OTAUTAU

Southland Times, Issue 23308, 18 September 1937, Page 15

OTAUTAU

TENNIS CLUB ANNUAL MEETING The president, Mr A. Harrington, presided at the annual meeting of members of the Otautau Tennis Club. The balance-sheet was read, showing that the year began with a debit balance of £5 9/3. There was a substantial increase in subscriptions, the total being £27 2/6 against £ll 16/6 the previous year. This allowed two courts to be top-dressed, paid all outstanding accounts, and left a credit balance of 7/5. The election of officers resulted as follows: President, Mr A. Harrington; vice-presidents, Messrs T. O’Leary and R. W. Janson and Mrs Harrington; secretary, Mr H. Macpherson; committee, Mrs H. A. Macpherson, Miss Hope, Messrs F. James, V. Bailey, and L. Nichol; social committee, Mrs Macpherson and Miss Hope; delegates to Western District Sub-Association, Messrs A. Harrington and H. Macpherson; signing officers, the secretary and Mr L. Nichol.

It was decided that the subscriptions be as follows: Men £1 5/-, women 15/-; under 18 years, men 10/-; women 7/6; school children 2/6. The opening day was fixed for October 2. It was resolved to enter an A grade team only in the Western District competition. PRESBYTERIAN CHURCH The Presbyterian Sunday School Hall was filled recently when the congregation took the opportunity to present the Rev. W. H. Howes, 8.A., with a moderator’s gown. in recognition of his being appointed Moderator of the General Assembly. Mr G. A. Burnett occupied the chair. After the Doxology and prayer the chairman briefly explained the object of the function, after which a short programme was submitted. ! j Mr Burnett spoke of the Mr Howes s good qualities and undoubted ability, and asked Mesdames A. McKenzie and A. A. Liddell to put on the gown. This being doni, the following speakers offered their congratulations to Mr and Mrs Howes, after Misses Shirley and Winsome Fisher had presented the latter with a bouquet of flowers: Messrs A. Gould (on behalf of the Bible classes), A. Fisher (deacons court), W. J. Officer (session), E. Jellyman (choir), H. W. D. Gazzard, J. M. Lindsay, A. A. Liddell, the Rev. J. Mitchell (Isla Bank), the Rev. C. Robinson (Methodist Church, Otautau), and the Rev. E. B. Stevenson (Nightcaps). Mr Howes gratefully acknowledged the gift of the congregation and the presentation and kind references to Mrs Howes, and at the conclusion took the opportunity to present the chairman, Mr G. A. Burnett, with a diploma of honour from the Presbytery in recognition of 34 years’ unbroken service in Sunday School work. Mr Burnett replied. TOWN BOARD Messrs A. A. Liddell (chairman), E. Harrington, J. Seatter, J. Campbell and Dr Reekie were present at the monthly meeting of the Town Board. The chairman reported that 10,000 one-year-old trees had come to hand and the forestry officer had recommended planting them out as they were small. These had been put in rows on the Domain reserve, and two coils of netting were needed to protect them, and application should be made for. a man to look after them. The chairman’s action was approved. The foreman’s report was received. He recommended that the right-of-way through the new cemetery be completed through to the top road and gates to be erected thereon to allow traffic to come in from either end, as quite a number of cars used the top road when there was a large funeral. It was resolved that this matter receive consideration, and to apply to the Wallace County Council for a grant towards the upkeep of the old and new cemeteries, it being stated that the board had provided £25 from its own funds last year, and further improvements were needed. The Commissioner of Crown Lands wrote advising that the field officer would lay off the river protective work. The Health Department wrote stating that the board’s, share for the services of the health inspector would be increased from £ll to £l7 5/8 per annum.

The Labour Department wrote stating tha'. the department was prepared to subsidize labour under Scheme 13. Before any action was taken in the matter the members of the board agreed to make an inspection of the town, GIRL GUIDES Mrs A. Chisholm presided at the annual meeting of the girl guide committee, and in her report stated that because of the paralysis epidemic the session was late in starting. The strength of the company was as follows: 10 enrolled guides, six recruits, seven enrolled brownies and five recruits. Thinking Day was not held but a collection was taken up. A number of the older guides left during the year, and as a consequence the company was composed of young girls, which explained the lack of entrants for badge work. The guides and brownies and members of the committee attended a combined Mothers’ Day and Coronation service at the Methodist Church. One of the most important events of the year was the receiving and carrying on of the King’s Message, an impressive ceremony being held in the hall. A combined guide and brownie birthday party was held in October. Four card evenings were held during the year to supplement the funds, and a social evening was held before Mr Wesney’s departure for the Old Country, it being largely due to him that the guide and scout room was free of debt. The election of officers resulted as follows: President, Mrs A. Chisholm; vice-presidents, Mesdames H. L. Chandler and G. B. Saxelby; secretary and treasurer, Mrs G. H. Stevens; auditor, Miss I. Shaw; committee, the foregoing and Mesdames R. Smart, W. J. F. McCulloch, G. R. McMillan, J. Maxwell, E. T. Silverwood, R. Bird, W. B. Reekie, A. Fisher, A. O. Saunders, C. Renowden, A. Harrington, A. C. White, E. Leckie and Miss Fraser. OBITUARY The death occurred recently of' Mr Robert Cuppies. He was born at Riverton 71 years ago and was the second son of the late Mr and Mrs Robert Cuppies. He was educated at the Gropers Bush school, and worked later on his father’s farms at both Fairfax and Otautau. As a youth he was a keen athlete and was a noted “lazystick” puller. He also showed skill as a wrestler and won many events at Southland meetings. His great knowledge of horses brought him many honours, and for many years he always owned a Clydesdale. He was a good judge of horse-flesh, and his name will be long remembered, as many famous sires passed through his hands, and he gained many prizes in the show rings. He was a steward of the Wallace A. and P. Show and a foundation member of the Otautau Saleyards Company. In 1904 he married Miss Laura Hannah Willett, by whom he is survived The funeral took place at the Riverton cemetery, the Rev. W. H.

Howes officiating at the residence and graveside. EUCHRE There was a good attendance at the euchre toumment in aid of the dental clinic funds, the prizes going to Miss Seatter and Mr A. McKay. SWIMMING CLUB A meeting was held recently to consider the formation of a swimming club in the township. Mr A. A. Liddell presided. It was unanimously decided that a club be formed, and the following officials were appointed: President, Mr R. Stewart; vice-presidents, Messrs H. Macpherson and A. Harrington; secretary and treasurer, Mr H, Smyth; club captain, Mr V. Bailey; committee, Mesdames R. Stewart, R. W. Janson, H. Macpherson, Miss D. Stevens, Messrs D. Ballam, Thomson, G. Stearne and W. Smart. The subscription was fixed at 2/6 and 1/- for primary school children. It was resolved that the club find £7 towards the cost of building dressing sheds. BOYS’ BAND There was a large attendance at the concert given by the Invercargill Boys’ Band in the Otautau Town Hall in aid of the funds of the school. Mr McMasters was conductor, Lieutenant Smart introduced the various items, and Mr Sprange conducted the mouth-organ band. Every item had to be repeated. At the conclusion Mr G. Sinclair, chairman of the school committee, thanked the members for the enjoyable programme provided.