Marton News

Wanganui Chronicle, 2 November 1950, Page 2

Marton News

• Three-Fifths Majority 1 Needed To Carry £50,000 Bridge Loan An appeal to ratepayers to support the £50,000 bridge loan which is to be I placed before ratepayers at the local body. elections on November 18, was made by the couuty clerk, Mr F. L. i Nicol, at a metting of county ratepayers held at Greatford on Monday r night. Mr Nicol said that whether the loan was carried or not, the council had to spend up to £lO,OOO a year on bridges. i If the loan were approved, the council would raise £20,000 within the next two years and the balance later, the repayment being spread over a period of 25 years. The annual cost of the £20,000 would be £1292 and of the whole loan £3030. If the loan were turned down, said Mr Nicol, it would mean that the money would have to come out of general rates, as the renewal of bridges was imperative. That being the case, it would not be possible to : reduce the rates, as it was hoped. In reply to a question, Mr Nico! said that to carrv the loan proposal it would be necessary to have a threefifths majority of the valid votes cast. MARCHING CHAMPIONSHIPS. I The first marching championship 1 meeting to be held in Marton for teams affiliated to the New Zealand Marching Association will be held on Sunday afternoon in Marton Park. Several teams from outside associat tions have enteied and there is every indication of some high-class displays of marching. Patrons will witness, as an opening attraction, a march past of all teams, then, to finish the day, be a serpentine display. The r Highland Band and the Brass Band ‘ will be in attendance. Admittance i is by silver coin collection. The secre- : tary of the association, Mr J. Dickson, 5 appealed last night to residents to support this performance and thus help the girls to keep the healthy of marching progressing. A bus will leave Marton Junction railway station at 1.15 p.m. and return after the competitions. MARTON’S OCTOBER RAINFALL. ► Although the rainfall in Marton last I month was well below the average, it » was actually more than for October in 1949, according to records kept by Mr. K. W Sandford. The rainfall, so far this year, has been over seven inches less than for the same period last 1 year. Last month’s rainfall totalled , 2.86 inches which was registered on . 12 days. October’s rainfall in 1949 was 2.12 inches, the average over the past f 38 years being 4.12 inches. For the , 10 months of this year, Marton’s total rainfall has been 31.38 inches compared with 38.98 inches last year. Although rain fell on 12 days last month, only on four occasions did it amount to anything worthwhile. The heaviest fall was experienced on October 16, when the measurement, was 1.23 inches. Details are:—3rd .03, 1 4th .06, sth .01, Sth .23, 9th .02, 13th .33, IGth 1.23, 17th .18, 18th .08, 29th ’ .55, 30th. .12, 31st .02. VITAL STATISTICS. ' A decrease in both births and deaths compared with the same period last 1 year, is a feature of Marton.'s vital statistics for October. Marriages were ‘ the same for both months. Taere were ’ 11 births at against 14 last October, ’ while deaths numbered three, compared with four in 1949. There were four marriages on each occasion. The following are the figures for the 10 months of this year, with the same period for 1949 in parentheses: Births, 1 124 (131); deaths, 23 (41); marriages, ' 50 (47). ST. JOHN AMBULANCE NOTES. ‘ (By “Splints.”) i Examinations for the senior divi- ; sions are looming up, and the yearly i “swot” is almost over. While we are i on the subject of examinations, it is i hoped that next year we will have ■ more persons interested in taking the • course of first aid and home nursing ’ with a view to coming into the active . side of St. John work. The course is not difficult. With the latest training methods and the practical demonstrations in the work, any person who may be interested will readily adapt themselves to the caring of the injured. First-year members do not do public duty alone, but are always accompanied by a senior member if necessary. A first-aider soon gains that confidence which is possibly lacking on their first public duty.