WANGANUI NOTES.

Dominion, Volume 4, Issue 934, 29 September 1910, Page 3

WANGANUI NOTES.

(By Telegraph.—Speoial OorreapondentJ Wanganui, September 27. Interest was at a very low ebb in yesterday's poll on the £6000 drainage loan for St. John's Hill, which was carried by 64 votes to 4. ' - , At the annual meeting of the Chamber Of Oominerce yesterday, the annual report_reviewed the year's doings. Mr. T.* B. Williams was re-elected president; Mr.' D. M'Farlano nee-preijident; and Mr. J. J. L. Stevenson, secretory. After the meeting a banquet was held to celebrate ii ?' lam ' )er ' s twenty-fifth anniversary. About a hundred were present, including Messrs.. Jennings and Hogan; M.P.'s. The function was" a. quiet one, and most of the speeches dealt \vith the progress and rise of the district since.. the chamber's inception.. In this connection, perhaps, the most interesting remarks were made by Mr. D. Miller, chief. postmaster, who referred to the immense" increase in postal business, the revenue of. which had.in-creased-by £29,000 in nine years, and by Mr. ,J. L. Stevenson,'who contrasted the present flourishing condition of Wanganui with.that of twenty-five years ago. Then, he. said, there was only one industry in Wanganui—a cheese factory', with an out-' put of £1538.. The A.. and,;P. Association was in financial trouble, and had to lapse and: a.levy was made to /call on members jn order to pay debts. The harbour board was also in financial -straits,!,and had to go to the- Government for assist- 1 ance, and borrow £10, carry on, the suiii being repaid by a' -charge upon wharfage. A Bill. to .raise", a harbour loan was defeated," and. the board was forced to' dispense 'with its'engineer, and' to to-. duce .staffs and retrench salaries. "Twentyfive. years ago,'.' /.added Mr../.'.Stevenson, "things. Tvere very stagnant in AVangahui; . ... y. : ,-i'■:■ Wanganui,/September 28.: / : At the- annual meeting' of the Wanganui, Lawn' Tennis 'Association,: the report showed a very, successful' initial season. Seven, clubs had affiliated , while four more had intimated their intention of doing;so.'this, season, this giving a total membership of .620 player's. The balancesheet'.showed thiit the' Easter tournament had. resulted.'' in / "a/ profit: of :£l9, while there .was also' a profit of £5 lis., on . the. general account, making a . total of £24 '145,; Dr. Wall was elected patron; Mr. W: Meldruiu (Hunterville); president; Dr. Barnett (Taihape), '. Messrs.- A. , H. Bill (Marton), and C.' C; .Hutt'on .'(Wanganui),' yice-presidents; Mr./ C.> Goldsbury, secretary. / Tho! meeting ; unanimously resolved .to place "on record its; appreciation': of the 'valuable;,ser,vices rendered to tennis .in New.- Zealand ! : by/'!Mr. : G. : ;N; "/Goldie,: of Wellington, and, grateful recognition of the .holp given by liim in connection with the formation of a Wanganui ' Association. 1 ,v- r, ::s .! , : ; : ! / •'! . Following upon .the. carrying of the St. John's Hill ' loan, the ; Borough Council lias instructed its engineer,-to but' the Jdrainage work'for that area ill hand at; once.'-: ,Actiyity ,in : other, newly-added portions.'of .the /borough /will also be in' evidence 'shortly. : : ' Plans for the water .reticulation, of 'Aramoho are now ready, and tbose-for similar work.,at',Dunetown. will be ' completed, in' a! . few ..days:/ _The council '/.is; taking/the necessary'' steps .to obtain a; loan'^from/'."the^'Goyernmcjnt. for these.works,. and, a start may.be expected to be! made with ; them very .shortly. ■ Several, important, matters, are ' : to be' dealt with at a special 'meeting of . the /council,. next .■ Tuesday-' when - souie • timp will'be. occupied in; going into the agreement with .Wanganui. East ;to renew the traffic/ bridge; also - the special Act, drafted by the bbrough solicitor,,/authorising •tho,construction''of same. In addition the council will give its/attention; to a" scheme for - installing a; .'greatly-increased -'-train-, way-power. plaiit,.;in order:.that "-tho ,sys-; tem'-may be extended over, a distance of fourteen miles, taking'!# Wanganui, East, .Gohville,:'and Castlecliff;- .'The . ; schemq; as outlined : by Councillor Poynter (chair-, man: .of the Tramways Comniittce) gives two . alternatives,- viz:,' • a -large increase; of _tho present, suction gas',' plant,- .'or, !an in : stallation of steam ! plant ■#' combination with: the. destruction of- rubbish, the latter forming part of the fuel supply for • the generation of steam. In such, case the scheme will not stop''short ' of ing power for the trams, but will also supply 'electric! light - and -power, for ; in-, dustrial / purposes as! i 'w J eli. !'/ Whichever;' scheme; is carried ;a loan will probably;' be.' niebMsaVivsd;-."that.;!f^er:'' : dStaih;ihay->®Bi expected',after'. the . ajn'sideretl; it!- ;. / .' The: material for the'; construction' of an"! aerial , ropeway; for- ; trahsfering ',coal"' from' tlie' wharf to the gasworks is now coming 'to /hand,, and. the / work of .erec.tion'. will'.begin /shortly; -, The ropeway will: abolish. :a' great deal of: the ' heavy, traffic which is now;/cutting up .tho suiv face of, .Taupo .Quay,' the. state 1 of ..which is;still/causing the council;some thought..