WANGANUI ITEMS.

Dominion, Volume 3, Issue 779, 31 March 1910, Page 9

WANGANUI ITEMS.

HOSPITAL FOR TAIHAPE. MOUNTAIN CLIMBING: AN UNPLEASANT EXPERIENCE. [By Telegraph..—Special Correspondent.) : ■ Wanganui, March 30. A team of cricketers from Wanganui, including L. P., K. H., H. 8., and A. N, Cave, N:_ G. Armstrong, Howard, Burrett, Palmer, Dymock and Thomson, spent a most" enjoyable time at Easter inland of Wanganui. They played a match at Taihape, which they won easily, thanks principally to the excellent form displayed by K. H. and L. P. Cave. At Ngarukehu Mr. Ledwood had 'prepared a splendid wicket on his' property, a wicket which was quite a revelation, to the Wanganui players, who little; expected to find.; a pitch cciual to the best in the Dominion. During tho recent tennis tournament at Cook's Gardens, the sneak thief, was in evidence! One player lost .£7, and a lady had. her purse, taken'out of her-bag while watching a game. At the Borough Council meeting last night a letter was read from the Hon; J. A. Millar intimating that he would visit Wanganui on his return from Australia. The. question of tho Guyton Street railway crossing will then be discussed. . The council lias passed for payment an account of £M 4s. Id., being itsshare of the total cost of ,',£5216,85. 2d. of. tho repairs to the Town Bridge. ' ._~ -■ The residents' of the Taihape'district aT6 evidently determined - to..have the lbn-Malked-of hospital,- though- it' was, found that.the lowest of the tenders received for the erection .'of the building was too high to allow of the.work being done, even aftor- the. cutting out of ..the operating'theatre as.well, as.-the. female, ward, 'withont some further subscriptions being -'made'to covert the cost, of excavations on the site.' A telegram,has been received by the Wanganui Board, fronithe Taihape Advisory Committee asking, that the lowest.tender for the hospital m its entirety be accepted, and stating, that. the necessary-, money ■ will be forthcoming. This will mean the raising of about ±dSU more without tho Government subsidy, ,£3OO of which"is said to.be already in hand. The Natives of the district ■ have undertaken to supplement the amount, they have' already subscribed by another ,£IOO. It is expected that; the hospital will be ready for occupation by September next. . .-;■.. .;■ ; _ ' A party, of Wanganui mountain climbers, consisting of Messrs. Davis, Stanley, and Russell, had rather-an ■ unpleasantexperience during the Easter holidays. Leaving here.on Saturday,they put up at Ohakune Proceeding.from that township at 5 o'clock next morning, they walked ten miles through tho bush track to the base of the'mountain, .which was. reached shortly after 8 o'clock, and a start was then made to ascend the mountain. Messrs. Russell and.Stanley proceeded as far as the snow-line,-but, by, this time the day was too far advanced to go further, and the return journey was 'commenced/ Darkness, overtook the party shortly after, and there appeared every prospect of the night having to | be spent on the mountain.. However, at this critical stage a relief party, consisting .of some members of the, Ohakune Alpmo Club, arrived, on tho scene and safely, conducted them to the foot of. the mountain, where the rest, of the flight was spent in the open,around fires,, whioh were lit as there were , no .tents,or :blankets to protect the benighted ones from the elements. Next morning we .party reached Ohakune-little, the' Aworse.-, tor their experiences. •■:••■ '; ■: ■ ;! : '..,