SOUTH OTAGO

Otago Daily Times, Issue 23690, 23 December 1938, Page 12

SOUTH OTAGO

BALCLUTHA Suggested New Course At a meeting of the South Otago High School Board the rector (Mr Garfield Anderson) brought forward a proposal that the board consider the inauguration of an engineering course at the school. After- discussion it was decided that the rector be asked to prepare a full report on the matter for the next meeting of the board. Catlins Scrub Clearance At a large meeting of settlers at Owaka, Mr J. M. Smith (fields superintendent for Otago) explained the Government's proposals for dealing with the problem of secondary growth in the Catlins bush areas. In the course of his remarks, Mr Smith stated that the Government was prepared to pay the whole of the wages of the men engaged to cut the scrub, in cases where the local committee, comprising the local officers of the Department of Agriculture. Lands and Survey, and Public Works, approved of the work. Such approval would only be given where the farmer was prepared to cooperate with the Government and abide by the details of the scheme. It was not intended to cut all secondary growth, but only that on land which, in the opinion of the committee, could be profitably farmed when the scrub was cut and burned and the area sown in grass. Prior to the work being done the farmer would be required to give the following undertaking: (1) To work with the men and supervise and keep time sheets: (2) “tucker” the men, f<pr which service the farmer would be paid the usual rate; (3) purchase the necessary grass seed and undertake to farm the area in a way that would enable the scrub to be controlled: and (4) be responsible for the tools and tents that the Government would provide. In a general way, only holdings of under 400 acres would be dealt with, except in exceptional circumstances. At the conclusion of the meeting a hearty vote of thanks was passed to the Government, and in particular to the Ministers of Lands, Agriculture and Labour, for the generous assistance

offered. Mr D. Finlayson occupied the chair, and was accorded a vote of thanks.

Kaihiku Bridges Every effort is being made by the Public Works Department to have two of the new concrete bridges and approaches on the new deviation of the Main South road at Kaihiku completed for the holiday traffic. On Wednesday the men were working ail day in the rain. The deviation will save al least a mile on the iourney from Dunedin to Invercargill.