JOTTINGS FROM VVANGANUI.

Dominion, Volume 4, Issue 1182, 18 July 1911, Page 9

JOTTINGS FROM VVANGANUI.

UP-RIVER NAVIGATION. (By Toleerapb.—Special Correspondent.) Wanganui, July 17. With further reference to tlie tramway regulations, the Mayor (Mr. C. E. Mac-1 kay) takes' exception to the action of the Government in forwarding them to local bodies concerned "in confidence." The regulations, he points out affect not.only the bodies who own tramways, but also the people, who are the real, owners, and the latter have a right .to know how far the regulations affect them as soon as possible. In tho course of his annual report, the chairman of the Wanganui Eiver Trust (Mr. T. D. Cummins) says that never within the memory of the oldest Native was the river lower than during the drought at the latter part of the year just closed. Despite this difficulty, however, the steamer trafGc between Wanganui and Taumarunui (111 miles) was. fully maintained, and the passenger aud cargo traffic continues to show a steady increase. The work of improving the river, which has occupied so many years, is now drawing to a close, nnd the chairman anticipates that help from tho Government to the extent of .£IOOO per annum for two years will suffice, by which time the revenue from river dues, and'the rents from the trust's endowment should bo sufficient to meet expenditure. In addition to this year's subsidy 'of ,£IOOO, Mr. Cummins asks the Government for another .£IOOO for the purchase of a launch to replace the present slow and costly method of working with punts in the improvement of tho river channel.