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Wanganui Herald, Volume XLIX, Issue 14339, 8 July 1914, Page 4

We aro informed that the local butchers have decided to substantially reduce the price of meat at die end of the present month, am) Dmt lull particulars will be announced later.

It is the intention of (no Wanganui Beautifying Society to plant a large number of wattle trees in the vacant plot of land between the tramway bridge and the road in Oupton Street extension. In response to a telegram from Captain Fleming, suggesting the donation of £::( each to the two men from the-scow Fakihi which sank at Auckland, the secretary f the K.Z. Shipwreck Belief Society, nuderinstructions, telegraphed assent to draw on the society for the 'sum- suggested for the assistance of the sailors, who bad los all their clothes.

A sudden death occurred at Foxtea shortly before 5 o’clock last evening. Mrs Henderson, relict of the late Wm. Henderson, a well known Marion settler,' was on a visit to her daughter, Mrs A. Hawke, She had just returned from paying an afternoon call, complained of feeling unwell, and passed away in a few minutes. Death was due to heart failure. The deceased leaves a grown-up family of two sons and four daughters.

A start is to be made, within a day or two, of the erection of a glass house at the borough nursery. The plans provide for a building 40ft long and IHft wide, constructed entirely of glass, A bench about four feet wide will run round tbo walls in the interior of the building, while a similar bench will he placed down tbo centre. Adequate provision will bo made for sufficiently heating the glasshouse. The Borough Council and the Beautifying Society are sharing the cost of tlie building. A system whereby fanners in the back country co ild secure wireless communication with the towns is suggested by Mr King-Vi alt, vice-president ol the Wireless Institute ol A ietoria. He thinks that the farmers in the various localities should organise themselves into a co-operative body, subscribing to a fund which would provide a win less station for each member, and a centra] station at the nearest town, where an operator would he on duty. lor the sum ol £2O each a body of ten subscribers could purchase instrurnen s, including a transmitter, with a range of ten miles. The cost of the erection of the mast aerial and the assembling of the instruments would depend upon the ability of the erector. The matter of the supply of power could bo dealt with by having, at, the central station, a small plant for charging aecumula ors.

Fishing fur sponges is one of the most dangerous ways of earning a living. About five thuosand men are engaged in this industry on the shores of Greece. The sponges, of course, g row on rocks under the water, and they are obtained either by being hooked up by a grapnel, by trawlers, or by being dived for. Holding a heavy stone in one band, the diver lists! to jump from his boat, the weight of the stone carrying him to the hod of the sea. There he would tear a big sponge from the rocks, and, dropping the stone, would instantly' come to the surface, flic light sponge rising after him. Tnat, was how sponges were obtained a few years ago. To-day, owing to the advent of the diving-dress, everything has changed. Syndicates now control the fisheries, hiring out suits, nets, and provisions to the captain of fishing boats, and making big profits. Divers usually contract to work for the season—spring and summer—for ,£IOO, and many of them are well-to-do men.