LOCAL AND GENERAL.

Wanganui Herald, Volume XXXXVI, Issue 13279, 19 January 1911, Page 4

LOCAL AND GENERAL.

Tlte latest addition to the Telephone Exchange is No. 570, Rev. F. H. Spencer’s residence, Victoria Avenue. “There are three kinds of witnesses—those who tell the truth, those, who do not, and exports"—quoted by Mr G. Hutchison at the S.M. Court yesterday. The Post Office advises that on Monday, 23rd inst. (Anniversary Day), the letter carriers will make-one delivery only of correspondence, starting from the G.P O at 7 a.m. A police raid was made last night on premises in Gore, occupied by George Thurston, and a quantity of liquor was found buried in the yard adjoining the house. The secretary of the Alexandra Cavalry Old Members’ Association, Captain E. Morgan, reported last evening that there were about 200 ex-members of the company still alive. The Inspector of Awards at Napier yesterday proceeded against a local firm of bakers, claiming .£lO for a breach of the award in failing' to give preference to Unionists. Evidence showed that the em-ployment-book was badly kept, and on this point the case was dismissed. For some time it has been known that a syndicate is prepared to test certain portions of the Nelson mud-flat below high-water mark east of the Nelson Freezing .Works for mineral resources. At the last meeting of the Nelson Harbour Board a suggested agreement was received from a firm of solicitors regarding the matter, and it was resolved to call for tenders for the disposal of the lease of the lands in question. A striking instance of the difficulties that faced Otago pioneers and the man ner in which they overcame them was referred to by Mr John Wilson at the Clutha pioneers’ reunion at Warepa on Wednesday. He had in his possession, he said, a letter written by Mr T. W. Besant, from Port Molyneaux, on July 6, 1840, to a man named Cohen, in Sydney. The writer had no pen or ink or nencil, but contrived to write with a pointed stock dipped in some reddish mixture, supposed to have been made from the tutu plant. At the S.M. Court yesterday afternoon. Daniel Scally was proceeded against by Denis Carmody, Inspector of Awards, on two charges; (1) That on the 12th December. 1910, he had in his employ two youths under 18 as drivers without hay ing the requisite number of fully-paid drivers to entitle him to the services of such youths; (2) that he did obstruct the informant in the execution of his duties by refusing to produce the wages and time-book of the men when requested to do sq. ■ The Magistrate fined the defendant £2 on each, charge. Mr Carmody ap- ■ pcared-in person, and Mr Hutchison conducted the defence.

The Mayoress, Mrs C.'E. Mackay, distributes the prizes to the children at thek. Salvation Army Hall, this' Parents and friends are invited to attend! The Weather Bureau reports as follows; —Northerly winds moderate to strong. Expect warm and humid conditions, unsettled and elondv weather at times; glass fall slowly; tides good; sea moderate; tides and sea decreasing. The Wanganui Borough Council held a special meeting last evening to consider the appointment of a new Borough Engineer. All the applications were carefully gone through, and the choice narrowed down, and a final selection will be made at a future meeting. The new Hearth type of power plant which is to be installed at the Hospital should prove a most useful adjunct to the institution. It is said to be capable of producing gas from almost any kind of refuse, and will, therefore, do the. work of a destructor in addition to its other uses. The generous offer of the Carpenters’ Union to erect sheds on the beach at Castleeliff has been gratefully accepted by the Surf Bathing Club, and the unselfishness of the men in devoting their leisure, hours to- this work s greatly appreciated. A start is to be made on Saturday next, and all helpers will be welcomed, Mr rj. Carson forwarded his resignation to the Hospital and Charitable Aid Board yesterday, and its reception was the occasion for some strong criticism by members of the recent legislation which made it necessary. The opinion was expressed that the effect of the enactment would be to drive experienced men oft' local bodies, and leave administration in the hands of incompetent persons. The law was described by the chairman as \ “rotten legislation,” and a motion cm- L bodying a protest against it by the Boawr* was carried.

An inquest on the death of I'd win James Glanfield, who was drowned near Pipiriki on the list inst., was held at Pipiriki on Tuesdav evening, when a verdict of “accidentally drowned’’ was returned. The body was brought down the river yesterday, and the funeral cortege, attended by members of deceased’s family, representatives of Messrs Patrick and Co.’s local staff, and deceased’s fellow employees and friends, left for the cemetery at, 3 p.m. The.Rev. J. D. McKenzie. 8.D., officiated at the graveside. Tire medical superintendent’s report, presented at yesterday’s meeting of the Hospital and Charitable Aid Board, showed that during the month of December ,100 patients had received treatment at the hospital: 41 new patients had been admitted, and 40 discharged. Two deaths had occurred. The number remaining in residence on December 31 was 58. Nine cases of accident bad been admitted, apd eight cases of " infections disease were treated. Twelve operations requiring the administration of a general anaesthetic had boon- performed. The following are the dux results for the Wanganui schools for 1910:—District High School, Frank J. Blake; Queen’s Park, Helen Leigh Treadwell; Marist Bros.’, James Ricrdan; St. Joseph’s Convent School, Annie O’Shannessey. During the interval in Monday’s concert, the president of the Caledonian Society will present the winners with handsome gold medals as mementoes of their achievement. The society would like the aoove to kind!'” make a point of attending the concert.

The business at the Chief Post Office, Wanganui, continues to expand, and has now reached very considerable dimensions. The last Christmas business showed a subtantial increase on that of the previous year, as may be gathered from the tollowing figures:—'The total number of telegrams handled last Christmas was 21,107, as against 20,463 the previous vear: 1054 bags and 170 hampers were handled, as against 832 and 139 respectively twelve months ago, and the stamp sales showed an increase from X 1129 3s 'ui to X 1390 I2s 6d. 'Hie Wanganui Agricultural Association recently circularised several leading breeder's, asking for suggestions as to the best methods of increasing interest in the local show, and augmenting‘the list of enti ies. The replies were read at the meeting of the Association last evening, and proved very instructive. Canvassing for entiles was strongly advocated, while ohe particularly forceful letter contained spjne excellent suggestions for encouraging the young farmer to show “natural feed” stock, in contradistinction to the pampered article, and dwelt on the necessity for encouraging the young farmer to exhibit. The effect of the circular and the replies should prove very beneficial. A well-attended meeting of the Alexandra Cavalry Old Members’ Association was hold last evening. District secretaries were appointed as under; Stratford, Mr Walter Svmcs; Hawera, Mr T. 11. Morgan: Wavcrley, Mr Oscar Symes; Marton, Mr H. Hewett; Foilding, Mr A. C. Perrjr; Ractihi, Mr George Powell; Taumarunui, Mr J. C. Morgan; Waikato, Mr Ernest Peake. A general meeting of the members of the Association is to be held on Wednesday, February Bth, for the purpose of electing a patron, vice the late Colonel J.' B. Sommerville, and general business. _ The inaugural reunion of the Association is to be held during the March race week, when a shooting match and smoke concert will be held. Ex-members are to lie circularised to this effect.

Rates and taxes, like the poor, are always with us. The bulk of the people, however, do not care to pay more than they can help, although very often, through their own carelessness, they ar« debited for rales that are payable by some other person. Just now the various valuers for local bodies are busy making up the valuation rolls for the ensuing year, which, by the way, have to be mad* up a month earlier than hitherto, owing to a recent amendment .of the law. Much heartburning would be saved and trouble obviated if all who, during the last twelve months, have sold property or otherwise disposed of it were to notify their local body to that effect. By so doing the'rates will be charged to the right people, and local body officials will be saved a lot of trouble. At a largely attended meeting of the Wanganui branch of the Amalgamated Society of Railway Servants, held last evening, the following resolution wjm unanimously adopted:—“ That if the Minister of Railways gives official, recognition to the Engine-drivers’, Firemen’s, and Cleaners’ Association, thus breaking the agreement by which the A.S.R.S, was ijecognised as the only soeietv to represent second division grievances, this branch requests the conference to ignore the agreement and affiliate with the outside Labour organisations.” The agreement referred to was arrived at as a result of the 1890 strike, the A.S.R.S, being then affiliated, with the Maritime Council. A clause was inserted in, the Arbitration Act of 1894. recognising the A.S.R.S. as the only body to represent second division grievances to the Minister and management, in consideration of their severing thpir connection with outside Labour. The men say that, now that the Minister, acting apparently on a recommendation of the Bailways Committee last, session; has broken tlio . agreement by recognising the E WC.A/. it leaves the A.S.R.S. .'free to affiliate with organised Labour iutsidtfthe jqilwav service, and in self-defence the men claim they must'do so.