LOCAL AND GENERAL.

Wanganui Herald, Volume LIII, Issue 15783, 3 April 1919, Page 7

LOCAL AND GENERAL.

The Customs revenue collected in Wanganui for last quarter was £18,403, not £14,493 as stated in yesterday’s issue. At the last meeting of the GonrilleCastlecliff Tramway Board it was decided to instal another septic tank at the tea kiosk, and to fill in with gaud the other pit from which the metal for the line was obtained. The Marton Borough Council has the most unique distinction for public bodies of having a substantial credit at the bank, owing to its do-nothing policy (says the Advocate). The late Mr Seddon used to say that the local body which had a heavy bank balance was sure to be a had administrator, and no truer words were ever spoken than when applied to Marton civic affairs. The takings on the Gonville-Caetle-cliff trams for the month of February totalled £725, compared with £712 last year, and tire cost of car mileage £414, leaving a profit on working expenses of £3ll, which profit goes toward paying the annual interest bill of £2OOO. For the nine months ending February the receipts on the suburban service were £4867, and the cost of oar mileage £371, leaving £1406 for the interest charges. Yesterday representatives of the Natives waited on the Mayor to arrange for the reception of the members of the Maori Pioneer Battalion, who are due to arrive here, probably, on Monday. It is understood there will be some 250 of them, and it has been arranged that on arrival of the train addresses of welcome would be delivered from the balcony of McCarthy's Hotel. The troops, headed by the Garrison Band, will then march to Putiki, where the Native welcome will be held. Maoris are already beginning to congregate in town to participate, in the welcome home ceremonies to the West Coast contingent of the Maori Pioneer Battalion. Dr Pomare, Native Minister, was in town to-day in connection with the welcome arrangements. The South Island Maoris are conning on to Wanganui, and will be welcomed here. After a short stay here, they are to be taken on to Kaiapoi, where there will be another reception. ITie South 'lslanders will be distributed from the' latter place. Gonville people will be glad to learn that at last a start is to be made with putting their Recreation Ground into order as a playing field. The money for this purpose was raised by loan Several years ago, but there has been no legal authority for the Town Board to spend it on account of the ground being vested in a Domain Board. Last session of Parliament, however, a clause in the “Washing-Up” Bill gave the Town Board the necessary authority, and it is Jioped that by next year there will be two good football grounds. At last night’s meeting of the Board, the Engineer submitted plans for forming two grounds at an estimated cost of from £l4O to £l5O, and for erecting a pavilion to seat 360 persons, dressing accommodation being included. It was resolved to proceed at once with the formation of the two grounds, the matter of the pavilion being deferred till the grounds are finished.