JOTTINGS FROM WANGANUI.

Dominion, Volume 3, Issue 821, 19 May 1910, Page 5

JOTTINGS FROM WANGANUI.

(By Teleffrapfc.—Special Correspondent! Wangarsul, !May 18.

Tho local papers will not publish nncl all business will be suspended on Friday, the day of .t-he late King's funeral. All arrangements are completed for the united memorial scrvice in Cook's Gardens in tho afternoon, which will ho conducted by ministers of the various denominations, and attended by the territorials, cadets, lire brigades, Mayors, and mcmbws of local bodies, and also, it is expected, by a great concourse of,the general public. Tho winter season seems to have set in rather early this year. Thero was a sharp white frost this morning, the first of the present winter. Two local sheep-dealers wore charged in tho S.JI. Court this mo.rning with having exposed lice-infected sheep for sale in public salevards. Kr.eh was fined l()s. and 7s. costs. In both, esses the sheep had been bought about a week previously, and, it is alleged, were then in the same state. 'Defendants stated that the persons who sold thetn the sheep' were the ones wlio slionld have' been prosecuted, as the trouble arose through their failure lo dip. The inspector explained that it was impossible for him to visit every sale, n.r, his district was very large, and extended almost to Taumnrunui. Ho did not press for more than a nominal penalty, but wished it known that in future there would be no leniency shown. Defendants said that the Department should depute an inspector to attend all regular sales, and thus fasten tho liability on the right parties. Letters to one of tho local papers recently raised a storm in a teacup. The trouble arose through a •picture company wishing to establish a permanent show hero booking the ' Opera House on all vacant dates. On the opening night the Mayor appeared on tho platform, and in a short speech asked the public to support the show, saying it was "up to them" to do so, as the company was helping the Municipal Opera House. This gave great umbrage to many people,, who held that the. Mayor had no right to use his position to further the interest of a private company in opposition to others. It now turns out that the borough council is practically a partner in the enterprise. Tho Mayor made a statement at tho borough council meeting last night, showing that tho council" and tho company had entered into an agreement by which the latter paid all expenses and gave the council one-third of the total receipts. Councillors expressed approval of the arrangement, and commended the Opera House Committee on its stroke of business.