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Wanganui Chronicle, Volume XII, Issue 818, 16 January 1868, Page 2

Presbyterian Church, Tutaenui. — We are requested to call attention to the fact that the sum proposed to be expended in the building of the new church is £400.

Wanganui Building Society. — At a meeting of the Directors of the Wanganui Land Building and Investment Society, held on Tuesday evening, Mr John Scott was elected, by a majority of 1, Inspector of Accounts for the ensuing year.

Mr. Fox at Tutaenui. — This gentleman, accompanied by Mrs Fox, was at Tutaenui on Monday, when a public welcome and address were hastily improvised to do honour to the visitors. Mr Fox acknowledged the compliment in a feeling speech.

Cobb’s Coach. — Twice within a fortnight Cobb from Wellington to Wanganui has been long behind time — a very unusual occurrence. The coach of Tuesday evening did not make its appearance until yesterday morning, and it appears there had been heavy and continuous rain between Otaki and Wellington, while not a drop fell in this locality. Wanganui Steam Navigation Company. — The balance-sheet of this company for the half-year ending October 11, 1867, has just been put in circulation and shows a net profit of £243 8s 1d. The freight and passage money for that time amounted to £3,876 5s 9d, and the interest on the money of the company lent out, was £95 13s 10d, making a total of receipts of £3,971 19s 7d. The steamer has been maintained at a cost of £3,562 0s 10d and expenses of management £166 1s 9d, which with the amount of profit stated above balances the accounts. The outstanding debts for freight and passage amount to £315 14s — a larger sum one would think than it should be — and a debt against the Provincial Government for freight of the bridge material of £443 10s 10d. By comparing this balance-sheet with the previous one, the result is not favourable. The amount then applicable to dividend was £551 5s ; on this occasion it is £243 8s, or less than half ; while the balance in April last was £1,716 11s 1d against £1,409 3s 1d, showing a deficiency of £307 8s. Receipt of the large amount of uncollected freights, however, would give a better appearance to the balance-sheet. The meeting will be hold on Monday next.

The Late Mr. Crosbie Ward — The subject of a memorial to the late Mr Crosbie Ward has been warmly taken up by the inhabitants of Lyttelton, and it is suggested to erect a memorial window in Trinity Church, Lyttelton, as a mark of respect. We think this is a memorial in which newspaper people might very fitly join, and we should be glad to hear of some joint movement among them for the purpose. Newmarket Yards — Among the architectural additions to the town, making progress towards completion, we have to notice a very neat office and cattle sale-yards adjoining the Bank of New South Wales, Victoria Avenue. These are built for Mr Joseph Chadwick, auctioneer. The front to the street is conspicuous by the fine style of windows, while the yards behind, which are now in process of erection, will be found commodious and well adapted to the purposes for which they are intended. The sheep pens especially are admirably suited for the “woolly people.” Prize Cup. — The Independent says that Captain Benson, who returned from Sydney by the steamer Mataura, brought with him from that place a handsome silver cup, which, in accordance with a promise he gave to the Anniversary and Caledonian Committee, he will offer as a prize to be competed for by sailing boats during the regatta that is to be held upon the arrival of the Duke of Edinburgh. The cup is a very elegant one, and of considerably greater value than Captain Benson promised. Upon one side is a very elegant piece of carving representing a yacht race ; while upon the other, surrounded with ornaments, is a blank shield, upon which the name of the winner will be inscribed. Rural Affairs. — In these warm days the mornings and evenings in the country are delightful. Our harvest of all kinds draws near its close. Sheep shearing is all but finished, and speaking generally has turned out well, although the present low price leaves little or no margin to the growers, more especially considering that in many instances they have gone to very considerable expense in the construction of dams and other arrangements for the proper washing and sorting of the wool. Hay harvest is also nearly over. The broken weather which obtained a short while ago retarded to some extent the progress both of mowing and drying, but the crop on the whole will prove an average one. In riding through the country one thing impresses itself upon the traveller, namely, that the thistles — these pests of the district — are more effectually warred against and the fields kept clearer of them in moderate-sized farms than in large ones. The holder of two, three, or four hundred acres looks better after his land than the holder of thousands of acres. It is simply another verification of the old adage under new circumstances — He that by the plough would thrive Himself must either hold or drive. Speaking of rural improvement, it occurs to us to say that now would be the proper time for an exhibition of sheep. The wool is off and the fair proportions of the animal could be seen and inspected. Another thing : how tidy some settlers keep their fences compared with others. Should not a prize be given for the best kept and best trimmed hedges ?