JOTTINGS FROM WANGANUI.

Dominion, Volume 4, Issue 1213, 23 August 1911, Page 6

JOTTINGS FROM WANGANUI.

HUMOUR OF A. STRUT BRIDGE. (By TeleeraDb.-SDccia! Corressoudent.l Wanganui, August 22. The Wanganui Borough Council was proceeded against by tho Labour Department m.the S.M. Court 10-day for a breach of tho drivers' award iu paying wages tortnightly instead of weekly.' It was shown in evidence that the council had done so in response to tho,request of the men themselves, and the information was withdrawn on condition, however, that tho breach was not repeated. • At a meeting, hold on Sunday evening, it was decided to form a Wanganui branch of tho Hibernian Australasian Catholic' Benefit Society. A good number of members were enrolled for a start, and many more promises to join were to hand. Tenders have been accepted for practically tho Whole of (ho Wanganui Borough Council's share of the Tramway extension to Gonvillo, and a good deal 'of work is already out of hand. Additions to the power-house will be•'completed about the end of the month, when the laying down of a short length of track to the borough boundary (to connect with the Gonville line) will be proceeded with. At a meeting of the Wanganui Chamber of Commerce yesterday, groat dissatisfaction was expressed at what was described as tho monopolv given to chemists by the Government under the Sale of Poisons Act. and the possible hardships lo farmers in the purchase of sheep dips and spraying , pov.-d»rs. It was noinled out Hint a committee had already been set un to make reprcoihti-ins on the subject. Another instance of Government bungliii" was also given at Che meeting. Of a certain sum authorised for the Wanganui River Road, i nortion had been handed over to the Mangawhcro Road. Board .to expend. Included in tho work was a jnspension bridge, but the Government had vetoed this on tho renort of one of its engineers, which reiwrt stated that a strut bridsre would puffins. The con<c quence is that the latter is being fixed in another position, and new approaches to the bridge, will have to bo made, while the.ro is daner of a flood earning away the wider struts, which would not happen with a suspension bridge. In any case though this decision was arrived at eight months ago, nothing has been dono'nv .the Government to further the work, and settlers are still waiting for their promised means of communication,