COUNTRY NEWS

Otago Daily Times, Issue 23859, 13 July 1939, Page 7

COUNTRY NEWS

ALEXANDRA Borough Council The monthly meeting of the Alexandra Borough Council was held on Monday evening. The. Mayor (Mr W. Bringans) presided, and there -were also present—Crs W. Hewitt, E. Marslin, E. Russell, T. G. Thow, A.-McKel-lar, A. C. H. Parsons and R. Si-' Kinnaird.

A request was received that the Borough Council should install a street light on the boundary With the bbtough and the Vincent County.—Councillors expressed the opinion that the corner was a particularly dark tine, and agreed to pay half the cost of the light if the Vincent County Council, would oay the other half. The Alexandra Golf Club wrote asking the council to place some' men on No. 13 scheme on the local finks, which are a borough reserve—lt was agreed to allot three men for 12 weeks provided the club paid the insurance of the men and supplied the necessary tools.

The Alexandra Badminton Club wrote asking for the use of the -Town Hall on Thursday and Friday nights to play badminton—lt was agreed to investigate the position in regard to lights and heaters, and to decide the rental at the next meeting.. Mr W. A. Bodkin, M.P - ., wrote stating that he had interviewed ,the Minister of Labour (Mr P. C. Webb),'who had agreed to place six men on scheme No. 13 with the borough.—As the council had little work to undertake .during the winter, it was decided that it would only place any local married residents.

. The Alexandra Pipe Band wrote asking for the use of the Town Hall on a Saturday in August to hold a community sing in aid of the band’s funds. —It was , agreed to allow the band the use of the' hall on the usual conditions.

, Mr H. J.- McCombe, proprietor of the Bendigog Hotel, wrote asking that the willow tree at the bottom of the town, which was doing damage to his garden, should be removed.—As the tree is one of the best of its kind in the district, it was decided that the Works Committee should interview Mr McCombe to see if something could not be done to avoid the loss of the tree.

The Milton Borough Council wrote requesting the council to send a representative to a meeting of small local bodies to be held at Milton on Friday, and also requesting that the town clerk should be given permission to attend—Regret was expressed that the council could not be represented, but it was intimated that members would be interested to know the outcome of the meeting.

The Otago Centennial Council wrote approving of the proposed district Centennial memorial of a grand stand in the Alexandra Recreation Ground and stating that as the Government was supplying architectural designs of such memorials to local bodies the plan had been forwarded to the architects' branch and would be returned to the council in due course.—Received. The Alexandra Volunteer Fire Brigade wrote forward an invitation for gade wrote forwarding an invitation for two members of the council to attend its annual meeting.—The Mayor and Cr Parsons were appointed. Mr E. G. McGeorge, surveyor. Dunedin, wrote forwarding a plan of • the proposed subdivision of Mrs R,. A, Adcock’s property—The council approved of ■ the amended subdivision with the proviso that the necessary; land-should be provided through the area lor reading and drainage should the other areas at. any time be subdivided. .' . . , '. „ . The resident engineer of the Public Works Department wrote requesting that three half-inch water services for domestic use slioUld, be provided at the workmen’s camp on the outskirts of thd town—lt was; decided to .supply the service, at an annual charge of £3 10s each. - v A draft of the agreement to be entered into between, the council and,.the Clutha River Gold Dredging Company was presented vfor approval. If vided that for the areas in the Town Belt and the afforestation area the council should receive from the dredging company the sum of £ "50, £7o to be paid now as an option to December 16 1939, when a further six months, op'tion may be given, but in any case the full sum shall be paid bv the Dredging Company immediately it has been granted dredging rights over the area. The consideration is .£SOO for the town belt area and £250 for the afforestation area the company to agree to provide an outlet for the present Chatto Creek race and also to see that the tailings shall be banked up hard against the afforestation area, and that the fine shingle shall be placed on top and heavy stones on the bottom, incouncil is to apply to the Minister of Lands to have the area reincluded under the Mining Act—lt was decided to approve of the draft of the agreement. , . ~ • „ .. The rates' of 4s in the £ on the rental value of property in the borough were struck. This is the same rate -as last year. The annual report of the Alexandra Domain Board was presented for approval. and a grant-in-aid of £lO9 Ips was approved. . • - ~ , It was reported that the area of land in the vicinity otf the winter sports area (the Lower Manorburn Dam) was now to be made available, and it was desired that it should be vested in-the council ash reserve.—lt was-agreed to proceed with the formalities, and that councillors should inspect-''the area to decide what total area was required. The finance statement and , accounts totalling £420 11s 6d were nassed.for payment, and the Finance Committee recommended that the section near the railway station, held by the council be sold for £4O. It further recommended that the sum of £6 5s be given to South Islands Travel Association for advertising the district , in',its advertising booklet.

TAPANUI Borough Council ! The adjourned meeting of the Tapanui Borough Council was held on Monday evening, when there were present the Mayor (Mr W: B. Naylor) and Crs R. Duff, J. L. Wylie, J. S. Varcoe, J. Gosden, W. Wright. J. D. Edgar and F Lischner The town clerk submitted a draft statement of the estimates and expenditure for the current year.. Apart from rates, the revenue was expected to produce. with the balance brought .forward, some £985 O' , the expenditure side, provided a special rate of 9dds struck to meet water loan charges, the estimates showed a small credit balante for the coming year. The Mayor said the proper method of arranging finance would be to strike a special rate for water works, a hospital rate to provide for the levy, and a general rate to meet the expenditure as set out by the town clerk. It appeared to him that unless the rales were increased they would be faced with an overdraft at the end of the year in excess of the outstanding revenue, which would be illegal. The tar-sealing, which is being paid out of revenue instead of by loan, accounted for the deficit this year. After a general discussion it was decided that a special rate of 9d in the £ be strucic as well as a general rate of 2s 6d. An amendment that th total rates levied be 2s lid in the £ was defeated, the voting being four votes to three. A deputation from the Miniature Rifle Club waited on the council in reference to the latter’s altitude in connection with the damage done to the town hall during the club’s tenancy. Afer several of the speakers of the deputation had given an. explanation of the repairs done, the misunderstanding was satisfactorily explained. West Otago Sub-union

A meeting of the Wes‘ Otago Rugby Sub-union was held on Tuesday, Mr A. T. Ottrey presiding It was decided to play a third round in the competition. the draw to be made by the Emergency Committee. A letter was received from the Waikaka Club intimating a desire to withdraw the senior team from the competition and to enter a junior team in the B Grade competition.—lt was decided to accept the withdrawal r.f the senior team and

to allow the club to enter a team in the B Grade competition, the points to. count for the cup. It was resolved to play the South', TUapeka Sub-union on August 12, the match to be played at Walkaka. ’ ' h The Tuapeka Sub-union; wrote je-' questing the local sub-union' to submita date for the annual fixture, and suggesting that a junior match be played, on this date also. If was dedided tp inform Tuapeka that, the. sub-union was unable to arrange a date, at .present, and, if possible, a junior team would be sent, ;

A letter was received from the Otago Rugby Unidn advising that 12 seats been allotted to the West-Otago. Sub-' union for the Southland-Otago match at Dunedin- on August. s.—Accepted. ‘ In reference to the. 1 protest of the Heriot Club regarding the playing of three members without clearances by the Tapanui Club in its match with Heriot. the Tapanui Club stated that one-player had not filayed football since leaving school, another had not played; for three, years and had his clearance, from his late club, while the third man had his clearance, which had arrived late. On the other hand, the Heriot Club had played a member who was not eligible.—lt was decided that the match be played , at' a later date if necessary.

The transfer of G. Gibson from Miller’s Flat to Heriot was approved. .

CLYDE Boy Scouts Mr W. Thomson presided oyer a committee meeting of, the Clyde Boy Scouts on Monday night, Messrs. W. A. Harlow, J. L. Davidson, W. M. Lopdell, and the scoutmaster, the Rev. J. Templer, being present., Mr Lopdell reported having received a, good respouse to his appeal for funds, and all outstanding accounts could now be met. The scoutmaster reported a good attendance each, week of the boys, and said that he had 12 Scouts for the centennial jamboree. The troop was now fully equipped. A start had been made to form a bugle band, and generous donations of bugles from Messrs C. Kellech, L. Fountain, jun., and Molyneux dredge hands, and a side-drum from Mr C. J. Davidson, were greatly appreciated. The annual meeting will be held on Monday Anglican Church

The annual meeting of St.Michaels Church, held at Clyde on Tuesday night, was well attened. The financial statement showed a slight deficit. The vicar reported that attendances at services were on a par with other years, and in his opinion the spiritual life of the parish had been maintained. He thanked all those who had in any measure assisted in the work of the church. Mr Thorley, vestry clerk, read the balance sheet. It was decided to hold a social evening at the vicarage on July 27. The following offices were filled:—Committee—Mesdames H. E. Stevens, E. C. Wood J. M. Templer, N.. Fountain, Miss Waldron, Messrs H. E, Stevens, E. C. Wood, J L. Davidson, C. J. Davidson, H. G. Wright: vestrymen—Messrs Stevens. Wood,- and C. J. Davidson; minute secretary, Mr H. E. Stevens;secretary and treasurer, Mrs A. F.' Scouler: auditor, Mr J. L. Davidson. Rabbit Pest In common with many other parts of Central, rabbits are more numerous than for years, and have in many orchards done considerable damage to the trees. On the run scrub bushes are barked to their tope, and feed is very scarce.