ALEXANDRA

Otago Daily Times, Issue 27383, 8 May 1950, Page 7

ALEXANDRA

SCHOOL COMMITTEE The following committee was re-elected: —Mrs R. G. Rogers, Messrs E, Russell (chairman), W. A. Campbell, V. H. Galt, H. H. Kemp, G. H. Fox, A. N. Pryor, S. G. Lewis D. A. McPhail. BOARD MEMBER RESIGNS At a meeting of the Otago Central Electric Power Board the resignation of Mr J. F. Partridge, of Lovvburn, a member of the board was received with regret. Mr Partridge is leaving the district to reside in Australia. The chairman, Mr W. Bringans said it was regretted that Mr Partridge had found it necessary to sever his connections with the board. On behalf of the members he wished Mr and Mrs Partridge every success in their new venture. PROGRESS OF ALEXANDRA In the annual report of the To\sti Clerk, Mr W. J. Russell, presented to the Alexandra Borough Council, interesting figures relating to the progress of the town in recent years were recorded. In 1926 the population of the town was 610; in 1936. 870; in 1945, 1025; and the estimated total for 1950 was 1300. Houses in the borough numbered 137 in 1920; 180 in 1936; 279 in 1945- and in 1950, 340 plus 16 in course of erection. Rates collected were: 1928-29, £1328; 1934-35 £1473; 1940-41, £2068, 1946- £3647; 1949-50. £4940. EMPLOYEES’ SERVICES At the monthly meeting of the Otago Central Power Board a motion of appreciation of the services rendered by the workmen in repairing the pipe-line damaged on April 6 and the huge task involved in restoring it was passed. Mr A. E. Marslin moved “ the board records its appreciation of the outstanding work performed by the board’s staff and outside labour employed under the very able supervision of the engineer manager, Mr A. E. Ellis, assisted bv Mr C. M. Ellis, of Dunedin, the latter being directly in charge of the work until its successful conclusion on April 28. The men engaged had an unenviable task in the clearing of the pipeline as it involved the hand chipping of the concrete lining within the pipes over a distance of one mile and a-half. Labour was recruited from the dredges, the Public Works and volunteers. At one stage 48 men were employed. Chipping concrete in pipes from 30 inches down to 20 inches in diameter was an arduous task with the loose lining being hauled out on trays improvised for the work. The rough terrain made the rate of progress slow. On some sections it meant that the men were working inside pipes set in an almost vertical position.