NORTH OTAGO NEWS

Otago Daily Times, Issue 24949, 23 June 1942, Page 5

NORTH OTAGO NEWS

LIBERTY BONDS POWER BOARD STAFF LARGEST CONTRIBUTIONS IN DISTRICT At a meeting of the Waitaki Electricpower Board yesterday, Mr I. Dalmer (engineer) reported that he had placed before members of the staff a proposal to take up Liberty Bonds, at least one each Possibly the board would agree to finance the staff, in a manner similar to the Woollen Mills Company's scheme, and allow the staff to pay off the bonds on a monthly basis. He was pleased to say that in proportion to the staffs of other public or private firms in the district, the board's staff had taken up the greatest number of bonds. Some members had invested as much as £lO. The total was 104 bonds. More members of the staff had paid cash, but £B6 had still to be subscribed. The board's contribution of £4OOO was also the largest in the district, and Mr Finlinson had expressed his deep appreciation of the action of the board and staff in contributing the largest amount per head in North Otago. The board formally confirmed the action taken. There were present at the meeting Messrs James McDiarmid (chairman), J. M. Forrester, E. S. Brewster, G. T. Gillies R. B. Meek, A. R. Tait, G. O. Pringle A B Lang. I. Dalmer (engineer), and Lieutenant C. F. Jones (secretary). New Secretary A letter was received from the Manpower Committee in reference to the secretary's leave from military duties.—The chairman explained that Lieutenant Jones was a valuable officer and his services were required in camp, as soon as possible. It was hoped that Mr Malley would be able to take up his new duties with the board in about 10 days, which would enable Lieutenant Jones to return to camp within the leave period. The Oamaru Borough Council advised that the Mayor (Mr J. C. Kirkness) and Cr H. M. Barclay had been appointed a sub-committee to confer with the boards committee on street lighting alterations.— Received. Finance Accounts totalling £6271 2s 5d I .power fund £5330. 8s sd. loan account £940 14s) were passed for payment. The secretary reported that the sales of electricity for May amounted to £4256 compared with £4117 in May, 1941, and £4067 in May, 1940. Sales for the first two months of this financial year totalled £7005, compared with £6819 for the corresponding period in 1941, and £6837 in 1940 Four applications for financial assistance under new range terms were approved. Installations on terms during May totalled £77, compared with £67 in April, £369 in March, and £SB in February. The total balances outstanding under hire purchase accounts at May 31 were £6957. _ The balances were as follows:—Powei Fund, surplus, £607 2s; loan account, difference to be met by further instalment of loan £345 8s 7d; receipts (comparative figures for May, 1941, being shown in parentheses) :—Sales of electricity, fittings, and house-wiring, £3844 (£3972); cash sales of fittings, £ll9 (£«); total, £3963 (£4037). Member's Inquiries Mr Gillies asked the engineer to supply the cost of manual control of the pilot wire system from Saturday morning to Sunday night. Mr Dalmer explained that at present the control was automatic, the charges being at a cheap rate, and if costs were added to it, it would " kill" it. Mr Gillies also asked what proportion of the board's power was supplied on the feeder line direct from the Weston substation. , The engineer was instructed to supply ths required information. Engineer's Report Mr Dalmer reported that 10 ranges, 4 water heaters, and 4 motors were installed during May. Numerous extensions and alterations were attended to.. The load connected was 110 kilowatts. The board received 1,590,000 units from Government supply, 6846 units were generated by water set, and 1252 by oil engine, a total of 1,598,098. this being a record for the month of May. The demand on Government supply reached 3222 k.v.a., and total demand on the system 3598 k.v.a. Some hardwood poles had arrived, but delay was still occurring with the building Of the pole factory, and he was somewhat anxious about future pole supplies.— The report was received.

Tides.—To-day at the Port of Oamaru high tides will be at 10.30 a.m. and 10.58 p.m. ~ '

COUNTY FINANCES ESTIMATES FOR CURRENT YEAR NO CHANGE IN RATES In his report on the estimates for the current financial year, to be submitted to the monthly meeting of the Waitaki County Council on Friday, the county clerk (Mr R. K. Gardiner) states that the estimated total expenditure for the year was £51,387, of which 3469 would be provided out of loan money. The estimated revenue, excluding the general rate, was £24,181, leaving £23,737 to be raised to square the accounts. The same rate as was levied last year—one and seven thirty-seconds of a penny—would produce approximately £23,963.

The highway estimates had not yet been approved by the District Highways Council, but the figures provided.for only ordinary maintenance, apart from the reconstruction and sealing of the OtiakeKurow section of the Pukeuri-Omarama highway, the council's proportion of which was being financed from loans. ' Loan charges showed a reduction of £935, but this was offset by £750 invested in the Liberty Loan, and the provision of £SOO for plant replacement. It was several years since the general fund was charged with purchase of plant, and in view of possible requirements, it was deemed advisable to make this provision now. Expenditure of roads and bridges would be approximately the same as last year. A number of small bridges and culverts, built many years ago. now required replacement. These items would call for considerable expenditure. It was difficult to estimate certain revenue with any degree of accuracy owing to war conditions, states the report. This referred particularly to revenue from heavy traffic licence fees and other licences. Compared with last year the items had been reduced. Revenue from hire of plant would probably show a reduction, partly due to reduced work on highways, and partly to the extension of sealed surfaces. It would appear that the same rate as was levied last year would show a small surplus at the end of the financial year. Other Accounts

Mr Gardiner considers that the Papakaio water race account could manage on the same rate as last year, provided that the council was not faced with extraordinary expenditure on the intake. Indications pointed to considerable trouble in this direction, and the estimated expenditure of £7OO, compares with an actual expenditure of £582 last year, partly provided for contingencies. The wisest policy was to build up a credit balance in this account. The Steward Settlement water race account commenced last year with a relatively large debit balance of £lB6, which increased to £209 at March»3l last. The joint intake of the Papakaio and this subdivision water race system was causing considerable anxiety, and the state of this account was far from satisfactory in view of the possibilities. Last year's charge was very much below requirements. Owing to the increase in pumping costs, the maintenance rate for the Kurow water supply maintenance account was a littleshort "of requirements, and left no margin for contingencies. A small increase in the rate was justified to keep the account on a sound basis. As was pointed out last year, a rate of 2d was not sufficient to meet requirements in, the Kurow water supply loan account, and this rate should be Increased to two and two-fifths of a penny. He recommended that the rate for the special loan interest account be increased slightly to one-fiftieth of a penny, at which figure there was no reason whv the rate could not remain constant. The amount involved was very small, but the fund should show a 10 per cent, margin over requirements. Estimates The main items in the estimates, with actual figures for last year in parentheses, are as follows: — Revenue.—Subsidy on rates, £2500 (£2500); dog registration, £SOO (£414). licenses, £950 (£1093); hire of plant, £I2OO (£1362); rent, £650 (£64o);—total, £7BIO (£8181). ' Summary: Administration and general, £16,027; loan charges, £2475: roads and bridges, £13,220; less balance last year, £175 and revenue £7810; rate required, £23,737. Expenditure.—Salaries, £I7OO ((1701); rangers, £543 (£543): consulting engineer, £750 (£81); licensing expenses, £335 (£334); reserves and dwellings, £3OO (£331); hospital lew, £8145 (£8178); total, £16,027 (£14,425); loan charges £2475 (£3410). Main Highways.—Maintenance: PukeuriOmarama £2909, subsidy £2182, county's proportion £727; Watareka-Ngapara-Dun-troon £llßl, £BB6, £295; Whitstone-Five Forks, £193, £143, £4B; Maheno-Kauroo. £252, £lB9, £63; South Oamaru-Waiana-karua, £759, £569, £190; HillgroveMoeraki, £227, £l7O, £s7;—totals, £5521, £4141, £I3BO. Reconstruction and sealing: Otiake-Kurow, £13,871, £10,408. £3469. ALL PURPOSES APPEAL CONTRIBUTIONS ACKNOWLEDGED Previously acknowledged, £15,008 6s 9d; Omarama Committee, £252 14s; AwamokoGcorgetown Committee (third instalment).,_£l26 12s 6d; Enfield Committee (fifth instalment), £69 10s; Weston Committee (sixth instalment), £37 Is 6d; Dr A. Smith Morton, £lO 10s; D. Findlay, £10; Ngapara Committee, £l;—total to date. £15.515 14s 9d. Awamoko-Georgetown. B. Gardiner £25, W, E, Aubrey. £2O, N. Taylor £ls 15s. R. J. Elliott and Sons, £ls, R. F. Ledingham £lO 10s; Mr and Mrs W. H. Wallace £lO 10s, R. H. Dorsey £lO 10s, Mr and Mrs R. F. Greenwood £lO, R. A. P. £lO, Mr and Mrs Ivan Kennedy £B, C. L. Ayson £5 ss, T. Johnstone £5 ss, Mr and Mrs W. Strachan £5 ss, Mr and Mrs Smillie £5, Mrs E. J. Geddes £5, A. McLeod £5, Mr and Mrs W. H. Winchester £5, Mr and Mrs A. J. Smith £5, D. K. McKenzie £5, E. P. Carrington £5, W. Cruickshank £5, Mr and Mrs R. Milne £5, Thomas McPhee £3, J. McEwan £2 10s, A. J. Weir £2 10s, Mr and Mrs D. Willetts £2 10s, Mr and Mrs Innes £2 2s, W. J. King £2 2s, Mr and Mrs Quested £2, L. C. Knight £2, J. McAuley £2, Mr and Mrs D. Kennedy £2, M. E. McPhee £2. P. L. J. £1 Is, Mr and Mrs H. Fraser £1 Is, R. K. Poison £1 Is, Mr and Mrs Falconer £l, M. Twiss £l, Awamoko School £l, J. Foley £l, L. G. Knight £l. H. Smart £l, B. McLeod £l, J. F. Johnston £l, Mrs J. Poison, sen., £l, Mr and Mrs B. J. McGrath £l, Mr and Mrs A. Warren £l, W. G. Geddes £l, D. B. Glenn £l, A. Hall £l, John Hall £l, James R. Hall £l, Angus Macaulsy £l, Charles T. Harman £l, E G. McCullough £l. A. B. Diehl £1 W A. Taylor £l, Mr and Mrs L. Palmer £lf D. Drcmgoole and family 10s, "Anonymous" 10s, L. Brunton 10s. D. Mcßeth 10s. Michel Kirby 10s, S. McKenzie 10s, J. E. Smith 10s. A. A. S. Trotter 10s, L. G. Officer 10s. M. Hobbs 10s, J. King 10s. T. Williams ss, "Anonymous 5s ' H. Miller ss. Mrs Campbell ss, Mrs Elder ss; P. K. 2s 6d;—total to date, £252 14s 6d. COURSING RED ENSIGN WINS STAKE An Open Stake was held on the plumpton by the North Otago Coursing Club on Saturday afternoon. In the final Mr G. Macpherson's Red Ensign beat Mr J. Webb's Sergeant Major. Results:—First round: Snow Wreath beat Torpedo Boy, Red Ensign beat Fujiama, Sergeant Major beat Nigger Boy. Second round: Red Ensign beat Snow Wreath, Sergeant Major a bye. Final: Red Ensign beat Sergeant Major. PERSONAL Mr and Mrs Hunt, Reed street, have received a message from their son, Private R. Hunt, who is a prisoner of war in camp 52, Italy. Private Hunt states that socks, chocolate, cigarettes, and light shoes are much needed. Mr and Mrs Samson, Torridge street, have received word from their, son. Private W. Samson, who is a prisoner of war in Germany, that he is fit and well, and has received his first parcel from his home through the Red Cross. AMUSEMENTS Majestic Theatre.—The nautical comedy, " In the Navy," featuring Abbott and Costello with an array of American artists, will be shown finally to-night. Opera House.—Robert Donat, of "Mr Chips " and " Monte Cristo" fame, will appear to-night in the delightful comedv " The Ghost Goes West." ITEMS OF INTEREST Nursing Examinations.—The foilowinp nurses of the Oamaru Public Hospital passed the i-ecent State preliminary examinations:—Nurses Beckingsale, Hogg. McLean, Smith, Frew, Nicol, Tonkin, Anderson, and Gibson. Pipe Band.—Mr J. Campbell (president) was in the chair at a smoke concert given by the North Otago Highland Pipe Band in honour of three members —Messrs Gordon Mather (who is going into camp), D. Wilson (who is going into the Air Force), and Ross McDonald (who is on leave from camp). Bagpipe solos were played by Mr J. Campbell and Pipe Major Wilson, violin solos by Mr J. Grant, and ukulele solos by Mr W R. Williams. Mild Spell.—Abnormally mild weather has been experienced in Oamaru since Thursday. The maximum shade temperature on Sunday was 70.5 degrees.