GENERAL NEWS

Wanganui Chronicle, 30 April 1949, Page 4

GENERAL NEWS

Tram Timetable. From tomorrow, May 1, the winter Sunday timetable on the Castlecliff tramway route will come into operation. The Sunday schedules on the Aramoho, Wanganui East, and St. John's Hill routes will remain unaltered. Increase or Acid Drops “I notice they have brought two bags with them. I don’t know whether they contain the £22 increase in salaries or some of Mr. Nash’s acid drops,” said the president (Mr. J. s. Kenward) at last night’s annual meeting of the Wanganui Section of the New Zealand Public Service Association, in welcoming two delegates from the New Zealand Association. Customs Returns Customs collected in Wanganui this month from all sources yielded £41,133 compared with £43-443 for April last year. The comparative figures, with those for April, 1918, in parenthesesare: Customs, £15,147 (£15,755); sales tax- £18,902 (£2O 251); petrol tax, £7500 (£5688); miscellaneous, £47 (£1286). Bud By Air

A bud which was flown from England in January formed an interesting exhibit at the National Chrysanthemum Society show, which concluded at the Drill Hall last night. It was an example of how modern methods can be used to improve horticultural strains in New Zealand. The rose- which is named “Frensham,” was flown to New Zealand packed in moss, and was grafted on to stock in the Dominion. S.M.’s Tribute To The Press. “The gentlemen of the Press do their work fairly and conscientiously,” said Mr. J. H. Salmon, S.M., when farewelled by the Wanganui District Law Society and the Wanganui branch of the Justices’ Association on the eve of his retirement yesterday. “They are, as it were, in the background, reporting studiously and never appearing in their own reports. I alone know the amount of work they have to do, and the trouble they go to in order to present what must appear to the laymen to be extremely difficult points.’ Vital Statistics An increase in the number of deaths and a decrease in the number of births are features of the vital statistics in Wanganui. Compared with April of last year, births declined from 69 to 45 this month. The number of deaths increased from 19 in April last year to 30 this month. Marriages this month were 27, compared with 31 for the corresponding month last year. Figures for the four months of the year are: Births 269, deaths 111. marriages 114. Public Service Efficiency

“The standard of efficiency, in the Public Service is generally recognised as being very high,” said the president (Mr. J. S. Kenward) at the annual meeting of the Wanganui Section of the New Zealand Public Service Association last night. “We want to give the best possible to the public and to do that we need the closest co-operation of all membrs.” Th best way to improve the service to the public was for public servants to imagine themselves in the shoes of the people on the other side of the counter.

Engine Trouble Repaired After having to put into Nelson on Thursday because of engine trouble, the Coastal motor-ship Nikau completed loading at ./lapua yesterday and was to have left there at 6.30 last evening with 5700, cases of apples for Wanganui. The vessel is due at the town wharf today amt will discharge on Monday. The apples are destined for Auckland and wiil go forward by rail. Originally the Nikau was due at Wanganui yesterday, but putting into Nelson for repairs delayed her by a day. After discharge at the town wharf the vessel returns to Mapua, where she will load a further, cargo of apples for Auckland, via Wanganui. Plucky Action Recalled “Twenty-eight years ago I remember a young constable at Thames.” said Mr J. H. Salmon, S.M., referring at a farewell gathering on the eve of his retirement yesterday to his first association with Inspector E. Forsythenow in charge of the Wanganui police district. “The young constable was not there long because his promotion was rapid. We went our different ways and my attention- was next drawn to him when I lead of the extremely plucky action of a police officer in Napier who arrested an armed murderer. I recognised him as my old friend of Thames, and I am glad to see that today he is a distinguished member of the force.”

Fire Brigade Staff Though the Wanganui Fire Brigade has an authorised strength of 15 auxiliary firemen, there are only 11 on the staff, seven of whom are at the Central Station and four at the Castlecliff sub-station. The number of permanent firemen authorised is 20, and this strength is maintained- 17 firemen being at Central Station and three at Castlecilff. These figures were made available hy Superintendent N. M. Ross in his annual report to the Wanganui Fire Board. The brigade also has nine outside auxiliary firemen, which is the authorised si rength. Southern Cargo Arrives After being delayed in Wellington by rain, the coastal motor-ship Storm ! arrived at Wanganui late on Thursday ! night with produce and general cargo i from Lyttelton. The vessel began discharge yesterday ana after loading, [wool today sails for Wellington. Further southern cargo is expecte I next; Tuesday when the Holmdale is due from Dunedin and Oamaru. via Wel-j ■ lington. After discharge she loads a[ full cargo of wool. Expected during : the week-end is the auxiliary motor-| vessel Hauturu, with sugar and gen-i oral cargo from Onehunga, via Wellington. Following discharge at. the! town wharf she goes to Wellington.