LOCAL AND GENERAL.

Wanganui Herald, Volume XXXXV, Issue 12982, 25 January 1910, Page 4

LOCAL AND GENERAL.

There was a clean sheet at the Polici Court this morning. It is staled that it is the intealion of the Right Rev. Dr F.' Wallis, Bishop; of Wellington, to retire shortly. The latest additions to the Telephone Exchange are No. 607, Messrs Guthrie'and Hawkins, wood and ooal merchants, llidgway .Street. and No. 601, Mr H. Bullock's residence, Purnell Street. L. .1. Scott, of Stratford, the well-known wrestler, has (says the local Posti received word from the famous George Hasten-' schniidt, who is now in Gisborne. arranging a conference at Wanganui or Palmerston North with a view to agreeing to a wrestling match at an early date. . The work of laying the railway sidings along the newly-extended part of the town wharf is proceeding apace, and a. week at most should wet- all finished. The extension will then he ready for the aevnmmodation of shipping; at present it is being used for the mooring of the Harbour Board's plant.

The public schools re-open this day week, isl February, at 51 o'clock. The Headmaster <if the District High School Requests us to intimate that lie will be in attendance at the school on Wednesday, the 26th and Saturday, the 29th inst. to meet with parents and others who may wish tor further information in reference t«t projected agricultural or other classes. At the monthly meeting of the Wangamii branch of the Engine-drivers', Firemen's, and Cleaners' Association, the chairman. Mr C. (i. Lee, read the report 'of the deJiate before the Railway CommilH-f; re rci-ognition. The meeting passed a resolution cnmuicnding the Association members for the stand made before the Kailway tf'omimitlw, and decided that the branch would stand firm to its own Grind Council, the only l»ody by which, it was considered, the locomotive men are truly . /-epresentedThc roadway along tlie tramway track is showing signs or wear in places, and along the River Hank esplanade the rails .-.re. here and there standing- anything from am inch to three inches out of the metal. The work of repair is, however, receiving the attention of the Councils -taff who are building up the roadway where required. As, however, there is name length of track to be orerliauled, it will be several days before the work is completed. ' The attention of the Road* Department might, be drawn by the Borough Council —if the latter l»ody has not, done bo — to the state in which it has left the mitt', near the bridge, whereon its enginehouse was built dnifug the work at bridge repair. The pla<e is littered with oil drums, clinker, and coal sittings, and its present appearance suggests that th» Uepartraenl should be called upon to show reason why it should not be proceeded against for t-ncouraging a want of sanitation. The Hon. Director of the Wanganui Observatory informs us that the comet recently observed at Johannesburg, South Africa, should, if the cabled positions be correct, be visible again about the 27th iust. The Director has beea informed that the comet was seen from Ml. Egniont by a Taranaki resident on the 19th inst., before the tabled report from Johannesburg was received. At present it is behind the sun. but should show out again on the date named. With regard to Hallcy's Comet. Mr Ward says it should be visible in about three months' time in the mornings. Its visibility *JH last only a little time, however, as it will soon pass behind the sun, emerging again after a short period, when it will he seen in tho evenings, moving away from our ken. Cr W. Haines, of Dannevirke, has been leading a movement lor the establishment of a- municipal opera house, and though he was defeated by hj to 1 at the meeting of the.Council, he gave some interesting particulars of some municipal opera houses and halls. According to these the Strain ford Town Hall cost £3500, seats 800 persons', electric light, revenue £235, expenditure (including interest) £297; Palmcrston North opera house cost Ail, 800, seats 1300 persons, concert room has no electric light, revenue £43; Wanganui opera house," cost £4500, revenue £619, cxpenditnre £489; Gteymouth town hall cost £12,500, library, town hall, and municipal bnildings; Invercargill theatre seats 1350, electric lighted and well fitted, cost £18.000; Masterton, cost £SOOO, average net rentals £330. Cr Kilford told the meeting that Cr Clausen,-of Palmerston Xorth, had inform-:-! him'that the Palmerston opera house had cost £12,000 and that the loss fhc first! year, had been £4XX». a sum of £3OO had been lost the second year, and a profit of £96 bad resulted the third year.