LOCAL AND GENERAL.

Wanganui Chronicle, Volume L, Issue 12145, 6 January 1909, Page 4

LOCAL AND GENERAL.

With questionable taste Ministers still continue to send information on public affairs to their defeated candidates instead of to successful Opposition members of Parliament, says the “Rangitikei Advocate.” Ministers apparently do not yet realise that the defeated are politically defunct, and that some courtesy is due to their successors. The health throughout the district of Wanganui during the month of December was fairly satisfactory. There were only one case of scarlet fever, two of tuberculosis, and one of erysipelas in the borough. In the adjoining district two Maoris — one at Wangaehu and the other at Kai Iwi — were discovered to be suffering from tuberculosis. Another case was also reported from Sedgebrook. A united preparatory prayer meeting for the Wanganui Christian Convention will be held to night in the Primitive Methodist Church, Dublin Street. The secretary of the Convention will preside and the hymn-book to be used during the Convention — hymns of consecration and faith — will be used. The Rev. A. Allan, the special speaker, preaches in Dunedin till the 17th inst. and then comes on to Wanganui. A successful convention has just concluded at Pounawea.

At last night’s meeting of the Borough Council the Town Clerk submitted an interesting report relative to the tramways. From December 10th (opening day) to December 31st the cars ran 8086 miles and carried 74,900 passengers, this being an average of 9.26 passengers per car mile. The revenue was £574 3s. It is very pleasing to know that, although the trams have been running practically a month, there has been no stoppage of any kind. In the case of most installations it has been no uncommon thing for the cars to be stuck up for days at a time during the initial stage of their history. “Ain’t this bloomin’ train ever going to start? Why, we’re a quarter of an hour late already,” exclaimed an impatient passenger on the second express from the South last week (relates the Christchurch “Star”) “I thought this train was an express. What this country wants is a Labour Government. We’d get things done proper, then.” So saying, he casually strolled out of the carriage to seek refreshment, and before he could get back the train that was “never going to start” did start, and, more, it left him behind. The last that was seen of him was a sober and disconsolate person gazing sadly at the rear of the departing train, and, as one of the unsympathetic passengers remarked, “Perhaps he’s convinced now that this Government isn’t so slow, after all.” A horse pulled down the verandah of a Gisborne shop the other evening. He was tied to one of the verandah posts, and being frightened, pulled back with such force as to pull the post out from under the roofing. The horse was removed from the displaced post and was fastened to the remaining upright while an attempt was being made to adjust the first post back into its right position. The horse again took fright, with the result that he succeeded in pulling down the second post, and the whole structure toppled to the ground. Fortunately no person was injured, although one bystander had a narrow escape from being struck by the falling iron of the Verandah.

The biennial meeting of the Wanganui Baptist Young People’s Society of Christian Endeavour was held in the Young Men’s Club room last evening. The President (Rev. A. S, Wilson) presided over a large attendance of members. The main business of the meeting was the election of officers, which resulted as follows :— President, Rev. A. S. Wilson ; vice-presidents, Mrs E. M. Smith and Mr C. A. Sanow ; secretary, Mr R. L. Price ; treasurer, Miss J. Gaze ; corresponding secretary, Mr R. Dunipace ; organist, Miss H. CrichtonImrie. Several convenors of committees were also elected, and an interesting and attractive syllabus drawn up. The subject for next Tuesday is “The Assurance of Salvation,” which will be introduced by Mr A. Mather. A hearty invitation is extended to all interested to be present. Matters were only middling at Kaitoke station on Saturday evening, when the race train was returning from Featherston. The crowd made a rush for the refreshment room, and were packed like sardines, when a fracas occurred between two men next to the counter. It commenced with an exchange of non-complimentary references, followed by blows. This was not effective enough, and first the contents of cups and afterwards the cups were hurled at each other by the combatants. Naturally, those in the vicinity commenced to push and struggle, and a panic seemed imminent. Fortunately the disturbance was quelled, but not before two or three people had been injured on the face by pieces of flying crockery and many had been liberally sprinkled with hot tea. It is understood that more will be heard of the matter.

Some interesting statistics are availsable with regard to the number brooks lent out by the Wanganui Public Library last year. As compared with 1907, there is a decrease of 501 books in the total number lent out, but books of the miscellaneous order, such as histories, travels, biographies, science, essays, etc., show an increase of 650. But books of fiction were not nearly so often lent as in 1907, the decrease in numbers being 1151. The total books lent out last year were 24,764, while the number for 1907 was 25,265. Last year there were 6149 magazines lent out. The yearly totals were made up as follows, the 1908 figures being placed first :— Fiction 20,921 and 22,072, history 409 and 288, poetry 96 and 99, general literature 684 and 603, travels 840 and 688, biography 726 and 472, science, essays, etc., 338 and 293, divinity 48 and 37, bound magazines 182 and 205, children’s books 500 and 495, reference 20 and 13.

Mr C. E. Mackay, Mayor of Wanganui, who is on a holiday visit to Napier, gave an interview to a Hawke’s Bay “Herald” reporter, in which he expressed his opinion on the working of the Wanganui trams. Mr Mackay stated that the trams had now been running about a month, and, although it had been estimated that there would be a considerable loss, so far the takings had greatly exceeded expectations. If they continued on the present scale the system would be a commercial success. Mr Mackay did not think that the amount of patronage they received was a mere flash in the pan, or that it would decrease as the novelty wore off. The average takings had been maintained on wet and fine days alike, and were mostly made up of penny fares, which would not be the case if people were travelling on the cars merely for the sake of the ride. Indeed, the cars had really proved such a convenience that the burgesses would be quite content even if there were a slight loss on the running of the system. So far the working expenses, with interest, sinking fund, etc., amounted to some £23 10s a day, and the average takings to £25 a day. Those results would probably be improved on as the system got into working order, and it was discoverered what was the most suitable timetable, and also as the people grew into the habit of using trams and discarded their bicycles. At present there were only four cars running, but that had been found quite inadequate to cope with the traffic, and the number of cars was to be increased at once. The total cost had been some £45,000.