COUNTRY NEWS

Southland Times, Issue 19277, 23 June 1924, Page 10

COUNTRY NEWS

RIVERTON. PROGRESSIVE LEAGUE. (From our Correspondent.) The monthly meeting of the Executive of the Riverton and District Progressive League was held on Friday, when the following members were present:—Mr E. B. Gee (Vice-President, in the chair), Dr Gordon, Messrs J. A. Martin, F. Ashley, H. C. Johnstone, T. King, A. E. Willett, G. Kerr, R. Berndtson. J Instone, W. Scobie, H. C. Philp, B. McNee and J. Crawford (secretary). An apology for absence was received from Mr H. Ahurst. CORRESPONDENCE.

The following correspondence was received and dealt with :

From the Town Clerk, Riverton, accepting the League’s 1 offer to beautify the grounds surrounding the soldiers’ memorial and to keep the grounds in order. From the Town Clerk, Riverton, thanking the League for the entertainment of rhe officers and men from the H.M.S. Dauntless, and also thanking the League for their contribution in meeting half of the expenses incurred in providing luncheon for these officers and men. Offers to donate trees and shrubs for the purpose of beautifying the grounds of the soldiers’ memorial were received from Mrs F. Trail and Mr Jas Fleck. —It was moved that these donors be thanked for their kind offer to aid in beautifying the monument. Mr Kerr reported that Dr MacKibbin, Chief Medical Office of Health for Otago and Southland, had been down, and inspected the site and tested the water, and considered both the supply and quality of water were excellent and also that Dr McKibbin intended to come and meet the Council at their next meeting in reference to this supply. To carry out the work of beautifying the momument the following members were appointed a special Committee: Messrs Willett, King, Martin and Akhurst. The secretary of the Orepuki League wrote, thanking the members of the Riverton League for their services in obtaining signatures to a petition to the Government referring to the working of the Shale Works at Orepuki. Accounts amounting to £4 19/0 were passed for payment. GENERAL BUSINESS. Mr Ashley reported on the result of the Art Union in connection with the Carnival. He stated that the receipts were £lOO 15/6; the expenditure was £3l 11/-, leaving a credit of £69 4/6.

Mr Johnstone brought up the matter of the way in which trains were stopped on the station, causing unnecessary trouble to the passengers in alighting. This was caused by the van being brought right up to the station door and so the front carriages were drawn up past the platform, causing the passengers to alight on the side line. He moved that a letter be sent to the Department, asking that this matter be 1 righted. This was seconded by Mr Instone and carried. The matter of the Town Clock being stopped for about three weeks was brought up by Mr King, who moved that the authorities be written to, asking that the clock be put in order. —The motion was carried. Mr Willett reported on the meeting of the former Riverton Branch of the Southland League at which the balance of funds amounting to about £122 was allotted as follows: About £6O was allotted to the Memorial Committee to pay off the remaining debt on the memorial; £7 was allotted to a distressed returned soldier; and the remainder was to be placed in trust, the interest to be applied to the upkeep of the memorial and its surroundings. The matter of envelopes bearing an advertisement of the beauties of Riverton was brought up by Mr Martin. The League recommended the public of Riverton to obtain their envelopes and use them as a means of advertising their town. ANNUAL MEETING. After a short interval the annual meeting of the League was held. There was a fair attendance of members over which Mr Gee presided. In presenting the balance sheet, Mr Gee said that it was very gratifying that they had had such a good year and especially as the League was growing in numbers and power, and that everyone felt that the League was much better that day than a year ago. “This is so,” he said, “because every member has done his bit and I hope he will still do it. Riverton is a beautiful place and everyone of us should do his best for the betterment of the town. It is also very gratifying to know that the Borough Council and League are so closely connected in their work and it shows that they are not antagonistic to each other, and while they are so, Riverton must advance.”

The balance sheet showed that the expenditure was £77 6/9, and the receipts £370 13/1, leaving a credit balance of £293 6/4, which with cash in hand made a total of £3lO 4/6. He moved that the report and balance sheet be adopted. Mr W. S. Hunter seconded the adoption of the report, and the motion was carried after Mr Willett had also made a few remarks.

The following Executive for the ensuing year were elected:—President, Mr E. B. Gee; vice-presidents, Messrs W. S. Hunter and J. A. Martin; executive committee, Dr Gordon, Messrs A. E. Willett, G. Kerr, T. King, H. Johnstone. G. Dickson, H. Smith, J. Instone, H. E. Philp, F. W. Ashley, R. Berndtson, W'. Scobie, P. Beil, H. Akhurst, and R. Wilson; secretary, G. Swift; treasurer, J. Crawford; auditor, L. W r . Petchell. Messrs Johnstone and Martin moved that “the various sports bodies and other local bodies be asked to nominate their represenI tative on the Executive before the next meeting. Mr Berndtson and Mr Gee moved that a minute be placed in the minute book to record the valuable service and good work done by Mr Crawford in the last three years.—Carried unanimously. The league unanimously voted that the sum of £lO 10/- be put apart for a presentation to Mr Crawford for his work as secretary. Several members of the League spoke of the excellent work of Mr Crawford as secretary and regretted that he could not see his way clear on account of business ties to continue as secretary. Mr Crawford feelingly replied. Hearty votes of thanks to the auditor and retiring officers were passed. A vote of thanks to the Riverton Borough Council for the use of the Town Hall was also carried unanimously. It was also moved and carried that this League heartily appreciates the help given by the ladies at the recent Carnival and Art Union, and the opportunity to take their part in the expenditure of the money so collected, will be given to them. The subscription list was left the same as last year, i.e., males over 21, 5/-; males under 21 and ladies, 2/6. It was decided that the President (Mr Gee), and treasurer sign the cheques. In moving a vote of thanks to the chair, Dr Gordon said that he hoped the Executive, now having a good credit balance, would not rest on its oars, but carry on to augment this fund by means of entertainments, Paddy’s markets, etc.