WANGANUI JOTTINGS.

Dominion, Volume 3, Issue 781, 2 April 1910, Page 8

WANGANUI JOTTINGS.

THE VITAL STATISTICS. (By Telegraph.—Special Correspondent.) Wanganui, April 1. The vital statistics for March show that there 1 were'4B births last month, as against 43 for Mai'ch, 1909, but there is a decrease .of six in the figures, for the quarter as compared with those of tho quarter last year. Deaths have decreased from 25 in March, 1909, to 15 in March, 1910, and the figures for tho quarter show a' decrease of' 11'.- .The marriages have 'increased from 10 1909) to 23 ■ (.1910), and the returns: for the quarter' show an .'increase of 31. At = the monthly meeting of- the Wanganui County Council to-day a letter was read from Councillor J. 11. Somerville, resigning his position as a councillor on the grounds of continued illhealth. The councillors present made very feeling reference to the 'splendid services Councillor Bomerville had rendered as a public man, and especially as a member of . the council, of which ho had been a member almost continuously since 1576. Eulogistic references were made to the public spiritedncss ho had always displayed. The resignation was' accepted with regret, and it was decided to write and express sympathy at the unfortunate illness which occasioned it,' also to record the council's appreciation of tho services renderea by Councillor Somerville:, The clerk was instructed to., apply for provisional approval of a loan of £400 for metalling Barton-Field's and l'arapara-llaetihi roads. .• . The chairman (Mr. D. Mason) was elected to act. as delegate to-the conference in Wellington of County Councils. ■ ' The Garrison- Band will give , a concert in the rotunda on Sunday afternoon, when a collection will be taken up in aid of the widow and family of the late Mr. Thompson, of Mangaonoho, who was recently accidentally killed, leaving a widow and nine young children ill-provided for.