VITAL STATISTICS

Wanganui Chronicle, Volume 80, Issue 78, 2 April 1938, Page 8

VITAL STATISTICS

WANGANUI FIGURES SLIGHT INCREASE IN BIRTHS The vital statistics for Wanganui for the twelve months ended March 31 reveal a slight increase in births, a substantial increase in deaths and a decrease in marriages. The figures for the quarter show a decrease in births, an increase in deaths and an increase in marriages.

The figures for the month of March are as follow, with last year's figures in parentheses: Births 50 (56>; deaths 36 (20); marriage licences, 31 (39); marriages in office, nil (5). Fgures for the quarter are:—Births, 140 (156); deaths 68 (63); marriage licences 79 (67); marriages in office, 8 (8). I Returns for the 12 months are:— i Births 546 (539); deaths. 303 (284), I marriage licences, 301 (325) I marriages in office 44 (52). i -.

I The Farmers’ I n»on. i The Wellington Central executive • ol the New Zealand Farmers’ Union, , which met in Feilding yesterday, was briefly addressed by Mr. R. O. Mont- ( gomerio, Kakatahi, who, in the short , '*me at his disposal, cleared up sev- - cral misunderstandings regarding the : attitude towards the union and his i keen desire to see the union flourish • as a strong body, representing a large j scc'Jon of public thought in the Doj minion. Mr. Montgomerie is to ; a.'!Tress a combined branch meeting I in the Manawatu, at Opihi, on April 111. All the branches in the district ; have been circularised and a great I deal of interest is being aroused in the meeting. Visit of Luxury Liner. The Canadian Pacific Shipping Company’s giant luxury liner Empress of Britain, the largest merchant vessel to sail in Australasian waters, i.. expected to arrive at Wellington to-morrow week, from Melbourne, via Milford Sound. The vessel will leave the same night for Auckland. The Empress of Britain, which ranks high among the giant liners of the world, measures 760 feet 6inches in length (over all) and 730 feet (between perpendiculars). She has great beam, her moulded breadth being 97 feet G inches, and her mean load draught is 32 feet. The Empress of Britain, which has 10 decks, is 42.318 lons gross and 22,545 tons net register. She is propelled by four screws, driven by geared-turbine engines of 62,500 shaft horse-power, giving her a speed of 25 knots. She carries a crew of 715. On her present cruise, the two outer propellers have been removed and the ship steams on her i two inner propellers, which are de- ! signed to take two-thirds of her full I power.