NORTH OTAGO.

Otago Daily Times, Issue 20289, 23 December 1927, Page 12

NORTH OTAGO.

(Fbow One Special CoBB«apoifBTOB.l

THE LABOUR MARKET. The labour market in Oamaru has been steady throughout the past year, and very little unemployment has been experienced. The drainage works absorbed most of the unskilled labour that was offering during the winter months, and the freezing works, shearing sheds, and harvest field will find employment for any surplus_ that exists in the summer. The most serious aspect of employment is in respect to those boys and girls who are just leaving school. For these there appear to be few openings in Oamaru just now. THE MUTTON BIRD. Captain Bollons, of the Government steamer Tutanekai, was asked recently if he knew where mutton-birds migrated to from Now Zealand. Ho replied: ‘‘ It_ is not known where mutton birds put in their time during the off season. They are not in New Zealand all the year round. They aro on the West and East Coasts, also the North Coast, and there are two varieties at the Kermadoc Islands.” It may be mentioned that from the small island off Moeraki the*right of ■ mutton birds is reserved exclusively for Natives. ' HOLIDAY ATTRACTIONS. The principal attractions for Oamaru residents on Monday next will bo the lawn tennis tournament and a sports gathering at Dimtroon. Numerous private picnics have also been organised. The weather at tho time of writing seems to bo fairly settled, and tho hope is generally entertained that tho conditions for the holidays will ho more favourable than those of last year. THE PRICE OF WHEATIt has been suggested that, with a view to keeping wheatgrowers advised of the ruling price of wheat, an authentic statement ho published weekly by tho Wheatgrowers’ Committee, giving the wholesale prices on trucks in different districts. Tin’s suggestion will probably bo considered at tho conference of wheatgrowers to bo held in Ashburton next week. POSTAL BUSINESS. The business transacted at the Oamaru Post Office during tho last few days has been very heavy. An unusually largo number of packages has been posted, whilst the letter and telegraphic services, both outward and inward, have been of exceptional volume. The counter, delivery, and despatch staffs have coped with tho largo business in a most expeditious manner. FRIENDLY SOCIETY PICNIC. «. The friendly societies of Oamaru hold an annual picnic at Timaru, which is participated in, as a rule, by over 2000 people. Tliis year tho picnic is to be held on Saturday, January 21, and two special trains aro to be engaged for tho occasion. Some years ago .those reunions wore reciprocated, but the residents of Timaru have not visited Oamaru for a long time. VALEDICTORY. A largo and representative gathering assembled in the hall of St. Paul’s Church on Wednesday night to bid farewell to the Rev. Ivo E. Bertram, Mrs Bertram, and family. The Rev. A. Watson occupied the chair, and with him on the platform were representatives of Oamaru Presbytery, Mr F. Milner, principal of Waitaki Boys’ High School, and the Rev. G. F. Stockwell, representatives of the locajl Ministers’ Association, and other ministers of the town were also present. Mr Milner, Rev G. F. Stockwell, and Rev. R. A. Chisholm addressed the meeting, and voiced tho deep regret that was widely felt on account of Mr Bertram’s resignation, and expressed warmest good wishes for Mr and Mrs Bertram’s future happiness and usefulness wherever they might make their new home. Musical items were contributed by Misses N. M‘Laron, C. Miller, and Elspeth and Lily Denholm. Mr E. D. Watts, on behalf of the Bible classes, conveyed to Mr Bertram tho gratitude and thanks of tho young people for the helpful interest ho had taken in their classes, and Mr C. W. Naylor spoke for the choir. Mr O. Stringer spoke of tho difficulties of a minister’s work and of the impression Mr Bertram had made by his preaching and personality. Mr R. Hill presented Mr Bertram witn a substantial cheque, which, he said, was a small symbol of a great gratitude and appreciataion from his many friends in the congregation, who had found his preach ing educative, satisfying and inspiring. Mrs George Livingstone presented Mrs Bertram with a fine bouquet of roses, and, after remarking that a share of the cheque was Mrs Bertram’s, she conveyed the grateful thanks and goodwill of the P.W.M.U., Ladies’ Guild, and Girls’ Club to Mrs Bertram for tho part she_ had taken m their department of tho life of tho congregation. In her reply, Mrs Bertram spoke of the very happy relationships she had had with the ladies of St, Paul s, and thanked them for their unfailing kindness. Mr Bertram expressed his deep regret that the time had come for them to sever their connection with St. Paul’s. Ho had boon very happy in tho work among the young people and ho was proud of the vouth of St. Paul’s. In his judgment them was not a finer body of young people anywhere. Tie was grateful for all the kindness that had been shown to nun and his, and for the friendships that had been established during his ministry here. His heart’s wish for St. Paul s was that the congregation might go on from strength to strength A number of the Girl Guides "oio pic sent under the leadership of Miss Wilson, principal of Waitaki Girls High School. After the benediction was pronounced a very happy social hour was spent.

ACTIVITIES OF THE DISTRICT.

VEGETABLE FREAK. Something in tho nature of a vegetable freak has been discovered in an Oamaru garden. It consists of a fully-developed cabbage plant, with a tuber at the loot resembling a turnip. GOLD COINS. Gold coins aro very rarely seen in business circles nowadays. An Oamaru tradesman was surprised yesterday when a visitor from fho baekblocks tendered three sovereigns in payment for a purchase. LAKE OHAU FISHING. The intimation made in this column so®e days ago that a Papakaio angler bad taken some fine rainbow trout from Lake Ohau has- induced others to try their fortune with the rod in this locality. Messrs J. Hod ley and W. Dewar visited the lake at tho last week-end, and secured 24 rainbows, the heaviest weighing 91b. A further party is going to Lake Ohau for the holidays. BOWLING. A three-rink friendly match between Pukcuri and Awamoa is to bo played on I*hc Awamoa green on Saturday next. Awamoa will bo represented as_ follows; Watt-on, Shepherd. Exec!, M'Narry; Sorley, Adamson, Russell, Ferguson; Hodge, D! Thomson, Grant, Tisdall. A LOST CHILD. A country woman who was shopping in Oamaru yesterday _ loft a three-year-old girl in tho front portion of_ a shop while she hunted (or bargains. Tho child want'ernd away. It was found several hours bit‘o', much to tho relief of the parent, poacctV-y sleeping on tho roadside a mile or two out of town. THE REST ROOM. At tho meeting of the Oamaru Borough Council last evening a sum of £23 was voted to tho Mayor for out-of-pocket expenses in connection with the Oamaru R*pw Room. The Mayer pointed out (hat the expenses of tho room for the last halfyear amounted to £39 4s and Iho receipts to £l6 11s. Tho number of persons who had visited the room during the period was 21’83, and tho amount received represented less than 2d per Or M'Pherson asked if the County Council should not contribute. ’Die Town Clerk stated that tho County Council hold tho view that it brought people to town to do business with the tradespeople. Cr Cnlder moved that a renewed application bo made to the County Council for a subsidv for the Rest Room, and that tho Mayor and Cr Fox wait upon the council in support of tho application. Cr Calciot pointed out that tho room was of PT C ' 1 value to country residents. Cr Macpherson seconded the motion. He said ho did not think the council would reject tho application if tho matter wore placed before it in a proper light. The motion was carried with the exception that the names of Crs Calder and Macpherson bo substituted for those of the Mayor and Cr Fox. OAMARU BOROUGH COUNCIL. The last meeting of the year of the Oamaru Borough Council was held last evening, there being present his Worship the Mayor (Mr Frank Crawshaw) and Crs J. M. Forrester, E. A. Fox, K. Famuton, H. J- Jenkins, F. Coomcy, J. A. Macpherson, and J. T. Calder. Thu, audited balance sheet was adopted by the council, which resolved itself into a special meeting for the purpose. The Borough Inspector reported upon various activities in the borough during the past month. Mr Ivan Patterson (secretary ot the South School Committee) applied for the use of the public baths for two hours a week by the South School children.—The application was referred to the Bates Committee. . , Five residents in Lea street applied for the provision of street lights in that area.— Dealt with by the Works CommlThCeo,Education Department advised that it could not grant the council the use ot the section formerly utilised by the School, as it was not yet known to what educational purpose tho section might be put.—Mr E. P. Lee, M.P., also wrote on this subject, recommending the council further to approach the department, and the Town Clerk stated that he had done so. . Mr R. A. M'Dowell wrote stating that he was not prepared to dedicate to the council a triangle at the corner of Till and Wansbcck streets as requested, as he did not consider tho corner dangerous. —The matter was referred back to the Works Committee. • The Finance Committee reported the following balances:—General account — debit, £4734 3s 9d; loan account —debit, £129 12s lOd; loan account —Post Office credit, £2000; loan account —bank deposit, £SOOO. —The committee recommended for payment accounts amounting to: General £1193 15s, and loan £375 7s Bd—Adopted. The Waterworks -Committee reported that it had accepted the tender of S. Irwin (£l3 10s) for painting, etc., at the reservoir cottage. It recommended the adoption of the engineer’s suggestion that his Worship the Mayor, Cr Forrester, and the engineer should report on tho engineer’s jiroposals regarding pier supports to flumes. —Adopted, with tho exception of the latter clause, tho Mayor and Cr Forrester declining to accept responsibility in The matter. The Town Hall Committee recommended that the caretaker be granted 10 days’ holiday in January on the usual conditions. The Works Committee reported that consideration of tho matter of improving tire open drain in Lower Lune street had been deferred until the work of repairing the footpaths was completed. The committee recommended that W. E. M'Dowell be permitted to erect a sign at his premises in Tyne street, subject to the engineer’s supervision; also to have the position of the channel crossings altered provided they are replaced in iron; that the surface of Thames street between Orwell and Ouse streets be reset and tar-sealed for the full width; that the necessity of a street lamp in Lea street be considered when the street is repaired. The Reserves Committee recommended that consent be given to the subdivision of part section 17, block IV, on account of J. Craig and Co., Ltd. The Gas Committee recommended that the manager be granted leave to attend tlie annual conference of the Gas Institute in February, 1925. Some discussion took place upon the proposal of the Works Committee that the surface of Thames street between Orwell and Ouse streets be reset and tarscaled. Cr Calder expressed the view that the Highways Board should be applied to for a subsidy before this work was proceeded with, and he moved in this direction. Tho resolution failed to find a seconder, and the recommendation of the committee was approved. Sixteen applications were received for the position of motor driver, and these were reduced to three by the Works Committee. On a vote being taken Mr Stuart A. M'Noill was appointed to the position on probation for a period of six months. Cr (.'abler moved that application be made to the Highways Board for a subsidy towards the tar-scaling of Thames highway. He pointed out that this was a work which ailccled the whole of the travelling public, and he considered the council had a strong claim upon the Highways Board.---Cr Macj'herson seconded the resolution. He thought an early application should be made.--The Mayor .-uggested that they should apply i-.r a -üb--:dy for the whole hi the mad from borough boundary to borough boundary.— Cr Calder agreed with this suggestion, but

Cr Fox pointed out that the work proposed was of a temporary character. —Cr Forrester said a plan would have to be prepared for the whole highway through the borough.—Eventually it was decided, on the motion of the Mayor—“ That a specification be prepared by the engineer and forwarded to the Highways Board with an application for a subsidy for the whole road from Holmes Hill to the borough boundary in the north.” On the motion of Cr Fox, Mr B. Snell was appointed to the permanent staff of the council. On the motion of Cr Calder, seconded by Cr Forrester, the season’s greetings were extended to the Mayor and Mayoress. The mover and seconder both paid warm tributes to the Mayor for the work he had done for the borough during the last 12 months.—The Mayor, in acknowdedging the compliments paid by the council and in reciprocating the good wishes expressed, stated that his relations with uhe council had been very harmonious. The season’s greetings were also extended to the staff and the press. It was decided that no meeting of the council be held in the first week in January.