OTAGO EXPANSION LEAGUE

Otago Daily Times, Issue 22100, 2 November 1933, Page 2

OTAGO EXPANSION LEAGUE

EXECUTIVE COMMITTEE MEETING The monthly meeting of the Executive Committee of the Otago Expansion League was held on Tuesday evening. The president (Mr J. J. Marlow) was in the chair and the other members present were;—Messrs 6. J. Errington, E. TamI blyn, W. B. Taverner, W, A. Scott, S. ; B. Crawford, W. A. Carson, J Inglis I Wright, W. G. Winefield, and T. Har- | ridge. ! Keference was made to the loss suffered j by the league and the community in the j death of-the Eev. W. H. Roberts, who was a representative for Port Chalmers. It was decided to record the league’s appreciation of Mr Roberts’s services. The matter of the proposed arts and crafts exhibition was again considered, and the members decided to support the movement, the following delegates being selected to represent the league:—Messrs W. B. Taverner, E. Tamblyn, S. B. Crawford, and W. A. Carson. Correspondence from various sources in Centra! Otago regarding the possibility of shutting off the water from the lakes and so drying the bed of the Clutha and Molyneux Rivers, to allow miners to examine and test the bed of the river, and ascertain the exact position of the goldbearing gravels in the river bottom was received. 'The proposed erection of the dam in the Kawarau River below the confluence of the Arrow River and the Kawarau was mentioned and it was stated that if a similar barrier could be erected to hold up the water in lakes Hawea end Wanaka, many miles of valuable deposits would be laid bare. It was decided to support any project with this aim and to make further representations to the Otago members of Parliament soliciting their co-operation and support. The block in the Makarora road which has cut off the settlers at the upper end of Lake Wanaka frdm road connection with the outer world was again referred to, and the secretary reported that in answer to his inquiries he had been informed that nothing was being done by the Public Works Department to clear the road. It was agreed that the task was of too great magnitude for the local authority to cope with unaided, and steps would be taken to bring the question to the notice of the Minister of Public Works, with the request that h e should either make a substantial grant or get the matter taken up and completed by his department. Correspondence and reports were placed before the executive in connection with the recent severe losses suffered by many orchardists in Central Otago owing to the severe frqgts experienced there. Many suggestions for the amelioration of the position had been submitted, and it was confidently asserted that the orchardists would evolve a practical scheme by which their losses for the year would be minimised and their holdings maintained in a condition which would represent additional gains in more favourable seasons. It was finally resolved —“ That the Otago Expansion League expresses sympathy with the orchardists in their recent misfortune from frost and supports their request for sympathetic treatment from the Unemployment Board." Further correspondence was received in connection with the question of a steamer service with Australia, and pleasure was expressed at the proposal to hold an excursion from Melbourne to Milford and Dupedin early in the New Year.