LOCAL AND GENERAL.

Wanganui Herald, Volume LIII, Issue 16032, 24 January 1920, Page 11

LOCAL AND GENERAL.

A movement in Foxton to raise .£SOO for a memorial to fallen soldiers has resulted' so far in nearly <£2so being subscribed. The New South Wales State Orchestra opened its session at Wellington yesterday creating great enthusiasm. Mr Yerbrugghen and the orchestra were accorded a civic reception this afternoon, when warm tributes were paid to their work. The Minister of Railways said yesterday that instructions had been given for modification of the order of reference to the 'Railway Servants’ Employment Board. He hoped the Board would be able to go on with the business on Monday. The manager of the Colonial Motor Company at Timarn yesterday paid a cheque for .£4OOO as Customs duty on 280 Ford vehicles to he landed in Timarn ex Whakatane, from Montreal. The amount equals half of the last financial year’s Customs revenue at Timarn. Two little girls, aged five and seven years, strayed from the beach at Foxton on Thursday afternoon. A search party scoured the countryside, hut darkness intervened. The search was continued at an early hour this morning, and the little ones were found about four miles in the interior among the sandhills. They were none the worse for the night’s exposure. The Taranaki Hospital Board yesterday decided to increase nurses’ salaries as follows, on the scale of a hospital of 160 beds;-—Probationers, first year, <£24, second year, <£3o, third year, <£B6; ward sister, £100; theatre sister and night sister, .£110; sub-matron, <£l2o. These increases are made subject to the decision of the conference of Hospital Boards in March. Prince Albert is making an appeal for an Air Force Memorial Fund to commemorate the air services of the Royal Naval Air Force and Royal Flying Corps. It is proposed (1) to erect a monument bearing the names of the forces including all Dominion pilots; (2) to establish a residential schools for airmen’s children; (3) to assist school bursaries; (4) to assist disabled airmen’s dependents. A company, to be known as the Bay of Plenty Timber Company, has just been formed with the object of operating in an extensive area of bush country between Pongakawa and Lake Eotoiti. Mr R. H. Phelan, of Tauranga, is managing director. The bush is estimated to contain 100,000,000 feet of rimu. A tramway, ten long, will be constructed from the Pongakawa railway station to Lake Rotoiti. It ia hoped to have the sawmill working in about three months. In connection with the visit of the Prince of Wales, it is suggested (says a Westport telegram) that the tour should include a visit to Westland, the Royal party travelling through the Otira tunnel (the Dominion’s largesti public work) and also visiting South Westland, where is the most accessible glacier in the world. . The grandeur of the southern scenery would appeal to his Highness, who would be sure of a loyal welcome from the settlers of Westland.

Houses are scarce in Wanganui, despite the fact that there is a considerable amount of building going on, it is impossible to procure a dwelling except by purchasing it. Yet in the business part of the town houses are being pulled down and garages and other business premises are to be erected on the site. At the present time two houses in St. Hill Street are under process of demolition and a garage is to be erected in their place, while further along in the same street a two-storeyed house, in which there are 15 persons living at present, is to be demolished and another garage is to be erected.

A romantic little incident was witnessed in the usually prosaic atmosphere of the Government Buildings on Wednesday, says the Auckland Herald. On the top floor, outside the Land Board offices, there waited among others a middle-aged man, opposite whom sat a lady of about the same years. To pass the tedious time of waiting, the couple entered into conversation, finding to their evident delight, various common interests. They were both members of one religious denomination, had both lost their partners in life, and now they both wanted land. The consequence was that the man proposed a matrimonial partnership, and the couple thereupon began discussing the proa and cons of the situation to follow'. Of all kinds of theft the one that is most intolerable and contemptible is to rob a householder's garden and orchard while the owner is away. Judging by the number of complaints of irate householders, this sort of sneak thieving has been rather prevalent during the holidays, but an instance which is absolutely the limit was mentioned to a “Herald” representative this morning. A garden of vegetables was planted by a returned soldier for his mate, who is disabled and not able to look after bis own gardening. Considerable time and trouble was spent in bringing the vegetables on, and the garden looked a picture. During the holiday season the pair went away for a holiday, and very naturally considered that their property would be respected. But, alas for poor trusting humanity, when they returned they were amazed and angered to find that the garden in which so much pride was taken had been practically stripped. Comment ia unnecessary, more than to remark that it ia time a salutary lesson was given to those people who cannot keep their hands off property Which does not belong to them. A movement is afoot in Labour circles In the Dominion to establish Labour daily newspapers at Auckland, Wellington,’ Christchurch and Dunedin, and a canvas for share capital has been already started (says the Press). It ia considered probable that the scheme will prove more successful in Auckland, and that the first of the four Labour dailies is likely to be established in that city. Thin is’ based largely 6n the experiences of the Labour Party in t the northern city in connection with raising campaign funds for the recent general elections. In a comparatively short space of time the sum of <£Boo was collected for the purpose, aud this is taken ae an indication that the proposed Labour newspaper will receive good financial support.