LOCAL AND GENERAL

Wanganui Chronicle, Volume LXXXIII, Issue 19786, 9 March 1927, Page 8

LOCAL AND GENERAL

A sharp earthquake was experienced in Wanganui at 11.54 a.m. yesterday. The shake was accompaniqd by a distinct rumbling sound.

It was announced by the Town Clerk of Napier on Monday night that the Borough. Council had been successful in raising locally a loan of money totalling £26,180.

Although the present period is looked on aS one of hard times, some people appear to be blessed with rather large sums of money which they carry about in their pockets. On the occasion of the Westmere swimming carnival held last week a young lady was the loser of four £5 notes, while a man in Aramoho lost a note for £5O yesterday.

The principles of sound maintenance of its buildings are apparently foreign to the Department of Justice —that is, if the statp of the Wanganui Courthouse can be taken as criterion. With paint peeling from its walls the Courthouse is not a good advertisement for a Government department. Few private propertyowners would allow their buildings to depreciate for lack of a coat of paint.

When a cheque he was said to have endorsed was put before a witness at the Magistrate’s Court yesterday, he said he could not be certain that the writing was his. His uncertainty was largely du e to the fact that he did not remember making the endorsement. Asked by the Magistrate if he relied on recollection to decide what he had written, the witness said he did. He could not be certain from the look of the thing alone.

The Wellington regatta, to be held on Port Nicholson on Saturday, will be remarkable for the number of Wanganui crews engaged. Both the WangHf nui and Union Chibs will be strongly represented, and the full strength o# the local contingent will be over 3D. In addition the Wcndouree (Victoria) and Waitemata crews are still training locally, so that -when boats are loaded to-morrow night the complete consignment will bo a large one.

Visability on level crossings couicf be improved a good deal in Wanganui, in the opinion of Cr C. H. Burnett. Cr Burnett brought the matter up at the City Council meeting last evening and asked that everything be done in the way of cutting back trees on crossings for the general safety of road users. He referred particularly to the crossing at Ingestre Street on the way to the racecourse. The matter was left in the hands of the engineer.

The New South Wales bowling team, •Which met Wanganui in a match on Monday, left for the South yesterday. While in. Wanganui the visitors were entertained by the Mayor (Mr Hope Gibbons) and Cr. W. M. Falconer. At the Council meeting last evening Cr. Falconer stated that the visitors had been delighted with the way they were entertained and with the magnificent views of the city. “They will act as good ambassadors when they return home,” he said.

The Wanganui Agricultural Association recently applied to the City Council for a remission of rates on the Wanganui East show grounds. The matter was mentioned in the Finance Committee’s report to the Council last evening, when it was resolved to allow a reduction of one-third of the rates levied, and that the sum of £79 4s 8d be remitted. The committee was unable to recommend any reduction of rates levied on the Wanganui Bowling Club and other sports associations.

Good progress is being made with the construction work on tho upp«»r Wangaehu Valley road, beyond Mount View Station. Additions to the gangs employed have swelled the number of men engaged to a substantial total, and a very presentable trank has now been formed round “Purgatory Point” towards the Kaukopo stream. There are indications that, by the time winter arrives, excellent progress will have been made with the linking up of tire lower road of the upper formation at Pungataua.

At the Wanganui Police Station yesterday afternoon an inquest was held concerning the death of John Keir, who, on Friday evening was admitted to the Wanganui Hospital following injuries received through his being run over by his own dray on the Springvale Road. The back band in the harness broke, and deceased was thrown under a wheel of the dray. The coroner, Mr J. J. Pilkington, returned a verdict that death was due to heart failure, which would probably be brought about by the injuries caused by the accident.

A resolution to raise a loan of £25,000 for sewerage extensions in Wanganui was carried at the Wanganui City Council meeting held last evening. The loan was put through at the direction of the Department of Health and the terms are per cent, for interest and H per cent, for sinking fund. Cr. J. Morrison protested against the resolution and asked that his negative vote be recorded. It was pointed out that the Council had no option in the matter of raising the loan, If the work was not done by the Council, the Department would have it carried out at the expense of the Council.

The signboard outside Cook’s Gardens at the end of Maria Place, came in for some scathing comment at the meeting of the Wanganui City Council held last evening. Cr A. H. Rogers mentioned that it had been proposed some 18 months ago to remove tho eyesore, but up to the present nothing had been done. Something should be. done with the obstruction immediately,” said Cr Rogers. “At present it looks like the main entrance to the Wanganui Corporation rubbish tip when looking down Maria Place from the Art Gallery.” The matter was referred to the reserves committee, with power to act.

It is proposed to erect a new Anglican Church on a portion of the Ballance estate, at St. John’s Hill, the section, about a quarter of an acre in area, having been given by Mr Ballance. A church, Sunday school, and vicerage will be built on the section when St. John’s grows larger and warrants the formation of a new parish. The building which it is at present proposed to erect will serve as a church and a Sunday schooL It will not be used for any other purpose. The new building, which will bo of simple construction, will hold about 100 people. The designing is in the hands of Mr R. G. Taiboys, and Mr W. D. Gilbertson will have charge of the construction work.