PROVINCIAL SECTION

Otago Daily Times, Issue 24773, 25 November 1941, Page 10

PROVINCIAL SECTION

THE OAMARU DISTRICT

LOAN PROPOSALS DUNEDIN OFFER ACCEPTED WAITAKI ELECTRIC POWER BOARD MONTHLY~MEETING The Waitaki Electric Power Board at Its monthly meeting yesterday morning considered several proposals in connection with the new loan of £20,000. and finally decided to accept the offer of the Dunedin Savings Bank of £ 10,000 on the terms set out with the option of taking the remainder of the loan if the board required it. The terms gave the board the right to repay amounts within 15 years, the loan being for 20 years on a table basis, with interest at 3J per cent. Mr James (chairman) presided, and there were also present Messrs A. B. Lang, James Newlands, G. O. Pringle, A. R. Tait, R. B. Meek, G. T. GMies, E. S. Brewster and J. M. Forrester. <- The application of the Waitaki County Council for a reduction in the street lighting charges, on account of the reduced lighting restrictions, was again held over pending an assessment and reSort from the engineer (Mr J. Dalmer). Ir A. B. Lang pointed out that the ■whole of the street lighting in the Hampden borough had been cut off to comply with the black-out regulations. It was decided to build the new motor garage on the section at the rear of the Athenaeum building, in Oamaru stone. Mr G. T. Gillies asked members to give earnest consideration to the appointment of a committee for the purpose of promoting industries in Oamaru. He said that in support of the plan he would bring forward' proposals at the next meeting of the board. Finance The secretary (Mr C. F. Jones) reported that the sales of electricity last month •mounted to £2815, compared with £2785 for October. 1940, and £2715 for October, 1939. The sales for the seven months amounted to £31,350, compared with £30,807 for the corresponding period in 1910 and £28,776 in 1939. Installations under new range terms for October amounted to, £306, as against £434 in September and £545 in August, and the total balance outstanding under hire-pur-chase accounts at October 31 was £7949. The bank balances and receipts, \ with figures for October, 1940 in parentheses, were as follows:—Power Fund: Surplus, £612 9s Id. Loan account: Surplus, £279 2s 7d. Receipts: Electricity, fittings, etc.. £8430 (£8561): cash sales. £9l (£50): total, £8521 (£8611). Accounts totalling £2016 3s 5d (Power Fund £1522 12s 7d, loan account £493 10s lOd) were passed for payment. Three applications for financial assistance under newi range terms were approved. SOLDIERS' PARCELS FUND CONTRIBUTIONS ACKNOWLEDGED ! Previously acknowledged, £392 4s 3d. Papakalo Committee, £l2 13s 6d; North Otago Lawn Tennis Association (Log Cabin sales), £8 0s 2d; Log Cabin (additional), 3s; Mr and Mrs A. C. Piper, £2 2s; Staff Slater and Co., £1 7s 6d; Mrs G. Sumpter, £1; -H. E. S., ss. Total to date, £417 15s sd( mm OF INTEREST IN AND AIOUT TOWN Holidays.—A return given by the secretary (Mr C. F. Jones) to the Waitaki Electric Power Board yesterday morning, showed that employees of - the board received nine days' holiday on statutory holidays, which, with 52 Saturdays and 52 Sundays, and 10 working days' annual leave, made a total of 123 days in the year. At Home, under war conditions, the people Were working all the time, including Sundays; but, it was commented, that under similar conditions people would do the same in this country., The board decided to observe the usual holidays at Christmas and New Year.

CRICKET NORTH OJAGO ASSOCIATION MEETING OF EXECUTIVE A meeting of the executive of the North Otago Cricket Association was held last night. Mr W. B. Turvey was in the chair, and there were present Bro. Owens, Mr J. Maddigan, and Mr T. W. Jacobs (secretary). The annual subscription of £4 4s to the New Zealand Cricket Council was passed for payment. The New Zealand Cricket Council forwarded a recommendation to associations that, in view of the importance of maintaining and increasing the number of players actively engaged in the game during the war, and afterwards, the associations should organise some planned method so that boys who had been playing cricket at school would continue to play for clubs immediately they left school.—The members reported that the clubs gave every encouragement possible for the boys to join. The New Zealand Cricket Council advised that the question of petrol for cricket teams was still under consideration, and the oil fuel controller could not grant any supplies in the meantime.—Members commented that in view of this it would not be possible to arrange representative matches this season. Best wishes were extended to Mr J. Maddigan, who will proceed to Waiouru camp next week, and a minute of appreciation of his services to cricket was recorded. The Draw The draw for the fourth rotfhd of the senior matches is as follows: —St. Kevin's v. Oamaru B, at Redcastle; Oamaru A v. Albion, at School; School v: Union, at School. Juniors.—November 29: St. Kevin's A v. School C, at Redcastle; School A v. School B, at School; School D v. St. Kevin's B. at School. December 6: School A v. School D, at School; St. Kevin's B v. St. Kevin's A, at Redcastle; School B v. School C, at School. AMUSEMENTS 1 MAJESTIC THEATRE " Drums Along the Mohawk."—This picture, filmed in technicolor, will be shown to-night at the Majestic. Claudette Colbert, Eddie Collins and Henry Fonda play the leads. " Gone With the Wind."—Plans, are filling at the Bristola for this attraction, which will commence its season on Saturday. Full particulars are published in to-day's issue. Special attention is drawn to the fact that the sessions will start at 1.30 p.m. and 7.30 p.m. with the film itself, there being no supporting pictures. OPERA HOUSE ' "They Meet Again," another of the "Dr Christian" series of pictures, together with "Cyclone on Horseback," featuring Tim Holt, will be shown finally to-night at the Opera House. \ SHIPPING ACTIVITIES PORT OF OAMARU High Water.—November 25: 8.44 a.m. and 9.14 p.m. Coastal Movements The'Wainui is due on Friday to load for Wellington, Napier, and Gisborne, via Timaru and Lyttelton. The Waipiata is expected about Saturday, December 6, to load for Wellington and Auckland, via Timaru and Lyttelton. PERSONAL Visitors to the Town New Club Hotel.—Mr and Mrs Ulrich (Lower Hutt), Mr A. Atchison (Palmerston), Mr W. I Russell (Omarama), Mr E. R. Curtis. Miss J. Curtis (Ranfurly), Mr J. R. Craig (Invercargill), Mr E. Edwards (Wanganui), Miss E. MorrisWilson, Mr R. Callaghan (Auckland). Constable R. Miller, who was transferred from Oamaru to Waimate about 18 months ago, visited Oamaru yesterday, and will leave at an early date for Hokitika, where he has been appointed to do inquiry work. Queen's Hotel.—Mrs J. A. Taylor (Ashley Downs), Mr N. F. Ross (Methven), Mr N. R. Christie (Balclutha), Mr S. D< Denize, Mr G. Masters, Mr A. Macdonald, Mr \ Riach, Mrs R. McSkimming, Miss Dmna McSkimming, Mr F. M. Bartlett, Mr T. A. Bartlett, Mr A. W. E. Fowler. Mr D. R. Smith (Dunedin), Miss P. M. Preston (Waikouaiti), Mr D. McLeod (Wanaka), Mr A. White, Mr R. J. Nanson, Mr and Mrs Heaney, Mr and Mrs Foden (Christchurch).

RAINFALL STATISTICS

AN INTERESTING REVIEW KUROW-HAKATARAMEA AREA An analysis of the figures covering the rainfall for the Kurow-Hakataramea district, furnished by Mr J. O. H. Tripp, of Hakataramea, will prove of interest for farmers in North Otago. Mr Tripp's statistics cover a period of 14 years, and should afford a useful guide to men on the land in planning the year's work. " The total rainfall over 14 years, to the nearest inch," Mr Tripp states, " is 254 inches, which represents an average of 18 inches per year. Curiously enough, however, we have never once had 18 inches far any single year, the nearest to it being 17.67 inches in 1937 and 19.92 inches in 1932. The yearly rainfall is, in fact, very erratic, varying from 11.46 inches in 1939 to 25.82 inches in 1938.

"Yearly.rainfalls, however, can be very deceptive from a practical farming point of view. For instance, many inches may fall when the ground is frozen solid to a depth of six inches, and so do very little good; on the other hand, we may get many driblets of three or four points when the ground is parched, which would also be quite useless. In fact, I think that the practical farmer should take very little notice of yearly figures, but should keep a list of the monthly averages, and should know which are our ,we,ttest and driest months, so that such .things as shearing and seed-beds could be planned with a view to the amount of moisture to be expected. " Here are the figures for 14 years, and so far as shearing can be planned it is obvious that November is the most favourable month for sunshine. It is a pity that most of our shearing takes place during the two wettest months of the year. The months are given in their order of wetness: — December: Total rainfall for 14 years, 31.90 inches: monthly average, 2.28 inches. January: 31.12; 2.22; March. 24.21; 1.73. April: 24.08; 1.72. February: 21.34; 1.52. September: 21.30; 1.52. November: 19.08; 1.36. October: 18.50; 1.32. May: 17.32; 1.24. August: 15.53; 1.11. July: 15.19; 1.09. June: 14.88; 1.06. Over the period of 14 years the rainfall totalled 254.45 inches.

" It will also be noticed that the months mostly run together in pairs so far as rain is concerned, with a large gap of nearly seven inches between the first and second pair, and 2Jin between the second and third pair; 2in between the third and fourth pair; and just over lin between the fourth pair and the month of May, which stands by itself. Then we have a drop of ljin to the last trio of dry months whose combined average is less than half the average of the wettest months.

" There have been many complaints of the exceptionally dry November this year, and to date we have certainly had only half the usual average of 1.36 in, but it should be pointed out that this is always a dry month, being seventh on the' list, and that there is every hope of a quick recovery in December, according to the law of averages."

OBITUARY MR ERNEST REID, JUN. By the death of Mr Ernest Reid, jun., at the early age of 23 years, Oamaru has lost one of its most popular young men. The second son of Mr and Mrs Ernest Reid, Stour street. Oamaru, he was never of a robust constitution, but in spite of this he was, an inspiration to many by his bright and brave outlook on life. He was educated at the private school formerly conducted by Miss McMormick, and was a general favourite with both teacher and pupils. He entered his father's business, and also took up an agency for the Alliance Insurance Company, and in his business connections endeared himself to all with whom he came in contact. He was exceptionally fond of music, and read widely, but it was in machinery that he was particularly interested. He became keenly interested in " first aid," passed the St? John Ambulance Association's examination for a medallion, and was enrolled in this branch of- the Emergency Precautions Service. His desire to help others was always evident, and many were the deserving causes which he assisted. WINDSOR WOMEN'S INSTITUTE COMMUNITY SING The Windsor Women's Institute recently held a successful community sing in the Windsor Park buildings, the proceeds being in aid of the Soldiers' Parcels; Fund. Messrs J. Weir and G. Dorward were the leaders, and songs were presented by Miss Joan Weir and Master Wallace Dorward. Goods which had been contributed, were sold by auction, and Mrs J. Coughlan, who won the Christmas cake, immediately posted it overseas. Mr Weir and Mr Dorward have done good work in helping the institute with their efforts to aid the Parcels Fund, and at the close of the sing Mrs Webster (president of the Windsor Institute) asked the leaders to accept small keepsakes from the residents. The function closed with dancing and the singing of "Till We Meet Again." WAIKOUAITI Home Guard. —Thirty members of the Waikouaiti Company of the Home Guard attended a church parade on Sunday evening at St. John's Anglican Church. The Rev. Noel Benham conducted the service. The next, parade will be held on Saturday, December 6, at 1.30 p.m., at the Beach street railway station.