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Wanganui Chronicle, Volume XIII, Issue 1016, 20 April 1869, Page 2

Armed Constabulary. — The Government p.s. Lyttelton brought down on Sunday 45 men of the Armed Constabulary from Patea en route for the East Coast. Fire Police. — In consequence of Mr Deck announcing his intention of holding an Evangelical meeting to-morrow evening, the meeting for the formation of a Fire Police has been postponed to Wednesday, the 28th inst. Pheasants. — Mr John Walker informs us that there is a large number of young pheasants scattered over the hills on both sides of the river — a very gratifying result of acclimatization, if there were no other. Mosquitoes. — These districts have within the past few weeks been unusually troubled by a perfect plague of mosquitoes. We hear the same complaint from Taranaki. An effectual remedy is suggested by having carbonic acid sprinkled in a room infested with them. Licenses. — The Licensing Court meets at noon to-day. In connection with the subject we ate requested to state that Mr T. W. Gudgeon, whose name appears as an applicant for license, only applies as lessee of premises which are fitted for this trade, while the tenant of the premises, — at the corner of St. Hill Street and Taupo Quay, — will carry on the business. The Paymaster’s Department. — This department, which has had its head-quarters at Wanganui for a good many months past, is transferred to-day, by the p.s. Lyttelton, via Wellington, to the East Coast. The whereabouts of Colonel Whitmore does not seem to be known, but if he is not in the neighbourhood of Napier, the little steamer will likely go on to Tauranga. Colonel Gorton also leaves Wanganui for Wellington by the Lyttelton.

Prize Firing. — The first batch of competitors — those whose names were comprised between the initial letters A and C — fired for the District Prizes yesterday morning at the butts on the Race Course. Nine only came forward. The ranges were 400, 500, and 600 yards. The highest score was that of Sergt T. Cummins, Wanganui Volunteer Cavalry, who made 38 points ; Corporal J. Armstrong, of the same corps, came second with a total of 35 points. Another detachment fire off this morning, and the alphabetical list will thus be exhausted by Thursday next. On the following morning the Veteran Volunteers will contest the prizes. Wanganui Horticultural Society. — Thinks to the indefatigable exertions of the President, and the Secretary, of this society, seconded by a few public-spirited exhibitors, the last show was a great success, and the proof of this fact is to be found in the interest which has been excited regarding the subject generally. One gentleman of our acquaintance has expressed his readiness to place £5 at the disposal of the Committee to be awarded as prizes for vegetables at the next show of the society. Another gentleman offers to give £2 as a prize for the best miniature flower garden, suitable for a cottage or other small residence. All this is encouraging, and the good beginning that has been made must be improved into a still better maturity.

Local Government. — It would appear that — all things favourable — the anti-pro-vincial party intend making another attempt at conferring the benefits of Local-Self-Government upon such districts of the colony as may voluntarily desire it. An agitation in the direction of forming the south-west gold fields of the Province of Nelson into a county is in progress, and has so far been attended by the most gratifying unanimity. A delegate to Wellington, has, we hear, been assured by the Hon. Mr Stafford that the matter will have every attention from the Government, and that the Premier has even promised to take charge of the petition. We must put down the Rebellion without another Loan. — “It is also quite possible,” says the Southern Cross, “although not, we freely admit, easy, to pay the necessary expenses out of current revenue without new loans. To do this, the Government must change its system. It must cease to require so many regiments of clerks, that it may spend a little more of the revenue upon fighting men. It must curtail its civil expenditure that it may make its military organisation of some use. All this will be very disagreeable and very painful but we maintain that common honesty demands while common prudence dictates the course. It is certain that we have already thrown a heavy burden upon future generations, and we believe it is so heavy chiefly through our blundering. Nor are we inclined to feel very sanguine that this blundering will cease so long as we pay for our mistakes and extravagances chiefly by drafts upon posterity. If we pay as we go, it will be different. Such absurdities as colonial armaments of a couple of thousand almost stationary forces will soon appear in their true colours in the light thrown upon the matter by the need of paying for them out of current revenue. If this should be the result of England’s refusal to guarantee a loan for us we may yet find that what we must regard as disgraceful to her, can be made to prove useful to us.”