LOCAL AND GENERAL

Wanganui Chronicle, Volume LXXXI, Issue 19007, 7 May 1924, Page 4

LOCAL AND GENERAL

The Patea. brick works formerly owned by Mr. Lockhart, have been taken over by Messrs F. G. Wilson and Co., Wanganui.

The plans for tho overhead bridge at the foot ot St. John’s Hill camo before tho Borough Council last evening, and were referred to the engineer in order that a better entrance to the town may be secured.

At last night’s meeting of the management committee of the Metropolitan Rugby Sub-Union, it was resolved to erect a roof over the Uncovered portion of the stand on the Recreation Ground, prior to the trial match on May 16.

“The people in New Zealand are the most English I have seen outside of the Homeland,” remarked one of the visiting naval officers. He also expressed his amazement at the wonderful growth of settlement in so young a country. A further conference was held on Monday between Rangitlkel and Wanganui County Councils in regard to the Kauangaroa Bridge. After going into figures the Conference made an offer to Mr. W. Salt, the contractor for the work—which has been delayed by flood damage—and it the latter accepts it, the work is to be resumed as early as possible.

Speaking at the meeting of the St. John’s Hill Ratepayers’ Association on Monday evening the Mayor (Mr. Hope Gibbons) said that the only loan he woft’d be prepared to support at the present time would be a loan for securing additional reserves and playgrounds in the suburbs. He considered that it would be a good investment, as they would never again be able to get the land at the same price.

Great interest was focused upon a large shoal of porpoises playing close inshore off the Marine Parade in Napier on a recent morning (says the Telegraph). The School moved along slowly past the baths and the courthouse, with the individual mem. bers rolling, plunging and splashing according to the way of porpoises, creating an arresting sight upon the calm sea.

Some very convincing figures were given by the Mayor (Mr. Hope Gibbons) at a meeting of the St. John’s Hill Ratepayers’ Association on Monday evening when daaling with the borough finances. He said that the general rate of 4g 4d was really too low, and it should be 4s 7d. Out of the 4s 4d 9id was required to make up tramway losses, Is lid went for interest on loans, and 7id for the hospital contribution. It only left about Is for everything else. A correspondent writes:—"l have an orange tree in my garden in Napier that bears a crop of fruit every year, flowering about, October or November, but it is now in full bloom besides the crop it usually carries. It has never blossomed at this time of the year before. Is it the result of the exceptionally fine and warm weather we have had lately, after tho dry summer, or will orange trees bloom in the autumn the same as the lemons’”— Telegraph.

A somewhat unique history attaches to a piano which is now in the hands of a well-known Wellington firm, preparatory to its being thoroughly overhauled. The Instrument, which arrived on H.M.S. Hood, was originally the property of the celebrated H.M.S. Lion, the capital ship in the historical Battle of Jutland, from which engagement it successfully emerged, although its floating domicile was towed into port in a battered and sinking condition. Still in its original condition this naval mascot continued its peregrinations aboard H.M.S. Hood, and now it has found a haven in Wellington, after having been pounded and thumped by officers and midshipmen in practically every quarter ot the globe.

There is a scarcity of eggs in Wanganui at the present time, and consequently the poultrymen arc receiving good prices for their produce. A “Chronicle” representative was informed by a member of the local egg circle yesterday that eggs were at present realising 3s 3d on the local market, and this price was on a par with what the poultrymen were receiving about this time last year. The price of fowl feed was still high, and this would have a tendency to keep the price of eggs at their present level. There was, some time back, a movement on foot to have the price of fowl food reduced, and a large quantity of Australian wheat had been imported into the Dominion. “However, I find that the price of Australian grain is much about the same price as local wheat, the retail price of which is 8s per bushel. If something is not done shortly in tho direction of having the food prices reduced, a number of poultrymen will find it necessary to go out of business,” he said. Referring to the exportation of eggs, the informant remarked that last year something in the vicinity of 200,000 dozon were sent to the London market. From 2s 3d to 2s 5d was received on the Home market forrthem, and the price, which was better than tho previous year, paid the poultrymen handsomely. “Mr Marriott, representing tho New Zealand Poultry Association, is at present in England,” explained the informant, “and has arranged to sell the Dominion’s surplus of eggs for the next three years.” The shipments of eggs, he concluded, were all graded at Wellington by the Government expert, and the four leading contributors .to them were Dunedin, Wellington, Auckland, and Christchurch.

In one Napier garage on Saturday night were parked over 70 cars belonging to patrons of a popular Saturday night dance.

Many are the humorou s Items written about the adjectives used by some players of golf. What is claimed to be a precedent in the history of golfing has been established by the Earlington Club, near Seattle'. The Rev. Canon Ronald Hilton has been appointed chaplain to look after the spiritual welfare of the members.

The Prime Minister (the Kt. Hon. W. F. Massey) has been advised by cable from London that financial circles at Home are very favourably impressed with quoted ” figures and prospects in connection with New Zealand’s finances, and consider that they must tend to improve the Dominion's financial position in London.

Writing to a friend in Wanganui, under the date of March 20, a London stockbroker says: We have reached ed the strike season here. First the railwaymen camo out, then the dockers, and new, it seems, the miners are to have their turn. All this, cf course, has had its effect cn the markets which, for some time, have been rather sluggish. W 8 have had plenty of new loans lately—mainly because so many of tho old ones arc falling due just about now.

“The most southerly lamp post in the world is nt Bluff.” said Mr J. J. Dougall, president of the Navy League, when speaking of the wide range of the naval cruise at Christchurch recently. “Some of the ships will see that lamp post.” “Two of th® ships of the squadron,” said Rear-Admiral Brand, in his speech, “have passed the lamp post referred to, and from what I can gather from wireless messages about the weather they have seen quite enough of it.” One of the outstanding features of the British Empire Exhibition this summer will be the Imperial choir of 10,000 singers. The scores which will be used in the six concerts to be given weigh fully 20 tons. There will be more than 500 instrumentalists. The expenses for the rehearsals now taking place, including bus and train fares will come to approximately £29,000. Already 3000 members of the choir are engaged-in rehearsals.

A party of Dargaville shooters tell a good story,, according to the North Auckland Times. They camo across a pair of sport s recently who were after ducks. One of them had a gun and the other was hiding behind a flaxbush quite naked waiting to retrieve the birds as they were shot. Being of a curious turn of mind the party watched from the top of a rise for about half an hour during which some dozen shots were fired by the would-be duck slayer. During the whole of this time the shivering retriever never had occasion to go into the water, and when the party went on its way he was still hopefully waiting behind the flaxbush.

Referring to the wonderful performance of the Anzaes at Gallipoli the Rev. W. G. Monkton. in the course of his address at the special service of thanksgiving and commemoration at St. Peter’s Church, Takapuna, declared that the troops were inspired by love—a love of home, of country, of England, and of the heritage of the Empire. “They were inspired by the love of what England and the Empire stands for, namely, justice, liberty, truth, generosity, nobleness, tenderness, and succour of the afflicted. Although there may be traitors who sell naval or military secrets to their country’s enemies, they are nothing to the traitors who betray the ideals the Empire stands for, and thus destroy her honour.”

On Saturday last the Marlborough Express celebrated its permanent enlargement per medium of its newlyinstalled leviathan post war Cossar machine by the issue of a ten-page edition marked by all the characteristics of modern metropolitan journalism. In referring to its new machine as “the most complicated piece of mechanism ever erected in Marlborough.” the Express says:—The Cossar weighs, in all, just over 16 tons, and it arrived in Blenheim, packed in huge cases, which, when opened up, revealed some 3000 parts, ranging from a ton and a halt in weight to small pieces weighing only a few ounces each. The big machine has been erected, during the past three weeks, by Mr. J. Lowe, an expert engineer, who has been lent to the Express by the Wanganui “Chronicle.” He was assisted in his formidable task by the Express’s own machinist, Mr. W. McAllister, of Springlands’. So well did Mr. Lowe carry out the task of assembling the huge machine that when it was started up for its trials the great mechanism moved off splendidly, and it has run through exhaustive tests in the last few days, without the slighest hitch, and, despite its huge bulk, it makes less noise and sets up less vibration than the old two-feeder.

Robert Garlick appeared on remand at the Police Court yesterday,, before Messrs Spencer and Franklin, J.P.’s charged with assaulting Hugh Mciwean, on April 7, so as to do him actual bodily harm. The case, which arose out of the fracas on the Gale recently, has been adjourned on several occasions to enable the victim of the assault to appear. Hugh McLean, who bore signs of having been attacked, deposed that he was an able seaman, and, on April 7, was employed on the Gale at Wanganui. He had had an argument with Garlick, In the forecastle, between 9 and 10 p.m. He had told the accused he was lazy and an imposter—meaning that he was putting work on to his mates. Witness said that he pushed Garlick out of the forecastle and that was apparently the finish of the incident. He was called out to duty some time afterwards, and noticed that Garlick was not about. When he was employed lashing down some cargo, he was struck from behind, and thought the derrick had fs.llen on him. He was daz-vd by the blow, but when he looked up he saw Garlick. The accused had the neck of a bottle tn Ms hand, and with it he was trying to cut witness’ throat. Witness tried to keep Garlick away by putting out his hand, and had his fingers bitten for his nains. There had been no ill-feeling between tht two men prior to the occurrence. Cross-examined by the accused, witness said that Garlick gave him cause to quarrel with him many a time while on the ship. He denied having .rained blows upon the accused, when they were arguing in the forecastle. He said he did not make any offensive remark or use obscene language to Garlick. The accused reserved hi s defence, pleaded not guilty, and was committed to the Supreme Court for trial.

The Horowhenua County Council has decided upon a big reading work. A loan proposal covering the sum of £BO,OOO will shortly be placed before ratepayers to cover the cost of sealing 50 miles of the main roads of the county, the work to be’ spread over three years.

The smoking of bacon was an unusual subject discussed by the Borough Council last evening. Most of the councillors were not conversant with the subject, but it was decided by by-law to prevent the practice being carried on in the business part of the town.

A syndicate, mostly of young Aucklanders, says the Star, has been trying to invest an economical method of treating low grade orcs and has been making tests of ores from various mines. The results are stated to have geen such as to point to the possibility of enabling wealth to be produced from ore lying neglected in abandoned places. The process has the advantage of being a very economical one.

Amongst local oarsmen (says the Whangarei Advocate), it has been suggested that Mr Jim Mason', the leading single-sculler in the Whangarei Rowing Club, should take part in the race at Dargaville in which McDevitt and Paddy Hannan will compete. Over the two miles’ course Mason shapes very well and ho beat the same fours crew over that distance which headed McDevitt over'a mile.

It was reported last week that a number of guns from the model of the Hood on board the warship were appropriated in Melbourne and Sydney as souvenirs by the general public. The ship has fared no better, for the remainder of the 15-inch guns, which are mounted in pairs, have disappeared since the vessel has been in Wellington. No one has yet appropriated the specimen shell used in the 15-inch guns. It only weighs about a ton.—N.Z Times.

The Borough Council decided last evening upon an innovation that should be appreciated by the ratepayers. It was resolved to call a public meeting on a date to be arranged, to discuss the Town Clerk’s recent review of the municipal finances. It was said that ratepayers were continually asking questions about the borough finances, and that by holding a public meeting they would all have the opportunity of attending and getting any information they sought first hand.

The Wanganui Borough Council have decided to take steps to bring the building by-laws up to the standard of Gonvillo and Castleclitt. Cr. C. P. Brown, who was piloting the proposed new by-laws through the council, said that for building a minimum frontage of 44 feet and a minimum area of 20 perches were required by by-law, whereas up to the present time in the borough the minimum frontage was 33 feet, and, except that a certain air space was required, no minimum area was specified.

During the month of April the estates of the following deceased persons were accepted for administration by the Public Trustee in this district: Alexander Mackie, late ot Wanganui, locomotive foreman; James Joseph Norton, late of Wanganui, labourer; Sarah Jane Clayton, late of Wanganui, married woman; Mary Louisa Clare, late of Wanganui, spinster; Binning Whetton, late of Wanganui, labourer; Mary Frances Martin, late of Chester, England, spinster; Martha Elizabeth Fowler, late of Wanganui, widow; Ellen Elizabeth Julia Breed, late of Wanganui, widow.

A plea of guilty was entered by a girl aged 20 years, who appeared at the Court yesterday morning, to answer a charge in respect to the theft of a frock valued at £4 45., the property of the proprietress of the Royal Willows. Constable R. Wilson stated that when interviewed the accused admitted having stolen the frock, and handed it over. In a statement she had explained that her lapse was duo to her being short of clothes. She had also been out of work for three months. Mr. Hussey, who represented the accused, said his client was suffering from heart trouble, and was not in good circumstances. This was her first offence. Mr. Barton, S.M., considered that this was a case for probation, and one in which the publication of the name shouio be suppressed. The accused was admitted to 12 months’ probation.

A very enthusiastic and largely attended meeting of the local teachers of music was held last night at St. Mary’s Convent, Ingestre Street, with a view to discussing the aims and objects ot the proposed forthcoming music conference to be held in Wellington this month. Mr. J. Crichton was present by invitation, and was unanimously chosen to represent the music teachers of the two local convents, as well as the other teachers present. Miss Betts L.R.A.M. spoke at some length on the registration of teachers in England, and remarked that the conditions set out in the circular, lately issued by Mr. Cachemaille, secretary of the Associated Board, were quite in accordance with those existing in England. Mrs. Redwood, L.R.A.M., endorsed Miss Betts’ remarks, which were much appreciated by the Sisters and all others present.

A most unpleasant surprise awaited a young wife on her return from a visit to a picture theatre on Saturday says the Christchurch press. On entering the house, she noticed a. strong smell of smoke. Going into the kitchen, she looked in front of the fire where she had placed some washing to dry, but it had disappeared, and in its place was left nothing but cinders. A glance at the mantelpiece showed her hoW fortunate she was that the house had I not been burned down in her absence. Practically the whole surface of the mantlepiece was burned, some ot it fairly deeply, and a portion of the linoleum, probably .that upon which the burning garments had fallen, was also charred. The strangest part of the affair, however, was that the paper on the wall immediately above the mantlepicce had not taken fire and was in fact only slightly discoloured by the smoke. The occupants had allowed the insurance policy on the furniture in the house to lapse a few days ago, so stood to incur a fair loss had the fire not fortunately burned itself out.

The Borough solicitor (Mr. W. J. Treadwell), telegraphed to the Borough Council from Wellington last evening that matters in connection with the Power Board and amalgamation were progressing / satisfactorily.

Advertisers are asked to call at this office for replies addressed to: “Furnished,” "Furnished 2” “Working housekeeper,’’ “Work” “W. 8.. “Capable” and “Trustworthy.”