LOCAL AND GENERAL.

Wanganui Herald, Volume XXXXVI, Issue 13422, 8 July 1911, Page 4

LOCAL AND GENERAL.

Thc Weather Bureau reports as follows: —'Westerly winds moderate to strong, siiually at times; expect unsettled and cloudy weather; rain probable; glass unsteady, tendency to fall slowly, tide* good ; sea moderate swell. In response to Hie cabled menage of loyalty from the citizens of Wanganui on the occasion of Hie King's Coronation, his Worship the Mayor to-day received the following cable from Sir Joseph Ward, in London “His Majesty desires me to convey his cordial thanks to yourself and people of Wanganui for loyal message and congratulations.” A' 1312 is Hie price paid by the Y.M.C.A. executive tor Hie site for their building. The section is part of (he S.mdridge Hall property, and has .a frontage of 8214 to Victoria Avenue, and 132 ft to Plymouth Street. The price ngr toot, based on’ the > venue, frontage, is A'l(s. The site is a fine central one, and should till the Association's purposes 'admirably. The Acting-Prime Minister arrived at, Christchurch' last evening, and in the coarse of an interview Pealing with hie visit south he said he did not anticipate any' change in thu numerical strength of Hie Liberal Party in the South Island, where Hie Liberals were full of life and hope and looking forward with a great deal of hope amt confidence to November lest. At (be Magistrate’s Court (bis morning, before Mr J. Crookp, 8.M., William Wood, a local fish hawker, was charged with procuring liquor during the currency of a prohibition order. A fine of ill, in default 14 days' hard labour, was imposed, a week being allowed in which to find the momiy. » further charge of drunkenness against the prisoner, arising out of the former information, was dismissed. Proceeding from an allegation that, a number of Chinese traders, who stock both unit and groceries, conduct ft trade in groceries at, hours when the white trader is compelled to have his -premises closed, a largo number of grocers are petitioning (ho Wellington City Council to fix a universal closing hour for those engaged in selling groceries. If six o’clock were fixed l -y Hie Council, Chinese fruiterer* md grocers would be unable to sell groceries alter that hour. To take effect Hie petition must contain Hie nanus of a majority of those engaged in tlic trade. . The result of the imposition of heavy inheritance taxes by Hie State of New Vork has been the withdrawal from the State of a sum approximating JSB(),O(X),tXN) in a few months. Ilio bank* report that deposit boxes rented by millionaires for the custody of their securities aro being emptied by the score. The influx of British capital for investment in the United states in order to avoid home taxes, has stopped, and one hank recently shipped abioail .114,01)0,OOP in securities which it had been holding for foreign investors. The publication of llieso tacts lias initiated a strong revulsion against, Hie law, which lino been considered a remedy for swollen fort tines. In adopting it. New York “went Hie limit,’' only exempting inheritances of 3HO3U or less, ami imposing a tax in certain Lises of one-fonrtJi on estates of 31200,000 or more. It was estimated that Hit' law would add A'l .0(10,000 to the Statu income, lint the Stale Treasurer now reports (hat it has the opposite effect. At (he last, mobility meeting of the Kaitokc Road Board, there were presenters. C. IV. Poynter (chairman), A. Cameron, D. Blythe, and D„ Mclntosh. Thu bank-book, which showed a debit balance of .£407 5s (jd, was laid on Hie table, and accounts amounting to JI2B 8s 9d passed tor opayment; after which Cr. Mclntosh reported that, in his opinion, it would lie wiser to discontinue the grading work until more settled weather. It was decided that all outstanding rates be sued torn, and, also, that at the next meeting, the Board strike a general rate of three iarlliings in Hie A. The foreman's report was road, and Hie recommendations arc to be given effect to. The Valuer-General advised that Hie now mil was being posted. Mr A. G. Muir reported on Hie matter of taking Hie proposed road from I’utiki to the Landgnard Bluff, that a new survey had been made of Hie native land in Hie vicinity, which survey was to supersede all previous work, but that Hie plans of this survey were not yet available, and therefore he (Mr Muir) could not complete Hie survey of Hie proposed road. Tins concluded the business. Members of the Wanganui Garrison Baud and others who visited Ballarat last year will he interested to hear that the famous Ballarat choir, conducted by Mr Bailey, met with phenomenal success at the recent Sydney competitions. Now Zealanders wore charmed and enthralled by the beautiful singing of (ho Ballarat,-choir of 50 odd voices, which won the Grand Champion Choral Contest, heating the Sydney Choir, which the previous year at Sydney had defeated Ballarat. A few weeks ago the Ballarat Choir visited Sydney and repeated last year’s performance, winning the big prize of JHOO for the champion choir of 80 voices, and securing first and second in the contest for choirs of 40 voices (for which the big choir was divided). W hen the Wanganui visitoi*s \vere in Ballarat they were informed that Hie famous choir intended coming to New Zealand this year to compote at the Dunedin Society’s contest,and would afterwards give concerts in the big centres. New Zealanders may expect a real treat U the proposal is given effect to, for no better singing has been heard in the colonies than Hie Ballarat choir is capable of rendering.

On« of the Borough Council workmen had tha misfortune to lose a purse containing a large sum of money yesterday. The finder is offered a substantial reward. A curious accident is reported by the Picton paper. A young man named A. W. Barker was dancing a scliottisciie, when his right leg suddenly gave way, and he fell to the floor. When earned out by his companions it was found that both non<<a below the knee had completely snapped He was conveyed from Waitaria to the Picton Hospital. The car service was delayed for an hour and three-quarters this morning owing to trouble at the power-house. Unc of the engines was under repair, and difficulty was experienced in getting the other one under way. The delay was prolonged owing to the air compressors haring to be pumped up to the necessary pressure to onahle a start to b» made. The residents of St. John’s Hill and the public generally are reminded of the open-air concert to be given hy tjie City Band ou the Virginia Lake reserve at 3 o’clock to-morrow atternoon. The programme to be rendered has been m practise some time, and under the leadership qf Mr Geo. Buckley a very pleasant afternoon concert is promised. The band has generouly decided to favour the various suburbs with opeu-air concerts in turn during the winter months, dates of which will be notified later, Federal changes have recently taken place in the personnel of the Wanganui Garrison Baud. Mr George Buckley, who fob so many years has been a tower of strength to the band, and has been assocla tod with it in its many successes, lias resigned, and intends to devote himself to the City Band, of which he is conductor. Bis many friends will wish the popular bandmaster of the Wanganui Garrison Hand the same success as a conductor as he ha 7 been as a cornet player. Mr W. Francis, who was for years a prominent member of Jupp's Hand. I’etouc, and who played with the Wellington Garrison Hand at last contest at Palmerston, has joined the local Garrison Rand, in which ho will taxo .the soprano cornet, which Sergt. 'lVussell, after many veal's of success on that instrument, has abandoned in favour of the first tiugel horn. Mr C. Greening, an euphonium player of repute, who .likewise has been connected with the Wellington Garrison, has also joined the local Garrison, whoso numbers have been still further augmented by two other players. At a a meeting of (he Auckland Employers’ Federation on Wednesday evening a letter was received from the Auckland branch of the Labour Party, inviting the Council to assist in arranging a muss meeting to lay before the public the causesof the recent great advances in Gin price of meat, butter, etc., and to point opt the Labour Party’s remedy. The matter naturally aroused considerable discussion. and it was strongly urged that the rate of .advance' made in the necessities of life was making the cost of living particularly hard on the worker. One delegate Was determined in his remarks, and characterised the advance in the price of butter as a clear case of exploitation. It was finallv .resolved that the r< .quest should lie acceded to, members being generally of opinion that the matter was one which would benefit greatly hy publicity. The matter was placed in the hands of the executive committee, they being empowered to act with the Labour Party. Tenders are to bo called by tne committee of the Auckland Y.M.C.A. for a new five-storey building. Th view of the local T.M.C.A. shortly moving in a similar direction, some of the features of the proposed Auckland building will be of interest. Basement:—Gymnasium, 68ft by Soft. Swimming pool, 40ft by 20ft, depth 3ft 6in to 7ft, lined and floored with white tiles. Men’s lockers, 252 ; hoys’,loo; eight showers, boiler house, rifle range, and lavatories. Ground floor; Main entrance, 10ft wide, leading into a largo reception hall, 40ft Gin by 33ft; social room, 23ft Oin by 22ft, 6in. Reading and writing room, 23ft 6in by 22ft f>iu. Offices of sec - retary and assistant secretary, buffet and store, etc. Spectators’ gallery. First floor: Room for games, five largo club rooms, debating and concert hall. Mezzanime floor: Dining-hall, 35ft by 52ft. The second floor is to he devoted to club rooms, etc., for the boys’ department, and the third to bedrooms. The building will be provided with a complete system of shower and plunge baths, with hot water system, and the swimming pool in the basement will have a heating arrangement, wherebv it will be possible to raise the temperature 20deg above that of (he atmosphere. The particulars given are not final, as (fie plans will be reconsidered before tenders are invited. The building will be of brick, faced with red pressed brick and cement, and should be completed within 15 months from the commencement of work. “The people there seem to me to V* very prosperous." said his Honor the Chief Justice (Sir Roliert Stout) to a Post reporter. speaking of Raratonga. from which ha has just returned. Everyone, he added, «cemed very busy. Whilst he was their two ships—the Maitai aud Talnr.e—left for New Zealand, one with 13,000 aud the other with II.HJO eases of fruit, hut ho believed that if the land was cultivated tha quantity of fruit for export could Inmultiplied 30 or 4.3 times. It is a small island, only 21 miles round, but its soil is very rich. For alwut a mile back from the s«a the land is flat and undulating, and will grow anything. "I was on ”a planter’s section there,’’ said his Honor. and saw rubber, cotton, cocoa, tea, coffee, and all kinds of tropical fruits growing to perfection. Anything you want you can grow there. The soil is rich volcanic, deposit washed down from the hills by the heavy rafutalls, and under the warm sun the growth is most prolific." The natives he went on to say. seemed to work very hard while he was (here. Of course, thev had not the European faculty of continuous labour, but that was not nc'cs.sarv iq such a climate. Living is easy, fruit is plentiful, and only light clothing is required. Most oftho natives have American buggies and light expresses, in which t hey bring their produce to (ho port tor cxport. The people arc happy and pleasant, taking life easily. Recently thov have been brought info contact with tlie kinematograph, ran by one Tcrapo, a naifcaste Chinaman. Furthermore, there is no gaol.