SOUTH OTAGO.

Otago Daily Times, Issue 20963, 28 February 1930, Page 7

SOUTH OTAGO.

BALCLUTHA DISTRICT NEWS.

(From Cue Own Correspondent.) BALCLUTHA, February 27. BOROUGH COUNCIL, The monthly meeting, of the Borough Council last night was attended by the Mayor (Mr S. V. White) and Crs Hunter, Watt, Wright, Naish, Kean, Sinclair, Copland, and Gormack. An apology was received from Cr M'Lintoek, The Mayor welcomed Cr Copland on his return to the council table, and hoped that he would soon be restored to full strength. The speaker also referred to the death of Sir Thomas Mackenzie, who at one time had been a member of the council, and moved a vote of condolence with the relatives of the deceased, which was carried in silence. CORRESPONDENCE, S. Riach and four other residents of Balclutha North applied to have the water laid on to their boundary fences at the rate of £4 per annum.—Cr Hunter moved that the request be granted.— Seconded by Cr Naish and carried. Cr Hunter said that if the main were extended along the main road quite a number of other residents would desire to be linked up.—Cr Kean suggested that the residents in that locality be canvassed so that the council would have something definite to go on. It might even be necessary to put in an eight-inch main in order to provide for future requirements. He moved that a canvass be made.—Seconded by Cr Watt and earned. Mrs Landells, secretary of the Balclutha branch of the Plunket Society, applied for permission to conduct street stalls towards. the end of March for the purpose of raising funds for the maintenance of the society’s car.—Permission granted The secretary of the Municipal Association of New Zealand notified that the next annual conference of delegates would be held at Invercargill on March s.—The Mayor was appointed delegate to the conference.

. Mr E. King, South Dunedin, wrote objecting to a rate of £4 3s 9d on property at North Balclutha, the annual value of which was only £6—The clerk said it was the system that was at fault, and there would be little increase if there was a modern house on the section. The extra Power Board rate had no doubt caused the protest.—The clerk was instructed to explain the position, John Christie wrote offering to rent embankment in terms of original offer (£8 per annum for the first two years, and subsequently £2O per annum provided the fences were put in order).—Cr Watt moved that Crs Wright and Gormack meet Mr Christie on the ground and report.—Agreed to. Alexander Riach, secretary Balclutha Ratepayers Association, forwarded recommendations regarding the proposed new traffic bridge, the clearing of noxious weeds from borough reserves, the prevalence of speeding and cutting of corners by motorists in the borough, and the filthy condition of the street water channels.— Received. HOSPITAL COMPLAINTS. . W. Roy wrote that at the last meeting of the Hospital Board the state ot the water being delivered from the mains to the hospital was considered, and he was instructed to inform the council that the water had so much iron deposit in it that its use was injurious to the linen. He asked that steps be taken to improve the quality of the water supply. In a further letter Mr Roy stated that the tank at the hospital had been cleared out on February 18, and the previous clearing was on December 14, 1928. —His Worship said the council was quite alive to the_ position, and Cr Kean had been going into the matter.—Cr Kean moved that the Waterworks Committee meet the board and discuss the subject. A great deal of the trouble arose from dirty mains, but a number of these had been blown out within the past week.-—The motion was seconded by Cr Hunter and carried. PROPOSED JUBILEE, His Worship explained the preliminary steps that were being taken to celebrate the jubilee of the borough, and he would like to see the council vote a sum for expenses. The town clerk might require assistance in procuring data for the occasion.—Cr Watt said that a committee was not necessary. _ It was only a celebration of the sixtieth anniversary, and was quite different from the school jubi lee, which was also a reunion of expupils. As far as the Borough was concerned the whole thing could be worked up in. a week or two. —Hia Worship said the work would be in compiling records, and there would need to be illustrations of past Mayors and councillors. The council would combine with the school in most of the functions, but the council would need to have a banquet on its own account. —Cr Hunter said that no doubt there would be a lot of work involved, and the object was worthy of the council’s best efforts. —His Worship said the matter had better be postponed tiff after the first .meeting of the General Committee. Cr Watt said in compiling records they would need to be submitted to someone with a knowledge of this matter. He had noticed that the newspaper obituaries of old identities were

often full of errors, and that situation might easily be accentuated in a booklet like that proposed unless properly revised.—His Worship said that Mr Hope, of Invercargill, had agreed to form a committee _ of ex-Balclutha people in Invercargill in order to co-operate with the Jubilee Committee in Balclutha.— Further discussion of the subject was postponed. FINANCIAL. The treasurer reported receipts since last month, £IO4O 14s 9d, inclusive of the sum of £4OO received on deposit. The debtor balance at date was £453 4s,- plus deposits at call £1250, £1703 4s. Accounts amounting to_ £1496 0s Id (including refunded deposits at call £750) were presented for payment.—The report was adopted and the pay sheet passed for payment. A DANGEROUS PRACTICE. Gr Kean drew attention to the practice °i depositing shavings on the rubbish tip, which had been fired recently and might have caused serious damage.—Decided, on the motion of Crs Wright and Copland, that in future those dumping shavings be compelled to destroy them on a place to be set apart for the purpose on the lower reserve. STREET IMPROVEMENT. Cr Kean (chairman of the Works Committee) read a list of footpaths which had been set apart for tar sealing immediately viz.:—Drumclog, Lanark towards railway; Paisley, from Renfrew to Lanark; Renfrew; Stewart, from John to Barr; James, from John to Barr; Main South road, from High to. borough boundary; Argyle, from Clyde)to James; Cromer (North Balclutha),/' It was also proposed to scarify and grade Hasborough and the main road to the borough boundary at North Balclutha, with a power grader, and tar seal the last-named road. He moved that the council authorise these works to be gone on with at once.— Seconded by Cr Sinclair and carried. Cr Hunter warmly congratulated the Works Committee on the good work that had been done lately on the streets, a number of which had been tar sealed, and said there was just £SOO available until the end of the financial year with which to continue the good work. NEW WATER SUPPLY. Cr Kean said the present mains were insufficient to carry the load at the south end of the borough, and an eight-inch main was required from the tower to the borough boundary. He moved that a report be obtained front a qualified engineer at a cost not to exceed 10 guineas.— After some discussion, Cr Gomack seconded the motion, which was carried.