TEMUKA.

Timaru Herald, Volume CXXIII, 19 March 1926, Page 7

TEMUKA.

(From Our Own Correspondent ’)

BOROUGH COUNCIL. The monthly meeting of the Temukn Borough Council was held on Wednesday evening. Present —The Mayor (Mr G. B. Cartwright), Councillors W. I l ’. Evans, J. B. Sinclair, J. Lee, D. White, A. ,W. Buzan, D. Mc'Jnnes, T. Gunnion, and A. H. Eenn. MAYOR’S .STATEMENT. ! The Mayor stated that this was the last meeting of the financial year, and the clerk had made out a rough financial statement. Councillors would ’ see from the Finance Committee’s_report that the credit balance was £754. ■ It was anticipated, after allowing for expenditure, this would bo increased by £254 by the end of the month, so this was bringing up the total credit to £IOOB. This was a very satisfactory ■. position, and the credit balance wou'd be equal to all calls until the new rates were due. With the other members of the Council he had met the chairman and members of the Power Board regarding the poles out of alignment, and after considerable discussion the Board had agreed to place as many poles as possible at the kerbside. On; February 26th a meeting of local bodies j had been held in Timaru regarding the I allocation of heavy traffic fees. Ho had been unable to attend the meeting ow- j ing to the Prime Minister arriving on j that day, and he and Councillor Evans had been deputed to interview the Prime Minister regarding the flotation of a loan for the East End drainage scheme. The Prime Minister promised to give the Council’s request every possible consideration. The Mayor of Geraldine had represented Temuka at the meeting regarding heavy traffic fees, and was instructed 4 to approve of the circular issued, which was eventually approved by the meeting. CORRESPONDENCE. The School Committee invited the Mayor and Council to be present at a welcoming function to Dental Nurse Cato, who will have charge of the dental clinic in the Temuka district.— Accepted. Mr and Mrs Maddren wrote thanking the Mayor and Councillors for their , motion of sympathy’. I The clerk of the Mackenzie County ; Council forwarded the sum of 10s lid, being share of motor lorry license fees. The manager of the Power Board wrote stating that instructions had been given to have as many poles as -possible removed to the kerbside. The Mayor said that the work would be started as soon as possible, and the letter was received. I Air A. C. Palmer’s application to keep his billiard saloon open to 11 p.m. on Saturdays; was forwarded to the police for a report. FINANCE. The Finance Committee reported that . t" • paysheet of the district fund account amounted to £ll4 6s: Id, and that of the No. 8-loan account to j £lB9 13s. 3d. Sums to the total of ' £162 3s 2d had been received during ! the month, and the credit balance of the various accounts stood at £754 Os' 9d. WORKS. The Works Committee reported that, as directed by the Council, they had inspected, several streets that had been heavily metalled, some time back, and have now instructed the overseer to put a. coat of binding on'the roads in question. The loan • asphalting work was nearing completion, and preparations are being made for tarring and sanding of same. Including the Domain tar Realing, about 300 vards of , sand would bo required. Tenders have ‘ been j.oalled and several will be dealt with. : It was recommended that kerbing be carried out at the west end .'of Denmark Street, length five chains, and on that .nortion between the railway gates, and Whitcombc Street; also that the middle of the footpath be asphalted to a width of 4ft 6in and boarded on., each side. One tender was received for the carting of 300 cubic yards of sand, and this was declined. The Afayor, chairman of Works Committee (Councillor AlcTnnes) and the overseer were appointed to see what other arrangements could be made. . T,TGHTT"f; AND SANITATION. The Lighting Committee reported that there had been no complaints during the month, and everything was very satisfactoi'y. OVERSEER’S REPORT. . The overseer (Air A. J. McPherson) reported that with the exception nf a small portion of Wilkin Street,/the /oan work on the east side was completed. On the west side, asphalting of Birkett Street, Wilmhurst Street, and the west side nf Ewan Rond had been completed. The pipes for the Acclimatisation Society’s new hatchery were to hand, and could be connected up within the next few days. GENERAL. Councillor AlcTnnes inquired if any steps had been taken to purchase the

two acres of land at Winchester for the water works extension.

The Alayor said that nothing had been done so far.

Councillor Gunnion asked if tlin Council were going to carry out the resolution passed at the last Council meeting, that a sewage main be laid along Wood Street to within thirty yards of Railway Terrace. The Alayor said that the Works Committee had agreed to bring the main up to within 120 feet of the corner in j the meantime; the other section could be laid as required. Councillor Gunnion said that Councillors should have been informed about this. When the Railway Board was passing through he had met them at tho station, and he had mentioned about tho sewer being brought to the corner of Railway Terraco. This had been made a note of by the committee with the idea of connecting up the bouse and the railway station. What was tho position now ? Councillor Evans pointed out that this would be no benefit to the Coun--1 eil, as tho Railway Department were exempt from paying rates. DOALVIN BOARD. The quarterly meeting of the Domain j Board was then held, j The secretary of the Bicyc’e and j Athletic Club applied for the use of j the Domain for the Easter sports carj nival, and also for authority to make i the following charges-—Adults Is 6d, j children 6d, "grandstand Cd, motors 2s. —The application was granted. The curator (Air J. A. AlcDonald) I reported on the work carried out durj ing the month, which consisted of the i usual cleaning up. The cyclo track has also been put in order. Air 11. Simon applied for permission to sell fruit and confectionery in tlm Domain on special occasions at an annual fee of £1. —Declined. The secretary of the Tennis and Croquet Club (Air R,. Alalcolm) wrote requesting the Board to paint the pavilion. During the season the pavilion was enlarged at a cost of £6O" to the club, and it was badly in need of painting. The cost was £l4, pnd tho Board and Club could share the expense. .Councillor Gunnion said that tile club had assisted at the recent carnival, and the request should be granted. Councillor Sinclair asked if the same conditions could be applied to tliei Bowling Club pavilion, which had been enlarged and had not yet been painted. Councillor AYhite said that prior to the carnival, the matter of painting the whole 'of the buildings, including the grandstand, had been brought up. He thought that the visiting committee should decide how tho money was to he spent. The secretary said that the Board’s credit balance was £SB 7s 2d, the outstanding rents were- £66.12s 2d, making a total of £124 19s 4d. The wages due to the end of the month were £2l 8s 2d, and the total credit would then be £73. That is, if all rents were paid. The Alayor said that a considerable sum had been paid in tarring and sandiag, and the final payment of £67 had been made in connection with the mower. The mower had cost £135, and had thus been paid for in one financial year. Councillor Gunnion said that the visiting cpmmittee should meet and discuss the question. So far as the Board’s finances were concerned it had been the custom in years past that the Council vote £SO at the end of the financial year. This had been placed on the estimate's, but bad not yet been paid. The Domain was worth looking after and the money should be paid. The Alayor was of tho same opinion. It was rather disappointing that the credit balance was so low, when it was considered that the sum of £2OO had been received from the recent Queen Carnival.

After further discussion it was agreed that the Tenuis Cfub’s request be granted..

On the motion of Councillor Gunnion, seconded by Councillor Evans, it was decided that a grant of £SO be transferred to the Domain Board.

The Croquet Club’s application to install gas in the pavilion was granted. The monthly paysheet was passed for payment. It was agreed to erect a notice board drawing attention to the gas ring for the use of visitors. •The Alayor said that the visitors and campers were delighted with the various conveniences in the Domain. Several new water taps had been erected for the use of the cadets, and thev were delighted with the camping ground.

PETROL BOWSERS. At the last meeting of the Borough Council, several applications were received for permission to install petrol bowsers, and it was resolved to refer the matter to the Council's executive to report. Enquiries were made at Oamaru, Timaru, Waimate, and Rangiora, and at Wednesday’s meeting of the Council, Councillor Evans moved, and the Mayor seconded, that the application be granted on the following conditions: —Tanks to be placed on private property, bowsers on the kerbside, and the fee to be £2 per annum payable in advance. The Council reserve the right of removal at any time, by giving one month’s notice in writing. All footpaths, roads, streets, or kerbs disturbed to be restored to the Council’s satisfaction, and at the applicants’ expense. The whole installation to be put in, in accordance with the regulations of the Department of Dangerous Goods and Explosives, and to the satisfaction of the inspector. TREE PLANTING.

Messrs C. L. Fraser and L. G. Scrimshaw, and a delegation from the School Committee, waited on the Borough Council on Wednesday evening, regarding leasing a reserve for tree planting. Mr Fraser,' after apologising for the absence of the chairman (Mr A. E. Smith), said that the Education Board were desirious of encouraging the children in treeplanting. it was a subject worth considering as there was practically no bush in Canterbury. The Board had also suggested that application should bo made to local bodies for reserves or any waste land, that was bringing in no revenue at present. The Education Board would supply the trees, and he thought they would also supply rabbit proof netting. Th'e question had been informally discussed, with the Mayor and several Councillors, and the grave' pit on the North Town Belt had been mentioned. This property was suitable if the Council would grant a lease at a peppercorn rental. It was the wish of the Education Board that on maturing the trees would be the property of the School Committee, and it was anticipated that two or three acres of trees would be worth up to £6 00 in a few years. This money would be spent in school work in the district. He felt sure that the Council hacj the welfare of the children at heart and would meet the committee in every possible way. In reply to questions put by the Mayor, Mr Fraser said that the children would look after the trees. Only a certain number of trees would be planted each year.

The Mayor said that if the pit was suitable ho would support the application. As the section was at present it was an eyesore, and hrykad in

his mind a scheme for _ planting shubs along the front of it. The tree planting scheme could also be put into operation, which in time would be a source of revenue. The Council, however, would have to ascertain the legal position and see if they had the power to lease the section.

Councillor Evans said that the object was a worthy one, and if the pit could be made to* serve some useful purpose and at the same time beautify the surroundings it should be leased by all means, provided the Council had power to do so. There was a chain road surveyed on the west side of the section over which the Council had no control. He suggested that the committee meet the Council on the site, and the legal position be obtained in the meantime. On the motion of the Mayor and Councillor Fenn, the suggestion was agreed to, and the meeting will take place at 10 o’clock this morning.

AIOTOR SPEEDING. At the. Borough Council meeting held on Wednesday evening, Councillor Lee referred to the excessive speed at which motorists travelled through the town. The speed was dangerous to all concerned, and he considered that the police should be instructed to take action in every case. He moved accordingly. Councillor Buzan seconded, and the motion was carried.

DAYLIGHT SAVING BILL. COUNCIL’S SUPPORT. At the Borough Council meeting held on Wednesday evening the general secretary of the New Zealand Sports Protection League forwarded a letter relative to daylight saving. Councillor Evans said that the Council should support t.lie measure. The plan was in operation in other countries, including Great Britain, and it had been highly spoken of. Councillor White said that as secretary of the Bowling Club he had approached the two Parliamentary candidates last year, and they were against it, giving as a reason that the farmers were not in favour of it. Most of the men who had been overseers were delighted with the daylight saving. He did not know why farmers were against it, as the scheme were in operation in England, and the Continent, and there were no objections whatever in these countries. He was confident that once New Zealand adopted the idea they would never revert to the other The Mayor said that dairy farmers were against it because under the present conditions they had to be up before daylight at least nine months in the year. If the clock was put back it would mean that the farmer would have to get up all the year round before daylight. At harvesttnqe also, the innovation would be inconvenient.

Councillor White said that the far-n-Vfi Fl 'f ncd ver -V easily overcame ono They ke I )t two clocks, ° n „ e new time and one with the old time. The farm work was done by the old time, and any business was done by the new time as the town clocks were all advanced by one hour in the summer time. After further discussion it was agreed that the Council support the Summer Time Bill. Councillor MeInnes was the Only dissentient.

HIGHLANDERS’ BAND. An attempt is to be made to ~ induce the Argyll and Sutherland Highlanders’ Band to visit Temulta. At the Borough Council meeting on Wednesday, the Mayor said that this band proposed to tour the Dominion at the close of the Exhibition, and some effort should be made to get them to visit Temulta, either to give an evening performance or even to stop during the interval between the morning and afternoon train. He suggested that the Council write and make further enquiries. Councillors agreed that the suggestion was a good one, and it was agreed to carry it out. DANCE.On Wednesday evening a dance was held in the Catholic Club Hall, the function being well attended and very enjoyable. The hall was tastefully decorated with green and white streamers and greenery, and presented a pretty sight when dancing was in progress. The music was supplied by Miss Ives’s Orchestra, and the duties of M.C. were capably carried out by Mr P. Histen. An excellent supper was supplied by the ladies, and the evening was most successful.