SOUTH OTAGO

Otago Daily Times, Issue 23689, 22 December 1938, Page 16

SOUTH OTAGO

BALCLUTHA Borough Council Mr J. H. Stevenson (Mayor) presided at the monthly meeting of the Balclutha Borough Council held on Tuesday night. The treasurer reported that the district fund showed a debit balance at date of £2175 2s Id, and that receipts since last meeting totalled £lO5 2s lid.—The report was adopted and accounts amounting to £655 16s 9d passed for payment. Cr Copland, chairman of the Works Committee, reported that the borough workmen had been for the most part engaged laying pipes for the extension of water services at North Balclutha.— The town clerk stated that the lease of the sections adjoining the sale yards ran out at the end of the year.—Cr Copland said it had been proposed to utilise the land in extending the yards. —After discussion, Cr Lyall moved that Mr Hastings's lease be determined at the end of December and that the sections, together with those at the back of the .yards, be used as camping paddocks for sheep at a fixed charge per head. —Seconded by Cr Copland and carried. Mr D. T. Millar, waterworks engineer, reported that the new plant at the works was now working satisfactorily. Mr J. H. Freeman, inspector of health, reported on the drainage of Ann street, Rosebank, and stated that the only practical method of effecting an improvement would be the provision of properly-graded street kerbing and channelling.—Referred to the Works Committee. Mr F. M. Corkrill, engineer, Invercargill, furnished a lengthy report on his inspection of the waterworks on December 10. which was received. Messrs Stewart and Kelly submitted plans of W. J. Little's proposed subdivision at North Balclutha.—Approved on condition that any buildings erected would be half a chain back from the street line.' as the street was only half a chain wide. Mr E. Fletcher Roberts, Dunedin, wrote that he hoped to put the drainage survey of the borough in hand in January.—Received. The secretary, South Otago Hospital Board, wrote stating that the board proposed to raise a loan of £25,000 tor the extension of buildings at the Balclutha Hospital, and asking the council to state its objections, ii any. —The Mayor said that, candidly, he considered the whole business scandalous, and the contributing local bodies had to pay for it. It would appear that the ratepayers would have to pay twice for hospital upkeep under the Social Security Act. The loan would bear less hardly on the borough ratepayers, however, than any other way of financing the scheme.—lt was decided not to lodge any objection. Mr P. Keller wrote that the Main Highways Board considered it necesary to hold over the proposed Finegand deviation of the Balclutha-Kaka Point highway pending the consideration of a deviation of the Main South railway by the Railways Department. —Received.

Mr P. Keller advised that the Main Highways Board had approved of the department carrying out the completion of the present unsealed portion of Renfrew and Douglas streets to the railway station, leading to the Bal-clutha-Kaka Point highway, at a cost of £692, provided council paid onequarter cost (£l73).—Decided to accept the offer. Some discussion ensued on the recommendation of the borough inspector that the parking of cars in front of the lawn tennis courts be not permitted, in view of the danger to traffic coming from the bridge.—lt was decided to refer the matter to the Works Committee, with power to act.

Before concluding the meeting, the Mayor conveyed the . compliments of the season to councillors, town clerk, and the press. Cr Copland replied on behalf of the council. Season's Greetings

Before the business of the local coi*rt was commenced to-day, Mr R. R. Grigor, on behalf of the local Bar, extended the season's greetings to the magistrate, court officials, and the press". An experience of nearly 40 years had convinced him that the sittings of a Magistrate's Court were held in a place where fair play and justice ruled, and people who were unable to settled their differences amicably among themselves could be sure that when they went before a properly qualified magistrate they could depend upon an honest decision. —Acknowledging the good wishes expressed, Mr H. J. Dixon, S.M., said it was the duty of a court to deal out justice as evenly as possible, but it was limited in this way, that it could only do so on the evidence put before it. He heartily reciprocated the good wishes of the local Bar. Attempted Suicide

A young man of 21, whose name was ordered to be suppressed, was charged with attempting to commit suicide at Chaslands on November 7. Constable Myers, of Owaka, detailed the circumstances, and said the young fellow had been working in the bush and living alone in a whare, and imagined that people were against him. He had shot himself in the chest with a .22 rifle, but recovered in the Balclutha Hospital, and was now quite fit. His father was willing to take charge of him.— The accused was convicted and ordered to come up for sentence if called upon within 12 months, and to pay hospital expenses at the rate of 10s a week, the first payment to be made on January 26. On the application of the father, an order was made for the suppression of the accused's name,

Traffic Breaches The Clutha Carrying Company was charged on the information of Traffic Inspector Archer with exceeding the maximum load allowed by its licence, and was fined 30s, with costs (10s). Laurence H. Frye, taxi driver, charged on the information of Borough Traffic Inspector W. Gray with failing to give way to traffic approaching on the right, was fined 20s, with costs (10s). F. Gordon, Balclutha, charged with driving a car without a warrant of fitness, was fined 20s, with costs (10s). Thomas J. Heffernan, charged with exceeding the speed limit of 25 miles for a heavy motor lorry, was fined 40s with costs (12s). N. Coughlan, charged with driving a motor cycle without a warrant of fitness, and (2) without a driver's licence, was fined ss,' with costs (ss) on the second charge, the first being withdrawn. Cattle Wandering

William A. Aitkenhead, Kaka Point, was charged with permitting seven cows to wander on the county road. The county ranger <W. N. Taylor) said there had been complaints from residents about the defendant's habit of turning his cows on to the roads at night, and collecting them in the early morning. On this occasion witness found them wandering at 3 a.m.—The defendant was convicted and fined 30s. with costs (12s). A. W. Bichan. Kaka Point, was similarly charged in respect of two cows, and was convicted and ordered to pay costs (12s). Civil List Judgment for the plaintiff by default was given in the following civil cases:—Henry B. Flett (Kakapuaka) v. John D. Williamson (Waitahuna). claim £l9 4s, with costs (£2 16s); Waiwera Service Store v. James B. Lawrence, claim £l9 12s 7d. with costs (£2 16s); John H. Stevenson, Ltd. (Mr Kelly), v. Robert D. Wink (Patearoa), claim £3 17s 6d. balance of amount owing, with costs f£2 Os 6d); K. E. Grace v. T. Mockford. claim £5 3s 6d. with costs (15s 6d): Mary Elizabeth Mennell (Mr Kelly) v. Francis J. Farquhar. claim £6 12s. for rent and possession of tenement. —The defendant said he was willing to pay the back rent by instalments, and that he was unable to get another house. —Judgment was given for the amount

claimed, with costs (£1 13s 6d). and an order was made for possession on or before January 10.

Sheep Lorry Upset On Tuesday afternoon, about 3 o'clock, a sheep lorry belonging to Mr J. M. Tosh was conveying a load of fat lambs from Stirling to the Finegand works when the vehicle ran off the road, landing in a perpendicular position near the river bank. None of the 82 lambs was injured, but the driver (Mr Webster) was thrown out, and suffered a broken collarbone. He is now progressing satisfactorily in the Balclutha Hospital. The accident occurred in the Hasborough road, some distance below the traffic bridge.