DISTRICT NEWS

Southland Times, Issue 20633, 3 November 1928, Page 4

DISTRICT NEWS

WAIPOUNAMU NOTES. MEETING OF FARMERS’ UNION. On Monday evening last the Riversdale branch of the Farmers’ Union held its meeting in the Waipounamu School, Mr Janies Elder presiding. Several matters of importance to farmers came up for discussion, amongst which was the new Act concerning rural education leases. The secretary was instructed to write to the Lands Department and ask for an explanation of some apparent anomalies in the administration of the Act. A long discussion took place on the compilation of a questionnaire to be placed before aspirants for Parliamentary honours. After several good questions had been threshed out, it was decided that the chairman and secretary should make arrangements to have them put before the candidates. Petrol tax allocation, secondary highways and the combined railway and traffic bridge across the Mataura received attention. A resolution was carried unanimously endorsing the action of the Wendon farmers in asking for the road between Hunter’s corner at Otamo to Baird’s corner, Wendon, to be declared a secondary highway. The secretary was instructed to write to the County Council and draw its attention to - the branch’s resolution, and also to state that the road between Riversdale and Waikaia, being a main highway, this branch was of the opinion that the Railway Department and the County Council would be justified in asking for a subsidy from the Highways Board for the purpose of putting on extra planking to make the railway bridge over the Mataura safer for motor traffic and the passage of broad gauge farm machinery. Farewell Social. On the evening of Friday, October 26, a farewell social was held in the Waipounamu School in honour of Miss Atkinson, the local teacher, on the occasion of her being appointed to the Gladfield School in the Western District. The chairman of the school committee, Mr J. Elder, presided over a large gathering of local residents. The evening commenced with gramophone selections, and songs were sung by Miss Atkinson, Miss B. Watt, Mrs C. C. Derrett and also flute solos by Mr Noel Derrett. The chairman then congratulated Miss Atkinson on her recent appointment to the higher grade school, and remarked how successfully she had carried out her duties as a teacher. He expressed the greatest pleasure in presenting Miss Atkinson, on behalf of the Waipounamu residents, with a handsome leather travelling case, and also an umbrella. He presented Mts Atkinson with a travelling ruge and remarked how she had taken a kindly interest in the children and the welfare of the district generally. Presents were also given by the school children. Miss Atkinson feelingly returned thanks on behalf of herself and her mother, stating that she had many regrets in leaving the district.