PATEA BOROUGH ENGINEER

Taranaki Daily News, 25 January 1930, Page 6

PATEA BOROUGH ENGINEER

RESIGNATION OF MR. D. FRASER. A special meeting of the Patea Borough Council was held on Thursday to discuss the resignation of the engineer, Mr. D. Fraser. There were present: The Mayor (Mr. F. Ramsbottom) and Councillors Pettigrew, Naismith, Christensen, Carey and* Scott. His. Worship said he very much regretted the purpose for which they had met, that of. considering the resignation of one of the most capable engineers the council had ever possessed. Mr. Fraser had accepted a similar position at Opunake. He asked the town clerk (Mr. F. L. Ray) to read Mr. Fraser's resignation. In tendering his resignation, Mr. Fraser thanked the council for the consideration shown Jiim for the six and a half years he had been in their service. As Opunake was not far from Patea he would be willing to give his knowledge and service to the Patea council at any time. Councillor Christensen moved that the engineer’s resignation be accepted with regret, remarking that he considered Mr. Fraser the most capable engineer they had had, possessing knowledge and tact and generally giving satisfaction to everyone. He was very sorry, indeed, to know they were to dose Mr. Fraser, but he had mo .wish to obstruct a man who was making a step up, and could only move that the resignation be accepted with great regret. ■Councillor Pettigrew seconded the motion. The Mayor said that Mr. Fraser had worked very conscientiously for the council and had it been his own business he could have done no more. He had left everything in splendid order, the hydro and Diesel plants being in good condition, no overhauls being necessary. He recommended that they defer the engagement of a successor. As Patea' was one of the few units on the coast not linked up .with, a power board the question of arrangements with a power board for increased supply might soon be necessary. He suggested waiting a, month at least before engaging another engineer. Councillor Scott expressed his regret at losing Mr. Fraser’s services, and endorsed the Mayor’s suggestion of waiting. Naismith, in expressing regret at Mr. Fraser’s departure, remarked on the present efficient equipment in comparison to the poor state that prevailed when Mr. -Fraser arrived. Mr. Fraser thanked the Mayor and council, and assured them of his every assistance. He .was leaving because it meant a step up and not because of any friction. His service had been most pleasant, and he attributed the efficiency of the equipment and plant to good fortune and luck. The Mayor, Crs. Christensen and Naismith and the engineer were appointed a committee to draw up a draft copy of a schedule of conditions of appointment of an engineer. The council will hold a special meeting to discuss the appointment of an engineer next Thursday.

INVITATION TO CHAMPIONS. ATHLETIC EVENTS IN HAWERA. An invitation is to be extended to the American sprinter, Leo Lermond, and the world’s record holder, Dr. Otto Peltzef, to compete in an athletic carnival at Hawera, should they visit New Zealand. This decision was reached at a meeting of the committee of the Hawera Amateur Athletic Club last night, Mr. L. H. Clapham presiding. At the request of the WanganuiTaranaki'Centre,'which will hold the New Zealand championships at Wanganui on March 14 and 15, Messrs. C. Dahl, A, Grant and L. Marter were recommended as field judge, running and cycling judge and starter. Advice was received that T. K. Cambie, who is ranked second to Elliott as Auckland’s best sprinter, intends to make his home at Hawera. In his list of performances Cambie showed that ho had twice beaten Elliott over 100 yards, winning one race in lOsec. off 4| yards, while off an eight yards mark he had beaten Elliott over 220 yards in 21 3-5 sec. In a letter to the club Cambie said ‘it was his intention, if possible, to compete at the New Zealand championships as a Wanganui-Taranaki representative. , The chairman said Cambie would prove an asset to Taranaki as a firstclass sprinter; and in- Cambie, Black, Prince and Hamilton the province would be able to field a formidable quartette. The .resignation of Mr. H. A. K. McNae as a member of the executive was accepted with' regret, and Mr. J. Dredge was elected in his place. It was stated that Mr. A. Grant had donated first and second prizes for the schoolboys’ race to be held at the evening meeting on Wednesday next. The club captain, Mr. L." Hunt, also intimated that he would give a trophy for a schoolboys’ race. In view of the fact that the postponement through wet weather of Wednesday evening’s meeting to another evening had caused inconvenience to several competitors it was decided that .in future, if it was .necessary to postpone :a meeting, .the events would be included in the programmes of the following two meetings. • To encourage athletics in primary schools it was decided to request the headmasters of the Hawera schools to each, enter a. 'team, of four boys for a series of handicap relay races. The trophies are to be gold “buttons which the winning team “will hold until defeated. WAVERLEY FLOWER SHOW. JUDGES APPOINTED. k * Judges for the Waverley Horticultural Society’s flower show, to be held pn February 7, will be as follows:— . Section 2 (cut flowers).—Mr. C. 0. Rasmussen. Section 2 (decorative). —Mrs. H. Washer. , , ■. : School work and raffia. —Aliss Laird. ■ Fruit and'vegCtables.—Mr.;N) Hughes.