LOCAL AND GENERAL

Wanganui Herald, Volume LIII, Issue 160725, 11 August 1920, Page 11

LOCAL AND GENERAL

Will Miss Minnie Buntoh, who is interesting herself in the welfare of the blind people of this Dominion, kindly call at the Herald” "Office to-morrow morning. A peculiar malad of hiccoughing has lately affected a considerable number of people at Auckland. Men only are affected and the attacks continue for several days, leaving the patient in a weak condition. Great difficulty is being experienced by the Auckland Harbour Board in accommodating the vessels arriving at the port, though every effort is being made to overcome the shortage of berths. The new schedule of railway freights and fares is likely to be announced during the week. The preparation of the schedule is a task of considerable magnitude, owing to the mass of detail requiring attention, but the work is well advanced. The Maoris’ claim for the ownership of the beds of the Rotorua lakes is being considered at Wellington by a conference of Government officials with Messrs F. Earl, K.C., C. I’. Skerrett, K.C., and the Hon. A. T. Ngata. It is stated that good progress has been made tenvard an agreement. Owing to the indisposition of Mi's Sperring she will be unable to take the solos in the “Persian Garden” song cycle at the Male Choir concert .this evening. Madame Briggs, at short notice, has very kindly acceded to the request to fill the breach, and this afternoon is practising the solos, which are quite new to her. The housing problem in Waihi is becoming a serious one (writes the Auckland Star’s correspondent), and the question of accommodation for the travelling public is also approaching the acute stage. Though the demand for houses for removal lias practically died out, there is a very large number of residences sold for removal still occupied, and which must be vacated by the spring, when the actual removal takes place. One motor lorry owner has some forty of these buildings to remove when the weather sets in fine and the roads'beoome passable for this class of work. The Commercial Private Hotel is closing down, and one of the principal boarding houses has been sold for removal. It is understood that the Waihi Gold Mining Company is about to undertake the installation of new pumping machinery, with a view to opening up exploration work at a greater depth, which will necessitate the employment of additional labour. The housing problem, however, is going to prove a serious matter in this direction alone.