CENTRAL OTAGO

Otago Daily Times, Issue 24910, 8 May 1942, Page 6

CENTRAL OTAGO

ALEXANDRA B.S.A.—The annual meeting of the Alexandra Returned Services' Association was held on Friday night, the president (Mr J. R. McKlssock) being in the chair. The annual report referred to the large number of men who had left the district as members of the 2nd N.Z.E.F., a number of whom had since returned. Reference was also made to the death on active service of Privates R. Rankin and A. B. Meiklejohn and Sergeant Observer W. Watts, and sympathy was extended to the relatives. Congratulations were extended to Pilot Officer A. Ashworth, Sergeant C. Mack, and Staff Sergeant D. L. Cooney, who had received recognition for distinguished service. Considerable discussion took place on the subject of conscientious objectors and tire number of appeals which had been brought before the Man-power Committee. Thp following remit was approved to be forwarded to the Dunedin Association; “That this meeting of the Alexandra Returned Services’ Association impresses on the Dunedin Association the necessity for more drastic treatment In respect to conscientious objectors." It was also suggested at the meeting that more advantage should be taken of local knowledge when appeals from national service were being dealt with.—The annual reunion was fixed to be held on May 16. The election of officers resulted as follows: President, Mr J. R. McKissock; secretary, Mr J. H. Forrest: auditor, Mr F. R, Whitelock; General Committee —Messrs D. H. Denniston, M. Warhurst, W, Fox, J. Lunn, C. Rogers, J. H. Hart (Alexandra). W. K. George, E. Grant, and J. R. Hollows (Clyde), John Dougherty (Fruitlands), and A. Clearie (Galloway). Social to Soldier.—Private W. Frewen was entertained by the residents of the town and district on Friday., afternoon. Mr J. R. McKissock presided and extended to the guest the best wishes of the residents for the future. Private Frewen was the fifth member of his family to join the armed forces, a record of which they could be proud. Mr McKissock asked Private Frewen to accept an inscribed wallet with an enclosure. The recipient suitably replied. MIDDLEMARCH The Weather.—The Strath-Taieri district is experiencing a spell of dry weather, the ground being much too dry for agricultural work. Consequently very little autumn sowing of any description has been done. Stock is in excellent condition, and winter feed is plentiful. The weather during' the ; month of April was, on the whole, very pleasant and free from wind. The rainfall was only 50 points, the driest April on record. The fall in April of last year totalled 1.11 inches, and in the same month of 1940 2.61 Inches. For the four months ended April 30 the rainfall recorded was 7.10 inches, against 7.93 inches for the same period in 1941, and 10.36 inches in 1940. All Purposes Appeal.—The collectors, who have undertaken the personal canvass for the All Purposes Appeal are meeting with a most gratifying response, and are hopeful that by the end of this week the full quota of their allotment will be In hand. OMAKAU Omakau Golf ClUb.—At the official opening of the Omakau Golf Club there was a good muster of members, who were welcomed by the president, Mr J. Charles. The president thanked those members who had worked to prepare the links for play and stated that an endeavour would be made to arrange for the various competitions. Members then took part in a Mixed Foursome. Owing to the Home Guard camp next week-end, there will be ho play, but the Caldwell Cup Competition will be played the following week-end, a draw to be made on the links. High Wind.—On Sunday and Monday the district experienced a high wind which at times reached gale force, and conditions were unpleasant. In the Matakanul area the gale was more severe and crops of hay, which had been cut and were awaiting baling, were scattered in all directions, many fences being covered owing to the material piled against them by the force of the wind. Minor damage occurred to fences and outhouses. At Ophir a resident was unfortunate enough to receive a severe cut on tfie face from a piece of roofing iron carried by the gale, the Injury necessitating six stitches. QUEENSTOWN The Weather. —The weather during the week has been stormy, rain having fallen at intervals, but milder conditions now prevail. The moist weather is still holding up the harvesting of grain on some of the farms. Autumn Tints.—The autumn tints in and around Queenstown this year. present a beautiful picture, with dark and light tonings of browns and yellows in profusion on the hillsides and in the Park.

Extension of Railway Yards.—Since the closing of> the Frankton wharf, which had been used for many years as a substation for the clearing of the district’s grain and stock, the Railways Department has extended the local yards. The goods shed has been added to and floor space provided for 2000 bags of grain, as well as general goods. Loading banks have also been provided for the convenience of lorry owners, and provision made for the holding of up to 2000 sheep in yards close to the wharf. The pens are connected with the wharf by a race which will facilitate loading. Bowling Season Closed.—The Wakatlpu Club has formally closed for the season. A number of local and visiting bowlers took part In play on the final day, and some of the club ties were also completed. The Open and Handicap Singles Championship was won by V. Scandrett. The Champion Doubles were won by V. Scandrett and P. Dougherty, and the Handicap Doubles by J. Perks and L. Jamieson.

Shooting Season.—Tiie council of the Lakes District Acclimatisation Society met on Wednesday night to consider the question of asking the Minister of Internal Affairs to reconsider his decision not to permit any shooting this season. A petition bearing a large number of signatures was presented by the Duck Shooters’ Association, and the president (Dr W. A. Anderson) asked that an open season should be declared in June. The advisability of sending a delegate to Wellington, with representatives of other societies, was also discussed, and it was decided to ask Mr D. Aubrey to act. The petition will be sent to the South Island Association for presentation to the Minister.

Patriotic Appeal.—The sum of £650 has so far been raised in the Queenstown district towards the All Purposes Appeal. Another £SO is in sight, which will leave a balance of £SO to be raised to complete Queenstown’s quota. Arrowtown has raised over £550, and a patriotic carnival will be held on May 16 to augment this amount.

TAPANUI

Borough Council.—The ordinary monthly meeting of the Borough Council was held on Monday evening, the Mayor (Mr J. L. Wylie), presiding over a full attendance of councillors. Three ratepayers were granted permission to instal septic tanks on their property.—lt was decided to notify all residents that noxious weeds growing in the roadways in front of their properties must be removed, and that the hedges of ratepayers which encroach on to the streets must be at once trimmed bapk to the fence line.—lt was agreed that the Town Hall should be granted free to the Home Guard, the Emergency Traffic Unit, and E.P.S. organisations. Mr H. Dowle's application to carry out improvements on sections occupied by the late Dr W. Robertson was approved, assuming that the assignment of the lease was obtained by him. —Accounts amounting to £153 3s lid were passed for payment. Soldiers Entertained. —There was a large attendance in the Town Hall on Wednesday night, when Gunner R. Kirk and Privates L. McColl and D. Graham were entertained by district residents at a social and dance, interspersed with musical items. The Mayor (Mr J. L. Wylie), on behalf of their district friends, extended good wishes to the guests and presented each man with a monetary gift. Gunner Kirk replied on behalf of himself and his companions. Valedictory.—Prior to leaving for Rotherham. North Canterbury, to which township he has been transferred as railway ganger, Mr O. L. Munyard was entertained by the citizens and representatives of the various bodies with which he has been connected. On Monday he was entertained by the Fire Brigade and Brass Band, and presented with a case of cutlery by the former and a suitcase by the latter. During the social to the soldiers on Wednesday he was presented by the Mayor, on behalf of the public, with a well-filled wallet, and on Tuesday evening the footballers presented him with a fountain pen.

W.W.S.A.—In the Town Hall on Wednesday afternoon there was a large attendance at the meeting called for the purpose of forming a sub-branch of the W.W.S.A. in Tapanul. The Mayor (Mr J. L. Wylie) presided, and after expressing pleasure at the large attendance he introduced Mrs Burgess* of the Gore branch, who gave an interesting and explicit resume of the organisation and Its objects. She outlined the various sections which had been formed and were working efficiently in Gore under the E.P.S. As the Tapanui linen factory has a hostel and would shortly be employing W.W.S.A. workers she asked the laflles present to decide whether or not they would form a committee to assist with the welfare of the scheme. Mrs Coventry (the Gore secretary) explained the financial side of the organisation, and after several questions had been answered it was decided to form a local sub-branch, and the following were elected a committee:—Mesdames J. S. Varcoe, J. C. Cameron, J. A. McDonald, G. Brooke, F. J. Wylie. W. R. O.uln, and N. Matheson. Mrs Varcoe was elected president and Mrs Cameron secretary. Votes of thanks to Mesdames Burgess and Coventry closed the meeting.