LOCAL AND GENERAL.

Wanganui Chronicle, Volume L, Issue 12399, 21 December 1909, Page 4

LOCAL AND GENERAL.

We have received handy wall calendars from the Phoenix and New Zealand Insurance Companies A special meeting of the Hospital Board will be held on Wednesday to consider the proposed new ward, fever ward and the Taihape Hospital project. A commercial and strategic map of the British Empire has been sent to us by the National Mutual Life Assurance of Australasia. The Wanganui Schools Sites Bill, providing for the leasing of the sites now occupied by the Technical and Infant Schools, passed through the Lands Committee yesterday without amendment. At the meeting of creditors, in the bankrupt estate of W. B Giesen yesterday, there were some lively scenes. Mr A. M. Ongley, solicitor, and four creditors were cross-examining bankrupt when the latter got excited, made a declamation against the solicitor and informed the D.O.A. “He could not keep his temper with Ongley.” It transpired that bankrupt’s wife leases three horses, one a racing horse, which is being trained. The meeting passed a resolution, not unanimously, which was seconded by the solicitor representing bankrupt and also a creditor, that the creditors would not object to a discharge being granted.

In another column Mr C. Tilleard Natusch, architect, invites tenders for the erection of a large country residence at Hunterville.

The Wanganui Band of Hope will not meet next Monday night owing to the holiday, but will resume its meetings regularly on January 3rd.

Lord and Lady Plunket, who shortly leave Palmerston North, entertained a large number of guests at a Garden Party at “Woodley,” the vice-regal residence, on Saturday.

At the Magistrate’s Court yesterday morning before Mr W. Kerr, S.M., a man named James King was fined 20s and costs for assaulting a woman. A boy for theft was dealt with in the juvenile court.

On Saturday night the police made a raid on a building in Ridgway Street, and as the result a man named Boux Bousson will before the Magistrate this morning to answer a charge of keeping a gaming house.

A Gisborne wire says that ratepayers yesterday sanctioned by a large majority a loan of £175,000 to provide sewerage, roads, a bridge, recreation grounds, water supply, extension of trams and an electric light and power plant.

It is understood, says a Melbourne cable, that the Wireless Telegraphy Conference is now drafting a report, which recommends that communication should be established between certain islands of the Pacific, and that the system be under Government control.

The motor boat race on Saturday to Upokongaro and back resulted in ViceCommodore Palmer’s Gleam (30min.) winning. The time was 1 hour 49 mm. Mr Nichol’s Duco (60min.) was second in 2 hours 11 mins., and Mr Nalder’s Ulama (40min.) was third with 2 hours 1 3-5 mins.

Parishioners of Christ Church are reminded of the important adjourned meeting to be held in the schoolroom this evening. The meeting is being held to discuss a resolution to be submitted to General Synod with regard to the Church building and Church Property. All parishioners are specially asked to be present.

A few days ago we published a telegram which stated that a stray carrier pigeon had come on to a schooner in the Bay of Plenty. The Palmerston North “Standard” reports that the bird belonged to Master G. Robson, of Cuba Street, and returned home on Saturday last, having been liberated by the police constable at Whitianga, where it was taken by the captain of the schooner who picked it up.

As usual the Castlecliff Railway Company, Ltd., will run a special timetable during the holidays, and no doubt record numbers will take, this opportunity of visiting the seaside on Saturday, 25th inst. (Xmas Day), and Sunday, 26th inst., the ordinary Sunday service will be observed, while on Monday, 27th (Boxing Day), trains will run to and from Castlecliff every half hour throughout the day from 9 a.m. to 7 p.m. Further particulars in a later issue. Some Feilding business men wired to the Premier on Saturday protesting against the flag on the Post Offiffice being flown at half-mast in connection with the death of King Leopold. In reply Sir Joseph Ward replied that the rule within British territory was followed in accordance with an arrangement with the Imperial Government that the flags on Government buildings should be flown on the death of a crowned head and on the day of burial.

At a meeting of the D.H.S. Swimming Baths Committee held last night it was unanimously resolved that in view of the danger to young children of frequenting the baths without the supervision of teachers, the free hours be entirely suspended during the holidays. This will mean that boys can attend only during men’s hours, and girls only during, women’s hours, and only on paying for admission. It was recognised that this may entail a certain amount of hardship, but the committee could not see their way to run the risk of an accident through large numbers of children being in the baths with no responsible person present to see that they do not get into danger. A season ticket costs 1s 6d and, failing that, the cost of one swim is one penny.

People often behave in what onlookers consider a foolish fashion when taking a long farewell of each other, but the good-bye ceremony of three girls at Lyttelton on Saturday (says the Lyttelton “Times”) probably established a record. One of the girls was leaving by the Marama, and her two friends were each linked to her by several yards of pale blue “baby-ribbon” fastened to her wrists and theirs. As the steamer moved off they walked to the end of the jetty and held up their arms till the ribbons parted. They were the subject of endless criticism, for they made themselves conspicuous at the start, their ribbons were occasionally in the way, and quite conceivably they might have been pulled off the end of the wharf by their “silken bond of friendship.” One onlooker stated that he had once, in Sydney, seen a similar ceremony, only there the departing maiden had a team of no fewer than 10.