MATAURA BOROUGH COUNCIL

Southland Times, Issue 23819, 17 May 1939, Page 15

MATAURA BOROUGH COUNCIL

PLAYING AREAS FOR FOOTBALL The monthly meeting of the Mataura Borough Council was presided over by the Mayor (Mr C. D. McConnell). There were also present Crs J. Ingram, J. Swale, J. McAllister, L. McKelvie, M. Walker, A. Bradley and R. Hutton. Mr S. B. Taylor, secretary of the Eastern District Rugby Football SubUnion, wrote placing before the council the difficulty the sub-union had regarding the Mataura grounds. With four Mataura teams in its competition it was impossible to avoid at least ttvo games at Mataura on most Saturdays. With one ground only it meant starting the first game at 1.30, forcing travelling teams to leave home not later than 1 p.m. This gave players insufficient time after ceasing work, and resulted in late starting and short spells. Junior players suffered, particularly those travelling to Mataura. The council was requested to set aside another ground for the use of juniors. Cr McKelvie stated that there was some dissatisfaction among the clubs through not being able to come to an agreement about the playing areas. Of the four grounds, only two were suitable for Rugby. He moved that representatives of the clubs concerned, meet the Reserves Committee to discuss the matter, when a report would be forwarded to the council. The motion was carried.

The Southland County Council wrote in reply to a letter from the town clerk stating that his council did not favour the raising of a loan for the proposed improvements to the Waimumu stream. The letter stated that by rating for a period of four years on the present basis of rating, the County Council could raise the -local body portion of the cost provided it obtained the subsidy of £1 for £l. It was more economical to raise the money by way of rate and pay for the. job from revenue, than to deal with a loan. The County Council had the sanction of the Audit Department to finance work on the Waimumu stream from its ordinary revenue and the department also gave permission to charge the cost of any work on the Waimumu stream to the Hokonui riding account, the riding account to be recouped from time to time as rates - were levied.—Received.

In reply to a letter, the Southland County Council stated that the total amount of rates struck was £267/15/8, and penalties amounting to £9/17/2 had accrued because of late payment. The amount paid up to date was £194/3/4, leaving a balance outstanding of £B3/9/6. It was proposed to rate on the present basis for a period of four years and the rates for the current year would be struck at the next meeting of the council. It was expected that rating on the present basis on a period of four years would provide sufficient to do the work up to £looo.—Received. The Southland County Council wrote that it had resolved to instruct the engineer to effect the necessary repairs to the bridge over the Waimumu Channel where the road led on to Dunn’s road as soon as the council’s bridge gang was available. Half the cost of the work would be charged to the Mataura Borough.—Received. The recently-formed branch of the New Zealand Defence League was granted permission to use the Coronation Hall on May 11.

The secretary of the Mataura Volunteer Fire Brigade wrote pointing ,out that in the event of a fire, the work of the brigade was hampered and delayed for want of an electrician to remove fuses from the poles adjacent to the burning building and suggesting that Deputy Superintendent A. McKay and Fireman McCaughan be given authority to remove fuses when necessary. Cr Ingram moved that the Power Supply be approached regarding the appointment of the two men mentioned. He understood that Deputy-Superintendant McKay was quite capable of dealing with the fuses. Cr McKelvie was of the opinion that as there was a Power Supply employee resident in the town, he should be included with the other two men. Cr Bradley said he was quite sure that the Power Supply would not consent to let an outsider pull the fuses. Mr H. Sleeman was a Power Supply employee resident in the town. If a fire broke out he could be rung up and would soon be on the scene. Cr Ingram: And if he could not be found, do you mean to say we should let a fire burn just because no certificated man was present to remove the pole fuse? It was decided to apply to the Power Supply for permission to allow the firemen mentioned to remove fuses if necessary.

The Mataura Pipe Band was granted a subsidy of £l5.

The Reserves Committee’s recommendation that a small gate be put in at the Main street entrance to the Domain and that a temporary ticket box be erected when circumstances permitted was adopted.

The Water and Drainage Committee recommended that the charge for drainage connections to the sewer be altered from the deposit of £2 to a flat charge of £3/10/-, this charge to include the supply by the council of a 4in saddle and inspection bend.—Adopted. The Works Committee recommended: (1) That the men at present employed on Scheme No. 13 be reinstated on the weekly basis as from March 27,1939, and that any men engaged by the council in future be employed on the hourly basis under the award. (2) That the sum of £125 be placed on the estimates for the cun-ent year for fire prevention and the sum of £350 for roads and footpaths. (3) That tenders be called for the supply and delivery of 700 yards of maintenance gravel to the usual specifications.—The recommendations were adopted. The Finance Committee recommended: (1) That all rates for the year 1936-37 remaining unpaid, be sued for, —Adopted. MINIATURE RIFLE SHOOTING The best score off the rifle at the opening of the Mataura miniature rifle championships was secured by T. Gaudion, with a possible. This also secures him as first possessor of the handicap button presented by the Southland Sports Depot. Scores: G. R. Amos, 76-7-79; J. P. Quilter, 78-6-79; J. H. Anderson, 68-4-72; A. Lloyd, 63-10-73; I. Milne, 61-7-68; R. Greer, 77-3-79; W. D. Ramage, 75-2-77; F. Ramage, 66-7-73; G. Cruickshanks, 73-13-79; O. G. Davis, 74-4-78; J. Taylor, 56-7-63; G. W. Cullen, 73-3-76; J. Anderson, 69-7-76; F. Aim, 72-15-79; J. Sayers, 62-7-69; W. Folster, 70-7-77; Mrs Philip, 73-6-79; Miss Richardson, 65-7-72; Miss M. Adam, 66-10-76; Miss J. Adam, 50-10-60; R. Norman, 52-7-59; W. T. Webb,

72-6-78; Miss J. Doudle, 69-10-79; Miss A. Adam, 56-10-66; Miss M. McCartney, 52-10-62; R. Larking, 64-7-71; N. Hellier, 67-7-74; W. Steel, 68-7-75; T. Gaudion, 80-0-80; R. Scoon, 68-7-75; Victor Dickie, 69-10-79; J. L. Dickie, 78-0-78; R. Barclay, 78-2-79; W. Barclay, 71-7-78. DEFENCE RIFLE CLUB Because of unavoidable circumstances the finals for the Mataura Defence Rifle Club’s championship have been delayed for some weeks. However, as only two members, T. Gaudion and W. Webb, were directly concerned in the finals, it was decided that these two visit the range and decide the championship. The final shoot was to be 15 shots at 600 yards. Up to the time of the final, T. Gaudion’s total over 24 ranges was 1106, while that of W. Webb was 1101. The final match was begun under unusually difficult light conditions, both marksmen being in difficulties for the first few shots. However, the shooting improved, Webb’s last nine shots being all bulls with the exception of one. His score was 67, with Gaudion only one point behind. Following are the individual scores:

W. Webb 4,4,4,3,3,5,5,5,5,4,5,5,5,5,5 —67 T. Gaudion 4,5,4,5,3,5,5,5,5,3,4,4,5,4,5 —66 This shoot carried Gaudion’s total to 1172, Webb being only four points behind with 1168. The grand possible was 1275. T. Gaudion, the winner, has shot consistently throughout the season and has shown steady improvement.