BALCLUTHA DISTRICT NEWS

Otago Daily Times, Issue 21579, 26 February 1932, Page 10

BALCLUTHA DISTRICT NEWS

SOUTH OTAGO

(From Our Own Correspondent.) BALCLUTHA, February 25. BALCLUTHA BOROUGH COUNCIL. The monthly meeting of the Balclutha Borough Council last night was attended by the Mayor (Mr S. V. White), and Crs Hunter, Sinclair, Wright, Lyall. Twaddle, Kean, Copland, and Little. The unemployment commissioner, Wellington, wrote that trees would be available this winter for planting, on payment of lifting, packing, and freight charges only, as the Unemployment Board was desirous that local bodies should utilise unemployed labour in preparing the ground and planting the trees. —Referred to the Reserves Committee., The secretary of the Otago Electric Power Board advised that the board had failed to obtain from the bondholders a rebate in the interest rate, and was now asking the Government to subsidise rates 12i, per cent., as was done in the case of county councils. A letter was enclosed from the managing director of the T. and G, Assurance Society, Melbourne, setting forth the company’s position in regard to interest on Power Board debentures, and pointing out that it was foolish to expect an automatic reduction in the rate ot interest when prices of primary products were low when no such provision in the debentures existed for an increase in the contract rate of interest when prices of produce were high.—Received. T. M. Ball, chairman of the District Highways Council, wrote that the board could not subsidise the work done on the Balclutha-Kaitangata main highway by unemployed labour under the No. 5 scheme (the borough had. charged .for supervision and cartage), and requesting a refund of £95 11s 6d paid in error. — The town clerk said that Mr Ball was evidently under a misapprehension, as the supervision, etc., had not been charged to the board. -It was left to the chairman of the Works Committee and the town clerk to draft a reply. T. M. Ball, chairman of the District Highways Council, wrote with reference to the structural repairs found necessary to the Balclutha traffic bridge that the three interested local bodies were each required to contribute one-quarter of the expenditure, the work to he done by the Main Highways Board. —The clerk stated that the work would be subsidised by the hoard, and if the total cost were £SOO, as anticipated, then the borough’s share would be £3l 5s. —Received. The secretary of the Otago Electric Power Board wrote that the £ls offered by the council for extended street lighting until dawn was inadequate and suggesting as an alternative that the council undertake to replace , all lamps burn out or broken, in consideration of the concession asked for.—-Agreed to give the board’s proposal three months’ trial, the Lighting Committee to have power to terminate it at any time thereafter. The dog license fees were fixed at 10s for citizens and 2s 6d for sheep and rabbit dogs, the collector to get commission of Is and 6d respectively. PROPOSED NEW WATER SUPPLY. In connection with the proposal to utilise filtered river water for the town supply, Duncan Cook, medical _ officer of health, Dunedin, forwarded copies of bacteriological examinations of river water since the installation of the experimental filter. The first test showed water of excellent quality, but the second was not so satisfactory. He suggested that the council consider an alternative scheme, sucli as chlorination, which was being used at Gore with excellent results, and at very little cost. The same type of apparatus could more easily be installed at Balclutha at one-third of the cost or less.—Cr Kean said the medical officer of health was under a misapprehension, as the filter had been in an altered position, and was running for only 20 hours when the second analysis was taken, and after 48 hours the water would have been equal to the first sample. A letter had been sent to the department explaining the position.—Held over for a reply from the department. WANDERING CATTLE. Several letters were received complaining of the damage done to gardens by wandering cattle. Cr Copland said the reserve cows were at fault and licenses should be issued subject to the animals being- led to and from the reserve. He moved accordingly. This was seconded by Cr Wright and carried unanimously. FINANCIAL. The treasurer reported that receipts since last meeting totalled £1973 Is 6d, including £7OO from the general loan sinking fund commissioners and deposits at call amounting to £285. Accounts amounting to £1399 11s 9d were presented for payment. This included payment for redemption of sinking fund debentures totalling £7OO (general loan), and repayment of £289 deposits at call. Total indebtedness to date was £1528 10s Id.— The report was adopted and the paysheet passed. NEW COAL SEAM. A new seam of coal that has been proved to be at least 12 feet thick, has been struck in the Kaitangata Company’s new drive. It is said the coal is of extraordinarily fine grade. KAITANGATA COURT. The only case before Mr H. J. Dixon, S.M., at Kaitangata to-day was the claim of the Kaitangata Coal Company against James Wright (Stirling), for £5 odd on a judgment summons. An order was made for payment forthwith, in default five days’ in Balclutha lock-up. PERSONAL. At Balclutha School to-day Mr W. O’Connor, headmaster, was presented with a bronze fire-screen from the teaching staff and entertained at afternoon tea on the eve of his departure for Greytown (Wairarapa). Mr G. H. Mitchell (first assistant), the committee was advised today, will act as headmaster during March, and Mr Holden will act as relieving assistant.