BALCLUTHA DISTRICT NEWS

Otago Daily Times, Issue 21569, 15 February 1932, Page 10

BALCLUTHA DISTRICT NEWS

SOUTH OTAGO

(From Our Own Correspondent.) BALCLUTHA, February IS. BALCLUTHA ANGLERS. At a well-attended meeting of local anglers it was decided to form working “ bees ” to clear paths through the dense broom to ripples on the Pomahaka River which trout are known to haunt, but which in recent years have been inaccessible to anglers. The Acclimatisation Society had disclaimed responsibility in the matter, so that the anglers have decided to take a leaf from the book of the early pioneers, and “do it themselves.” It seems that the banks of the Pomahaka in places have become a sort of “ no man’s land,” where exotic shrubs like Cape broom and gorse have literally run wild, forming impassable thickets. CLUTHA RIVER BOARD. The first meeting of the year of the Clutha River Board, held last night, was attended by Messrs Joseph Mosley (chairman), E. W. Hayman, R. R. Grigor, V. Wilson, and E. F. Pannett. Mr Mosley was re-elected chairman for the current year.

The finance report showed steamer and lorry earnings for a period of three months as £468 9s 6d, and the working expenses £4ll, which was considered to be satisfactory. It was stated that a remittance from the Otago Land Board (rent of endowments) had enabled the. board to pay the September debenture interest, which had been held oyer pending receipt of money, the rentals being the security for the debentures and interest thereon, and the endowments being administered by the Otago Land Board. Over £IOOO of rent money was still due to the board. It was further stated that the debenture holders were acquainted with the position, and to some extent had co-operated with the board. Complaints concerning the sheds at upriver points being used ,fcr storage purposes by farmers and others were received, and attention directed to the regulation on the subject. It was mentioned that the reduced freightage on lime (5s per ton) applied only in cases where the consignors sent their full output of produce and wool through the board; otherwise lime was charged at the higher manure rate. TRANSPORTING PRODUCE, A number of lorry owners in this district who formerly transported farmers’ produce, etc., to Dunedin by road are, it is stated, now merely conveying their loads to the railway at Balclutha. It is presumed that the forthcoming operations of the Transport Board have some bearing on this change of policy. BOROUGH VALUATIONS. Messrs J. Sheperd and R. Milne, Government valuers, are at present engaged in revaluing thq Balclutha Borough, at the request of the Borough Council. It is some years since a valuation was made, and in recent years the value of unoccupied land within the borough has fallen considerably, judging by sales that have been made. Tills is said to be due to the operation of the Rating on Unimproved Values Act.