STEWART ISLAND NOTES

Southland Times, Issue 22130, 26 September 1933, Page 12

STEWART ISLAND NOTES

PROGRESSIVE LEAGUE. (From Our Correspondent.) Tire annual general meeting of the Stewart Island Progressive League was held on Monday evening, Sep-, tember 18. Mr J. Sloan presided over a fair attendance of members and submitted the following report:—The Stewart Island Progressive League has now completed the second year of its existence. The following report covering the main points in the year’s operations will show that the league is alive to the interests of Stewart Island and deserving of the continued support of the community. Regular monthly meetings of the committee were held and matters dealt with included representations to Bluff Harbour Board with a view to having wharfage charges reduced; by invitation of the County Council the league helped to lay out the alterations to the foreshore; an arrangement was made with the County Council whereby the league would co-operate when approaching the Government or other public body on matters of importance to the Island; the council was asked to stop the cutting of firewood and shrubs adjacent to the tourist tracks; the league arranged with the PostmasterGeneral for the opening of the local post office in the evenings during the tourist season; the advertising of the Island as a tourist resort received considerable attention but the whole matter was dropped when the league joined the South Island Tourist League. As there is some doubt as to the benefits to be derived from the Tourist League the advertising question will have to again be considered by the incoming committee; the proposal to open a Relief Depot on the Island was considered and representations were made to the council; the league was represented at the last meeting between the County Council and Captain Hamilton regarding the ferry service; in conjunction with the County Council the league is endeavouring to have the mail subsidy increased as it is realized that £3OO is not sufficient; finally the league has approached the council with a view to having the cemetery cleaned up and re-pegged and also that efforts be made to locate all the unknown graves arid have them duly marked on the plan. _ One special meeting was held to consider the advisability of backing up Captain Hamilton’s proposal to run an excursion to Port Adventure during the tourist season to enable the visitors to see some of the outlying country. As this was the only matter last year on which there was a decided division of opinion amongst the committee it would appear to be advisable to discuss same at a general meeting because no doubt the question will be brought up again during the forthcoming tourist season.

During the year several discussions were held regarding the suggestion that representations should be made to the Government to establish a single men’s camp on the Island and utilize the labour to complete the Halfmoon Bay to Masons Bay road. A minute has been recorded and the incoming committee is recommended to take action in the matter. The thanks of the community are due to the secretary, Mr H. Pollock, and the treasurer, Miss Methven, upon whom the bulk of the work fell.

Before proceeding with the report Mr Turner asked the president to clarify the position with regard to members of the various clubs and committees who had been nominated as representatives on the Progressive League. He wished to know if they automatically became members of the League Committee or whether it would be necessary for them to be nominated again at the annual meeting. The matter was fully discussed and it was finally decided that the president, two vicepresidents, secretary and treasurer be elected annually at the annual meeting and that the rest of the committee be composed of the nominated representatives from the various clubs and committees.

In discussing the report the president touched on the advertising of the Island and stated that while in Dunedin recently he had called upon the secretary of the recently-formed South Island Tourist League and he had come to the conclusion that the Island would receive no benefit from its subscription to same. He also stated that he had been led to believe that if an application were made for the return of the money already paid in it would be forthcoming. Mr Turner confirmed the president’s remarks as he also had called upon the secretary and was convinced that the only course was to apply for a refund. It was finally decided that the application be made accordingly. The president then stated that he had much pleasure in referring to the splendid advertising done by Mr Turner with his moving picture plant. Mr Turner said that he wished to make an appeal that some interest be taken in the direction boards which he had placed along the various tracks for the guidance of visitors. Every year he had to appeal to the council to have them repaired and missing ones replaced, but little notice was taken of his letters.

Continuing with’ the report the chairman made reference to the special meeting held regarding the excursion to Port Adventure. He stated that Captain Hamilton had asked the league to organize the trip and take 5 per cent, of the proceeds. Personally he thought the idea was a good one but the Committee although divided in opinion decided to have nothing to do with the matter. In the discussion which followed many opinions were aired but the general feeling of the meeting was that the league should boost a proposal of that sort but should not receive any financial help from so doing.

The chairman then vacated the chair and in the absence of the secretary who had handed in his resignation some days before called upon Mr Oswald to act as chairman for the election of new office-bearers. Mr Turner in a few well-chosen and eulogistic remarks made reference to the efficient manner in which Mr Sloan had conducted the business of the league and stated that the people of the Island were indeed grateful to him for his efforts.

The following office-bearers were elected for the coming year:—President, Mr J. Sloan; vice-presidents, Messrs T. Bragg and R. C. Hicks; secretary and treasurer, Miss Methven. The rest of the committe will be made up from representatives of the various clubs and committees, the only one to hand so far being Mrs C. C. Thomson (Nurse Committee), Mr G. M. Turner (Tennis Club), J. Hamilton (Yacht Club), and W. Hamilton (Football Club). Cribbage.

The school committee held the sixth of a series of cribbage evenings in the school on Friday evening, September 15. The prize-winners were as follows:—Sister Casey and Mr John Bragg, jun. Consolation prizes were awarded to Mrs John Bragg, jun., and Mr J. Fife. The next evening will complete the series. Church Of England Bazaar.

A very successful sale of work and bazaar was held under the auspices of St. Andrew’s Church Ladies’ Guild in the town hall on Thursday and Friday, September 14 and 15. On Thursday the function took the form of a bazaar in the afternoon and evening, and the tea rooms and fruit salad and numerous stalls and sideshows were well patronized. The hall was beautifully decorated, and with music supplied by Mrs Edna Hamilton and the

friendly jollity of everyone present helped to create a very pleasant atmosphere. On Friday the bazaar was open only in the evening and run on cabaret lines, the centre of the hall being cleared for impromptu dancing. From 10 p.m. onward Mr Hugh Pollock, jun., ably controlled a programme dance. The winners of the various weight guessing and other competitions were as follows:—Sheep, Mr L. Carstenson; halfsheep, Mr G. Bragg, jun.; korari cake, Mr J. H. Simmers; half-sheep, Mr E. Leask; Brown Owl cake, Miss A. Heaton; layer cake, Miss P. Bragg; box of butter, Mrs F. Traill; tin of tea, Mr A. Marshall; set of stainless knives, Mr L. Silvester; travelling rug, Mr R. Peters; picture of Westland, L. Silvester; four course dinner, Mr J. Bragg, jun.; box of biscuits, Mr W. Thomson; raffles, No. 1 water colour picture, Mr J. Smith 31; No. 2 art bedspread, Mr J. Cross 52; No. 3, dressed doll, Mr L. Carstensen 13; No. 4 art supper cloth, Miss T. Topi 62; No. 5 art cushion, Mrs R. Traill 7; No. 6 art cushion, Miss Neta Bragg 15; No. 7 water colour painting, Mrs Macdonald 13. On the first night the dart competition was won by Mrs Thomas Bragg and on the second night by Mr C. Topi. The Corinthian bagatelle was won by Master C. Hamilton on the first night and by Mr C. Fife on the second night. Smoke Concert. A very successful and pleasant smoke concert was held recently under the auspices of the Stewart Island Yacht Club. Commodore T. Bragg presided, and in his opening remarks said that the idea of holding the smoko was to endeavour to create a better social spirit between the members of the club and those outside. Unfortunately the membership roll was very low and unless they could get better support from outside the club could not function as it would like. He pointed out that the Stewart Island Yacht Club had done more to advertise the Island than any other local body and should be better supported by the community.

In proposing the toast of the Southland Provincial Yacht and Motor Boat Association, Commodore Bragg sketched the history of the Stewart Island Yacht Club from its inception. The following programme was then carried out:—Song, Mr A. E. Farrant; toast, Stewart Island County Council and Harbour Board, proposed by Mr R. C. Hicks and responded to by Messrs T. Widdowson and W. Oswald; mandolin duet, Messrs L. Bragg and J. Fife; toast, The Ladies, Mr A. E. Farrant and responded to by Messrs R. Hansen, H. Pollock and A. Giles; song, Mr J. Gaut; toast, Stewart Island YachtClub, W. Day, responded to by Messrs T. Bragg and R. C. Hicks; song, Mr J. Simmers; toast, kindred sports, B. Ramsey and responded to by Messrs W. Hamilton, J. Gaut and W. Dey; instrumental selection, L. Bragg and J. Fife; toast, Past Members, J. Hamilton, responded to by Messrs C. Hansen, W. Johnston, jun., and H. Hansen; song, J. Fife; toast, Commodore Stewart Island Yacht Club. In proposing the toast of Commodore T. Bragg, Mr C. Hansen sketched the formation of the Stewart Island Yacht Club since it was formed in 1921. In conclusion he referred to the keen and capable interest which Commodore Bragg had always taken in the club and stated that it was his opinion that it was due to Mr Bragg’s efforts that the club was still in existence.