SOUTH OTAGO

Otago Daily Times, Issue 23882, 9 August 1939, Page 12

SOUTH OTAGO

BALCLUTHA Valedictory Social At a function in the Fire Brigade Hall on Monday there was an attendance of all the local post and telegraph staff, with the addition of visitors from the Dunedin office and local mail contractors for the purpose of bidding farewell to Mr A. Dawson (postr master),' who is retiring from the service-as from to-day after 40 years of service. In the course of the proceedings Mr Dawson was presented with a purse of money from the staff as a token of their feeling towards him. Mr A. R. Crqss (local supervisor) made the presentation, and in doing so voiced the high esteem in which Mr Dawson was held by the staff and wished him all success in his retirement. Mr White (telegraph engineer. Dunedin) followed on similar lines, as did Messrs L. V. Fowler (local supervisor), F. Caterer and C. Mclntyre (telephone exchange), Master Duff (who spoke ion behalf of the messenger boys), and Mr Ayson Robertson (on behalf of the mail contractors).. Mr Des. Harvey proposed the toast of Mr and Mrs Dawson, and Mr Dawson feelingly replied. Songs were contributed to a short but enjoyable musical programme by Mr F. Waite. M.L.C., and Mr Ben Gold. Before dispersing the company sang "Auld Lang Syne." Mr Dawson will leave for Wanganui to-morrow, and Mr Cross will be in charge here until the arrival of the new appointee, Mr A. R. Watson, of New Brighton. Obituary

Mr Alexander Mills, who has been closely identified with this district for a number of years, died yesterday at the Balclutha Hospital after a brief illness, although he had been a sufferer for some time. He was admitted to the hospital on Saturday, as prior to that he had been able to go about as usual. The deceased, who was aged 73 at the time of his death, was born at Table Hill, near Milton, and was brought up to follow farming pursuits. When a young man he worked a team of bullocks at Otanomomo for a number of years for the late Mr Thomas Telford, and broke in swamp land right to the limits of the present Paretai State settlement. It was while" working at Otanomomo that he met and married Mary,-a daughter of the late Mr arid Mrs Seaton Porter, of Balclutha. They took up a farm at Colac Bay, Southland, ano lived there for many years. When the family had grown up they came to Balclutha some 15 years ago, where Mr Mills, in company with his two sons, started a coal carrying and farm contracting business, and carried on successfully for some years. A few years ago the business was sold, and the two sons acquired a farm at Te Houka, where their parents also lived in a cottage on the farm, Mr Mills, sen., having decided to retire. from active work. Some five years ago one of the sons, Seaton, died in tragic circumstances," and the farm has since been carried on by the other son. Robert, the parents continuing to reside there. Mr Mills, sen,, was of a kindly disposition, and was well liked by all with whom he came into contact. He, did a lot of work in organising tug-of-war contests when the craze was at its height in Otago, and captained a team on more than one occasion. He is survived by a widow, one son (Robert, Te Houka) and one daughter (Mrs Robert Ferguson, Invercargill). The interment, will take place tomorrow at 2 p.m. from the Balclutha Presbyterian Church.

New Crop Trial The Department of Agriculture has been investigating the possibility of growing linen flax in New Zealand, and last season small areas were planted on nine farms in South Otago. the result being fairly successful. The trial plantings were made with the object of finding out the type of land most suitable for growing this European flax, which is largely grown,in Russia and other parts of Eastern Europe. It is understood that the local, results so far indicate that a large portion of the browntop country of South, Otago may prove, suitable, and it is intended to conduct further trial crop plantings this coming seasonPostal Shoot In the postal shoot just concluded by the South Otago Miniature Rifle Association. Balclutha A won the teams' championship with'a grand total of 1880 off the rifle for the five shoots, with Greenfield second with an aggregate score of 1862. Warepa won the teams' handicap event with a score of 1949, Greenfield again being runners -up with a score of 1943. For the individual championship. R. Arbuthnott, jun. (Baluclutha), and' S. Robertson (Taumata) tied with a score of 387 points each, and a shoot-off will be necessary. There were four ties in thfi individual handicap event, viz., V. Keach and N. Mitchell (Balclutha). L. Gilbert (Waiwera). and L. Christie (Warepa). A shoot-off will be necessary. Credit for carrying out the competition is dui to the secretary (Mr E. Hughes), who had a lot of detail work to do. •-. New Building Clyde street. Balclutha. is to have yet another modern brick building, work having been commenced on the foundations for the first unit of the premises to be erected bv Mr James Wilson, of the local Red Band Taxi Company. The first shop is to be built on the site of the present right-of-way. Afterwards the intention is; to pull down the present old wooden building and complete the block in brick. .An Invercargill Arm (Messrs Blue and Lindsay), have the contract for the first shoo. ' " . : MILTON . High School Affairs At the meeting of committee of Toko High School the Otago Baptist Union was granted permission to use the school buildings for a. camp next Easter. The Otago Education Board notified that the tender of New Zealand Highways Constructors. Ltd.. had been accepted for the asphalting of the space left vacant by the removal of the old woodwork room. The headmaster's report showed that the average attendance in the primary department was 230 during the Past month, out of a roll number of 268. In the secondary department the roll number was 20. with an average attendance of 18. Bruce Horticultural Society During the past few years the Bruce Horticultural Society has been finding difficulty in making ends meet, but as the result of a donation of a beauti-fully-dressed doll for a guessing con> petition by one of the society's supporters (Miss Ina Wilson) this difficulty has been somewhat alleviated. The winner of the doll was Mr.L. Cotterill. The thanks of the committee have been conveyed to the donor. At a meeting of the committee held on Monday evening the question of reviving interest in the society's' affairs was discussed, and the suggestion to hold an autumn show next year was favourablv received, and it was decided that a further meeting be held in the near future. Personal Mr W. H. Wells wrote to the monthly meeting of the Toko High School Committee tendering his resignation as a member, also as the committee's representative on the Dental Clinic Committee. The chairman (Dr J. N. Edgar) expressed regret at the impending departure of Mr Wells, and spoke of his excellent service over a period of 12 years, part. of which he occupied the position of secretary. It was decided to place on record an appreciative minute. Mr R. Bruce was appointed as the committee's representative on the Dental Clinic Committee.