RIVERTON NOTES

Southland Times, Issue 20146, 5 April 1927, Page 10

RIVERTON NOTES

FOOTBALL CLUB. (From Our Correspondent.) The adjourned annual meeting of the Riverton Football Club will be held in the Town Hall this (Tuesday) evening. The following is the annual report: — “The past season had not been a very successful one for the club. A senior and a junior team entered for the Western District Competition, but owing to the shortage of players, it was found necessary to withdraw the junior team from the competition after the first round. The senior team had often to take the field short of players, and at the latter end of the season found it hard to get a team to travel. The club received £llB 4/4 from the Queen Carnival, of which £llO has been placed in the bank. The club’s thanks are due to the president, Mr Dan Ross, and Mr John Rose for attending the union meetings on the club’s behalf, also to Messrs E. Richardson and W. Foster for refereeing matches. The committee hope that the coming season will see more interest being taken by players, and that 1927 will be a prosperous one for the club.”

The balance-sheet shows the receipts to be £l4l 5/5, and on the expenditure side £23 11/10, so that the club will start the year’s operations with a credit balance of £ll6 13/7. RIVERTON SALEYARDS COMPANY. A meeting of the Riverton Saleyards Company (in liquidation), was called for Saturday afternoon, but as many of those interested no doubt were more concerned about the harvest prospects, it was resolved to adjourn the meeting sine die. In conversation with the chairman, Mr E. J. Stevens, it was learned that as a result of the recent sale of material, the company would now practically lie able to meet all contingencies. The cost of demolishing the yards had been £B, and the returns of the sale amounted to £2B. Many of the farming community will deplore the passing of the old stock yards, but as the executive were unable to make the sales pay, the only solution was to have them disposed of by auction, and the company go into liquidation. PAINFUL ACCIDENT. On Wednesday evening, a somewhat painful accident happened to Mr D. White, of The Narrows. He had been attending a dance in the district, and when near Gummies Bush, something went amiss with the motor-cycle he was riding, and the unfortunate young man was thrown violently to the ground, receiving a fractured leg. A motor car. driven by Mr Mclvor, fortunately arrived shortly after the accident, and the sufferer was conveyed to the Wallace Hospital, where his wants were immediately attended to. RACING CLUB. At a meeting of the Racing Club held on Friday, it was reported that everything was being done to ensure the success of the three days’ fixture at Easter. The course, despite the recent heavy rains, was looking at its best, and ample provision was being made so that visiting owners and trainers would find suitable accommodation during their stay at the seaside. The usual stewards were appointed for the conduct of the meeting, last year’s ones being again selected. THE APARIMA BRIDGE. Mr Shortt will preside at the Aparima bridge commission, which will open in the Riverton Courthouse to-day (Tuesday). It, is expected that the sittings will extend over two days, and five witnesses will give evidence. Mr W. S. Hunter, with him Mr Stout (Invercargilli, will represent the Riverton Borough Council, Mr Longuet the Invercargill Borough, and Mr Macalister the Wallace and Southland Counties. GOLF CLUB. At last meeting of committee, a short discussion took place with reference to improving the course, and it was eventually decided to form a working bee to have the noxious weeds and other obstacles removed, the members to meet on Wednesday on the links. It was also decided to leave the fixing of the opening day in the hands of the chairman and green committee. Eight new members were elected. SCHOOL MATTERS. The application of the local school committee for the right to use part of the Manual and Domestic School grounds in Havelock street, has been granted by the Education Board, and the committee intend getting busy by improving it almost immediately. When the Minister was here last week, he promised to see that the section adjoining the High School would shortly be under the control of the committee. By the addition of the native section, more room will be provided in the playing area, which will be much appreciated by the scholars. The attendance still keeps well up, and the secondary department shows an appreciable increase. Every effort is to be made to have a dental nurse stationed here, and as the Minister has promised to urge oh the Department the necessity of the appointment, before long the school should be quite up-to-date. THE POTATO CROP.

Local growers and a number of farmers close to the town have commenced unearthing the potatoes, and by the look of things so far the returns are going to be poor. Blight, which made a visitation on the earlier varieties, has also damaged the later ones, and plots which at one time looked as if large yields were assured now give but poor results, and, in the majority of cases, the larger tubers show the disease only too plainly. In gardens where spraying was resorted to the crops are fairly clean, but in the larger areas where this precaution was considered too costly, and the growers took the risk the loss to the owners will be considerable. One grower, however, in South Riverton, who planted early and who was lucky enough to have them ready for the Christmas requirements, has done well off a small patch of under a quarter of an acre, the cash returns totalling

HARVEST THANKSGIVING. The members of the Salvation Army Corps held their annual harvest thanksgiving services on Sunday, when the barracks were suitably decorated for the occasion. The services were conducted by Captain Parkinson, of the local corps, and were all well attended by members and sympathisers. THE WEATHER. March will long be remembered as the wettest and most unseasonable for a long time. The unusual experience has greatly hampered those engaged on the land, and those who were unable to get in the harvest before the change took place will not be too well pleased. The past week, however, has shown a considerable improvement, and Old Sol was welcomed accordingly. A drying wind has done a considerable amount of good, and many have pushed on with the object of getting the crop under cover while the going was good, A few more favourable days and the latest sown should be in. The rivers and creeks, which were greatly discoloured, and in some cases overflowing the banks, are back to normal, and those engaged in the bush business will be enabled to repair bridges, tramways, etc. The spell of broken weather practically brought all outside work to a standstill, the milling industry closing down until more favourable climatic conditions prevailed.

A CLEARANCE. The Borough Council has carried out some necessary work in South Ward by having a number of the trees topped and cut back where they were encroaching on the roadways, especially along the bay road. This will have the effect of letting the sun in and help to keep the road dry. The place has assumed a more clean and tidy appearance, and the alteration has also been the means of providing more room for the traffic on this much-used spot. The narrowness of the roads in the south wards is still being discussed by residents, but, with the municipal elections close at hand, the

present constituted body intend to take no action until the elections are over and the new councillors are elected. PADDY’S MARKET.

A paddy’s market in aid of the Girl Guides’ movement, was held in Parkin’s Hall on Saturday afternoon, where there was a fair attendance of the public and sympathisers, and the fair proved a success. Mrs L. R. Jordan, the president, was in charge, and was ably supported by a number of assistants. Competitions, etc., were held, good prizes being given the successful competitors, and the whole of the display of foodstuffs and useful articles found ready purchasers. PRESBYTERIAL HALL.

The members of the Riverton and district Presbyterian Church met in the church on Thursday afternoon, the Rev. J. Fordyce presiding. There was a large and representative attendance. The plans for the new hall, as drawn up by Mr Wilson, the architect, were submitted and discussed, and it was ultimately resolved that a subcommittee comprising the Rev. Fordyce, Messrs Alex. Evans and Calder wait upon the architect on Tuesday with a view to having some alterations made in the building, the opinion being that the plans as submitted would be rather expensive, and a less costly one would meet with the requirements.

RIVERTON COURTS. MONDAY, APRIL 4. (Before Mr G. Cruickshank, S.M., and Warden.) In the Warden’s Court E. H. Coote made application for a residence site, suitated at Orepuki, being west of Section 51, Block 11., Longwood, term 42 years. Mr M. M. Macdonald for applicant. Annie E. Fraser, for whom Mr Patrick appeared, applied for the same site. The Warden adjourned the applications until next court day. BREACH OF RAILWAY BY-LAWS. Police v. F. G. Cook, who was charged with boarding a train while in motion at the Riverton Station on February 25.

Defendant, who did not appear, wrote pleading guilty to the charge. He was a married man with a family, and hoped the Bench would treat the case as leniently as possible. Constable Fraser gave evidence to the effect that defendant was talking to some friends on the platform, and in attempting to board the moving train, he slipped, and had a miraculous escape from a serious accident. He was assisted by bystanders, and it was a wonder that defendant had escaped without the loss of a foot or leg, as his boot was badly torn. The Bench inflicted a fine of 10/-. CIVIL CASES. Judgment by default was given in the following undefended cases: A. H. Stevens v. Hugh Bushbridge for £7 4/11, with costs £1 5/6; E. Walker Bone v. Elizabeth Morrison for £2B 16/10, costs £3 2/6; B. C. Hancock v. James Kenneally £23 1/5, costs £3 2/6; Alex. Tecofsky v. John Fisher 12/6, costs 16/-; same v. R. Mike 8/-, costs 16/-; same v. R. Fisher £1 10/-, costs 18/-. LANDLORD v. TENANT. Matthew Bennett v. William Donnell. Mr E. B. Patrick for plaintiff, and Mr M. Macdonald for defendant. Mr Patrick, in opening the case for plaintiff, said the claim was for the possession of a house at Tuatapere, and occupied by defendant. There was no claim for rent as that had been fully paid up, but Bennett wanted the house for another person who was to reside there, and he (John Kissell) was to clear a section, and was to carry out other work for plaintiff. Matthew Bennett (plaintiff) gave evidence to the effect that the house occupied by Donnell was witness’ property, and was rented at 25/- per month. He advised defendant that he wanted the house for a married man who was to do some work for him, and told defendant he would have to look out for a house elsewhere. A month’s notice had been given, but the Donnells took no notice of it., Witness did not require the house for his own use, but for the man who was to work for him.

Mr Macdonald said defendant had been living in the house for some time, and when the notice to quit was received every attempt had been made to rent another house, but without success.

William Donnell, labourer, Tuatapere, said he had been residing for about 24 years in the Dominion. He was a married man with a wife and eight of a family. He had been in ill-health for some time, and could only do light work, and had resided for about three years on the propertv, which was formerly owned by the Southland Milling Company, but afterwards purchased by plaintiff. The rent had been paid regularly, and the place had not been knocked about during his term as tenant. He had never complained to the Inspector of Health as regards the condition of the house, and had never boasted that the owner of the property could not shift him. Emily M. Donnell, wife of the previous witness, deposed that every attempt had been made to rent another house, but none were available save one, and the owner asked £1 a week, which amount was beyond their means. Their eldest son had assisted the family, as her husband was not strong and could not do heavy work. As soon as they got another house they were quite prepared to remove.

His Worship said he would make no order for possession of the house, as it was shown the plaintiff did not require it for his own use. No costs would be allowed.