CENTRAL OTAGO

Otago Daily Times, Issue 24836, 9 February 1942, Page 7

CENTRAL OTAGO

ALEXANDRA Emergency Precautions.—The Mayor, Mr A. McKellar, presided" over a meeting of the Alexandra Emergency Precautions Scheme last Wednesday night, when the various controllers were present. The Law and Order, Communications, Transport and Fire Controllers reported that their organisations were well under way. Mr A. E. Ellis, Lighting Controller, promised to bring forward at an early date . a report on the control of lighting for the whole of his district, which is the Otago Central Electric Power Board area. The matter of appointing a controller of Women's Services was held Over until the next meeting. Showery Weather.—The district has had i another period of showery weather. While pastoral country welcomed the rain, fruitgrowers greatly preier warm and drv conditions at this period of the year to assist in harvesting the fruit crop. Patriotic Committee.—The Mayor, Mr A. McKellar, presided over a meeting of the Alexandra Patriotic Committee on Thursday night, when the main business was the devising of ways and means for

raising Alexandra's quota of the General Purposes Appeal at present being conducted by the Otago Provincial Patriotic Council. The secretary (Mr W. J. Russell) reported on a meeting of the council held in Dunedin. The quota for Vincent County to be raised by the end of September was £6OOO, of which Alexandra's contribution would be between £750 and £IOOO, or approximately 17s 6d per head of the population. It was agreed to institute the direct method of giving, each householder to be called upon to contribute a certain amount each month for the duration of the appeal. The first collection will be made during the first week in March. ' Personal.—At a meeting of the Emergency Precautions Committee reference was made to the achievements of a local soldier, Staff Sergeant D. L. Cooney. who had been mentioned in despatches for his services in Crete and Greece, and the committee agreed to send a letter of congratulation to his parents, Mr" and Mrs T. L. Cooney. ROXBURGH Emergency Precautions Services.—A meeting of the executive of the Roxburgh E.P..S. was held in the library room last week, the controller, Mr T. Waigth. occupying the chair; presentMessrs D. Baillie, Dr Gilmour, F. Vercoe,. G. Charlton, J. Waigth, C. P. Hainsworth, W. Compton, W. J. Henderson, H. McMahon, X- Hayes, and B. M. Jeffery. The Wheat Committee, Dunedin, wrote agreeing to a proposal to store flour in case of an emergency on condition that six tons of flour would always -be held in reserve and subject to weekly turnover by the local baker when new consignments arrived. The Otago Education Board wrote granting' the use of the domestic rooms in the event of an emergency. Mr H. H. Lyall (Balclutha) wrote advising tSat the list of vehicles required had been forwarded to the vehicle controller and that notices would be seht to the owners as soon as possible. The Otago Hospital Board wrote stating that the chairman had approved of one of the board's small panniers being forwarded to be used in an emergency. The secretary of the Emergency Precautions Central Committee, Dunedin, acknowledged receipt of inquiry regarding evacuation and stated that a billeting register would be sent in the course of a few days for revision. After discussing the equipment of aid posts to be established outside the borough, at Ettrick, Miller's Flat, and Coal Creek and the central station, it was decided to solicit a grant of £3 from both the County Council and the Borough Council. It was reported that the National Service Department was making a subsidy of £2 for £l, and it was considered that the necessary material for the making of stretchers, etc., could be purchased if this money was granted. It was decided to make application to the Oil Fuel Controller for sufficient petrol to provide the various sections with sealed two-gallon tins. In connection with reduced lighting, Mr Ellis was appointed chairman and Mr W. J. Henderson convener. The secretary reported that 23 enrolments had been handed in since January 22. A further meeting of the executive was arranged for February 12. Fruit Season. —Very heavy consignments of fruit have been leaving the district. Many varieties of fruit are ripening at the same period, and some growers are picking Wiggins peaches, greengages, and Angelina Burdett plums before Morepark apricots are ready to pick. The drying plant Is how in operation, and with warmer conditions will soon be working at full pitch.