COUNTRY NEWS

Otago Daily Times, Issue 23202, 28 May 1937, Page 12

COUNTRY NEWS

PALMERSTON King George V Memorial A poorly-attended meeting in connection with the King George V Memorial Fund was held in the Town Hall on Wednesday night, although about 300 circulars had been distributed in the borough advertising the meeting. Those present, under the chairmanship of the Mayor, carried on as a committee Mr Galloway mentioned that the Mayoress was willing to approach the women's organisations in the borough with a view to convassmg for donations It was resolved that a letter be sent to the Retailers' Association notifying them of this endeavour, and that a penny list be sent to the District High School. The postmaster explained that separate lists were open to all civil servants, and that their contributions were sent direct to a national fund. Railway Service

The Palmerston Borough Council resolved at its last meeting to write to the district traffic manager. New Zealand Railways, asking if his department would consider altering the time table and the nature of the Saturday night train, which now left Duriedin at 6.35 p.m. and arrived at Palmerston at 9.20 p.m. The council suggested that it might be converted into f»steam-heated passenger" Were this done it was said, the department would have the thanks of local residents who at present experienced a long and uncomfortable journey when returning from the city. In view of the football matches scheduled to be played in Dunedin this season, it was likely that a fair number of persons would avail themselves of the improved means of transit. Rugby Football The following will represent the Palmerston Club to-morrow:— Seniors (v. Seacliff, at Seacliff).— M'Knight (2), Burrow (2), Arnott, Martin Palmer (2), Cameron M'Gregor, Penny Parkhill, Kilgour, Clearwater, M Jiimors (v. Merton, at Palmerston. at 245 p.m.).—Scott, Day. Adams, Johnson Early, Dixon (2). Penny Murdock Cameron (2), List. Whittleston, Johnston (2), Murdock, Luring. WAIMATE Returned Soldiers' Association At the annual meeting of the Waimate Returned Soldiers' Association the election of officers resulted:—President Mr G. H. O. Barclay; vice-presi-dent! Mr W. E. Barry; General Committee—Messrs C. Smith, A. Lyall, J. Menzies, J. M. King, A. Kear on A E Lewis, M. J. Friel, H. C. Johnston;

Pensions Committee, Mr J. A. Lash and Dr T. W. Wylie; auditor, Mr J. H. Lowe; delegate to Dominion Conference, Mr M. J. Friel. During the meeting framed addresses signed by the Dominion president and secretary of the R.S.A. expressing appreciation of the services of local bodies to the association, were presented to the Mayor of Waimate (Mr G. Dash) and to (he Waimate County chairman, Mr J. Bitchener. Inscription Translated After baffling many Maori authorities and interpreters for many years the inscription on the tomb of Chief Te Huruhuru in the Maori cemetery at Waimate has at last been translated. The interpretation reads:—" In memory of Huruhuru, grandfather of Tehema Huruhuru: died 1854; aged 60 years. He was the leading chief of the Tuahururu (a Kaiapoi branch of the Ngatimamoe tribe). He was a descendant of both the Ngatimamoe and Ngaitahu tribes, and the leading chief or big man of these tribes." The translation was made by Mr L. J. Vangioni, of Akaroa, who is an authority in Maori lore. KUROW Miniature Rifle Shooting: •The weekly shoot of the Kurow Miniature Rifle Club was held on Tuesday, 37 members being present. The shooting was of a higher standard, due to the change-over from the metric to the Roberts target. Last week's "teams'" winners were defeated, as follows: —The holders: J. R. Jackson 72, D. Hassett 65, G. M'Lean 71, J. M'Kay 72;—total, 280. The winners: F. Todd 73, S. Appleby 74, J. Collins 79, J. Robinson 67;—total, 293. The winner of the rifle button was J. Collins, and the handicap button S. Appleby. The following were the highest scores:—J. Collins 79. T. Sanders 79, E. S. Wills 78. A. C. J. Robinson 78, F. Welsh 77, Leslie Worthington 77. F. Nye 76, G. W. Cogger 75. B. T. Appleby 75, Lester Worthington 74, S. Appleby 74, W. Tooley 74, F. Todd 73, A. Fuller 73, J. M'Kay 72. K. Robinson 72. J. R. Jackson 72. R. Robinson 72, J. Pavletich 71, G. M'Lean 71, E. Middleton, sen., 70. WAIPIATA Miniature Rifle Club There was a good attendance of members at the weekly shoot of the Waipiata Miniature Rifle Club. G. H. Mathias was again the winner of the Howell rifle button with a score of 78. D. Howden was the winner of the Gaylor handicap button. The 10-men average was 74.7. The best scores were:—G. H. Mathias 78, A. I. Mathias 77, D. Howell 76. G. F. Scott. V. O'Neill, D. Rapson 75, M. K. M'Donald, J. Jones, E. M'Clintock 73, A. Gregory 72, C. Bulman, G. Nott 71. BALCLUTHA Coalmining Dispute Mr H. J. Dixon, S.M., was occupied until after 6 o'clock last evening in hearing a dispute connected with the working of the Kaituna coal mine at Wangaloa. The plaintiffs were Andrew Thomson, miner, of Kaitangata, and William Thomson, Thomas Thomson, and Kitchener Gilmour, miners, Kaitangata, and the defendant Clive Malcolm Mathison, coal merchant, Dunedin. The plaintiffs claimed £59 12s 8d for wages and coal supplied when on contract, and the defendant counterclaimed for £77 4s, including £SO damages for allegedly excluding the defendant from a drive in the Kaituna coal mine. Mr W. G. Carson (Dunedin) appeared for the plaintiffs, and Mr R. S. Frapwell (Dunedin) for the defendant, who admitted liability for £2l 4s Bd.—Andrew Thomson, miner, gave evidence that he had been responsible for the work of his brothers and nephew, Gilmour, at the Kaituna mine on behalf of Mr Mathison. He commenced in October at £6 a week as overseer, while the others were to receive 18s a day. They received payment until December 19. Work was continued during the Christmas holidays and on January 5 he had an interview with the defendant, when it was agreed that they should go on contract to supply coal to the defendant at 10s a ton at the pit head. The latter arrangement continued until January 25, the plaintiffs supplying a total of 111 2-3 tons of coal. Witness denied that the defendant had supplied "ammunition (gelignite, detonators, etc.) in .January as set out in the counter-claim. As for the value of the tools claimed for by the defendant, they were there when witness's party started on the job, and none had been removed from trie mine when witness and his brothers finished there. To Mr Frapwell: They had claimed three days' wages over the Christmas holidays. He knew that there was to be a reduction of 9s a ton for coal thajt went to the relief depot in Dunedin, but the defendant had not told them where the coal was going, so it had been charged at 10s a ton. Nothing had been done by witness's party to keep Matmson from entry to the drive in the mine, but witness had written informing him that they intended taking over the new drive if he did not come to a settlement. However, they had not taken it over. William Thomson gave corroborative evidence, and said he had taken six packets of gelignite to the mine in October or early in November. He and his party left the mine because it was a case of no money, no work." He understood the new drive had fallen in since January 25 Thomas Thomson and Kitchener Gilmour gave similar evidence. The latter said that he had done the coal hauling from January 6 to 25, and none of it was done by the defendant or his driver (Duff). Mr Frapwell, for the defendant, said his client considered that only three days' wages were due to each of the plaintiffs, and the quantity of coal claimed for was in excess of that actually received. Of the 98 tons 2cwt of coal received by his client, 64 tons 2cwt was "relief" coal at 9s a ton, leaving only 34 tons of household coal. After deducting material supplied and the cost of hauling there was a sum of £2l 4s 8d due to the plaintiffs. The proprietor of the mine (Mr Smaill) had granted the defendant the exclusive right to put in the new drive. _ The plaintiffs had sent a letter offering to take over the drive, thereby depriving the defendant of his rights under the arrangement with Mr Smaill, after the defendant had spent £l2O in putting the drive in.—Clive Malcolm Mathison, coal merchant, gave evidence along the lines outlined by counsel. In answer to the magistrate, the defendant stated that if Smaill had been joined as a partner in this action he would have been hostile. Delivering judgment, the magistrate said that the defendant had not proved that he had a proper lease of the mine or that he had been excluded from it so he could not recover damages. The plaintiffs had proved their claim, except that he did not think the work claimed for over the Christmas holidays had been proved. Judgment would be for the plaintiffs for £46 0s 8d with court costs (£2 4s), witnesses expenses (£2 10s). solicitor's fee (£4 3s)--a total of £54 17s Bd. Judgment would be for Mathison on the counter claim for £4 13s Id, with court costs (7s) and solicitor's fee (£1 Is);—a total of £6 Is Id. Personal

Mr E. B. Lothian, town clerk. Balclulha, left' yesterday morning for Christchurch to attend a sitting of the Conciliation Council as assessor for the Otago local bodies.