LOCAL AND GENERAL

Wanganui Chronicle, Volume LXXXIII, Issue 19844, 19 May 1927, Page 6

LOCAL AND GENERAL

‘“'Never before have I seen so many men with their swags on their backs tramping the country roads as I have during the last few months.” said a Wanganui motorist -who yesterday returned from a tour of both Islands.

“Everything seems to conspire against the farmer,” said Mr W. Morrison at the conference on deteriorated lands yesterday “The bank rate of interest which has gone up a half per cent, might be the last straw to put the farmer off hi 3 land. ’ ’

City streets in Wanganui are once again being thronged with visitors, for the races to-day and on »Saturday. As a contrast to the generally slack trade conditions in Wanganui and district at the present time, the business area now presents a busy appearance.

With, the arrival in. Wanganui yesterday of an Australian mail, the first specimens of the Canberra commemorative issue of stamps reached this city. The stamps, which are of simple, yet effective, design, will be eagerly searched for by local philatelists during the next few days.

At Tuesday evening’s meeting of the Wanganui City Council, it was decided, on the motion of Councillor C. H. Burnett, to invite the chief engineer of the Public Works Department to visit Wanganui and give his opinion as to the suitability of the Kawhaiki stone for the Taylorville bank work.

In conection with additions to and the remodelling of the Manunui School, the Wanganui Education Board has accepted the following tenders:—Joinery, the Marton Sash and Door Co., £l9l 14s; brick and concrete work, J. Johansen, £l3l ss. The tender of A. F. McKenzie, for £BO, was accepted far alterations to lighting, etc., to the Taihape School.

A new ambulance is to be bought by the Wanganui Hospital Board, the expenditure of £550 for this purpose having been approved by the Department of Health. The chairman of the Board, Dr. Skcrman, stated at yesterday’s meeting that this would give the hospital two ambulances at an expenditure of less than the £BOO agreed to c in the estimates.

The City Wharf yesterday afternoon gave to the casual visitor a very favourable impression of shipping activities, and cargo operations -were in full swing on the coastal steamers Calm, Inaha and Kapiti. The tramp steamer Foreric, after completion of discharge of her cargo of Nauru Island phosphates, made her departure yesterday morning. She will bunker at Westport, prior to proceeding to Makatea Island to load a cargo of phosphates for Sweden.

The Wanganui Hospital Board yesterday joined with the Chamber of Commerce and the Wanganui City Council in entering a protest against the “arbitrary action” of the banks in increasing the rate of interest by one half per cent. Mr W. J. Rogers, in moving «• motion to this effect, said that the people were in the grip of the Associated Banks of New Zealand, which ©organisation, he declared, was the most powerful trust in the country. Public opinion should be moved, in the matter.

In the course of his address to the jury in a criminal case yesterday, Mr V. B. Willis (counsel for the prisoner) took occasion to thank and fcongratulate Mr W. H. Cunningham who was appearing as Crown Prosecutor (for the first time) in the same case on the impartiality and fairness displayed by him in his presentation of the case for the Crown. Mr Willis concluded by stating that the legal profession had nothing to fear in this connection at the hands of Wanganui’s new Crown Prosecutor.

A proposal that the Wanganui Hospital Board should hold an occasional meeting at Taihape did not meet with approval when placed before the Board yesterday by Mr R. A. Davies. Some members thought the weather too cold at present, but Mr W. J. Rogers thought that the climatic conditions should not interfere with the Board’s work. Mr W. Ritchie considered the proposal merely a scheme to glorify Taihape, but Mr Davies smilingly intimated that his idea in bringing the matter forward was to afford members an occasional opportunity of visiting the hospital at Taihape. The Board did not reach any deciision in the matter.

Another effect of the supplanting of the horse by the motor-car is seen in a notice appearing in this week’s Gazette, amending a paragraph of the New Zealand military regulations. Years ago the majority of the members of the mounted rifles regiments provided their own horses, and provision was made by which compensation was payable to the owner if the mount suffered injury or was killed in the course of military training. The position has now largely changed, and many members of mounted units are obliged to borrow their steeds. It has, therefore, become necessary to provide for the payment of compensation to the owner, who may not be a member of the forces, should his animal suffer through accident in the course of military instruction. There are some 320 horses at Waverley camp but a number of these will be owned by the troopers, who, for the most part, arc engaged in farming.

The death on Tuesday of Mr William Ashwell has been noted with regret by the Native Memorial Committee, in which the deceased gentleman showed much interest. The late Mr Ashwell, during the course of his labours in connection with the erection of the Central Memorial, made a point of collecting the names of Maoris from the Wanganui district for incorporation in the Roll of Honour which forms part of the memorial. The Native Committee, as an appreciation of the late Mr Ashwell’s efforts to make Anzac Day of real significance to the Maori people of the city and the district, desire the publication cf the following tribute—- “ The door has opened for thee. Pass on, friend. Pass on to be with those noble ones of all races the eternal brotherhood, who rest from their labours away in the Great Beyond, that mystery which we who remain may not yet penetrate. We mourn thy passing. We will not forget thee, friend. Pass on! Pass on! Farewell!”