the textile trade (chiefly the embroidery and silk industries), 24,794 to the watch industry, 12,784 to the ready-made clothes trade, and 11,108 to the engineering trades. No les< than 96 per cent, of the unemployed workmen belong to the importing industries, the stagnation of “Inch is chiefly due to the high value of Swiss currency. The Swiss Parliament has not improved matters by granting to the Government the power of introducing importprohibitions and increasing import duties. The effect would be a further increase in production costs in Swiss industry.

Now and again an incident occurs here which justifies outsiders in re- : garding this part Dominion as the wild and woolly West Coast (writes the Waluffi. correspondent of the Greymouth Star)*. The Donnybrook which took place on Saturday. 9th inst., is such an incident. To run into a dance room with a rope while the dance was proceeding, and lassoo one of the dancers would seem an incident in keeping with a Wild West show. However, this was only a minor feature in Waiuta’s revelry on Saturday night. It was the occasion of a dance, and all went merrily until near 11 p.m., when a fight started. The rpugh-and-tumble must have delighted the assembled crowd, for the desire to get a smack at one another spread like an epidemic, and a panic ensued. It is stated that the contestants set-to with a right good will, and in a few minutes the battle was in. progress on the dance-room floor, on the (stage, in the dressing-room, and out in the street. The disturbance raged until the majority got tired or injured, or sought safety in retreat. The sequel will be heard in the Magistrate’s Court.