SOUTH OTAGO

Otago Daily Times, Issue 23511, 27 May 1938, Page 12

SOUTH OTAGO

BALCLUTHA Borough Council The first regular meeting of the new council was held on Wednesday night, the Mayor (Mr J. H. Stevenson) presiding over a full attendance. The treasurer’s report showed that the district fund account was £193 4s Id in credit—The report was adopted, and accounts amounting to £398 16s 6d were passed for payment _ The chairman of the Finance Committee (Mr A. J. Henderson) drew attention to the fact that the South Otago Hospital Board’s levy on the borough had gone up from £449 to £4B9.—The Mayor: “That amounts to about 10 per cent, on the rates.” He thought the council was entitled to some information regarding the causes of the increases.—On the motion of Cr D. M. Henderson, it was decided that the borough representative on the Hospital Board should be invited to attend the next meeting of the counoil. Reporting on behalf of the Works Committee, Cr Copland said the committee had put in hand the work of kerbing and channelling at the railway station approaches, the department having agreed to pay half the cost. —The clerk said it had been found in taking the levels that the fences were out of alignment, but the channelling would need to be straight, and after a proper survey had been made the fences could be straightened. The drainage could be taken through railway land to the lock and discharged into the river.—lt was decided that the Works Committee undertake the work. ~ , The Mayor said it would be a good thing in future, in connection with the reports of committees, if the clerk were to make a list of works passed and not carried out, so that the council would know what was being done and what was being left undone. —Agreed to. Cr D. M. Henderson, chairman of the Reserves Committee, said they intended to inspect all reserves, and would ask for a considerable sum of money for expenditure, but that was a matter for the future. The trees had done remarkably well in the forest nursery at North Balclutha, and would be ready to plant out next month to fill the blanks in the plantation. The inspector reported that he had collected 105 dog tax licence fees in the month. —Reference was made to cows wandering on the footpaths, and after the inspector (Mr W. Gray) had been called in and questioned Cr Gormack moved that the appointment be confirmed, and the question of increased remuneration considered when the estimates were being framed.— Seconded by Cr Copland and carried. The health officer reported six cases of tuberculosis and two cases of scarlet fever.

An application from E. Fry for a taxi driver’s licence was granted. Fulton Hogan, Ltd., wrote offering to lease the borough quarry at North Balclutha at a rental of £3O per annum and 2d per cubic yard royalty on all metal removed from the quarry, the firm undertaking to indemnify the council against any damage to property or traffic, and to allow it to take from the quarry what material it required- The Otanomomo River Board was about to let a contract for the supply of 1800 yards of metal, and had stipulated this quarry, and, if the council agreed to the request, Hogan, Ltd., would undertake to supply the successful tenderer at 4d a yard royalty.— Considerable discussion followed, and Cr Gormack moved that the council agree to take 4d a yard royalty and £3O per year rent. —The matter was referred to the Works Committee, with power to act. Aerodrome Licence Cancelled

The secretary of the Department of Civil Aviation wrote to the effect that the licence of the borough aerodrome had been suspended owing to the unsatisfactory state of the landing ground. —The Mayor said the ground had been recently inspected by an engineer of the Aviation Department and had been found to be in a bad state through the number of cattle wallows and rabbit holes on the surface. It was unfortunate that this should have happened, but the borough could get the licence back by having the holes filled in.— It was left to the Works Committee to have the holes on the aerodrome filled in immediately. The secretary of the Clutha branch of the Farmers’ Union wrote urging the need for widening a dangerous bend on the Hasborough road and gravelling in places. He also suggested improvements to the borough sale yards—The Mayor said this question of removing a dangerous bluff had been referred to the Public Works Department before, but nothing had corns of it—lt was decided to draw the attention of the district engineer once more to the bend in question, and the works Committee was instructed to attend to the gravelling required. —In regard to Improvements at the sale yards, Cr Copland said the pig pens were in an awkward position, and he suggested that the one acre and a half of land recently acquired by the council alongside the sale yards be utilised for the pig pens and also as a parking area for cars on sale days. He suggested that the auctioneers and agents might be consulted—lt was decided that the Reserves Committee and Cr Copland meet the Farmers’ Union delegation on the ground, and report on the lines of Cr Copland’s suggestion, at the same lime making up an estimate of the cost. It was decided to agree to a request from the Balclutha Fire Brigade to have street fire plugs painted white. D. Lattimore, sanitary contractor for the borough, wrote detailing suggestions for a sealed pan service in place of the present open pan Mayor said the cost would be about £6OO a year, and they were now paying £330, and that, included the removal of ashes and rubbish.—The clerk said the average cost last year was 12s 6d per house, and there were 500 houses and business places being served in the borough, not including the new area at North Balclutha. The suggested new system would cost double per ratepayer.—After discussion it was decided that the Mayor and Cr Copland interview the Green Island borough officials as to the efficiency of their plant and report. Grace and Sons, Tapanui, wrote asking for an extraordinary water supply for premises next Gold’s baker’s shop, to be used as a depot for the supply of pasteurised milk to schools in the district. —Granted at a fee of £2 10s per annum, the same as the garages. Permision was given to put outlet pipes to river bank. Mesdames James Clark and G. B. Lothian were appointed to represent, the council on the Resthouse Committee. The following were appointed a Library Committee: —Mrs J. N. Stevenson (Mayoress), Crs L. J. Edwards, Gormack, Lyall and Bower, Messrs W. L. Jolly and Russell. Personal Prior to leaving Balclutha for his new position as teacher at Lowburn Ferry, Mr W. Roy, jun., was presented with a suitcase by members and supporters of the Clutha Football Club, of which Mr Rov was a playing member. Mr and Mrs Adam Hall, tea room proprietors, of Milton and Balclutha, intend to leave shortly on a holiday tour to the East Indies. Mr and Mrs W. D. Hutchins, old residents of Balclutha, have removed to St. Clair, Dunedin. MILTON Personal The popular Plunket nurse. Miss H. E. Graham, who will retire at the end of the month, will be succeeded locally by Miss S. Templeton, who for the past two years and a-half has been matron at the Karitane Home at Wellington. Miss Graham, who has been in charge of the extensive district between Milton. Kaitangata, and Lawrence during the past 10 years, has endeared herself to hundreds of families, and, in recognition of her services, will be tendered a farewell social in the Coronation Hall, Milton, next Wednesday evening. A similar function is being arranged at Lawrence. The new nurse has gained her certificates in midwifery, general and Plunket, nursing.

Mr William Wyrill, of Casllemaine, Victoria, has been appointed to the position of mill manager at the Bruce Woollen Mills, and commenced duty this week. Football The senior grade fixtures will be commenced in earnest to-morrow, when Toko will meet Clutha on the local ground, and Star will play Clinton at Stirling. The second round of the Second and Third Grade matches will be continued, Toko II travelling to Clinton, while Toko 111 receive a visit from Crescent. Toko I team: —Lyall, Whittaker, Sellars, Healey, Scott, Carruthers, Hansen, Murphy, Murray, Murdoch, Brown. Heads, Wood, Currie. Toko II team: —Kreft (2), Coutts, List, Carruthers (2), Darling, Thomson, Jones, Allan, Broome, McMenamin, Dunbar, Burn, Kreft, Fagg. Toko 111 team: —Arbuckle, Whittaker, Currie, Smith, Wethey, Stewart, Enwright, Holmes, Stevenson, Collings, Wood, Favel, Rogan, Cochrane, Murphy. Union will play Gatlins at Owaka in the first game of the Senior B competition to-morrow, and will be represented by Allison, Howie (2), McCallum, Morgan, McDonald, Newbigging, Clark, Scott, Sheat, Graffin (2), Greer, Lockhart, Steele, Cousins, and Carruthers. .

St. John’s Men’s Fraternal There was an attendance of about 30 at a “men’s evening” in St. John’s Hall on Wednesday evening, when it was decided to hold meetings fortnightly during the winter months and to call the meeting “The St. John’s Men’s Fraternal.” A committee, consisting of the vicar (the Rev. A. J. Fraser), Messrs H. Fagg, P. Farrell, D. J. Sumpter, T. Roberts, W. Wendelken, and W. Wright, was formed to make arrangements for future functions. The fraternal was visited by Mr W. R. Brugh, of Dunedin, who gave an interesting address on impressions gained during his tour of Europe last year. Supper was then partaken of.

Hockey The Milton A team to play Waitahuna at Milton to-morrow will be:— Misses Gabites, Goss, Littlejohn, Wethey, Morris, Martin, Flett, Murdoch, ‘ Wilson, Newbigging, Allison; emergencies. Misses Brown and P. Martin.

The Milton B team v. Bruce B will be: —Mis-es Collings, Wells, Maxwell, Hood, Collings, Groundwater, Burn, Buchanan, Berry, Shaw. Martin; emergencies, Misses Groundwater and Cuff. The Bruce A team to travel to Lawrence is as follows: —Misses Lillicrapp (3), Littlejohn, Smoothy, McKeich (2), Kreft, Carruthers. Morris, and Murray. The Bruce B team to play Milton B is:—Mis-es Bain (3), Morris (2), Fagg (2), Crawford (2), Stewart (2), Tye, Morgan, Kreft. Hansen, and Moffat.