RIVERTON NOTES

Southland Times, Issue 20666, 23 April 1929, Page 2

RIVERTON NOTES

MUNICIPAL ELECTIONS.

(From Our Correspondent.)

Nominations for the borough elections closed on Wednesday, and when Mr G. O. Cassels, town clerk, announced the names j-eccived there were very few ratepayers present. Dr N. G. Trotter was declared duly elected mayor, his being the only nomination received. In returning thanks he stated that had any ether candidate came forward he would have willingly stood down, as he had occupied the office for some time now. However, as it was their wish that he should continue as chief citizen he would do his best for the town and ratepayers generally. He was pleased that he had been re-elected because they would be holding their jubilee shortly, and he hoped to see the new bridge erected during his term of office. He referred to the hearty co-operation extended to him by the retiring councillors, and wished them success at the approaching election. Messrs J. O. Hymers, A. E. Willett, J. Prentice and R. J. Walker were nominated for the three vacancies on the north ward. The first three-nameW are seeking re-elec-tion while the latter is a new aspirant for municipal honours. Should the ratepayers return him, ho should make a useful councillor as he has had some experience in general road work and is a supporter of different sporting bodies, and has proved himself a useful member of the community. For South Riverton Messrs E. B. Patrick, J. A. Martin, W. A. Ashley, T. King, G. L. Dickson and Miss Hunt complete the list for the three vacancies. With the exception of Mr Dickson all have served the ratepayers before, and from what can be gathered the contest is likely to be a close one. It is reported that the new candidates will have the support of the South Riverton Ratepayers' Association, an organization that is likely to become numerically strong in the future. The concensus of opinion appears to be that the time is opportune for a change, and that a material difference is necessarv as regards present methods of road maintenance and general work in the borough.

Anzac Day. At a meeting of the local branch of the R.S.A. held on Thursday evening for the. purpose of making arrangements for Anzac Day, it was resolved to hold a combined service in the theatre commencing at 2.30 p.m. and the programme will be carried out by the following: The Mayor, Revs. F. O. Prosser (Methodist), Captain Flintoff (Salvation Army), Rev. C. E. P. Webb (Anglican) and Rev. J. Fordyce (Presbyterian). At the conclusion a procession of returned soldiers, Girl Guides and Boy Scouts will march to the monument in South Riverton, where an address will be delivered by Mr J. C. Thomson, and wreaths placed on the monument. Following their usual custom the returned men will visit the cemetery in the morning and place floral tributes on the graves of their late comrades. The Late Mrs Beaton.

There passed away recently, after a long and painful illness, a highly esteemed resident of the Western District in the person of Mrs J. Beaton (nee Rena Te Au). The late Mrs Beaton —a singer of repute—was widely known throughout the Dominion. Possessing a fine soprano voice of excellent range and remarkably sweet, she was often spoken of as tho “Maori bell bird.” The daughter of Mrs and the late Mr Tevi Te Au, she was born at Colac Bay, where she spent her childhood days, and when seventeen years of age left there to finish her education at the Maori Girls’ College in the North Island. On leaving the college she entered into the nursing profession, and for a number of years was on the staff of the Southland Hospital where, with her sweetness of character and kindly sympathetic attention, she was much adored by the patients under her care. Whilst in Invercargill Nurse Te Au soon became celebrated for her beautiful voice, and was greatly in demand for concert work. Then for a time she was district nurse at Tuatape.re, and later returned to the North Island where she continued her profession and also her singing career. In 1919 she received the offer of a two years’ engagement to tour American in conjunction with the Rev. Papakura, the well-known Maori tenor, but prefering a domestic role to a theatrical one, she declined the offer. Shortly afterwards she was married fo Mr Joseph Beaton, of Tuatapere. and resided in the western township until removing to Pahi, about three years ago. An Efficient Chairman. At Thursday’s meeting of the Wallace Hospital Board, Messrs J. C. Thomson and F. J. Dyer paid the retiring chairman (Mr John Korrell) a high compliment for the businesslike manner in which he had presided over the meetings during his occupany of the chair. Not only had he, they said, given careful attention to the business of the board, but he had proved himself a capable official as their delegate on the Waipiata Sanatorium Committee, and had always given of his best to both institutions. Mr Thomson also referred to the fine services rendered bv members of the committee, and expressed the hope that the ratepayers would show their appreciation by reelecting them for another term. Referring to the financial side of the question he stated that the institution was conducted on economical lines, and notwithstanding their proposed building scheme there was no occasion to ask for an increase in rates, which would be the same as last year, viz., 3-16ths of a penny. The rate of levy on rateable capital value for general and maintenance expenditure for the various boards was: Wallace 0.114 of a penny, Southland 0.219, Manitoto 0.224, South Otago 0.327, Otago 0.369 and Vincent 0.371. A Coming Event.

The members of the School Committee and the Progressive League are pushing on with preliminaries in connection with the approaching carnival, and every effort will be made to make it a success. Mr J. A. Martin has been appointed convenor for the men’s committee, and Mrs T. Borland for the ladies. The last carnival, run in (he interests of the local sporting clubs, gave some of these a new lease of life and judging by the enthusiasm being shown at present, the school and league, on whose behalf it is being conducted, should have every reason to be satisfied with the financial results. Hospital Probationers. During a discussion at last hospital meeting regarding the appointment of nurses, it was announced that one applicant had asked to be placed on the list. A number of testimonials accompanied the letter, also a doctor’s certificate giving, her a good recommendation as to health and being otherwise suited for the post; but it was stated that she' had not passed the proficiency examination. One member stated that the application could not be considered as the proficiency certificate was essential, and they had a minute to that effect. This caused another member to remark that probationers were temporarily employed for three months, and if not found suitable were advised accordingly. One nurse had been appointed minus’a certificate previously and during her probationary period had studied and bad gained the necessary certificate. It was later stated that the nurse in question had reached high in the profession and now Jield an important and responsible position in one of the leading hospitals in the Dominion. The board decided to defer consideration of the request. Football. On Saturday afternoon a fair crowd assembled on the local recreation ground to witness the match between Ohai and Riverton (seniors. The ground was in good condition, but a strong easterly blew during the progress of the match. Ohai kicked off, and play for some time was confined to the visitor’s’ territory, the first spell ending without a score on cither side. On changing ends Ohai kept up the attack, and by judicious kicking, kept the home team busy. During the last quarter of an hour the visitors were successful in scoring two tries, but the major points were not registered. The game throughout was evenly contested, the local players showing better form than was expected by their supporters. Baird, McGregor, Ferguson, O’Halloran, Kitto, Mills and Murray put in good work for

their side, while Ryan, Fleck, Satchell, Mills, Dennis and McKay were the pick of the home team. Mr J. Prendeville was referee. General. The launch owners have been having a very good time of late, fish being again plentiful, and good catches have been the rule. To be out of water for household purposes is an unusual happening in April, yet some of the hotel proprietors and eating houses have been obliged to cart it to their premises. Since Easter little rain has fallen, bright sunshine, reminiscent of summer, has been experienced, with heavy morning dews. Visitors from the northern provinces are quite satisfied that southern autumns are a revelation to them. The local contingent left this week for the Ti Ti Islands to be in time for the torching season. Private advices received here point to the fact that the year will be a phenomenal one, the birds are plentiful, in good condition, and the weather on the islands is all that can be desired.

Local trappers report poor catches so far. The rabbits, they say, are about, but all the ingenuity employed by the experts fail to entice bunny to enter the traps. Where systematic poisoning is resorted to, better returns are reported. As showing the mildness of the season tomatoes may be seen in two gardens—one on the north and the other on the south side—ripening in the open. I‘ lowers are still in bloom, and rose trees in the gardens are putting forth buds. Grass is coming away, necessitating a frequent use of the mower. So far we have had no severe frosts to check the growth.

From Sydney to Riverton is a long cry, yet at last meeting of the Wallace Hospital Board a letter was read from a Sydney resident who wished to become a patient so as to be treated by the medical superintendent. In reply to a question, Dr. Trotter, who was present at the meeting, stated that he did not know the writer of the letter, but he presumed some ex-patient of the Wallace institution had recommended the Sydneyite to apply for admission. Members congratulated the medical man, whose skill as a doctor evidently had far-reaching effects. Miss P. Trotter, who had charge of the sale of poppies on Saturday, is to be complimented on the able manner in which she carried out her work, the sum of £l5 being realized. This amount will "be considerably augmented after she has finished her rounds.