WANGANUI NOTES

Dominion, Volume 23, Issue 169, 12 April 1930, Page 8

WANGANUI NOTES

Wanganui, April 11. Advice from the Minister of Internal Affairs, stating that arrangements had been made on behalf of the Town Planning Board, for a public inquiry to be held on Alay 26, was received at this morning’s meeting of the Wanganui County Council. The inquiry is to be held in the City Council Chambers at 2 p.m. for the purpose of hearing evidence of ali interested persons and to determine the boundaries of tha region comprising the City of Wanganui and surrounding districts. That this year practically all the rates should be spent on maintenance was agreed at the same meeting. “We should make no reduction in the rates,” said the chairman (Mr. D. Mackintosh). “It is no use going in for a big construction programme as we have not the money to pay. The only work of construction that I would recommend would be the Wangaehu Hill and the tar-sealing of the roads through Fordell and' Upokongaro. There Is a lot of traffic in these roads, and I know what that means to people living there, on account of the dust nuisance. I want the engineer instructed, when preparing estimates, to cut down expenses, and arrange that revenue be spent mainly on maintenance work.” A letter was received from the Hon. W. A. Veitch regarding the question of fencing the Airport lioad, saying that this should occupy the attention of the county council, and could not be charged against the Government grant already allocated for the road. The Government was not prepared to increase the grant. A letter was received from the Development League asking what was being done in connection with the widening and improving of the lower end of Parapara lioad. The clerk reported that the total expenditure in the Mangawhero Riding last year was £12,043, and the majority of this money was spent on the Parapara Road. The sum of £6613 was raised by loan. Councillor Broderick said that the Public Works Department had been laying out work, and it seemed to him that they intended to do something in the way of widening roads, bends, etc. He considered that the council should mark time. Any new work of metalling would be a mistake as it would be undone when the Public Works Department started to widen the road. The only thing they could do for the present was to maintain the road. He considered that the road was very good considering the traffic. “The road is not bad for careful drivers,” said Mr. Mackintosh. “We might approach the Highways Board and the city council, to give a grant. Several motor-boat races will be held on the river on Saturday afternoon. These will be the final races for the season, and are: Flve-mlle event for the Alarks’ Rose Bowl, races for the Drew and Price Cups, and a club trophy event. The nomination of Mr. Len Smith, Wanganui, the Dominion breast-stroke champion, has been forwarded to the authorities as one worthy to uphold New Zealand at the forthcoming British Empire Games, to be held at Hamilton, Ontario, next August.

The committee of the Wanganui Plunket Society met this week, Mr. It. J. Crawford presiding. The Plunket nurses report that old cases on books numbered 1284, new cases 76, visits to headquarters and offices 1439, and to homes 497. Babies admitted during the month numbered 21 and mothers 11. Figures for the year show an Increase on the previous year—9S mothers (39 last year), 187 babies (33 last year). The question of forming a sub-branch at Wanganui East was left to members in the district.

Following is the list of officers of the Patea Plunket Society, recently elected:-— President, Mrs. T. E. Roberts; vice-presi-dents, Mesdames R. Hunger, Haddow, and Pettigrew; hon. secretary and treasurer, Mrs. S. Honyefield; committee, Mesdames C. Carey, Haddow, Pettigrew, Semple, Jenkins, Mellor, King, Stevens, Macken, McRae, Nelson, Pauling, Petersen, J. Pearce Rooks, Ramsbottom, Ingly, Thomas, Tor! lens, Smiles, G. W. Williams, B. Gibson, McMahon, Leicester, C. Hunger, and Harris; advisory board, Dr. Simmons, Messrs Ramsbottom, T. E. Roberts, H. Findlay ~,1 Hemingway, G. Christensen; hon. solicitor, Mr. T. E. Roberts; hon. auditor, Mr. W. F. Shelld. ’

Miss Blackett, the Wanganui city librarian, In her monthly report to the city council suggested that the council should grant use of the old gas offices in which to establish an up-to-date juvenile department The council agreed to accede to the librarian’s request, providing no opportunity occurred to let the promises. Ihat Good Friday should be kept as a holy day was the opinion of Councillor Pleasants at last night’s city council meeting when the question of allowing pictures to bo shown on that day was under discussion. ’’Surely there are enough days on which to show pictures.’’ he said ‘ without hurting the feelings of a large section of the community.” As permission had already been given months ago to a Picture company to exhibit on that day the discussion lapsed.