WANGANUI JOTTINGS.

Dominion, Volume 5, Issue 1495, 18 July 1912, Page 8

WANGANUI JOTTINGS.

IBy Telegraph-Spneta! Correspondent.! ' Wanganui, July 17. Only the Government offices observed Arbor Day to-day. The schools and Beautifying Society celebrate the occasion tomorrow with an extensive planting progromme. St. John's 'Ratepayers'. .Association has drawn the attention of the Wanganui Borough Council to tlio fact that tho lnw does not provide for municipalities embarking in transport operations other than tramways, and they suggest that the matter might form the subfcct of a remit for tho approaching Municipal Conference. The council adopted the suggestion. tho Mayor remarking that a legal opinion had already been published retting forth that it w<is illegal for a municipality to run buses, trackless trollies, etc. He was inclined to doubt the correctness of this opinion, but a discussion at tho conference would help to settle the point. The Borough Council last evening referred to the Works Committee the matter of putting the signalman's cottage on Durie Hill in order, and, as the cost is estimated at only a few pounds, and the Harbour Board will be. responsible ■ for upkeep, there is every probability that the signal station will be restored in a, few days. Its suspension, during the past few months, has caused great inconvenience. The tramways engineer* last nijht submitted a comprehensive report" t<j the Borough Council on the. question of 'the establishment of a rubbish destructor, tho heat from which might be utilised to generate electric light and power.' Tho cost of the plant was put down at ,£14,4G2, and the annual charges .£3017. The council set np a special committee to go into the matter. The proposed amalgamation of AVanganui and AVanganui East, boroughs is to be discussed at a special meeting -of tho AVanganui Council on Tuesday next. Thn proposal-is-a. very simple one, the issue being'merely that all interests .should bo pooled, everyone sharing the same burdens and privileges and all differential or special rate; being abolished.