RIVERTON

Southland Times, Issue 23378, 9 December 1937, Page 3

RIVERTON

PROPOSED LOAN FOR WATER SUPPLY PLANS TO BE AMENDED The Secretary of the Local Governjmeht Loans Board advised the Riverton Borough Council at its monthly meeting that the proposal for a water supply loan was not sufficiently concrete to be adequately reported on by the board’s technical advisers, and suggested that the engineer communicate direct with the district engineer of the Public Works Department. It would be necessary for the amended plans and specifications to be submitted to the board when the matter again would be considered.

There were present at the meeting:— The Mayor (Dr N. G. Trotter), Crs J. A. Martin, H. E. Philp, J. A. B. Walker, J. Crawford, T. Dyke and T. Hogg. The manager of the Empire Theatre was granted permission to screen pictures on Christmas evening. The Post and Telegraph Department drew attention to the ornamental trees growing in Osborne street, South Riverton. The letter stated that these trees were interfering with telephonic communication necessitating their removal. On the motion of Cr J. A. Martin it was decided to refer the matter to the Works Committee with power to act. The secretary of Riverton Centenary Celebrations Ltd. wrote applying for the use of the recreation ground during the forthcoming celebrations and drew attention to the unsatisfactory state of the fence at the ground, asking for -t to be repaired. The application was granted on the motion of Cr Martin, the repairing of the fence being left in the hands of the property committee. A circular was received from the Local Bodies Amalgamation Committee asking for the views of local bodies on the principles and provisions of the Local Government (Amalgamation Schemes) Bill which has been referred to a special committee of the House of Representatives for consideration and town clerk advised that the following statement had been prepared and forwarded to the committee: “The Riverton Borough Council is strongly of the opinion that while a certain measure of amalgamation may be desirable for the suburbs of the cities and the big towns, such a proposal, if made universal throughout the Dominion, would not tend towards efficiency, nor in the lend would there be any direct econoimical gain. In the smaller towns the (management is under the direct control ipf those with, special local knowledge

and gives full advantage in educating the younger citizens and settlers in the municipal and rural affairs of their respective localities. On the other hand, if the proposal were made universal, a decided lack of interest would undoubtedly result in the civic and rural life of the community—with a corresponding indifference in local government affairs —to say nothing of the big number now being employed that would eventually be transferred to the ranks of the unemployed.” The statement drafted by the town clerk and forwarded to the committee was unanimously approved. AMALGAMATION OF DISTRICTS The Director-General of Health, of the Department of Health, Wellington, sent a copy of an Order-in-Council abolishing als from January 31, 1938, the hospital districts of Southland and Wallace and Fiord and constituting as from that date a new hospital district under the name of the Southland hospital district. The letter stated that the first election of members of the board of the newly-constituted district would be held at the same time as the next ordinary election of members of the

local authority. It was proposed, in the mean time, that the board should consist of persons appointed by the Gov-ernor-General. The letter advised that the combined district of Wallace county, Otautau and Nightcaps town districts and Riverton borough was entitled to two representatives on the reconstituted board. Messrs J. H. Smith, of Otautau, and E. B. Patrick, of Riverton, were nominated as members of the reconstituted board until May of next year. It was also decided that in view of the expression of public opinion and the presentation of a petition containing the signatures of over 3000 residents of the Wallace district to the Speaker of the House of Representatives protesting against the amalgamation of the Wallace and Southland hospital districts, that the Riverton Borough Council should record its emphatic protest against the abolition of the Wallace and Fiord hospital district. The Minister of Lands (the Hon. F. Langstone) wrote advising that there were no areas which could be set aside for settlement in the Pourakino Valley. A special report had been obtained covering a little over 6000 acres, and it had now been decided that the area was unsuitable for farm development and should be reserved as a permanent State forest. The State Forest Service

would now take over control of this area at an early date. BITUMINIZING OF ROAD Mr J. G. C. Baker, engineer of the Wallace County Council, wrote about the bituminizing of the road at the north end of the borough. He stated that the overhead bridge over the railway would be required to be raised and the road filled in to a depth of four feet. The specification for the work had been sent on to the Public Works Department for approval, on receipt of which the borough council would immediately call for tenders. Mr T. Borland (chairman of directors) and Mr F. L. Girvan, managing director of Riverton Centenary Celebrations Ltd., waited on the council and asked permission to erect two overhead arches, one in Palmerston street and the other at the overhead railway bridge, Downing street, to decorate the front of the Council Chambers and display flags in Palmerston street, for the right to charge admission to the Recreation grounds on seven days during the festivities, and for the use of the upper section of the Pilot reserve, South Riverton, to park motor-cars. The deputation also asked that Palmerston street from the intersection of Princes street to Jetty street should be closed to vehicular traffic during the afternoon of January 6 and that an emergency committee from the council be appointed to co-operate with the centenary directorates during the celebrations. Permission was granted the directors to erect overhead arches in the places mentioned by the deputation. Permission was also granted to charge for admission to the recreation ground. Crs Walker, Philp, and Crawford were deputed to interview the lessee of the Pilot reserve about the parking of vehicular traffic during the landing and unveiling ceremonies. It was decided that application be made to the Invercargill City Council for the loan of half a dozen flags and half a dozen streamers for decorative purposes for the Town hall during the celebrations. Crs Philp, Crawford and Walker were appointed to act as an emergency committee.

It was decided to grant the directors permission to direct vehicular traffic to a section in Havelock street during the afternoon of January 6 and to close the business area in Palmerston street to motor traffic at that time. MAGISTRATE’S COURT (Before Mr W. H. Freeman, S.M.) Judgment for plaintiffs was given in the following cases:—L. Brumby v. G. Hare for £1 3/-, costs 8/-; F. M. Dodds v. G. Hare for £l, costs 8/-; F. M. Dodds v. R. Ross for £2 3/-, costs £1 7/6; F. M. Dodds v. H. Gilbert for £l7, costs £2 8/-; C. King v. P. Harper for £4 13/-, costs £1 5/6. Neil McNaughton, a farmer, of Orawia, pleaded guilty to killing two sheep belonging to King Bros, on November

3. It was stated that accused had a farm and ran 270 ewes. Mr King, the adjoining farmer, found two of his sheep killed on accused’s land. Mr C. Mackenzie, who appeared for accused, stated that the sheep wandered on to accused’s land and when found were suffering from injuries. They were destroyed, a portion of the carcasses being eaten by accused. Accused was fined £2O and ordered to pay the value of the sheep destroyed, £2 each. F. Popham was charged with using a rifle which he had purchased from F. J. Turnbull, without a permit. They were both fined 10/-, costs 12/-. A. Stuck was charged with driving a motor-lorry at an excessive speed on the Orawia road. He was fined £2, costs 12/-. . . John Bennett was charged with driving a tractor at Tuatapere without a number plate and fined £2 and costs. John Gutschlag was charged with operating his lorry outside the area specified in his licence. He was fined £3, costs 10/-.

Commercial news is published this morning on Page 11.