The Evening Herald. SATURDAY, SEPT. 13, 1873.

Wanganui Herald, Volume VI, Issue 1859, 13 September 1873, Page 2

The Evening Herald. SATURDAY, SEPT. 13, 1873.

The Provincial Loans Empowering Bill has passed the Lower House, and consequent upon it several of the Provincial Governments have introduced Bills setting aside land as security for loans. Wellington asks £175,000, and sets aside lands which the Provincial officers value at £200,0C0. The maxi-! mum rate of interest is fixed at 6-J per cent., and lenders have no other sec v rity than that set aside by Act of Assembly. The schedule of the Wellington Loanßill has been changed, one material item which has xindergone modification being the grant for the Wanganui river. In answer to the demonstrative demands of the district the river is to have expended upon it £10,000. Now no one would admit ', that .twice this sum would besufficient to give, effect to the lateMr, : Balfour's report ; and nothing less "than its fulfilment will ultimately satisfy us. But we do not think the circumstances would justify Wanganui in rejecting or expressing dissatisfaction with the effort made to conciliate the district. The sum of £10,000 bears a small proportion to that of £175,000 ; and the port of Wanganui is an important institution compared with any other in the Pro- • vince. This is the light in which the question should be considered in its ultimate relations. Proximately, however, we are asked to accept £10,000, and we think it our to make the most of the concession.' We are supposing the Provincial Government will be able to borrow money on the security at 6J per cent. We must take something for granted,^ and should make large allowances forthe ingenuity of Provincial managers. The first thing then j we should do, is ; tp take steps for elicitingpublicopinionastothe modem which we shmild proceed to spend the money. We have heai*d: the most experienced men in the community express the opinion that a steam dredging machine is the most direct way of effecting an immediate and material improvement of the port. If a dredger could be purchased for not more than £9,000, there would be a surplus..." of ; ,£I,OOO to = work it for. a. year. .To. maintain this machine in active work, the representatives should combine to obtain a yearly grant from the Provincial Council of £1,000, which we.think would be yielded if we were united. With respect to permanent improvements, such as embankment and protective works for the Bluff, a further loan would have to be asked for,' and there are many ways of accomplishing the end which would suggest themselves at the proper time. ' We shall return to the subject, and in. the meantime leave the question for the consideration of the Borough' authorities, who may be ; called upon to take the initiative in harbour, improvements.

We hear and can affirm the report, that the respected and-worthy proprietess of of Atkinson's Hotel, lias "wholly parted .with her interest in i;he .before-named Hotel to Messrs^ Taylor'1 and^Watty for the su'in of £3^ooo. .In the retirement of jife ,we wish Mrs 1 Atkinaonallthe pleasurable concomitants, and to Mr Jas. J. Anderson, (the incoming tenant), v?e wish Mm the same success and popularity i. tha't>have been accorded his-predecessor. - "Mr Watt, who'seems to be anxious to "have the venue in the case Watt v. Ballance,not in Wangamii, has informed our contemporary that it has hot been fixed for here, but will bedecided to-day. Heias been misinformed.

At the E.M, Court this day (Saturday) Major Edwards delivered his judgment in the case of W. H. Watt v. Clara Morton, ckini £97. The R.M. said lie had given the case his earnest consideration, and although he had no doubt the money morally belonged to the plaintiff, yet he had no legal title to it. He would, therefore, give judgment for defendant with costs £4 Us, including solicitor's fee of £3 3s. Mr Borlase,for the defendant, applied for a nonsuit to be entered instead of a judgment, but the R. M. declined to accede to the reQuest. We would draw attention to Mr S. Coleman's advertisement of a sale of farm stock, furniture, &c, to be held by him at the Junction Farm, Bennie Glen, in the estate of the late Mr D. Collins, deceased. The convenience of the situation, and the good character of the stock, should ensure the sale being a success. The sale commences at 1 o'clock on Thursday next, the 18th inst.

We understand that the building known as the ftangitikei House, in Wicksteed Place, and formerly occupied by Mr D. Nathan, has been let to Mr P. Toohill, late of Patea. Mr Toohill intends opening it as butchery establishment.