STEWART ISLAND

Southland Times, Issue 23379, 10 December 1937, Page 15

STEWART ISLAND

COUNTY COUNCIL AMALGAMATION OPPOSED A decision to communicate with Mr J. Hargest, M.P., and advise him that the amalgamation of Stewart Island with any of the local bodies on the mainland would create difficulties because of the isolation of the island was reached at the monthly meeting of the Stewart Island County Council. Mr G. M. Turner was chairman. Miss Noeline Baker made application for permission to make a track from the Horseshoe Bay Road to her property which she recently purchased. Her request was granted subject to the usual conditions.

The county engineer in his report stated that damage had been done to the Golden Bay-Deep Bay tourist track and the Thule-Ryan’s Creek track by wandering cattle. Arrangements had been made by the chairman to repair the two tracks with a grant which was being made available by the Public Works Department for the maintenance of tourist tracks.

It was decided, however, to advise the owners of the wandering cattle that they must keep their cattle off the tracks once they had been put into repair. It was also decided to procure notice boards warning visitors that wild cattle were in the Bush adjoining the Thule-Ryan’s Creek track, and that those who used the track'did so at their own risk.

Replying to an application to the Mines Department for a grant to clear tracks at Pegasus to give access to claims, the Minister of Mines (the Hon. P. C. Webb) advised that inquiries were being made and when the result of these inquiries was known he would communicate further. It was decided to forward a copy of the Minister’s letter to Mr E. E. Carrington, who applied for the assistance to the council. The chairman submitted a list of the tracks that he considered should be given attention with the money from the grant which would be made available. The proposals were approved, and it was stated that the work would be proceeded with pending tile authority from the Public Works Department. It was decided that Mr J. S. A. McDougall should represent Stewart Island on the new Southland and Wallace and Fiord Hospital Board until the end of the current term. The clerk was asked to advise the Town Clerk of Bluff of the council’s decision.

The Minister of Public Works (The Hon. R. Semple) wrote in reply to the council’s application for a grant to open up a track from Half Moon Bay to connect with the present track from Freshwater river to Mason Beach. The Minister advised that the question of additional works on Stewart Island was largely connected with the unemployment problem and so that the Minister of Labour (the Hon. H. T. Armstrong) might be in a position to review the application, he had forwarded the available information to that Department for consideration and record.

Miss J. Brown wrote thanking the council for providing seats in certain parts of the township. The letter stated that most favourable remarks had been passed by visitors; It was decided to thank Miss Brown for her letter.

Cr Willa also moved that appreciation of the chairman’s splendid service to the council and community be recorded. Mr Turner, Cr Willa stated, had conveyed workmen to and from Ulva, Ocean Beach and other parts of Paterson Inlet in his launch and at his own expense. This was a saving to the ratepayers, and enabled more to be done to the tourist tracks. Mr Turner also had given a splendid showing of his wonderful pictures recently, the proceeds of which were presented for the painting of the hall, which had now been completed. The motion was carried unanimously. Mr Arthur S. Russell wrote to the council stating that he had resigned as its representative on the Southland League. The resignation was accepted.

It was unanimously decided that the certifying officer at Half Moon Bay be advised that it would be impossible for the council to continue the No. 5 Scheme after the Christmas and New Year holidays because of the expense of administering it. It was stated that the No. 5 Scheme had been in operation since September 13, and since the fishing season closed, the fishermen mostly had been employed in levelling the recreation park on the Golden Bay road. Although there was much still to be done, it was hoped that sufficient ground would be levelled so that the sports bodies would be able to carry out their programmes next year. It was suggested that launch owners should be asked to meet the chairman and the clerk and discuss the passenger tax which is collected each year by the licensed boatmen from those using the wharves, which are under the jurisdiction of the Harbour Board. SCHOOL CONCERT The annual concert given by the pupils of the Half Moon Bay school was well attended. It took the form of a fancy dress ball, with items by the children and one or two adults. Results of the competitions were as follows:— Elder pupils: Elza Sloan (Britannia) I, Judy Smith (tin soldier) 2. Younger girls; Ellen Willa (Maori) 1, Joyce Campbell (bathing girl) 2. Younger boys: Billie Bragg (clown) 1, Ross Carstensen (cowboy) 2. Two special prizes were given by Mrs G. Gregg and Mr B. Galloway, for the tiny tots, Daphne Jarvis and Ann Campbell. The judges were Mrs Gregg, Miss Cotterell and Mr B. Galloway. The results in the adult competition were as follows: Best national dress: Miss E. Bailey (Norwegian girl). Most artistic dress: Miss E. Naesmith (Black and White). Most original dress: Mrs J. Carstensen (monkey). The judges in the adult section were Mr G. M. Turner, Mr G. Gregg and Mr B. Galloway. Items given by the children were:— Grand parade, primer classes, songs, primer classes, dancing, camp-fire songs, Dutch dance, rhythmic dance, ribbon dance, Alsatian dance and songs round the camp fire by the school. Other items were a fine exhibition of tap dancing by Miss Jenkins, of Invercargill, and a comic dance by Mr Guy Aspinall. Short sketches were given during the evening by Mr J. Sloan (dummy) and Mr G. Aspinall (clown). Mr J. Sloan, chairman of the school committee, said that the proceeds would be used for the purchase of prizes for the children. He congratulated the teachers, Miss Marshall and Mr J. Calder, on the performance given by the children. OLD PIANO An interesting old piano is in the possession of Mr A. W. Traill, of Ringaringa, Stewart Island. This instrument is over 80' years old, having been brought to Ruapuke Island in the early 50’s by Mr Traill’s grandfather, the Rev. Mr Wohlers. Mr Wohlers spent the greater part of his life as a missionary at Ruapuke Island among the Maoris. The piano, after doing duty in

this evangelistic work for many years, was later moved to the home of Mr Wohlers’s daughter, Mrs A. W. Traill, sen., at Ringaringa, where it has been ever since. Mr John McKinnon, a piano tuner of Invercargill, is paying his annual visit to Stewart Island and he was called in to repair this piano.