NEWS FROM THE COUNTRY.

Otago Daily Times, Issue 20039, 4 March 1927, Page 6

NEWS FROM THE COUNTRY.

NORTH OTAGO.

NOXIOUS WELDS. At the last meeting of tho Wuitnki Countv Council, it was stated by councillors that Bathurst, burr and wormwood were spreading throughout tho county. An old identity points out that the weeds have, been wrongly diagnosed. As a matter of faet, they are American burr and fennel. Tho weeds, be said, were introduced from Monto Video, in South America. A vessel came here in ballast from that port to loa,l woo! and grain. It emptied the ballast, which consisted of river sand, on the foreshore, and the weeds grew and flourished, and have now spread throughout the dist riot. MATAHAE CAMP. The B Company that lias been taking part in the camp at Matarac, returned vo Oamaru at a late hour last night. The. men speak highly of the work done in camp. OATS DESTROYED. Two stacks of oats belonging to Miss Pugh, at the north end of Oamaru, were destroyed by fire a few evenings ago. The cause of the outbreak is not known. The stacks were partly covered by insurance. POKE UR I WORKS. The Pukeuri freezing works have put through about 85,000 lambs since the opening ot tho season. There is a slightly larger number than at tho same time last year. The daily slaughtering is now about, 15C0, but there is likely to bo a big rush shortly off the rape and turnips. CRICKET. Tho following is the draw for to-inorraw's games:—First grade: School v, Oamaru, Albion v. Union. Both matches will be played at tho school. Second grade: Albion v. Mnheno. at Takaro Park; Union v. School A, at King George's Park; Weston v. School B, at School. Union v. School A match starts at 1.45 p.m.; other matches, 2 p.m. Tho Albion team is: Brocket - (3), Griuigur Oodclcs, Jollory, Jacobs, C.luilmers, Keith, Todd, and Davcy. Second grade v. Maheno, at Takaro Park: May (2) M’Grath, Brook, Stichman, Ross, Familton, Hamill, Skirving, Brooker, and Grant. ANOTHER HOTEL SOLD. It id reported that the Empire Ilotel property, in Thames street, Oamaru, which wa« owned by the estate of the late Mr B. Ferry, has been purchased by Mr b. Redmond, of Dunedin and formerly of this town. SUBURBAN PROGRESS. The progress that has been made in the northern suburb of Oamaru during the last few years has been quite remarkable. This has been largely due to the enterprise of a certain syndicate of townspeople, which has purchased properties, cut them up, reader! them, and erected houses to plans to suit purchasers. This syndicate has just purchased another area of six acres in the vicinity of the Meadowbank bowling green, which it proposes cutting up at an early dale. BOWLING. The following rinks have been chosen by the Phoenix Club to play tho final matcii with Pukeuri on the Phoenix green tomorrow: —Deal, Weaver, H. Grenfell, Gilchrist, D. Brown, Familton, J. Reid, I’. AV right. The match between Phcenix and Awamoa haa been abandoned, the latter having forfeited in order that it may complete its club matches. VALEDICTORY, The Kurow Hall was comfortably filled on Monday night with a large and representative gathering which had assembled to bid farewell to Mr John Borrie. For more than four years Mr Borrie has been head master of tho local school, ami di.r u-, that time has earned the respect and affection of every section in the community. Mr J. L. M'Phail, who occupied the chair, referred to the good qualities of the departing guest, especially stressing his public spiritedness and his readiness to identify himself with every movement aiming at tho wolfapo and progress of the district, M'- Robert Trotter spoke on behalf of (ho rifle, clubs, with which Mr Borrie had been closely identified, and referred to his sportsmanlike qualities. Mr H. Barclay, on behalf of tho Presbyterian (')nm li i'■•■rnrniltoo, presented the guest with a carving set. and stressed his tactfulness and generosity. Mr Borrie was then presented with a beautiful qnarter-chnne, hall ■ !i • Ic. suitably inscribed. After musical honours, he briefly replied, pointing out that he had always worked on tho principle that if a district was worth living in it was worth working for. Ho could honestly say that the four years he had spent in Kurow had been four of tho happiest years of his life. The previous week Mr Borrie had boon presented with n silver-mounted walkingstick by tho Presbyterian Choir, of which he had been conductor, and on Monday the school children made him a suitable presentation. A HOLIDAY RESORT. The claims of Kurow as a holiday resort wore referred to on Monday night by Mr J. A. Borrie, who was being tendered a public farewell. Kurow people, ho claimed, did not appreciate the beauty and general attractiveness of the district. It was trm, he admitted, that first impressions worn against it, but its bracing climate, its facilities for fishing and snooting, its motor runs, and its walks were assets that few districts possessed to such an extent as their otvn. If the people would oxert themselves to improve tho township, ho predicted a future for Kurow as a Holiday resort. OAMARU BOROUGH COUNCIL. The fortnightly meeting of the Oamaru Borough Council was held last night, there being present Crs J. M. Forrester (Deputy Mayor), W. Crombie, A. AV. Woodward, H. Deal, R. Mahan, AV. H. Frith, F. Crawshaw, G. Grenfell, G. White, and E. A. Fox. Some discussion toot, ’dace upon the proposal to obtain an outside engineers’ report upon the proposed borough electric lighting. Cr Frith could not understand why the council should secure ontsiuc report. It should be quite possible to ascertain the cost of each lamp.—Cr Crawshaw stated that the council knew nothing about what the Power Board proposed.—lt was decided, in accordance with a previous decision, to inquire the cost of an outside engineer's report. The Abattoir Manager reported that 174 cattle. 900 sheep, and one calf had been slaughtered at the abbatoir during the month. Tho Secretary of the Caledonian Society asked for permission to remove spoil from Tay street. —Dealt with by the Works Committee. The North Otago S.P.C.A. asked that better provision be made for the watering of horses in the borough.—Held over for a fortnight. The Manager of the gasworks wrote suggesting the adoption of a scheme for hire purchase for gas material. —Referred to the Gas Committee for a report. The Gasworks Manager also reported upon the business done at the conference of tho Gas Institute. A second-hand dealer’s license was granted on a favourable report from the police. An application from the Rugby Union for the fisc of Tokaro Park for the coming season was referred to Ihc Reserves Committee.

ACTIVITIES OF THE DISTRICT. (From Oub Special Corbesponpent,)

I’ovmission was granted for the subdivision of an estate as applied for by Messrs Lee. Grave, and Grave. An application on behalf of Mr T. Doyle for permission to subdivide was held over for a fortnight. A communication from Mr A. Blackburn. of Orwell street, complaining of damage from storm water, was referred to the Works Committee. The Finance Committee reported a credit on the general account of £4288 17s 4d, on the loan account of £3622 las 10d, and on the loan deposit account of £20,000. Accounts amounting to £1074 4s lid on the general account and £B7O Os 9d on the loan account were passed for payment. A grant of £5 5s to the new ambulance fund was recommended. The Waterworks Committee reported that the engineer had been instructed to prepare plans and estimates for new piers to the Frew's Gully flume. The committee recommended that Mr Williams's recommendations regarding reticulating the following streets be adopted and that he be instructed to proceed:—France street, Ain street, Greta street, Hull street, Severn street, Towcy street, and Wye street. The total estimated cost was £I2OO. A further recommendation was made that E. Irvine be granted the free use of the Papakaio cottage on condition that he makes no claims for repairs. The report was adopted. The Town Hall Committee recommended that as required by the department the emergency lights bo connected to a separate circuit at an estimated cost of £8 15s. The Joint Committee reported: (1) ihc explanation of the engineer, and foremen with regard to the hours shown on the drainage loan pay hccts for the week previous to the Christmas holidays had been accepted; (2) the engineer’s statements with regard to iho expenditure on the various drainage works have been referred to .Mr Williams for investigation and report: (3) the committee had authorised tlie preparation of an address to the Governor-General for presentation on March 29. —The report was adopted. The Works Committee reported as fob lows : —(1) Recommending that the bank at the lichen street frontage of section _2. block 75, be cut back to the boundary line in order that the lessee may construct a concrete retaining wall, such wall to be erected immediately the clay is removed; (2) recommending that J- E. Henderson be gran tod leave of absence to attend the lire brigade contest from March 7 to 12 at his own expense; (3) recommending that clauses 1 to 5 of the engineer's report on the sanitary service be approved, and that the arrangements bo left with Crs Fox, M'Kenzio and the engineer; (4) recommending that, under the supervision of the engineet, the Caledonian Society bo permitted to re. move clay from Tay street as requested.— The report was adopted, the Reserves Committee recommending that the following subdivision be granted:—Section 4, block 27, J. F. Joll; section 16-17, block 92. Lee, Grave, and Grave; section 7, block 10, D. Lee, Grave, and Grave.—The report was adopted. C> - White asked that bettor provision be made for the recording of votes at the municipal elections next month. He stated that two years ago there was a groat crush and much confusion. The Clerk stated that at the last elections there were so many voting papers that delay was occasioned. On the motion of Cr Deal, it was decided that a collection box be placed in the public gardens, so that visitors might he afforded a,, opportunity of contributing. It was decided, on the motion of CT Oiombie, that the drainage engineer (Mr Williams) be asked to furnish the cost of tno sewerage pumps and tanks on the hilt and the syphon in Humber street. Cr Woodward drew attention to the fact that when (he streets were named at thu north end of the town one of the street names had been omitted. The Town Clerk stated that this was so. —It was decided to take action (o rectify the matter. WET AND ARY. At the meeting of the Clamant Borough Council last evening a communication was received from the Oamaru Chamber of Commerce asking for financial support to propaganda to counteract a booklet that had been issued from Timaru. This booklet piactically made it appear that Oamaru was a suburb of Timaru. It also referred to tho progress made by Timaru, which is a "wet’’ town as compared with (tiimaru, which is "dry.” The council derided to refer the matter to its 1 ,- inance Committee. The Deputy Mayor stated that, the Timaru booklet showed very bad taste. UNEMPLOYMENT. At the meeting of the Oamaru Borougn Council last, evening a letter was read from the Timaru Borough Council inviting representatives of tho council to attend a conference in Timaru on March 8 to deal with the question of probable unemployment in the winter months. Cr Frith did not think there would be much unemployed in Oamaru. Cr Forrester stated that the drainage works would employ most of the unemployed in Oamaru. The council decided not to be represented at the Timaru conference. I’OHO UGH ENGINEER. At last night's meeting of tho Oamaru Borough Council Cr F. Crawshaw gave notice to move at tho special meeting of the council to be hold in the Council Chambers on March 14: ‘‘That the services of the borough engineer bo dispensed with, and that the question of leave of absence be decided at the meeting.” OPERATIC SOCIETY, The animal meeting of tho Onmani Amateur Operatic Society was hold in APLcaii Hall. Oamaru, last night. Mr J. W Petrie presided over a largo attendance. The report and balance sheet were adopted as read, the latter showing a credit balance of £254 16s sd. Tbe following office-bearers were elected for the coming year Patron, Mr James Al.'Diarmid; president, Mr J. W. Petrie; vice-presidents—Mrs Stanley Reid. Miss J. B Wilson, Messrs F. Milner, J. Preston. C. Hedges, J. Reid, W. Panckhurst, F. Jones, G. Wilkinson; Ur A. Douglas, Dr P. S. J. Fitzgerald; secretary, Mr G. Dickol; assistant secretary, Mr C. Rowe; treasurer, Mr G. W. M'Donall; committee —Miss A. Bain. Miss Grave. Mrs A. Bartrum, Messrs D. Martin, j. Hunter. N. Al'Ouade. L. Keav, R. Hedges. G. Baker; auditor, Mr J W. Petrie; librarian. Miss TT'dgie; bon. solicitor. Mr A. Hamilton. Several speakers eulogised Mr and Miss Parker's work in regard In the societv. They had always given their services freely wherever required. Totes ol thanks were moved by tbe chairman to the pianist (Mrs IT. Harrison) and the press. . , , , , The appointment of pianist was held over until next meeting A vote of thanks was also passed to sir Syverston for his services, as the society must surelv have him to thank for being in the financial position it is to-day.