STEWART ISLAND NOTES

Southland Times, Issue 22052, 27 June 1933, Page 10

STEWART ISLAND NOTES

COUNTY COUNCIL.

(From Our Correspondent.)

The monthly meeting of the Stewart Island County Council and Halfmoon Bay and Horseshoe Bay Harbour Board was held on Thursday evening, June 22. Mr T. Widdowson presided over the following:—Councillors W. Robertson, T. E. Jensen, T. Bragg, H. H. Hansen and R. H. Traill. The chairman took the opportunity of extending a hearty welcome to Councillor R. H. Traill who had been elected to fill the vacancy in the South Riding caused through the resignation of Mr A. W. Traill Jun. Councillor Traill thanked the chairman and other members of the council for the welcome extended to him.

Mr N. Whipp, whose tender for forming and graniting the roadway at the back of the Manse was accepted at the previous meeting, advised that he did not wish to accept same owing to a mistake in his tender. It was decided that the next tender, Mr A. Hamilton’s, be accepted. ' Authority for the expenditure of £lOO government grant was received from the Public Works Department, Wellington. It was decided that tenders for the work be called immediately and that the closing date be July 5 at 7 p.m.

Mr F. H. W. Traill applied for permission to use the roadway in front of the Roman Catholic property which he had leased. He intended clearing it and using part of it for a garden. It was decided that Councillors Bragg and Hansen call upon Mr Traill and find out exactly what ground is referred to.

The Secretary of the Stewart Island branch of the Returned Soldiers’ Association put forward the following proposal—that the derelict War Trophy be removed from the seafront and a suitable native or ornamental tree be put in its place with a small flower bed around it. It was decided that the R.S.A. be granted permission to remove the trophy and that council will grant the use of the hall free for one night if the proceeds are used for the flower bed and good iron rail fence. The secretary of the Stewart Island Relief Committee made application for the free use ©f the room at the back of the hall as a depot. Also that the use of the reading room be granted for their meetings free of charge. It was decided that the Relief Committee be advised that they can have the reading room for their meetings and also the room at the back of the hall as a depot, as long as it is not required for the dental clinic. A letter was received from the Hon. J. A. Young, Minister of Internal Affairs, advising that the royalty on opossum skins would be reduced from 1/- to 6d. for this season. With regard to the council’s suggestion that trappers be allowed to pay the license fee in instalments under the control of the County Council, or as an alternative that the County Council should pay the license fee out of its funds and accept repayment from trappers by instalments, the Minister advised that there did not appear to be any statutory authority for such a course.

With regard to the sinking of the hulk Tarawera, the council had written to the Bluff Harbour Board stating that it was agreeable to Mr H. Nilson sinking it in the bay at Lowry’s Beach to act as a breakwater. A letter was received from the Bluff Harbour Board asking if Mr Nilson is making the necessary arrangements with the Marine Department. The letter also advised that the Bluff Harbour Board had communicated with the secretary of the Marine Department advising him of the proposal for the disposal of the hulk. The attention of the council was drawn to the fact that notices of meetings to be held in the reading room were put on the notice board before permission to hold same was applied for. It was decided that permission to hold meetings in the reading room must be granted before public notice of same is given.

Miss Peterson applied for permission to remove trees on the roadline in front of her property—granted. It was decided to hand to the County Solicitor the names of all those who are three years in arrears with rates, with instructions to endeavour to recover same. Relief Committee. A special meeting of the local Relief Committee was held on Thursday evening. Mr T. Bragg presided over the following:—Mesdames T. Bragg, B. Heaton, C. C. Thompson, Messrs R. C. Hicks and R. Peters. The Rev. J. N. Goodman was present by invitation. The chairman stated that in the face of the recent decision of the Unemployment Board not to grant relief on Stewart Island, it was gratifying to be able to report the interest which is being taken in the Relief Committee both locally and on the mainland. Messrs A. S. Russell, W. Todd and W. Squires, he stated, were kindly interesting themselves in this matter and were willing to act as representatives on the mainland.

The secretary reported that five cases had been dealt with since last meeting and that eigl t packages of clothes had been received from Invercargill. A letter was received from Miss Birss stating that she had made an appeal to the pupils of the Southland Girls’ High School and in conseouence one sack and three sugar bags of clothes had been forwarded. It was decided that a letter of thanks be sent to the pupils. Eight new applications for relief were received and in each case distinct hardship was found. The matter was left to the lady members to attend to. It was decided that a small charge amounting to 20 per cent, of the cost price be charged on all new material issued. This charge was also to apply to the issue of boots. Personal. The members of the Methodist Home Mission Maori Choir arrived by the Tamatea on Wednesday and left again on Thursday morning. Miss E. Hardy Johnson of All Saints, Dunedin, and Miss B. McArthur, of St. Clair)9Dunedin, arrived on Wednesday to spend a holiday. They are the guests of Mr and Mrs Thomas Bragg.