GORE

Southland Times, Issue 23540, 21 June 1938, Page 3

GORE

BOROUGH COUNCIL TAR SEALING OF PATHS TO BE CONSIDERED The Mayor (Mr A. T. Newman) and Cr J. A. Baldey were appointed at last night’s meeting of the Gore Borough Council the council’s delegates to the annual conference between local bodies and Southland members of Parliament convened by the Southland Progress League, to be held in Invercargill on Friday next. The Hokonui Lodge No. 3,10.0. F., was granted permission to make alterations to some of the forms in the lodge room at the town hall.

Graham’s and McKenzie applied for a permit to extend the veranda in front of their building in Main street, Gore, by eight feet at the northern end.

Permission was granted, subject to the usual conditions

Mr William Chittock applied for a crossing to his property, at East Gore. He undertook to supply the necessary timber.

The request was granted. The manager of the Gore Abattoir advised that one of the provisions of legislation proposed for the next session of Parliament concerned the slaughter of pigs at abattoirs or works, and suggested that the question of additions to the Gore abattoir be considered, as with the steady increase in the killings the position must get worse. He enclosed a return showing the killings from April 1922 to March 1938. The letter was referred to the Works Committee.

- The borough traffic inspector (Mr C. H. Matthews) reported that in the month of 'May 466 drivers’ licences and 37 heavy traffic licences had been taken out. Eleven new licences had teen tested and two persons had been convicted and fined 10/- each for cycling through the reserve by the Soldiers’ Memorial.

A grant equal to the amount of the rates was given to the Gore Plunket Society. The meeting was attended by the Mayor (Mr A. T. Newman), Crs E. G. Wallace, W. K. Hamilton, J. A. Baldey, R. L. Reid, T. Sim, R. S. Green, J. C. Ray, A. V. Latty, H. McQuillan, N. Robson and P. R. Mallon.

It was decided, on the recommendation of the Finance Committee, to resume possession of the block at present under lease to the Eastern Southland Rugby Football Sub-Union, and to ask the Works Committee to go into the matter of levelling the ground and report It was decided further that when the ground was levelled it should be leased again to the sub-union.

It was decided that the Works Committee should go into the question of spending £lOOO on tar sealing and that a special meeting of the council be held before July 11 to go into the whole matter ' MAGISTRATE’S COURT

A Maori named John Mason Thompson pleaded guilty in the Magistrate’s Court at Gore yesterday, before Messrs A. Martin and F. Wallis, jun., to a charge of drunkenness and not guilty to charges of assaulting Robert Richardson and Violet May Argyle. Sergeant J. Abel, who conducted the case for the police, said the defendant and his wife went to a house at 5.45 p.m. on Saturday last and while he was there he struck his wife. The male witness, Richardson, went to her assistance, and the defendant assaulted him and pulled a tuft of hair out of Mrs Argyle's head. Robert Richardson, an old age pensioner, said the defendant and his wife came to his place and a “bit of an argument” followed. Thomnson struck his own wife and witness went to the assistance of Mrs Thompson. “Then I got it,” he added. “He smacked me across the mouth and hit me on the top of the head, and jammed me in the door.” The witness said he had had medical treatment for the injury to his arm.

In answer to a question the witness said he came in between the women after the defendant had each of them by the hair.

‘Did’l hit you?” the defendant asked. Witness: You did. You hit me right across the mouth. It’s not good enough, Jack. It’s not a bit of good. Evidence was given by Violet May Argyle, who said that Thompson had his wife by the hair and hit Richardson across the mouth and on the head. “We had to leave the house,” she said, “and he shut the door. He pushed me into the porch and we had to get out through a back window.” The witness produced a tuft of hair which she said Thompson had pulled from her head. Thompson and his wife had been friends of hers and Richardson’s for some time and often came to see them. The defendant asked the two witnesses a number of questions and gave evidence on the amount of drink he had had that day. He had asked his wife about a house, he said, and she had used violent language to him. There was a general mix-up and then, when everybody was friendly again, the sergeant arrived. The defendant was fairly drunk at 2.30 that day and had later bought a bottle of whisky at “the Greek’s” for 10/-. “There were three of them against me,” he added, “and there was nobody to protect me.”

On the charge of drunkenness the defendant was convicted and discharged, and on each of the two charges of assault he was convicted and fined £l. He was also ordered to pay 12/6 medical expenses to Richardson. “Your own evidence convicts you,” Mr Martin said. WAIKANA MAIL EXTENSION The Waikana rural mail extension, granted by the Post and Telegraph Department after several years of agitation by the residents of the district, was instituted yesterday when the first deliveries were made. The extension will serve about a dozen householders, and is a continuation of the GoreFerndale run, adding about 10 miles to the route. The district is a fairly isolated one, but the road is in good order, and a daily service will be maintained. FAREWELL SOCIAL Residents of McNab and the surrounding districts, as well as Invercargill, met in the McNab hall to bid farewell to Mr and Mrs D. Craig, who intend to make their home in Dunedin. Mr D. Milne, who presided, referred to their gtiests’ long association with the district. Mr Craig, he said, had been a member of the McNab Hall Committee for a number of years, and it was with keen iregret that they learned of their impending departure. On behalf of those present he asked Mr and Mrs Craig to accept a

sum of money as a token of the appreciation of their connection with the district, and wished them every happiness in their new home. Messrs A. Duncan, D. Telfer, W. Thomas and R. Smith also spoke, and Mr Craig briefly replied. The remainder of the evening was spent in dancing. Mr L. P. Healy was master of ceremonies and items were given by Miss Cook, Invercargill ; (tap dancing and song), Miss Martin (dance, sailor’s hornpipe), and Mr E. Sopp (humorous monologue). GORE HIGH SCHOOL

“The roll number now stands at 250. being the same as for last month,’* stated the rector (Mr E. H. W. Rowntree) in his monthly report to the board of governors of the Gore High School yesterday. The report added: “The hostel roll

remains stationary. Arrangements are now in hand for the planting of the area in front with shrubs. The evening school roll has increased to 168 and the extra classes in English and cabinet making have been officially confirmed by the department. The attendances have been much better lately. “Wool-classing classes, under Mr McGregor, started on May 30 and will continue throughout the term. Early in the month the school had a visit from Mr D. Grant, who spoke on presentday conditions in China. The free issue of milk to all pupils in the school began on June 7. All but 24 pupils are taking advantage of the issue. A successful sale, organized and run by the School Council, was held on June 3, when about £47 was collected.

“The new projector is in use and arrangements are in hand to provide a continuous supply of films at the rate of one a week, dealing with educational matters.”

It was decided to grant a half-holiday on July 13, the day of the visit to Gore of the Indian hockey team.

The annual meeting of the board was also held and the following standing committees were appointed:— Schools—Messrs A. T. Newman, J. Clark, Hugh Smith and S. Rice. Finance.—Messrs Rice, H. McGibbon, F. Wallis, jun., and Clark. Hostel.—Messrs F. Wallis, jun., McGibbon, Henry Smith, and R. L. Byars. Mr E. C. Smith was re-elected chairman of the board.

The meeting was attended by Messrs E. C. Smith (chairman), Henry Smith, Hugh Smith, J. Clark and S. Rice.

FARM MORTGAGE COMMISSION The Farm Mortgage Adjustment Commission opened its sessions in Gore yesterday. Mr John Tait is acting chairman and associated with him are Messrs A. M. Weir and J. J. Lynch. The commission will sit for four days, during which 12 applications will be heard, and will then go to Wyndham, Riverton and 'Winton. OBITUARY The death has occurred at Gore of Mr John Mac Gibbon Shanks, aged 73, who lived in Gore for more than 56 years. Mr Shanks, who was a son of Mr and Mrs Stewart Shanks, was born at Mataura and was educated at the Tuturau school and at a private school at Invercargill. His father, who was later the member of Parliament for Mataura, was one of the early settlers of the district. Mr Shanks joined the firm of Mac Gibbon and Co., as a youth, starting as driver of the grocery de-

livery cart at East Gore, and remained with the firm until the time of his death. He was a director, and for many

years had been manager of the firm’s store at East Gore.

Mr Shanks was a keen supporter of the Presbyterian Church, of which he was a deacon and, for a number of years, secretary and treasurer. He was also connected with the Gore District Early Settlers’ Association since its inception, and was president for many years. Other organizations in which he took a prominent part were the Gore A. and P. Association, the Tuturau School Ex-Pupils’ Association and the Gore Lodge, M.U.1.0.0.F., of which he was a foundation member. Throughout the existence of the Gore Cemetery Trust he was secretary.

His principal hobby was rifle-shoot-ing, at which he had achieved some outstanding successes. He was one of the original members of the Gore Rifle Volunteers, in which he held a commission as lieutenant. In 1903 Mr Shanks finished third in the New Zealand championships against the best shots in the Dominion, and the following year be was a member of the New Zealand rifle team which was sent to England to compete at Bisley against the world’s best shots. When the territorial system was instituted the Gore Volunteer Rifles were disbanded and the Gore Rifle Club • was formed. Mr Shanks! was elected president and he held office until the club ceased activity in 1916. During the existence of the volunteers and the rifle club Mr Shanks was for many years secretary of the Eastern Southland Rifle Association. Rifle shooting at Gore was revived in 1929 by the formation of the present Gore Defence Rifle Club, and Mr Shanks was elected its first president. On various occasions he won the district

and provincial championships, and competed with success at meetings throughout New Zealand. He was also an active member of the Gore Gun Club for many years while it was in existence.

Mr Shanks was twice married. His first wife was Miss Annie Ward, of Invercargill, who died 34 years ago. Some years later he married Miss Julia Blanche Tayler, of Dunedin. He is survived by his widow, two sons, Mr Dudley Stewart Shanks- (Gore), and Mr John Mac Gibbon Shanks (Dunedin) and two daughters, Miss May Shanks (Wanganui) and Miss Annie Shanks (Wellington). He is also survived by a brother, Mr Charles Shanks (Wanganui) and four sisters, all living at Timaru.