WESTPORT NOTES

Grey River Argus, 8 February 1941, Page 9

WESTPORT NOTES

[our Own Correspondent] High Tides at Westport: Saturday, 8 —7.30 a.m.; 7.58 p.m. Sunday ■ 9—8.20 a.m.; 8.40 p.m. Monday, 10—9.5 a.m.; 9.25 p.m. Tuesday, 11—9 47 a.m.; 10.10 p.m. : Shipping: WESTPORT, February 7. The Kiwilea is in port loading coal for Auckland and is expected to be . despatched to-morrow. The Kaimiro is in port loading coat , for Napier and Wellington, and is expected to be despatched on Saturday morning. , . The Wingatui is loading coal lor . Wellington and will probably sail on Sunday morning. The Kaitoa is due from Motueka ( to-morrow to load coal for Picton. ( The Titoki is expected from New < Plymouth on Tuesday to load coal for . return to the same port. The Nikau is expected from Wellington on Wednesday to load coal , for Nelson. • ; Personal: Mr Wm. Sherlock, former Borough . Overseer, has resigned from the staff of the Westport Borough Council after 35 years’ service. Mr J. W. Stowell and Miss Stowell have returned from a visit to Nelson. Automobile Association: The monthly meeting of the Executive of the Buller branh of the Automobile Association (Canterbury), was held at the office of the Secretary, Mr W. E. L. Gay. The Secretary was instructed to write to the Minister ot j Labour, impressing upon him the necessity of tar-sealing that portion ot the Westport-Karamea.road from the 7-mile to the 10-mile peg. The chairman detailed his efforts with the local Oil Fuel Controller and he advised the executive that the local Oil B uel Committee- was merely an advisory committee and that the final decision rested with the Oil Fuel Controller. The Committee of the A.A.C. were of the opinion that regular monthly meetings should be called. Mr T. Parfitt was appointde to represent the A.A.C. on the Communications Committee, which had been appointed in connection with the Emergency Precautions Scheme. The proposal to change the meeting night was lost oa a show of hands. It was reported that the railway sign on the Granity side of Kerr’s crossing was obscured and it was agreed to ask the Buller County Council to cut away the scrub. Complaints had been received that motorists had not adhered to the road sign near the Birchfield School, which indicates that the speed is to be 30 miles per hour. Members of the executive expressed the opinion that the attention of motorists should be drawn to this matter. Motorists complained that it was difficult on wet nights to ascertain whether they were on the correct side of the road when passing through Granity. The secretary was instructed to write to the Buller County Council asking that a white line be painted down the centre of the road. It was mentioned that the present sign in Brougham Street should be removed to the Orowaili Bridge, as the town boundary now extended’ that far. Complaints were made that the iron coverings on me Orcwaiti bridge were noisy. The secretary was asked to write the Buller County Council asking to have these fixed. School Certificate Examinations: The following is a list of successful candidates in the School Certificate Examinations given in alphabetical order:— Pass: Avery, Raymond Ross; Brown, Thomas Connell; Burchfield, Gladys Florence, Granity; Corbett, David Ashley; Edmunds, Margaret, Denniston; Hennessey, Lorene Cecila; Fair, James William; Kendon, Lois Dulcie; McPadden, Edward Francis: Muir, Mary Metcalfe, Denniston; Ransby Jock Franklin, Granity; Smith, John Eric. Partial Pass: Kendon, Keith Hubert; Lovell, Bryan Lawrence; Roselli, Margaret Helen.

Borough Affairs: At the monthly meeting of the Borough Council, there were present: Mr J. M. Robertson (Mayor), Crs. J‘. Stowell, G. Taylor, O. L. Nahr, J. Fairbairn, H. Thomas, A. Ridsdale, M O’Dea, W. P. Caldwell, J. Radford and the Town Clerk (Mr Arthur Taylor). * St. Joan's Tennis Club forwarded £lOO towards cost of court repairs. S. Higgins and others petitioned for the opening of Hazeldine Street. Notice of the bankruptcy of T. I. Fish and Co. was received. A letter was received which pointed out that the footpaths in Palmerston Street and Rintoul Street outside the St. James Theatre were badly in need of attention. Cr. Fairbairn criticised the time spent on street repairs. Good weather before Christmas should have been taken advantage of to repair the town streets. Instead work had been done in the country. The Buller Valley Dairy Co., enquired when the costs of electric power would be reduced, as the company was contemplating extending its business and installing new electrical plant. Cr. O’Dea said the Council should do everything within its power to encourage the extension of this company’s business. It was decided to inform the Company that as soon as the Council was in a position to notify it of the cost of the new power, it would do so. A letter was received from' the Minister of Defence, (Hon. F. Jones) re. Carter’s Beach Aerodrome. The scheme was tied up with the improvement of the Westport harbour, and that it was not contemplated that the latter scheme would be begun during the war. The position could be met by constructing an additional runway. The original scheme would involve securing rights over 123 acres of adjoining freehold land of which only 13 acres were ( necessary for the additional runway. The letter said -“The policy in regard to such matters is, that, if the Government is satisfied that me construction on an aerodrome m an v locality is warranted, then, provided the local authority or local authorities interested are prepared to acquire the land, the Government will meet the actual’ costs of construction and undertake to maintain for the first year.” The letter suggested that the County Council should also be consulted on the matter as it came within their province too. It further suggested that an Airport Board should be formed, such a body to consist of interested parties and representatives of the local Aero Clun. The Council decided to go into the matter with the County Council and the following committee was appoint-

ed to wait upon that body: The Mayor Mr J. M. Robertson), and Crs. O’Dea and Thomas. Mr H. W. Sherlock wrote announcing his resignation from the Council staff, after 35 years 7 service. The resignation was received with regret and an appreciation ol: Mr Sherlock’s service placed on record. Mr Stowell criticised taxi fares in Westport and suggested the Council procure a ’bus. The idea did not meet with favour, because of the high cost of such a vehicle. It was decided to enquire from the Commissioner ol Transport whether fares could be reduced. Cr. Stowell suggested that the Borough foundation stone be renovated. Cr. Taylor criticised the state of the morgue. Windows were broken and sanitary conditions were bad. Cr. Caldwell agreed and said that he would do all in his power to improve conditions at the morgue. It was decided that the Hospital Board’s attention be brought to the matter. Cr. Thomas complained as to tne clearing up of the Orowaiti Cemetery. The work should have been clone under contract. Even if such a contract cost £5O, it would be money well spent. Cr. O'Dea also criticised the state of the cemetery. Motions were passed and jobs authorised, but were not carried out immediately. The following recommendations by the Town Hall Committee were adopted;—That no further plastering be done on certain parts of the new Town Hall, that Thomas Andrews and Sons be asked to submit a price for plastering the clock tower; that Mt’ A McDonald, the architect, be instructed to engage no additional plasterers; and that the Mayor and Town Clerk go to Wellington to arrange tor finance to complete the building. Cr. Stowell moved that the Minister of Education be approached | with the object of securing half an acre of the old State School site, the said land to be used for the erection of a hall for municipal purposes. The motion was passed. Cr. Fairbairn said the Mayor would see that works authorised by the Council were carried out. Cr. Taylor defended the Mayor. Accounts for £5,378 were passed. The Borough Foreman reported as follows: —Scheme 13 men have been engaged on the following works:— Digging drains and cutting gorse from Packington Street, to Henley Street; also Domett Street; getting gravel for Town Hall, assisting in putting in new sewerage and storm water pipes to Town Hall; mixing asphalt and putting down same on Queen Street footpath, grading water tables and putting asphalt curbing down; patching footpath from the town end of Palmerston Street to Wakefield Street; also along Brougham Street. They have assisted the carpenter at the Swimming Baths erecting stand for diving board, also‘out on the pipe-fine and other general work. Several blocked sewers and storm water drains have been attended to, and others when pipes were broken, have been replaced with new ones. Several sumps have been cleared also. The blacksmith has been engaged on quite a lot of new work as well as maintenance work. The painter has been engaged, at the Swimming Baths; also at the manager of the Abbatoir’s house. Mr K. Powell has made a start cutting the grass on the Hanks of street and is doing good work. He has a machine that is more suitable for the job than ours, and much more would have been done had it not been for ail the rain lately. Mr Hogan has made a start on the bottom of Palmerston ' Street with the hot mix, but had to cease owing to bad weather. The mechanic has been fully occupied on repair work. The Borough Inspector reported: — Six candidates were examined for mo- ' tor-drivers’ licenses, five passed and were duly licensed, one failing. The Electricity Committee recommendations were adopted as follows: ’ That the question of supplying elec--1 trie current to county residents be ’ deferred for six months; and Wesi- : port Swimming Club be advised that ’ owing to difficulty in procuring ma- ■ terials it is not possible to place eiec- : trie lights in the cubicles (dressing ; sheds at the baths); that applications ’ be invited for the position of meter 1 reader in the place of Mr T. Menzies, who ha's joined the Air Force, applicants to be between the ages of 16 and 18 years; the sixth standard to * be the educational qualifications and ' the salary payable for the position to ' be in accordance with the Clerical ■ Award; that no action be taken in the ’ meantime regarding changing of reading meters from monthly, to bimonthly (Cr. Fairbairn voting against); that the Westport Coal ‘ Company be written to regarding the ; black-outs (three) since the com- ' mencement of the supply of current i from Denniston, pointing out the seri- ’ ousness of the position in connection with harbour lights, etc. The Electrical Engineer reported:— The estimated cost of supplying current to County residents who had made application for same would be £2,307. At the Power Station at Fairdown, the installation of the new metering equipment and alterations to various circuits have now been completed and alterations have also been made to control the by-wash light from the attendant’s cottage. The Acting-Telegraph Engineer, Nelson, requests that a pole to pole inspection be made of the 6.6 k.v. line in Derby Street in an effort to locate radio interference in this area.. Five interruptions occurred during the month one due to children fishing oif the Orawaiti Bridge and throwing their lines across the power lines, i causing same to make contact with each other. Steps should be taken to prevent any recurrence of this. The electric truck is in need of an extensive overhaul and I would recommend to the Council that a reconditioned engine be installed at a cost of £3O 10s. It was decided that the truck be kept under cover when not in use. The Abattoir report showed slaughterings last month (with 1940 corresponding figures in parenthesis), as follows): Cattle 159 (167); sheep 565 i (548); lambs 81 (53); pigs 177 (171); calves 28 (26). Abattoir fees £145 10s Bci (£143 14s lid). Grazing fees £1 10s rent of hut Bs. 1 Magistrate’s Court: At the Magistrate’s Court, Edward C. Holder (Mr. J. J. Molony), was fined £3 and costs for selling liquor after hours. Six first offenders found on the premises were each fined 5s and costs. Frederick Watson Taylor, taxi driver, pleaded guilty to failing to yield -right of way at a pedestrian crossing and wa's fined £1 with costs. In the case II- W. Clarke, Ltd., v. N. Tally, heard in the Civil Court, a judgment summons order of £4 2s 8d was made against, defendant. George Warne (Mr. M. B. Scully) claimed £193 from the Totara | Gold Mining Co. (Mr. H. Lovell), for 1 timber taken from Warne’s property.

Warne alleged defendant removed 15 trees in connection with construction of a pipe line being taken across plaintiff’s property on which defendant company haa mining rights, Warne valued each tree at £5. At a. meeting of the defendant company’s directors, at which plaintiff was present, it had been decided to pay him Is 6d royalty for each 100 super feet. In addition to this amount defendant company admitted that a further £l2 was due for other items. Warne denied knowledge of the directors agreeing to pay a royalty on the Charleston, said that he had worked timber. Albert George Mitchen, with George Warne and his brother, Henry Wnrne when they were constructing the pipe line. Mr. Lovell maintained that only three of the trees taken were fit for milling timber and that the remainder were only in prop class. Witness did not agree with this. In his opinion considerably more than three trees were fit for milling timber. Mr. Lovell said the directors of the company had agreed to pay a royalty of Is 6d per 100 super feet. The amount of timber used had been assessed recently by two experts, Messrs W. E. L. Gay and A. W. Burrell. They had measured the timber, which came to about 11,000 feet. In measuring they had always given plaintiff the benefit of the doubt. The directors had agreed to call the amount 12,000 feet William Edgar Lester Gay, accountant, certified that plaintiff had been at the meeting when the directors had decided to pay royalty and that there could be no doubt about his knowing of their decision. The royaltv amounted to £9 for the timber and £l2 for the other items, as a whole, the timber would not be bought by an v sawmill unless Burrell had measured all the timber in the pipeline as coming from Warne’s property. Warne’s brother, Henry, showed them the other timber, not in the pipe-line, which had come off Warne’s land. Arthur William Burrell said that he had had 22 years sawmilling experience in this district and confirmed Gay’s assessment as correct. The Magistrate said he had very little to go on. Plaintiff’s price was ridiculous as he was charging the same as for properly milled timber. He had done nothing to the timber in the way of work and had been at the meeting when the directors had agreed to pay a royalty, therefore he was entitled to nothing more than the royalty. However, he considered the royalty was too low, as plaintiff was not in the same position as a sawmill selling a whole block of timber. Though he was of this opinion, he had heard nothing in the evidence from which he could estimate what the true royalty should be. He thought that 2s 6d would be a fair amount. At 2s 6d per 100 super feet the value of the 12,000 feet of timber was £l5. Adding this to the £l2 for other items which had been admitted as owing, the total was £27. He therefore gave judgment for £27 and costs in favour of plaintiff.