Winton THE BOROUGH COUNCIL

Southland Times, Issue 23227, 16 June 1937, Page 8

Winton THE BOROUGH COUNCIL

MONTHLY MEETING At the monthly meeting of the Winton Borough Council held recently the Mayor (Mr T. Walker) presided over Councillors N. Eastlake, F. Tilley, W. McArthur, R. C. Stenhouse and N. Metzger. Mr W. Henderson, Park street, wrote protesting against the havoc wrought by cows and horses to the lawn between the footpath and the road-way in front of his residence, and to his front hedge. There was, he considered, absolutely no incentive for people to take any trouble in making the streets attractive so long as this nuisance continued.

The Mayor remarked that there had been complaints before about this sort of thing, and the recent warnings to owners of stock within the borough did not seem to have had any effect. The council could find no one to undertake the position of ranger. Cr Metzger: There is always someone in charge of these cows and a ranger could do nothing. The trouble is that stock is driven along so haphazardly and casually. The only way to stop this trouble would be to prevent cows at all within the borough. It was decided to ask the borough foreman to look into the matter, Cr McArthur mentioning that if the nuisance did not abate, he would be in favour of a by-law making the haltering of cows compulsory. Improvements to Domain After the adoption of the Domain Board balance-sheet, Cr Metzger brought up the question of improvements to the reserve. The whole area was very wet at present and particularly just inside the main entrance gates pedestrians and motor-cars had great difficulty in getting through. The Football Club had done excellent work in improving the pavilion and this club was prepared to spend more with the assistance of the council. He thought it would be a good idea if the track from the entrance to the ring were gravelled, to a width of, say, 8 feet, which would cost approximately £lO. Cr McArthur: Is it necessary for cars to go in at all? Cr Metzger: Yes. It is a great convenience in wet weather. Cr McArthur: The sports clubs have taken practically no interest in the reserve of past years and the pavilion has not been well cared for.

Cr Metzger: The Football Club has spent £l2 on the pavilion this year. The Mayor: The entrance is certainly disgraceful when the weather is wet. I think it is a good idea that the council subsidize the Football Club £1 for £1 with a gravelled entrance. Cr Stenhouse: Would it not be better if the reserve were drained. I certainly think some improvement is necessary, but it is a question of which is the more beneficial—gravelling or draining. The area is very wet, and even with gravel to the ring, there is still going to be a lot of mud. It was finally decided, on the motion of Crs Tilley and Eastlake, that the council subsidize the Football Club £1 for £1 up to £5 on a gravel track from the entrance to the ring, the matter of draining the reserve being left to the works committee to report at a later meeting. The Central Basketball Association wrote applying for permission to charge for admission to tournaments held on the tennis courts, and stated that the days on which a charge would be made would not exceed four. Permission was granted. , The balance-sheet of the Coronation week celebrations was approved. His Worship commented that the celebrations had been well worth while, £33 4/- going to the King George V Memorial Fund as a result of the Coronation ball. He wished to take this opportunity of thanking all councillors and citizens who had so willingly and zealously assisted in the various functions. Mayor Congratulated At the conclusion of business, Cr Metzger congratulated the Mayor on receiving the Coronation medal. Mr Walker, said Cr Metzger, had always given Winton his very best service, and it was most gratifying to see public recognition come his way. He had been mayor in 1915, in 1923; and again from 1933 to 1937, so that he was now enter-

ing into his thirteenth year of office. IK had also been president of the War Funds Association, of the Athenaeum Committee, and of the Horticultural Society. Not only had he looked after the town capably as mayor, but he had always associated himself with sport, being president of the Tennis Club, vice-president of the Winton Bowling Club, and vice-president of the Golf Club. “I am sure,” concluded Cr Metzger, “that there is no more worthy recipient of a Coronation medal than his Worship.” Cr Tilley also paid tribute to Mr Walker, saying that as one of the older councillors he had been associated with his Worship throughout the war years, and could well recollect the able way in which he had carried out his duties during those trying years. Cr McArthur endorsed the two previous speakers’ remarks. His Worship, replying, said that he desired to thank the council most sincerely for its expressions. He had come to Winton 30 years ago as a young man and it had always been his desire to see the town prosper We have a very fine little town,” said his Worship, “one of the best in the country, and there are very few who have not had a good word to say about it. In my capacity as mayor I have always had the best interests of Winton at heart, and have tried to be thoroughly impartial.” CROQUET CLUB There was a good attendance of members at the annual meeting of the Winton Croquet-Club. Mrs W. Hamilton presided. The annual report stated: — lhe membership of the club stands at 19 playing members, all of whom showed keen interest during the season The club entered a team for the matches arranged by the Southland Association, winning three of the four matches played. Several of our members entered for the tournaments held in Invercargill, Gore and Dunedin. Mrs W. J. Cowie, who was partnered by an Invercargill player, won both the B grade handicap and open doubles in the Dunedin tournament. At the Invercargill tournament, Mrs Colin Gerrard and Mrs Cowie won both B doubles, handicap and open, and Mrs Gerrard was runner-up for the B grade open singles. The results of club matches were as follows:— Championship singles:—Mrs M. Reilly; runner-up. Mrs J. Mcllwrick; handicap singles, Mrs R. M. Gilmour; championship doubles. Mesdames Reilly and W Hamilton; runners-up, Mesdames Watt and A. Gerrard; January doubles, Mesdames Reilly and Balch. Our thanks are due to Mrs J. Doherty and Mrs H. Liddell for the gift of two mallets for club use. to Mr D. Wildey for auditing the books each year, to Mr Watson for his careful attention to the greens, and all members and friends who so liberally assisted with trophies and donations for the different competitions during the season’s play.” The following office-bearers were elected:—Patron, Mrs J. R. Hamilton: president, Mrs W. Hamilton; vice-presi-dents, Mesdames W. H. J. Shaw and R. M. Gilmour; secretary and treasurer. Miss K. B. Gilmour; captain, Mrs M. Reilly; deputy captain, Mrs J Mcllwrick; committee, president, secretary, Mesdames Gilmour, Shaw, Reilly, Mci Ilwrick, J. F. Hamilton, W. Balch, J. B. Melton, A. Gerrard and E. Watt: delegate to centre, Mrs Shaw; caretaker, Mr W. J. Watson. MINIATURE RIFLE CLUB The weekly handicap shot of the Winton R.S.A. Miniature Rifle Club was won by A Dixon on the count back, while W. Jamieson secured the best shot off the rifle. Following were the leading scores:—A. Dixon 70—9 —79; W. Jamieson 76 —3—79; J. Mcllwrick 70—9—79: O. Smith 73—6—79; R. Thornbury 73—6—79; L. Scully 69—10—79; J. Stenhouse 69—10—79; R. Peterson 69—10—79; R. Scully 69—10—79; I. Poole 68—11—79.