LOCAL AND GENERAL.

Wanganui Chronicle, Volume L, Issue 12304, 27 August 1909, Page 4

LOCAL AND GENERAL.

Arrangements have been made with Mr C. F. Newham to take a flashlight photo of the assemblage at the Caledonian banquet this evening.

The advance guard of Dido arrived yesterday evening, and judging by present indications Mr Clement Wragge’s prediction should materialise on due date.

Lady Plunket has definitely decided to present the prizes at the Wanganui Girls’ College on the evening of Thursday, December 9th.

An interesting ceremony took place at Taumarunui on Sunday morning last, when Messrs Hakiaha and Manu Aute, two of the leading rangatiras of the district, were ordained elders of the Presbyterian Church. The Rev J. White, of Levin, Moderator of the Wanganui Presbytery, officiated, and there were also present the Rev B. Hutson (convenor of the Maori Mission Commission), Revs Ward and Montfries, and Mr W. Bruce. There was a good attendance of Maoris, though a death in the pah that morning prevented some from being present.

The Presbyterian Church has just taken a step which should have a farreaching effect for good upon the younger generation of Maoris. As is well-known, the Church established at Turakina some years ago a school for Maori girls. This experiment proved so successful that the Presbytery decided to provide in a similar manner for Maori boys. With this end in view, 200 acres of land fronting the railway line between Taumarunui and Manunui were bought a few weeks ago, and it is hoped that shortly a number of Maori boys will be learning farming as well, as at the same time receiving a scholastic training. A good sign for the success of the project is that a number of applications for admission have already been received.

At the Wanganui Hospital at 8.30 on Wednesday night a bushfeller, who had been brought in in a state of collapse, from Ahu Ahu, died. Deceased had bwen in Wanganui on the 16th, and on the 17th he went back up-river by the boat, being at that time under the influence of liquor. He was put ashore at Ahu Ahu, and spent that night in a hut there. He then disappeared, and was found on Wednesday in the bush in a weak and delirious condition. Deceased had been in the employ of Mr Gibbs, at Ahu Ahu. An inquest is to be held this morning, and after evidence of identification has been given, an adjournment will probably he made to allow of the police making inqniries at Ahu Ahu.

At the regular meeting of Rangitikei Masonic Lodge, at Bulls, on Wednesday evening, a memorial tablet commemorating the services of those brethren who have filled the position of Master of the Lodge since its inception was presented. The tablet, which is of white marble in the form of an open book with Masonic emblems inlaid in gold, was the gift of the present Worshipful Master, Bro J. Fletcher, and the handiwork of Bro. Dowdall, of Palmerston North. The ceremony of unveiling the tablet was performed by Bro D. H. Guthrie, P.M. Another pleasing ceremony also took place in the presentation by the Ledge of a handsome Past Master’s jewel, suitably inscribed to Bro W. J. Croucher, I.P.M. The presentation was made by Bro W. J. Phillips. P.M. During the evening P.M. Bro F. T. Webb was unanimously elected a life member of the Lodge.

Lovers of the poets will have an opportunity on Monday night next of hearing the Rev J. Gibson-Smith, of St. Andrew’s, Wellington, who is giving a “poetic recital” in St. Paul’s Hall. Mr Smith is rightly considered one of the finest lecturers in the Dominion on this particular subject and those who heard him in Wanganui two winters ago still retain pleasant recollections of the treat he gave his audience when lecturing on Tennyson. The beauty, purity, love and faith which characterised Tennyson’s life and works are in the hands of a whole-hearted deciple when handled by Mr Smith, and he will probably deal with the same subject on this occasion, but from a different standpoint. Speaking recently in Dunedin the lecturer remarked that if he were banished to an island with only one other book than the Bible allowed him for reading companionship he would wish for the poems of Alfred Tennyson, who, he declared, had strengthened his nature and that of many others in the parts they most needed strengthening. We would strongly recommend our readers not to miss an opportunity such as this recital presents and which is seldom given to a Wanganui audience.

In answer to a question last evening as to whether he had any intention of not going to the poll, Mr Hutchison emphatically replied that he had not, and added that the reports that he was going to retire were groundless.

The Marine Department desires it to be notified, for the information of masters of vessels leaving for Cook’s Strait, that the inasterot the Helen Denny reports passing at 3 a.m. last Sunday a floating object of some description, 17 miles S.W. by W. of Pencarrow. The Wanganui Education Board has accepted the following tenders: Palmerston North Sash and Door Co., for cupboards; Burrell and Sigley, Wanganui, for d. and s. ventilators, basins, hat and coat racks, tanks, towel racks, coppers and Unique boiler frames; J. Thain and Co., for Orion ranges; McFarlane and Co. for Champion ranges. “Mary Jane” writes complaining of the way the road through the Duncan estate is kept. “There is,” says the correspondent, “a lot of traffic on it now, and why not have it fixed up instead of spending such a lot of money in fencing the river bank and making zig-zags on the hill to benefit only two or three.” “Mary Jane,” is, however, satisfied with the appointment of ranger. In moving a hearty vote of thanks to Mr Hutchison at Eastbrook last night, Mr F. Hill said he thought it was desirable that at the present time they should have a man of Mr Hutchison’s standing as a member for the Rangitikei. He (Mr Hill) had always voted for the Government, but they wanted a strainer to tighten the weak fence of public affairs, and Mr Hutchison would be such a one. The motion was seconded by Mr Davis, and carried unanimously.

At the Marton S.M. Court yesterday, before Mr Kerr, S.M., a first offender for drunkenness was fined 5s and costs 16s 6d in default 24 hours. Thomas Tait, a prohibited person, for being found on licensed premises, was fined 5s and costs 14s 6d in default 24 hours. Alex. Chisholm for killing pukaki near Hunterville was fined £1 and costs 7s. Three farmers were fined £2 and costs 7s each for offering sheep for sale which were infected with lice. Several parents were fined 2s and costs 7s for not allowing their children to attend regularly at school. The charge against Charles Joseph Hart of deserting his wife and child for the past 8 months was withdrawn by his wife’s consent, who agreed to go back with him.