OAMARU ITEMS

Evening Star, Issue 22577, 19 February 1937, Page 12

OAMARU ITEMS

BOROUGH COUNCIL MEETING The fortnightly meeting of the Oamaru Borough Council was held last night, there being present the mayor (Mr M. F. E. Cooney), Crs L. Macrae, R. Jenkins, A. R. Tait, 6. White, F, Butterfield, G. Mitchell, A. Wilson, N. H. Colquhoun, G. T. Gillies, K. Familton, J. C. Kirkuess, and A. E.« Hodge. The Finance Committee reported a credit balance in the district fund account of £2,333 9s 6d, and accounts totalling £1,069 Os 2d were passed for payment. Mr J. W. Rogerson’s request for a grant for the Sailors’- Rest was deferred until April, as the previous donation was made in April, 1936. The Finance Committee notified that the Athenaeum Committee’s request for a grant to assist in the upkeep of the library as well as the reading room was deferred for consideration with the estimates.—Adopted. With reference to W. M. Marshall’s complaint of threatened erosion of his property at Borton’s, the Waterworks Committee recommended that the matter be referred to the race inspector with the suggestion that he consider the planting of willows at the intake.— Adopted* The By-laws Committee recommended that the Master Carriers’ Association be advised that .when the council had necessary authority to agree to fixation of charges it would go into the matter further. —Adopted. The Town Hall Committee recommended that permission to exhibit pictures on Good Friday be refused the Fuller - Hayward Corporation. —Adopted. , It was agreed to inform petitioners that Chelmer street would be tar-sealed in its order. ■ The offer of Dewar and Al'Kenzie to convert the present solid tyres on the Thornycroft \ to pneumatic tyres was accepted, the estimate price being £75 10s. _ _ The race inspector (Mr D. I'raser) reported that the Waitaki River remained at a constantly high level during the month. A plentiful supply of water was available at the intake gates, and approximately 16 heads of water were maintained in the race without difficulty. With the exception of short periods of discolouration during the latter week, due to Alaerewhenua mining tailings, the race supply remained satisfactory, with the reservoir also in good condition during the last fortnight.—The report was received. —Meat Supply Dispute.— Stating that he was aggrieved and that the remarks directed at him _ at the previous meeting were a reflection on his reputation, Cr F. Butterfield told the mayor (Mr M. F. E. Cooney) that he had in consequence been placed in a false position over the question of Oamaru’s meat supply. When reference had first been made about the Oamaru Abattoirs he had quoted figures without discriminating between cows and heifers;; but in view of the divergence of opinion and the acrimony that had been evinced over the matter he thought it only right that the figures he had obtained should be given separately. .. “ I have been aggrieved since the last meeting over the remarks directed by you as a result of the figures I quoted,” stated Cr Butterfield in addressing the mayor. “Have you got figures from any other town?” asked the mayor. “If you quote comparisons of other towns it is not fair.’-’ • Cr Butterfield :; No.. The figures I have were supplied to me from the abattoirs.' .The Mayori This sort of thing is no good for the town..' Cr Butterfield: I think it better if the public knew the exact truth _ The Mayor: Do. you-want to, make it worse for the town? Your figures are hot based on' facts; the authorities should Havebeen'approached. It v> the worst thing for the town. “I do.not. think.it. was fair to approach the authorities on .the matter,” answered Cr Butterfield. The Mayor: You were chairman of the Abattoirs Committee once; therefore you should know the facts. Continuing to question Cr' Butterfield, the Mayor asked where the former had received his first set of figures. Cr Butterfield explained that he hadi rung up the manager, but was told he was not in. He had then asked the next in charge to give him the figures. He was not attempting to hide. He considered it necessary at the time to get the figures ap one particular man was being treated (in his opinion at any rate) unfairly. That was all there was to it. There was nothing in the figures to cause perturbation. If he had written to the papers —and he had not done so yet—he would dp so under his own name; he wanted no unpleasantness. 1 “You say you have been accused; you mean you want to make good what harm you have done,” interposed the Mayor. Cr Butterfield: The figures are not misleading. He then quoted the following table of figures as supplied in the first instance:—December, 1936: 32 cows, 96 heifers, 58 steers. In the last fortnight the following beasts were slaughtered;—4B cows, 58 heifers, 24 steers. The table as supplied by the manager was as follows :—1934-35 : November—s 6 cows, 160 heifers and steers; December—3l, 162; January—36, 185. For 1935-36; November—3l, 174; December—26, 164; January—2s, 187. For 1936-37: November—2s, 181; December—27, 160; January—sl, 150. Totals (for the three years respectively) : 103, 507; 82, 525; 103, 491. These figures disclosed, said 1 Cr Butterfield, no discrimination, and made the position neither better nor worse. Mr Cooney emphasised that such figures were of no use unless they represented a whole year. “You certainly deserve commendation for such illuminating information,” he com- 1 , mented. > Cr Jenkins thought the whole mat-' ter had gone too far; it were better to leave well alone. Cr White insisted 'on making an explanation at this stage. He sajd the public were running away with the idea that the mayor had slated him. All he had done in the first place was to go out to the abattoirs to see how they were -bleeding and flaying the beasts. “ You accused me last time that I should have reported the matter to the council,” pointed out Cr White. The Mayor: Did you see the cows killed? Cr White; No. I reported to the council that night. “ If you thought the stock w r as unfit for human consumption you should have reported it to the manager," said the Mayor. Cr White answered that the manager was away at the time. He did not want to make bad'friends; but he felt

he had justified the slaughtermen by his stand. Unfortunately it had been a bad advertisement for the town. “ Do you think it fair to the butchers of the town to that they are supplying meat that is unfit for human consumption?” asked the Mayor. The statements published in the papers hy anonymous correspondents were unfair, he said. Such writers obviously had a kink in that direction, and they were certainly not acting in the interests of the town. “This has been a shocking thing for Oamaru. The actions of such correspondents as have contributed articles anent the abattoirs and the meat supply generally are to be deprecated,” was the Mayor’s final corner Macrae thought it well that the matter had been ventilated, as it was only right the public should know whether or not they were being supplied with good food. The remark made that they should let well alone was not in the best interests. He felt that the Government inspector was quite qualified, and that the town was being supplied with the best meat. LAWN TENNIS ASSOCIATION A meeting of the executive of the -North Otago Lawn Tennis Association was held last night. The president (Mr S. G. M'Dougall) was in the chair, and others present were Messrs B. B. Walton, G. Knowles, K. MacDonald, K. Spooner, W. Anderson, J. hamilIt was decided that the postponed matches against the Waihao and the Southern Sub-associations be played on February 27, the Waihao match to be played at Waimate and against Southern at Oamaru. It ivas agreed on the motion of Mr J. Familton that the senior competition be closed, and that the association’s congratulations be conveyed to the Oamaru Club on winning the competition. * . . Owing to the indisposition of Miss Dora Miller, it was decided not to nominate any player for inclusion in the Otago team to play Canterbury for the Kathleen Nunneley Casket on March 11 and 12. A letter was received from the Southland Association anent the representative match against North Otago at Oamaru on Saturday. The team will arrive here to-night, and play will commence at 10.30 a.in. on Saturday. Arrangements were made for the entertainment of the .visitors during their stay in the town. It was loft to Messrs Al'Dougall and B. B. Walton to instruct Mr J. H. Main to prepare an estimate of the cost of a transfer of tho Columba courts from the Old Hill Club to the North Otago Association; also to ascertain whether Mr Main would be prepared to act as honorary solicitor to tho association. # ... The draw for the junior competition until March 13 is as follows February 27: Pukeuri v. Columba, at Pukeuri. March 6: Awamoa v. Pukeuri, at Awamoa; Columba v. Meadowbank, at Columba. March 13: Awamoa v. Columba, at Awamoa; Oamaru v. Wesley, at Oamaru; Meadowbank v. Papakaio, at Meadowbank. —Around the Clubs.— Despite the fact that a number of tho Awamoa members are at present on vacation several interesting matches have resulted. The senior men’s championship was brought nearer conclusion with two noteworthy encounters. C. J. L. Mollison beat J. Familton to the tune of 9-7, 11-9, after a marathon struggle. Both players were in good form, and resorted to long rallies and net duels. The game was devoid of colour for the most part, and baseline volleying and driving were the chief characteristics. Maude beat Glass, 6-3, 7-5. This game was also evenly contested, although the winner was more accurate and varied his play with nice judgment. Glass was perhaps a little unlucky to lose the second set, but dropped his service at the ninth game to allow Maude to take the lead. A surprise was caused by the defeat of Miss Humphries at the hands of Miss J. Shayle George. The score, 6-4. 6-1, was a good indication of the play and of the respective merits of the contestants. —Familton Cup Competition.— • Since the draw was announced for the Familton Cup competition series some good matches have been witnessed. To date the second round has been concluded, with several surprising results. Only one match in the third round has so far been played, that between J. Walton and J. Familton, the former winning 6-3, 6-4.. Following are the results to date: — M'Kinnon beat L. South, 6-2, 6-3: L. Henry beat Ross, 6-4, 1-6, 6-2; Feathers beat 6-1, 6-4; J. Walton beat Dunkley, 6-2, 6-1;. Familton beat Rees, 3-6, 6-2, 7-5; M'Dougall beat C. Maude. 6-2, 6-3; Walton beat Familton (third round), 6-3, 6-4. —North Otago Ladder.— It is. encouraging to note that more interest is being taken in the North Otago ladder. Two recent matches were long-drawn out and were productive of a good standard of play. Maude beat Giffin, 6-4, 6-4; and J. Walton withstood a challenge from C. Maude, 1-6, 7-5, 6-4. A stinging service materially assisted Walton in winning the latter match.

SCHEME FOR IMMIGRATION ■—New Zealand Under-populated.— That New Zealand was under-popu-lated and that it might he in the interests of this country generally to bring in the right type of person, was the opinion of the mayor (Mr M. F. E. Oooney), when referring to the proposed Salvation Army scheme for immigration from England to New Zealand at the Oamaru Borough Council meeting last night. He stated that Brigadier A. Green (Wellington) had visited him in connection with the matter, there being present Adjutant Horsham, Messrs F. Milner, D. Simpson, and A. W. Woodward (Farmers’ Union), and various aspects of the question were raised. The services rendered by Commissioner Lamb, and the success attending his efforts, were commented on, as also the part now being taken in addressing public meetings by the Speaker of the House of Representatives (Mr W. E. Barnard). “ I am not an alarmist, but New Zealand is definitely under-populated,” said the Mayor. He remarked, however, that the question was whether they should assist to bring about proper immigration. It required that the right type of person should be brought to this country; otherwise immigration would be harmful to the Dominion. _ Cr Colquhoun thought they should invite Mr Barnard to Oamaru to _ address a public meeting on the subject. Tho Mayor agreed that this should be done, and on being put to the meeting it was agreed unanimously to invite Mr Barnard to give an address on the matter..

EROSION PROBLEM IS NATIONAL QUESTION More about the erosion problem along the Oamaru foreshore was heard at the meeting of the Oamaru Borough Council last night, when Cr F. Butterfield raised the point of waiting on the Hon. D. G. Sullivan, who will visit this town next week, in connection with the council’s trouble along the foreshore. He considered the erosion was a national question, and every opportunity should be given the Minister to see the matter in its proper perspective. It was only fair to the public, he thought, that the Government, should be made acquainted with every feature of the problem. Cr N. H. Colquhoun remarked that it might be better to call a public meeting, particularly if there was a diversity of opinion on the matter. The mayor (Mr M. F. Cooney) said he was in favour of the proposal, but there would have to be. unanimity; otherwise a deputation would, go for nought. , _ After further discussion it was agreed, on the motion of Cr Butterfield, that a deputation wait on the Minister. REGIMENTAL BAND CONCERT Unfavourable weather did not. deter a goodly number of people from frequenting the Gamaru Gardens last night on the occasion of the third municipal concert given by the Otago Fifth Mounted Rifles Band, under the conductorship of Lieutenant G. M. Whale. A varied programme was arranged to suit the tastes of all, and the presentation was' much enjoyed. ’ - ' MILK IN SCHOOLS Regarding the Government’s proposed scheme to introduce milk into schools, the Oamard Child Welfare Association is already providing a , daily ration of half a pint of milk to undernourished children attending the North and South Schools and St. Patrick’s and St. Joseph’s. The Mayor of Oamaru has been asked to convene a meeting of members of Parliament, Education Board representatives, school committees, Parents’ Association representatives, head teachers’ associations, representatives of private schools, and organisations already actively interested in the distribution of milk to school children. The mayor proposed to call a meeting early next week. SHARK KILLED IN HARBOUR Much interest was aroused yesterday morning when a shark was seen close inshore near the bathing sheds at Friendly Bay. Several persons were bathing nearby at the time, but were made aware of their proximity to danger by onlookers, and a hasty retreat to the shore followed. The shark kept coming close inshore, and eventually it was killed by a man with a large knife. Tho fish was a little over 4ft in length. This is the first occasion for many months on which a shark has been seen in the Oamaru Harbour. PERSONAL The borough foreman (Mr _ K. M'Lean) advised tho council last night that Mr William M'Culloch would be retiring at tho end of the month on superannuation. He had been on the borough staff for over 31 years, and had given good and faithful • service. At

all times had he been a loyal uud cient servant. —The Mayor stated that he regretted Mr M'Culloch was severing his connection with the council, and. joined with the foreman in saying that the retiring servant had done iexcellent service. He moved that they place on record appreciation of This services to the borough, and that Mr M'Culloch be given three" months’ holiday on xml pay. This was agreed to. „ . Mr K. M'Lean (borough foreman) and Mrs M'Lean will leave Oamaru to-morrow on a fortnight’s vacation in the south, calling at Dunedin, Gore, Invercargill, and Bluff. ; . ■ ■ . • Miramar Hotel guests: Mr J. Rodger, Mr Holland, Mr J. M'Dowell, Mr J. Brown, Mr Larsen, Mr T. Haigh (Dunedin) t Mr and Mrs Hatsam (Invercargill), Miss F. Spedin (Gore), Mr Cannon (Timaru), Mr Tosswill, Mr Lamb, Mr Hone (Christchurch), Mr and Mrs, Brough (Middlemaroh). _ Queen’s Hotel guests: Miss J. S. Kidd, Mr D. H. Meryweather, Mr J. H. Corrigall (Auckland), Mr T. C. Roberts (Wellington), Mr D. G. Drewett, Mr and Mrs J. S. Prentice, Miss Prentice, Mrs Gellatty (Christchurch), Mr J. M'Millan (Ashburton), Air J. N. Murdoch, Mr J. H. Allen, Air J. A. Bradley (Dunedin), Air and Mrs J. AySmith,' Aliss Daphne . Smith, Aliss Yvonne Smith, Mrs A. C. H. Hayles, Aliss Hayles, Aliss AUCarthy (InvercarS New Club Hotel guests: Air A. N. Al'Leod, Air J. S. Nicolson (Dunedin),. Air H. C. Fabling, Air T. R. Taylor (Christchurch), Air A. G. Sutherland, Air J. S. Bruce (Auckland), Air and Airs R. M'Kenzie (Invercargill), Dr E. G. Bevvy, Air R. S. Stewart (Wellington), ; :