OTAUTAU NOTES

Southland Times, Issue 21656, 18 March 1932, Page 9

OTAUTAU NOTES

TOWN BOARD MEETING. (From Our Correspondent.). The monthly meeting of the Otautau Town Board, held in the board room on Monday evening, was attended by the following commissioners: Messrs W. A. E. 11. Fraser (acting-chairman), W. J. McCulloch, H. Chandler, D. C. McCrostie, J. Scatter and E. Harrington. An apology was received from the chairman, Mr W. J. Wesney. ’ The foreman's report was received, and he was granted a week’s leave. Mrs Ireland, secretary Otautau branch, St. Andrew’s Scottish Society, applied for a reduction in hall rent of 20 per cent, and in the supper room rent of 10 per cent, for all functions held by the society, as it was impossible with the present high charges to make these self-supporting — Request granted, and also to any other institution using the hall four times, and the supper room five times provided the hall and room was used at night. The secretary of the Progressive League wrote stating that the following resolutions had been passed by the league: (1) That the question of having the trees topped on the recreation ground at an early date receive, the support of the board; (2) That the league compliments the board on the condition and appearance of the memorial site surroundings.—No 1 was agreed to and No. 2 received with thanks.

Malcolm Fraser, Commissioner Unemployment Board, forwarded a letter regarding tree-planting by local bodies.— Resolved to make application for some trees, and also to the Unemployment Committee requesting them to supply the men in readiness for planting. Mr W. J. Wesney, secretary Recreation Ground Committee, notifed that the recreation grounds improvement committee had now' completed its, work and had disbanded. lie thanked the board for the assistance given, and vested the. control of the ground in it. He suggested that Messrs J. C. Miller, D. Ballan and H. Rountree be added to the committee, and recommended the planting of macrocarpa trees on the balance of the recreation reserve now leased to Mr Lightfoot, as they would assist to kill the gorse, and later on would be an asset to the Domain Board. — Recommendation agreed to, committee suggested to be an advisory committee. It was resolved that Mr Lightfoot’s lease of section be terminated as from March 31. Mr David Templeton wrote agreeing to the filling in of Queen street, on the understanding that later on he would be given a footpath.—Received. Mr F. Simpson, superintendent Invercargill Fire Brigade, forwarded a report regarding his recent visit, and suggested that (1) the. question of water supply be made the first and most pressing need for fire protection, and that a. gravitation supply was in his opinion the most satisfactory method of obtaining an adequate and continuous supply; (2) The question of using an open race for a considerable distance might reduce the cost of such scheme to a minimum and provide work for a number of men under the Unemployment Act; (3) The central portion of the town area should be reticulated with water mains to which extensions may be made as money and other conditions warranted, and that the whole scheme should be adaptable to future requirements; (4) The question of what plant and equipment, together with any proposals for the establishment of a fire brigade, should be carefully considered when the board has finally decided its policy regarding a water supply.—The matter was held over until next meeting. Mr T. J. Walker, poundkeeper, reported that the impoundings for February were two cows.—Received.