RIVERTON NOTES

Southland Times, Issue 22348, 13 June 1934, Page 4

RIVERTON NOTES

PLUNKET SOCIETY. (From Our Correspondent.) Tne members of the Plunket Society are endeavouring to raise sufficient money so that the new rest room in the course of erection in Napier street will be opened, free of debt. Since the unveiling ceremony a number of subscriptions have been received from local residents, and'with the £4 collected on that day the building fund now stands at £4ll 18/8. Members, however, are confident that the necessary £450 will be available before the building is erected. Mr F. S. Kerse, the contractor, is pushing on with his work, which, when completed, will be appreciated by all who have occasion to visit the nurse in charge of the room, besides being a valuable asset to the town. The Footpaths. Complaints are frequently made by residents and visitors as to the present condition of the footpaths. In many places in the main streets the asphalt is showing the worse for wear, and the Works Committee of the council have attempted to patch the worst places with a material which appears utterly unsuitable for the purpose. At Thursday night’s meeting of the council, Councillor H. E. Philp took exception to continuing the work with the material being used and said that to do so was only a waste of money. He remarked on the necessity of securing the services of an expert on street work, and obtaining a report from him of what should be done to bring about a much needed improvement to the footpaths, and a motion to that effect was carried. It was later stated by one of the councillors that it had been anticipated the bitumen work of the main thoroughfare would have been completed before the winter set in and the footpaths would have been attended to also, but owing to various causes the work had been deferred and a commencement would be made early in the spring, when, it was hoped, the roadway and streets would be brought more up-to-date. Tree Planting. The Progressive League intend starting a tree planting campaign in the proper season, and in this they will be supported by the Borough Council, the later body at its last meeting agreeing to procure two thousand suitable varieties which will be placed in different parts of the town. In the course of a short discussion, Mr J. A. Martin emphasized the necessity of protecting the trees from wandering stock by the erection of wire round the plots, and stated that if these safeguards were not provided it would be useless to carry out the scheme. It was agreed to fall in with the suggestion. The Reserves Committee was instructed to select suitable localities, and the tree planting will be undertaken by the unemployed. The Unemployed. At the last meeting of the council a letter was read from the Mayor of

Christchurch, which stated that at a recent meeting of the Canterbury Progressive League it was resolved to ask the Minister of Internal Affairs that during the winter months the whole of the proceeds of art unions be devoted to relieving the unemployed. After a short discussion it was decided to favour the proposal, provided the funds were not paid to the Unemployment Board but were handed over to the local bodies for expenditure. Discussing the providing of work and general matters in relation to relief workers later on in the evening, the clerk, in reply to a question, stated that the council had spent £157 for the year ending March 31, out of its own funds in connection with work on which unemployed men were engaged. Football. All football matches in the Western District were postponed on account of the weather on Saturday. This is the jubilee year of the Riverton Football Club, and the executive has been considering the best way to celebrate the time-honoured event. At a committee meeting, after full discussion it was resolved to celebrate the 60th anniversary on August 17, 18 and 19 the programme comprising a public ball football match between past and present players, sports, smoke concert and a church parade on Sunday morning. ■»-