WANGANUI JOTTINGS.

Dominion, Volume 6, Issue 1643, 9 January 1913, Page 8

WANGANUI JOTTINGS.

(By Telegraph— Special Correspondent.) ' —T— ♦ : ' Wanganui, January 8. , The amalgamation between the Borough of Wanganui and Wanganui East having taken effect on January 1, the two councils at their first, meeting last evening for 1913 sat together as one body. This arrangement will. continue till next municipal election in April, when a council of twelve members will be elected in piacc of nine as formerly. After a long delay, chiefly owing to tho haivy estimated cost of the :.. original scheme, a modified scheme of drainage, as drawn up by the. new borough engineer, lias, been adopted for the suburb of Aramoho, and a start will be made with the work at' an early date. The drainage of Durietown is being steadily pushed ahead, and the greater part of the work is now. completed. ' 'The Wanganui tramways did record business during December,' particularly during the holidays, when, owing to the troubles 'in'•the 1 engine-room,• the power ■staff were on one; or two occasions hard put to it ,to copa with the heavy loading. All " difficulties were overcome, however, and the service was. maintained without any .stoppage.'/ The number of passengers carried during the month was: 197,748, as against 146,69/: lor December,~7l9ll, wfiilo the.6ar mileage run was 20,877 miles, against 16,329 tor tlio.corresponding molith of the ! previous year. . The total revenue was £1739 : g5'. , 11d. > of which the Borough Council's share was JE1665 Bs. 2d., which includes .£345 .15s/9d. paid by, the Goh--ville-Castlecliff Tramway Board for power' and other running'expenses. The. Board has hitherto been able to pay. all running cosis, biit 'its surplus has not bwh. sufficient to. pay!interest and sinking fund in addition. Last month,-however, for the first time, tlia 'board received sufficient revenue to pay all charges for which it is liable.,: - ; • V , ' ''