OTAUTAU

Southland Times, Issue 24421, 29 April 1941, Page 3

OTAUTAU

RETURNED SOLDIERS’ ASSOCIATION

Twenty-eight members attended the annual meeting of the Otautau of the Returned Soldiers Association. Mr W. R. Ayson, president, P ies Dr A. W. Owen-Johnston, P res * of the Invercargill Association, and W. F. H. Stone, secretary, were also P The n balance-sheet showed a 100 per cent, membership of the returned men in the area. Relief grants totalled £lO/6/-, and £lO had been given to the patriotic fund. ’The credits were as follows: Returned Soldiers Association account, £B5/12/4; club £79/0/5; poppy account, £4/0/Z, man ing a total of £l6B/13/4. The election of officers resulted a follows: President, Mr W. R. Ays , See-presidents, Messrs W. Fraser and j D. Clouston; secretary, Mr D. v. McCrostie; treasurer, Mr T. J. 0’ Neiff, committee, Messrs A. S - McCiostie AR. Simon, A. Fisher and W. Ijwmsocial committee, Messrs ,J‘ ° n F (convener), H. Braxton, W. Watson, E. J. Leckie, A. J. Brown, W. Anderson, G. B. Saxelby, A. Durant, S. J. Walkei and W. Burnett. It was decided to hold the reunion on May 28, also an old-timers ball, the proceeds of the latter to go to the soldiers’ comforts fund. It was decided to record a minute or appreciation of the good work done by Mr Ayson as president during the past year, and also the retiring executive members, Messrs G. B. Saxelby, W. Burnett and W. J. Officer. In an address to the members Dr Owen-Johnston congratulated the branch on its position and the state of the membership. Mr Stone detailed some of the work being done by the Returned Soldiers’ Association.

MAGISTRATE’S COURT Judgment for plaintiffs by default was given in the following cases at a sitting of the Magistrate’s Court: A. S. Wilson v. Hugh Molloy (Ohai) for £8 6/5, costs £l/1/-, solicitor’s fee 15/6; J. W. Riddell v. John Capil (Five Rivers) for £l2/16/6, costs £l/7/-, solicitor’s fee £l/11/-; May Officer v. V. H. Gilbert (Eastern Bush) for £5/5/-, costs £l/1/-, solicitor’s fee 15/6. RED CROSS The Otautau branch of the Red Cross Society despatched a parcel to headquarters this week containing three pullovers, with sleeves, two cardigans, one sleeveless pullover, three pairs of socks, three dressing gowns, three pairs of pyjamas, and one table cover These have been made by the local members of the society from the material supplied from the central depot. TOWN BOARD At the monthly meeting of the Otautau Town Board the chairman, Mr W. J. Wesney, gave a resume of the business done at the recent Municipal Conference, and moved the following recommendations to the new board: (1) That consideration be given to the extension of the town boundary. (2) That the new board confer with the Wallace County Council with a view to securing a more equitable division of cost on any yearly deficit in the cemetery account. Mr Wesney said that over a course of years the burials from county territory were two to one from the town district, and the payments to meet deficits were reversed, the town district’s share being double that of the council’s. Mr J. G. C. Baker wrote about improved methods in rescaling or top-dressing the existing scaled roadway, and suggested that the Public Works Department be consulted. His own opinion was that for a one-coat reseal a first-class job could be made, using Tihaka screened gravel and the hot treatment method. If. however, it was desired to use the cold treatment two coats should be applied, using crushed stone as the aggregate. The clerk reported that the Public Works inspector had withheld a certificate for a portion of the cost of top-dressing the main street, as he had not been 1 quite satisfied with the quality of the work, this proving that Mr Baker’s contention was correct.

The clerk said that this was the first time in 13 years that any question had arisen on the quality of the board's work. It was decided to leave the matter in the hands of the clerk and that the foreman’s attention be drawn to future requirements. The Hon. Adam Hamilton, forwarded a letter from the Hon. H. T. Armstrong about State housing in the township. The Minister said that no applications had been received nor any inquiries made by prospective tenants, but should the position alter later he would give the matter further consideration.

The clerk stated that there was a possibility of getting some applications. It was decided that when these were completed the clerk renew the application.

The works committee reported that it had inspected the main street footbridge and did not recommend new hand-rails. It was left in the hands of this committee to inspect the culvert in Harbison street, as Mr H. C. Eason had pointed out that the creek flooded his property. The committee was also authorized to arrange with the foreman for improvements in Nantwich and Knutsford streets, and also to inspect various streets to have maintenance attended to and corners improved. It was decided to grant the use of the reading room to the Plunket Society for the convenience of the nurse. BASKETBALL Mr C. Steven presided at the annual meeting of the Otautau Basketball Club. The annual report was adopted. Officers were elected as follows: President, Mr C. Steven; secretary, Miss Z. Sutherland; treasurer, Miss L. White; committee, Misses M. Bye, M. Gutschlag; G. Bye, T. Daly and N. Gutschlag.