NORTH OTAGO NEWS

Press, Volume LXXVI, Issue 23209, 21 December 1940, Page 15

NORTH OTAGO NEWS

GIRL’S DEATH BY DROWNING VERDICT AT INQUEST COMMENT BY CORONER At the inquest yesterday morning Into the death of a little girl, Bethia Anne Stronach (aged nearly two years), the Coroner (Mr A. W. Woodward, J.P.) returned a verdict that death had been due to accidental drowning in the duckpond at the Oamaru Public Gardens on December 17. He said that there was no evidence or suggestion of neglect on the part of Patricia Kemp (the High School girl who took the small girl to the gardens). “These matters,” said the Coroner, ‘‘are prejudged before they are put before the public in proper form.” He said that Miss Kemp deserved every sympathy in the painful occurrence. Mr Woodward expressed his sympathy to the child’s parents, Mr and Mrs Keith Stronach, of Severn street. Mr H. J. S. Grater, who appeared for Miss Kemp, expressed appreciation of the way the police had acted.

PERSONAL NOTES

OAMARU

The Mayor of Oamaru (Mr L. J. K. Famllton), at the Borough Council meeting on Thursday night, referred to the death of Mr Robert Ferguson, who had volunteered for military service, and had gone into camp. Mr Ferguson was a man of sterling character, he said, and one of the most popular men in the camp. Sympathy was expressed with the family. Sympathy was also expressed with Mr and Mrs Keith Stronach, whose daughter was drowned at the Public Gardens on Tuesday.

OAMARU BOROUGH COUNCIL

MONTHLY MEETING HELD The Mayor (Mr L. J. K, Familton) presided at the monthly meeting of the Oamaru Borough Council on Thursday night. A request from the Friendly Bay Improvement Society that a grant of £SO be again allowed in next year’s estimates was referred to the finance committee. The traffic inspector (Mr N. E. Colville) reported that it was expected that all the parking notices, and street name plates would' be erected within the next week, and posts at pedestrian crossings were being attended to. The Mayor, for the Mayoress, thanked Mrs E. A. Fox and Mr R. Jenkins and their committees for their help in relief work. He also expressed appreciation of the patriotic work of the town clerk (Mr J. Branthwaite), and county clerk (Mr R. K. Gardiner) and others.

MEMBER CONGRATULATED WAITAKI COUNTY COUNCIL The Waitaki County Council at its monthly meeting yesterday congratulated Mr A. H, Nordmeyer, M.P., on being recommended for appointment to Cabinet rank. Mr James Rodman (chairman) presided. The foreman (Mr A. Nuttall) reported that highway maintenance to ensure safety for holiday traffic was being attended to. Accounts totalling £7217 15s 2d were passed for payment. The foreman reported that sealing operations were in progress between Georgetown and Otekaieke. There was only width for one-way traffic at Waikaura bridge, and a culvert was being constructed one'mile north of Oamaru, where care was needed in passing.

EIGHTY-NINE APPEALS FROM SERVICE

In a two-days’ sitting in Oamaru the Otago Manpower Committee dealt with 89 appeals against being called up for military service. Mr D. C. Cameron (chairman) presided. One appeal was granted, three were adjourned sine die, and a number adjourned until March, 1941.

OAMARU SWIMMING CLUB The Oamaru Amateur Swimming Club’s 50 yards freestyle race, for the vice-pre-sident's cup, was decided on Thursday night. Result: Final—F. Robertson 1, Houghton 2, L Bain 3. Time, 31 3-Ssec.

AMATEUR ATHLETICS

WEEKLY MEETING HELD AT ENFIELD

There were large fields at the weekly athletic meeting of the North Otago Amateur Athletic Association, which was held this week at Enfield. The general standard was'improved. Results: — Men’s Events 100 Yards —Race I: E. Mitchell (3yds) 1, A. Holland (2yds) 2, X. Hedges (4yds) 3. Time, 10 4-ssec. Race II: L. Fagg (4yds) 1, R. Allen (4yds) 2. F. Diver (3yds) 3. Time, 11 l-ssec. Race III: R. Ingles (Iyd) 1, I, Gardiner (3yds) 2. V. Bain (scr) 3. Time, Usee. 73 yards—S. Holland l, Nolan 2. B. Buzan 3. Time. 9sec. 880 yards—Gardiner (65yds) 1, K. O’Connor (50yds) 2, F. Diver (40yds) 3. Time, 2mln 1 3-ssec. Shot put—Senior; Allen (7ft) 1. W. Diver (Bft) 2, L. Smith (7ft) 3. Distance, 34ft 311n. Junior: Gardiner (scr) 1, Ingles (9in) 2, Bain (7ft) 3. Distance, 34ft lOin. Discus—Junior: Bain (12ft) 1, S. Holland (17ft) and O’Connor (10ft), equal, 2. Distance, 99ft lOJln. Relay— Senior: E. Mitchell, R, McKone, F. Diver, Allen (10yds) 1, Junior: Bain, R. Turnbull, Nolan, H. Harvey (scr) 1.

Women’s Events 75 Yards—Race I: E. McKone (scr) 1, D. Adams (scr) and F. Sim (syds), equal, 2. Race II; J. Prentice (7yds) 1, J. Andrew (6yds) 2, V, Burgess (3yds) 3. Time, 9 l-ssec. Long Jump—D. Adams (l£t) 1. B. Forbes (scr) and E. McKone (Ift 3in), equal, 2. Distance, 16ft lin. Discus; A. McDougall (18ft) 1, J. Andrew (18ft) 2, I. McNaughton (15ft) 3. Distance, 87ft Olin. Relay—Z. Horton, I. McNaughton, J. Prentice, A. Craig (28yds) and D, Adams, D. Stock, E. McKone, and V. Burgess (scr), equal, 1.

BOWLS INTER-CENTRE FIXTURES PLANNED Arrangements for fixtures with Canterbury and South Canterbury were made at a meeting of the North Otago Bowling Centre on Thursday night. Mr H. C. Jetfery (president) was in the chair. The date suggested by the Christchurch Centre, February 8, for the annual intercentre Barnett tiki match, was confirmed, and it was agreed that the match be played at Phoenix.

The date of the Murray bowl trophy match with South Canterbury was confirmed for February 1. It was agreed that this match should also be played at Phoenix. The .secretary stated that he had advised the Dunedin Centre that April 5 would be a suitable date for the annual intercentre fixture. He was asked to write to the Dunedin Centre requesting that the North Otago Centre be represented in the interprovincial match—Otago v. Canterbury—for the Redpath shield. The bowling clubs affiliated to the North Otago Centre have raised £lO7 9s 5d for patriotic funds. The secretary said that he had given this information to the Dominion Centre in response to an inquiry.

PUKEUKI HOME GUARD UNIT The Pukeuri Home Guard unit held its first parade on Tuesday. There were five' new recruits, bringing the total strength to 50. Mr R. K. Ireland was elected chairman and Mr D. R. Corson secretary at the first meeting of thd executive of the Oamaru Home Guard, It was announced that the enrolments in the town, to date, were 300, and that arrangements were in train to secure a room in the main street early in the New Year, the room to be used as a recruiting office.

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SHIPPING

PORT OF 0 AMARU [THE PRESS Special Service.] OAMARU, December 20. The Karu is expected on Monday; Do* cember 23, to load for Wellington. Nelson, and New Plymouth. The Walnui is due early in January to load for Wellington, Napier, and Gisborne. The Waipiata is expected early next month to load for Wellington and-Auck-land.