NEWS OF THE DAY

Otago Daily Times, Issue 27039, 25 March 1949, Page 4

NEWS OF THE DAY

Portrait of Mayor The Mayor, Sir Donald Cameron, is to be painted in oils. Mr G. Stratton, J.P., has submitted to the City Council Finance Committee an offer on behalf of two residents who desire to present to the city a portrait in oils of Sir Donald in commemoration of the centenary of Dunedin and Otago and also the fact that his Worship is the first Mayor to be knighted while in office. Mr Archibald Nicoll, 0.8. E., of Christchurch, has been commissioned to paint the portrait, which, when framed, will measure 53 inches by 44 inches. The donors have asked that the portrait be hung in the Council Chambers, and they seek permission to attach a plate suitably inscribed and including the names of the donors. It is their wish to remain anonymous until all details are completed and the decision of the council is known. The Finance Committee will recommend to a meeting of the City Council on Monday night that the offer be accepted on the conditions indicated.

Gift of Snowdrops A gift of 200 English snowdrop bulbs (galanthus) for planting in the Dunedin Botanic Gardens has been accepted from Mr R. A. Mould, of Wainui, Banks Peninsula, by the Reserves Committee of the City Council. Parking Restriction

The streets in the “ immediate vicinity” of the Anderson’s Bay tram terminus have been declared “ no parking” areas by the City Council. This decision has been made as a result of complaints about “ indiscriminate parking of vehicles,” which, it is stated, has interfered with the free flow of traffic in this area.

City Rateable Value The total rateable value of the city of Dunedin is £1,694,592, an increase on last year of £62,596, according to a report’ by the city valuer to the Finance Committee of the City Council. Non-rateable property amounts to £273,252, an increase of £10,448. The valuation list for the year 1949-50 has been signed by the judge of the Assessment Court.' Tribute to Press A generous tribute to the efforts of the press to encourage country football was paid by Mr J. Donnelly (Vincent) at the annual meeting of the Otago Rugby Football Union last night. Mr Donnelly said that the sub-unions were indebted to the press for placing country football before the public, and its efforts had given the sub-unions great encouragement Irrecoverable Debts Accounts totalling £540 16s 6d will be written off by the City Council on Monday night if it accepts the recommendations of the Finance Committee. The city treasurer has reported that every endeavour has been made to collect the money, but without success. The departments affected are: Municipal Department, £222 5s lid; Water Department, £54 6s 9d; Gas Department, £B6 9s; Electricity Department, £147 14s lOd; Transport Department, £3O. Increased Golf Charges

The charges for 'use of the Ocean Beach municipal golf links have been reviewed by the Reserves Committee of the City Council. The increased charges, recommended to come into force on April 1 next, with the present charges in parentheses, are: Eighteen holes, wfeek days, 2s 6d (2s); 18 holes, week-ends and holidays, 3s (2s 6d); daily charge, week days 4s (3s); daily charge, week-ends and holidays, 5s (3s 6d). The committee also recommends that a special ticket be made available to “ bona fide University students,” for use on Monday to Triday only from March 1 to October 31, for £2. The committee does not propose making any alterations to the present charges for season tickets. Reasonable Request

In the course of his address at the function held by the Otago Early Settlers’ Association at the Town Hall yesterday, Mr Eric Skinner, a member of the committee, emphasised that settlers in the pioneer days of Otago made few demands on the community. Underlying this, Mr Skinner quoted 1 the case of a settler who travelled a long distance to wait on a meeting of the Bruce County Council in Milton with the request for a road. “ Gentlemen, I”m not asking for a flash road,” he said in concluding his appeal. “All that I want is a road on which one can ride at a walking pace in broad daylight.” Mr Skinner commented that this was an “ extremely modest request in view of the demands that are now being made by certain sections of the community.”