QUEENSTOWN NOTES

Southland Times, Issue 25748, 11 August 1945, Page 7

QUEENSTOWN NOTES

At the monthly meeting of the Queenstown Borough Council a request was made by a ratepayer that the council should get in touch with, the Post and Telegraph Department in order that a postal delivery service to the houses might be instituted. The present system is by postal boxes and counter deliveries only. _ The council decided that Arbor Day be held in Queenstown on September 19, the council to purchase 500 pinus insignis three-year-old trees. Letters were received from both the Otago and the Southland Regional Planning Councils asking under which council the borough of Queenstown should be administered. The council decided to reply that they would favour the Southland Regional Planning Council, because Invercargill was nearer than Dunedin. Also the following departments were controlled froin Invercargill, Post and Telegraph, Railways, Police, Education, Hospital, Health, Licensing, National Savings, and in sport, Rugby, while Dunedin controlled the Land Board,. Public Works Department and Patriotic Council. The borough was in the Wallace electoral district. This meant that the boundaries would remain the same as in the original town planning of 1930. The council decided to cut no more firewood, as close on 100 cords had already been cut this year. The by-law prohibiting the erection of veranda posts on the footpaths of certain streets has been adopted. It has been decided by the council to increase the motor camp fees to the following rates: Per week, 15/- (12/6 to automobile association members); per day, 4/_ (3/- to automobile association members).

ELECTRIC POWER.— There was a breakdown in the electric power of nearly an hour’s duration recently. This was caused by a mild breeze being responsible for a big thaw, and a slip in the pipeline to the power house at Cromwell. Queenstown was immediately switched over to the local plant for power, and consumers have been requested to economize on power. There are no street lights in Queenstown at present, which causes difficulty to the residents. The thaw has started a hillslide at the Roaring Meg, which causes difficulty in effecting repairs. The Central Otago Power Board is trying to maintain a minimum supply by drawing on the Wye Creek plant.

VALEDICTORY.— A well-known resident of the Shotover district was tendered a farewell in the Lower Shotover Hall. She is Mrs A. Brown, who has carried on farming for over 40 years in the district when her husband died. Her son, Mr I. Brown, is taking over the farm. The speakers at the function were Mr T. M. Houston, chairman for the evening, Mr Bagrie and Mr D. R. Rowe, who spoke on behalf of various organizations of which Mrs Brown has been a member. Mrs Brown has played a prominent part in the W.D.F.U., the Lake County A. and P. Society, the Presbyterian Church and the Lower Shotover Public Hall Committee. Mr Houston presented Mrs Brown with a monetary gift from the residents of the district and Mr I. Brown replied on his mother’s behalf. He also was presented with a gift from the residents on his approaching marriage.

ROTARY CLUB.— The weekly meeting of the Queenstown Rotary Club was addressed by one of its members, Rotarian J. Thomson, who spoke on acclimatization affairs. Referring to the fact that from the end of this month the Government is taking over the management of the district formerly controlled by the Lakes Acclimatization Society, Mr Thomson gave a vivid description of a trip round the district .he had been privileged to make, studying the conditions of various streams, lakes etc., for the liberation of ova. It has been decided that members be asked to bring to the meetings any picture magazines or interesting reading matter to be forwarded to the Frankton Hospital for the benefit of the patients.