LOCAL AND GENERAL

Chronicle (Levin), 6 February 1947, Page 4

LOCAL AND GENERAL

Increase in Price of Gas , After considerable negotiation, Cabinet and the Price Tribunal have approved of slight increases in the price of gas to consumers in Wanganui. Wanganui's Customs Revenue Revenue within- a f ew hundred pounds of the record figures set last July was collected by the Wanganui Customs office last month. The total was £46,653, an increase of £6063 over last January. Fishing at Taupo A trout weighing llflb., the largest taken at Lake Taupo this [ season, was landed by Mr. G. Snow, I of Whangarei, last niglit. Fishipg J with Mr. W. Smith, of Omana, Mr. I Snow secured a limit bag of an average weight of 1\ lb. Dry conditions prevailing at Taupo are not conducive to good fishing, but good results have bebn reported from* Tokaanu. To School by Plane The first boy .to fiy from Great Barrier Island to school left Great Barrier for Whangarei airport at Onerahi yesterday. He is Joseph Cooper. An aeroplane had to be specially chartered to take him to school in time for. the commencement of the term tomorrow. Had he waited for the regular boat service to the island he would have been a week late in' arriving at school. A "Wet" Race Meeting The Masterton Racing Club will be able to have a publican's booth at its March meeting if the chairman of the Wairarapa Licensing Committee considers that a permit for the clay is desirable, said Mr. G. H. ■ Mackley, M.P., at last night's meeting of the Masterton Chamber of Commerce. "After February 27 the people of thelormer Masterton no-license district will be able to bring liquor into the area without any notification to the police," added Mr. Macklev. Preservation of Relics Preservation oi ihe Houhou Pole on the bank of the Wanganui River, immediately below the junction with the Ohura River, is wanted by the curator of the Wanganui Public Museum, who is to have the supporo of the Wanganui City Council on this matter. The council is to write to the Departmenfi of Internal Affairs, urging that an officer of the department should investigate this and other historic spots on the river, with a view to their preservation and, if necessary, their declaration- as national scenic reserves. Kemp'f Pole was suggested by Cr. G. P. Hawkins as another historic relic which should be preserved. Shortage of Hospital Staif . Because of - the shortage of nurses at the Westland Public- Hospital, all except seriously sick or injured patients were diseharged . from the institution this week, and cnly urgent cases would be admitted in the future, or until . the staffing position improved, said the medical superin^endent (Dr. E J. Velvin) last week, If the position failed to improve, a more drastic step would have to be taken and one ward would be closed. The position had been growing gradually worse for some time, said Dr. Velvin. He added that the present nursing staff was or_ly 60 per cent. of the normal requirements. The domestic staff was also four short, and in spite of assistanc^ from school^irls and voluntary workers- the combined shortr ges resulted in the nurses b^ing compelled to work very long h.ours, and they were unable to take the free periods they normally would enjoy The position, he said. was desperate, and the reduced staff could not cope with the work and success- * fully attend to patients.