OTAUTAU NOTES

Southland Times, Issue 25312, 15 June 1935, Page 5

OTAUTAU NOTES

TOWN BOARD MONTHLY MEETING (From Our Correspondent.) The monthly meeting of the Otautau Town Board was held in the board room on Monday evening, when the following commissioners were present: Messrs A. A. Liddell (chairman), J. Scatter, James Campbell and G. B. Burns. The works committee reported that in connection with Mr Harringtons crossing it had no recommendation to make as it was creating a dangerous precedent, and there were a number of others who would have to be considered if the request were complied with. The shed at the domain had been completed, and the contractor was putting out more gravel. The report was adopted. The caretaker of the recreation ground reported that the local sports bodies and picnic and sports afternoons statistics were similar to last year. Beyond the fact that there were more visitors and travelling salesmen occupying the camp area there was very little to report. In view of the representative matches he asked that the hat pegs in the. pavilion be attended to. The report was received, and it was resolved that the pegs be supplied. Requests for building permits wefe received from Messrs H. A. Bone for a lean-to for a garage and M. L. Thomson for a residence in North Otautau for Mr H. Laing, and the action of the chairman in granting same was approved. Mr A. D. Collie, secretary of the Young Farmers’ Club, applied to the board for permission to utilize the board room for meetings every second Saturday in each month at a reduced rental to that which they had been previously paying for the supper room. Mr H. C. Pullar, secretary of the Aparima branch of the Farmers’Union, also asked for a reduction in the rent of the supper room, and for more privacy during meetings. The chairman said he sympathized with the latter request, as the members of the Fanners’ Union were interrupted during the meeting by picture attendants, due to the proprietor having no other access to the operating room. It was resolved that the board decline the request for the use of the supper room, and the hall committee was authorized to inspect with a view to giving access to the operating room. The request of Mr L. Ogilvy for permission to use the hall for skating was declined. . The application of Mr Henry Laing for a concrete crossing to give access to his section adjoining the bakery was granted, under the usual conditions.

The estimates for the current year were submitted by the clerk as follows: Income—Credit balance at, bank £196 14/8, Main Highways £B3O, subsidy on rates £B2, licenses £350, rents £305, sanitary fees £2OO, material dog tax and incidentals £42, receipts from other local bodies £l2O, rates required to meet expenditure (general rate Id, special rate 1/2, Hospital and Charitable Aid rate 1/4) £875, total £3OOO 14/8. Expenditure—Street improvements, Main Highways £llOO, other streets, footpaths, material, cartage, maintenance and wages £690, sanitary service, caretaker, repairs, lighting, salaries, sinking fund and Charitable Aid Board £768, interest and instalments £279, printing, insurance, licensing, Health Department, and legal expenses £93 14/8, purchase Dicksons land £4O, sundries £3O, total £3OOO The chairman said the clerk had submitted a comprehensive statement, and he thought it was wise for the board to spend more money, as there was a considerably amount of work to be done. He anticipated that the following works would be undertaken during the year: The kerbing of the esplanade, the channeling of the main block, and the fencing of Dicksons block recently acquired by the board. With reference to the latter he had obtained a report from the foreman showing that 18 coils of netting, 336 posts and 9 strainers would be required. Quite a number of permanent posts could be secured from the trees which were being cut at the cemetery. They could rabbit-fence the whole block, but he considered if they planted so much of the ground with trees they could let the balance for grazing purposes. _ ; The clerk suggested that as there was i no direct access to Dickson’s block the board might consider engaging an experienced person to provide same and an avenue could be made. The chairman agreed with this view, and stated that the gully leading from the west end of the recreation ground halved the plantation and could be drained and utilized, and a similar avenue could be planted from Buxton street. The local forest ranger, Mr Janson, had offered to lend any assistance he could, and had stated there was a need to thin the plantation in the old cemetery. After Commissioner Campbell had supported the suggestion the estimates were approved. Sir T, E. Barnett, chairman Otago and Southland Division of the New Zealand branch of the British Empire Cancer Research Cancer Campaign, wrote soliciting a donation towards the King’s Jubilee Fund for cancer research, and it was decided to make a donation of £5. Mr Godfrey, Commissioner of Unemployment, acknowledged receipt of the board’s letter applying for 2000 pinus insignia, or if unavailable 2000 pinus ponderosa for planting in extension of the work carried out last year by the board. He stated that the Unemployment Board was discussing with the Forestry Director the question of availability of tree stocks for distribution to local bodies for planting with Scheme 5 relief labour. Mr T. Burns wrote asking that the necessary repairs and maintenance to Harbison street, east of Mary street, be made, as it was in a dangerous state. It was left in the hands of the works committee to inspect, with power to

Mr F. H. Hughes asked if it would be possible to have the right-of-way leading into his property formed and a light coating of gravel put on same from Mary street to his gate. He also drew attention to the fact that lorries were carting gravel through his and Mr Bums’s properties, the gates being left open. The matter was left in the hands 6f the works, committee with power to act. . The Western District Sub-Union was granted permission to charge for admission to the recreation ground on Saturday, June 22, on the occasion of the Baird Cup match subject to the usual conditions. The application of Mr James Campbell for permission to lay gravel leading to his gateway was granted, and his request regarding the ditches on Lieman and Harbison streets was referred to the works committee.