JOTTINGS FROM WANGANUI.

Dominion, Volume 4, Issue 1169, 3 July 1911, Page 8

JOTTINGS FROM WANGANUI.

GREAT .STRIDES IX BEAUTIFYING. (By Telegraph.—Special Correspondent.! War.fjanui, July 2. During June 3.57 inches of rain fell here, there being 1G wet days, and the maximum fall being .SI inches, on Juno 11. There was frost on 9 nights. "Paw;on's Steps," on tho slope of Durio Hill, facing the. town, and a favourito resort of visitors to the town on account of tho fine view which a climb of the steps affords, are now undergoing a complete transformation at the hands of the Beautifying Society. The Borough Conn- l oil has lent tho services of tho borough gardener to superviso the work. A strip of land, skirting the steps on either hand, is being terraced from the bottom to the top of the hill, and the face of each terrace is being planted with mesombryantheraum in alternate, bands of red, white, and yellow—one colour to each terrace.' Hnta and pohutukawa will bo planted on tho level between each terrace, and, when all is in full flower, it is expected to provide a very beautiful sight. Tho. Beautifying Society is also taking full advantage of tho planting season in other parts of the town and suburbs, particularly at St. John's Rill and Wanganul .East, in both of which places several 'thousand ornamental trees, shrubs, and flowers are being planted. As all this entails ploughing and cultivating, and also the forming of paths, to say nothing of the keeping of last year's work in order, it will be seen that the society is pursuing very energetically its aim of beautifying the. surroundings in which tho town is set. One item in this year's operations will be the planting of about five thousand tree ferns in various places.

So far, about a quarter of the cargo of tho stranded steamer Pololas lias been salvaged. No difficulty is anticipated in landing the remainder provided (he weather holds good. Customs duties rollccted at the port of Wnnganui during June totalled .£5578 IS?. 5d —an increase of .£239 IBs. 7d., on the previous June.