WANGANUI NOTES

New Zealand Tablet, 17 April 1924, Page 25

WANGANUI NOTES

(From our own correspondent.)

April 9. V “Greater Wanganui” we* really arc at last/ Gonvillo and Castlecliff having come into the borough at last, and we are a city, but a city without bishop, or cathedral. Probably these will be added unto us later. ■ We have a new Mayor too, Mr. Hope Gibbons, our late Mayor, Mr. T. B. ■ Williams, having found it necessary to resign on account of his very serious illness. On last Thursday night, ; Mr. Gibbons gave a banquet to celebrate the amalgamation, and a number of; important people were bidden to that feast. The Hon. W. Duwuie Stewart, Minister of Customs, was the chief guest, and our Father Alahouy was there too. It was historical gathering of course, with many toasts and reminiscences, some of the latter extremely interesting. A few of the speakers, Mr. Ewen Campbell for instance, were here as far back as 1843, and their memories of the place are like a good old fairy bale. The 'election of Mr. Hope Gibbons to the office of Mayor just now. is all to the good, as there is heaps -for him to do and he is most energetic. Naturally we all expect him to'make a complete success of everything, but if he will get our footpaths made -safe to venture out upon* >ve will inlre* 1 h Q g 1 a'eful. /For a few years now, life seems to have been hardly worth living, and most of one’s salary Went in boot repairs and corn plasters. I’m quite sure we’ve developed a “Wanganui Walk” for every thrd person limps,, and the worry of trying to keep “to the loft” when there is nothing left but bumps' and pot-holes, has been a real nightmare. Anyhow, that should be all over now that we’re a city.

His Grace Archbishop O’Shea spent a few days hero on his, way to Jerusalem, up river. Arriving on Friday, his Grace intended going up by Saturday morning’s boat, but on Friday night a terrific downpour of rain'upset our poor old river badly. Fortunately, his Grace didn’t attempt Saturday’s trip which was not in any way scimpcd or shortened—the boat passing Jerusalem at 5 o’clock on JSunday afternoon. What a flood there was in the river on Sunday. At Taumarunui it was eight feet higher than normal, and in town here it was rushing 'along at a terrific rate. It was a great sight“a swirling flood of pea soup appearance,” the Chronicle called it. Quite a good description, but it was over smell-ful to be appetising. The low lying areas on the banks are under water, and there is the usual collection of driftwood. The rain is over now, the sun shining and the wind blowing. His Grace intends going on with his journey to-morrow, and ■will administer Confirmation on next Sunday.

Rev. Father Hickson, S.M., is spending a few weeks in Auckland and Father Segrief, S.M., is relieving here. When Father Hickson comes back to us Father Segrief will hurry away as he is clue in Australia very soon, to embark on the raising of funds for the establishment of aMarist College over there. „ -

Have just heard that the plans for the Gonville ChurchSchool have been approved of and that the work of building will soon be put in hand. Next time I will be able to say more, about the building, exactly where it is going to be put and so on. • ' ~