JOTTINGS FROM WANGANUI

Dominion, Volume 4, Issue 1175, 10 July 1911, Page 3

JOTTINGS FROM WANGANUI

HARBOUR IMPROVEMENTS. (B/ Tclceraph.—Special Correspondent.! Wanganui, July 8. Mr. J. C'rookp, S.M., has arrived from Greymouth to relieve Jlr. Frazer, who goes to Whangarci. Mr. Crooks will probably remain till Mr. Kcrr has recovered from his recent accident. Tho Y.M.C.A. executive has paid =£1312 for u site of slightly over a quarter of an acre in the upper portion of thr- Avenue, on which, it will erect a new building. The price works out at ,£IG per foot. Mr. O. Buckley, bandmaster, retired from the Wanganui Garrison Band to take over the coiuluctorship of tho City Band. The Garrison Band, which remains under the baton of Mr. A. Wade, has been recently strengthened by several new players, ■ including two former members of the Wellington Garrison. Mr. C. D. Mason, chairman of the Wanganui County Council, vill represent that body at the Counties' Conference. In accordance with the recommendation of tho nautical inquiry into the stranding of the Pelotas, the Harbour Board has arranged for telegraphic advice to be sent (0 town whenever any rise, in the river takes place up-country. The board has instructed the pilot to report on tho question of establishing an up-to-date salvaging and life-saving apparatus at Castlecliif, in case cf future finergeucies. It is probable that a rocket brigade- will bo formed and recruited mostly from members of tho Castlecliff Surf Club, under the captaincy of tho pilot. Reporting to the Uarbour Board for tho month of June, the pilot states that a depth of 19ft. is still maintained on the bar, which has been in no way affected by the heavy southerly and westerly weather which prevailed during the month. In the period under review, 156 vessels crossed the bar inwards and outward?; with an aggregate tonnage of 17,871 tons. In addition to which, two ocean steamers were also loaded in the roadstead. The Harbour Board's engineer reports that on the basis of the old harbour works scheme, the south mole is now completed, and Hie north mole only wants another 100 ft. to finish, Tho dredging of the river channel is going actively 011, nnd the cost so far works out at tho luw price of sixpence per cubic yard. In connection with the [imposed now extendodcd scheme of harbour works the Wangaliui County Council has entered actively into opposition, anil Ins moved officially iu the matter by the appointment of a eommitteo to draw up a petition against any part of its territory being included in the proposed rating area, and to obtain signatures to the same. Opinion on the subject, both in Wanganui and Wnitntnra Counties, is very much divided. The yoiii'sor nnd more progressive clenicnl in Uμ fariuini; community is strongly in favour of the Uarbour Board's scheme, and it is by no menus certain that tlm signatures to the petition referred to will represent anything like unanimously the feeling among tho country ratepayers.