LOCAL AND GENERAL

Wanganui Herald, Volume LIII, Issue 160732, 19 August 1920, Page 7

LOCAL AND GENERAL

Walter Watson Falconer, aged 32, "was found dead at OwaJra yesterday. Death is supposed to be due to heart disease, reports a Dunedin P.A. message. Gas consumers will be pleased to learn that the vertical retorts at the Gasworks are once more in operation. This should ensure a better supply of gas and mere pressure, “Nervy” writes us complaining of the action of several women in the circle of the Opera House last evening, who maintained an audible conversation throughout the performance, to the great annoyance of all in the vicinity. Reporting upon the Mangahoropito tunnel at the waterworks, the Borough Engineer stated that this work would bo completed this month. Everything was at present in good order. No damage by slips had so far taken place, though from the nature of the country such might be expected to happen occasionally. , Miss M. Burton, who is visiting Wanganui in regard to an appeal for the blind people of the Dominion ,was present by invitation of the Mayoress (Mrs Williams) at a meeting yesterday afternoon in regard to the Girls’ Hostel pro posal. After Miss Burton had addressed the ladies, the sum of £2 17s was sub scribed to assist the appeal. It was reported at a meeting of shares holders of the Wanganui Woollen Mills, Ltd., yesterday that the total subscription v/as .£192,710, representing 2272 shareholders. The share list has been closed. The following were elected aa the first board of directors:—Messrs W. J. Poison, P. Higginbottom, G. N. Baggett, S. M. Davis, G. L. Marshall, John Stevenson, Doherty, and A. Robinson. The criminal business for the session of the Supreme Court, which opens at Wanganui on Tuesday next, will not occupy much of the time of the Court. Only two oases are set down on the list, one being for theft at Wanganui, and the other alleged indecent assault at Marton. We understand the accused in the former intends to plead guilty, and that application will be made to have the latter case adjourned till next session. Attached to the Borough Engineer’s report to the Council on Tuesday was a return showing the district fund expenditure in Wanganui East for the fianancial year 1919-20. The expenditure totalled .£1862 19s 6d, of w'hich .£1774 5s 3d was for street works and maintenance, and £BB 14s 3d administration. The general rate collected in the district brought in .£1849 4s. The debit balance presented by the books of the Wellington Corporation tramway undertaking still shows a debit of £6274 for the year. The deficiency is being wiped off month by month, and the recent increase in the tram fares is showing its effect. During the past month, however, there was a considerable increase in the working expenses as compared with the same period last year, a debit being shown for the four weeks of £441. , Though apparently consumers may not have noticed it very much, there has been, taking all round, a slight but distinct drop in the price of groceries, and a perusal of a circular shows reductions in some 30 lines, including floor polish, acids, almonds, camphor, cocoa, dates, raisins, walnuts, salt, soap, and teas. Against this advances have taken place in about 15 lines, including bis cuits, cheese, coffee, essences, pineapples, grape nuts, hops, kerosene, jams, and sauce. With reference to a suggestion made in our correspondence columns that a motor car should he provided for the District Nurse, we are informed that the District Nursing League has gone into the matter, and is agreed that a car is unnecessary. The Nurse is supplied with a push cycle, also a tram pass, and can obtain authority to procure a motor car, the use of which may bo necessitated by long distance or rough weather. The League is not in a position to maintain the running cost and upkeep of a car as well as its initial cost.

During June and July 61 permits for buildings were issued from the Borough Engineer’s office, the stated value of the buildings being .£37,239 Us. In Juno 26 permits were issued, the value of the erections being stated as £10,046, while last month 35 were issued, the value of the buildings being £27,213 11s. During the first four months of the current financial year, no less than 37 permits were issued for private dwellings, the Board of Trade regulations for the supply of material having facilitated this class of building. The following extract from the report of‘the Gasworks Manager, presented at Tuesday’s meeting of the Council, will be of inierest to readers: —“The demand for gas has increased much more quick i )Ay than A anticipated two yeans ago. A would recommend tiai ihe larger mains / ordered a I once, and, // posse lie, At. ' VaxA. \Au cwaAwo eassssasst, ikvsA' ) ire can giro a hotter gas supply to the temu and suburbs next winter. Some ( )of the smaller mains are coming to hand and are being laid as quickly as , | they arrive. *'

In a special message sent to the “Herald” from Wellington it was mentioned that the Minister for Education stated that only one Board had complied with his request in preparing a building programme for the next two or three years. As a result of further inquiries nude the “Herald” has ascertained that the Board in question was the Wanganui Board The secretary of the Board and his staff responsible for the preparation of the schedule are to bo highly complimented on the work accomplished, which was a very difficult and lengthy task, the preparation taking several months. The Board's promptitude may have a beneficial effect when the money available is being distributed.