NORTH OTAGO NOTES

Evening Star, Issue 23146, 21 December 1938, Page 14

NORTH OTAGO NOTES

[From Odr Oamaru Correspondent.] WAITAKI POWER BOARD. At the monthly meeting of the Waitaki Power Board it was decided that, except in the case of final readings, a charge of 2s 6d for town and 5s for country be made for the reading of meters at holiday times. The chairman (Mr J. M'Diarmid) assured Mr E. D. Watts, who waited on the board and sought assistance, in the way of special lighting for community week, that the board would help in every way possible. The Finance Committee reported that cash receipts for November were: — Current £2,899 (November last year £2,192), fittings and house-wiring £1,418 (£896), cash sales £7O (£3B), total £4,388 (£3,127). At November 30 advances under range terms totalled £20,792, and by payments this had been reduced to £7,805. The engineer (Mr I. Dalmer) reported that, in November, 11 ranges, 14 waterheaters, and nine motors were installed, 13 new installations connected, 92 extensions and alterations were carried out. Thunderstorms gave anxiety in the back country, but, except for troublesome fuse-blowings, no damage occurred. Units purchased and generated totalled 1,064,523, an increase of 16 per cent, on November, 1937. MAGISTRATE’S COURT. The weekly sitting of the Oamaru Magistrate’s Court began yesterday, before Mr H. W. Bundle, S.M. Thomas Robert George Cox was charged with breaking and entering the <*arave of Dewar and M'Kenzie and stealmv articles valued at £32 11s 6d. He was admitted to probation for three years, conditional on making destitution, of £2 10s to Messrs Dewar and M'Kenzie, and on a charge of stealing motor car accessories he was fined £o and ordered to pay 18s 8d expenses. For drunkenness in a _ railway carriage, Archibald John Kirk was fined 5s and William Albert Johns 20s. For failing to give way to a vehicle approaching from the right, Francis Peter Simmons was fined 12s and costs For driving a motor truck without due care and attention, Donald M Nean Copland was fined 10s and costs 19s 6d. AUTOMOBILE ASSOCIATION. Mr W. Gillies presided at the meeting of the Automobile Association (North Otago) last night, and reported that the new building at the Oamaru motor camp had been completed, givin°r improved facilities for campers. The snace at the camp was being rapidly booked upIt was decided to supply two warning signs for the road passing the Otekaiko School. A grant of £2 2s was voted to the Kurow Health Camp. The tender of G. T. Gillies of £l3 17s 6d for installing an electric light and water-heating system at the motor camp was accepted. The Wellington Association advised that patrols were meeting steamers to assist motorists bring\pg cars from the South Island. Mr R. B. Meek (membership canvasser) reported that 108 new members had joined the association. It was decided to ask tho Oamaru Borough Council to have the top end of the camp ground levelled and the fence strengthened. HIGH SCHOOL CADETS. Advice has been received that tho Waitaki High School Cadets, with an average of 79.10, had been selected as tho winning company, to hold the Islington Challenge Cup for tho year 1939. VALEDICTORY. A very large gathering met at the St. Paul’s Hall to hid farewell to the Rev. J. M. and Mrs McKenzie. Mr M'Kenzie has been appointed assistant director of missions. The Rev lan Dixon presided. On behalf of tho citizens, the Mayor of Oamaru _ (Mr K. Familton) wished the MJKenzie family every prosperity and said they would be greatly missed. Other speakers were Mr F. Milner (rector, Waitaki Boys’ High School), Miss J : B. Wilson (principal, Waitaki Girls’ High School), Mr E. F. Armstrong (president, Oamaru Rotary Club), the Revs. W. Lawson Marsh (Columba Church), B. Plumb (St. Luke’s), H. 0. Bowman (Moderator, Oamaru Mr E. D. Watts (for the congregation), and Mrs H. Hay (St. Paul’s P.W.M.U.). Mr Bowman said that, when Mr M'Kenzie arrived, St. Paul’s was the fourteenth largest congregation in the Dominion, and to-day it was eighth, the membership having increased from 476 to 515. _ Mr W. Kinder presented Mr M'Kenzie with a wellfilled wallet and a framed photograph of the office-bearers of the church, and Irs Hay presented a handbag to Mrs M'Kenzie.