DAILY NOTES FROM WANGANUI.

Dominion, Volume 2, Issue 590, 19 August 1909, Page 3

DAILY NOTES FROM WANGANUI.

(By Telegraph.—Spcci&l Correspondent.) Wanganui, August 17. The Arbitration Court held a short sitting . here this morning, but as none of the cases oh the list -came within the jurisdiction of the Court as now constituted, they were held over for hearing till suoh time as an employers' representative had been elected, vice the late Mr. Brown. A meeting .held ' last* evening to .'discuss measures for holding a sculling handicap on the Wanganui River at Christmas appointed a sub-committee to canvass those interested, 1 with .the view; ; of. ascertaining what "financial support: would bo given. The extension of' the tqwii is-, proving a good thing - for the Borough Council's'-reve-nue, in that it means-that : a' great many .sections on ' the borough -reserves are being 1 built' on. " . ' .- •' . Hitherto the: collecting of rubbish in 'Wanganui has been done by contract, but the council is about to consider the advisability of 1 undertaking the work itself, chiefly- in . order that when the time arrives, -as it is believed'it soon will',' for the installation of n destructor, the council .will have the necessary .information as to the amount of • rubbish available to .feed the same;, It is quite • probable-that, one of the chief ends of the destructor scheme wjll be the utilising of rubbish as fuel for generating an electric light and power supply. August 18.. A .tremendouo quantity of rain, -with, bitterly 'cold sleet, has fallen during the,last two days, arid the country is in a thoroughly soaked, condition. A slight fall of snow on the hills occurred this morning. •. ; ' Settlers -at Abu Mu,'one of the; inland blocks-: settled .'some two years .ago, have been for some considerable time stirring up the Government to provide a punt for a ferry : across the Wanganui River, where it runs past' the block. Although this is badly, needed to give settlers access to tho block,' they have only just succeedc-d in' extracting a 1 promise that £200 will bo placed on the Estimates for the purpose: The ActingMinister for Lands, in giving this promise, says that there is no doubt but that Parliament will' pass the amount, and, relying thereon, -the Waitota.ra County Council will probably instal a ferry in anticipation of the vote.. .. . . The proposed closing'of the Stamps Office here has called forth a vigorous protest from local solicitors who, in addition to their own representations, have invoked, the assistance of .'the Chamber of' Commerce, pointing -out the'largo amount of business which will betransferred, with 'consequent delay to tho transactions of. the Chamber. It was resolved to support the protest. In the meantime, Jlr. Hogan, M.P., is in receipt of a letter from the' Attorney General stating a further report on .the matter, giving fuller information, will be prepared with a view to . a reconsideration of. tho Cabinetls decision. Should tho local Stamps Office be removed from-here, not merely Wanganui'itself, butthe whole of a very.large district, of which' it is .the centre (extending from Hawera to Ma.nait'atu and inland- to ■ Raetihi), • would suffer. Consequently there-is a strong local feeling against the step contemplated. A team from the Wanganui Ladies' Hockey Club , leaves to-morrow-to Jake\ : part in the ladies' tournament at Hastings.- . Thirty men who were among the recent unemployed are still engaged on various Borough Council works. ■ , The question of back-blocks roads was discussed 'at 'some length by the Chamber qf Commerce last night, members being largely of opinion .that the Government would have done bettor, to send tho unemployed tp. road- • making; 'which would ;givo access to locked-up land, rather than send them to work at bushfelling. One member • expressed tho opinion that the 'only way to make Ministers acquainted .with the position iii_ this ..district (in which huge, areas are lying unproductive through' want-, of. roads,' or even tracks) was to, take . Ministers over tie country, and show-them the land itse.f. The non-roa'ding of tkobigneglected'distncc inland of Wanganui has been' a sore point v here for many years, and it is not at all improbable that tho. Chamber will act on tho above suggestion.. Tho Chamber, also considered .a communication jiastinfrs Chambers, asking- co-operation in a protest against -the Government yamations. Members generally- appeared to . think that there "was bound to be dissatisfaction under any system of' valuing, and 1 ' it' was 'ultimately :resolved. to .reply that,, while tcoognising that dissatisfaction existed, the Wanganui, Chamber' could suggest no remedy.