TEMUKA.

Timaru Herald, Volume CXXIII, 10 January 1927, Page 6

TEMUKA.

(From Onr Own Correspondent.) FLOOD DAMAGE AT MILFORD. MEETING OF HUT-lIOLDERS. Owing to the flooded nature of the rivers, caused by the heavy rainfall in the back country, considerable damage has been done during tho week to the road at Milford Lagoon. At one point the water, notwithstanding the efforts of a party of willing workers, has cutin and is now within ten or fifteen yards of the fences fronting several houses. That those concerned view the position with the utmost gravity was evidenced by the fact that a combined meeting of hut-holders and members of the Milford Lagoon Association was held at Milford Lagoon yesterday afternoon at the residence cf Mrs Beri. Mr L. Warning occupied the chair, and there were also present— Mrs F. Beri, Mrs A. Martin, Messrs F. A. Raymond, J. Maze, T. Groolish, J. Cray, S. Webb, L. F. Robins. G. H. Clements, C. Williams, G. Hammond, J. Hobbs, W. Lawler, R. Lamb, and the secretary, Mr F. M. Martin. The chairman commented on tho damage that had already been done, and .said that whatever protective v. ork was to be undertaken must be taken in hand at once. He thought that a small committee should bo formed to go into the matter. Mr Clements said that tho l.utholders and landowners should appoint a small committee- to work in conjunction with tho Milford Lagoon Association. They should get right down to bedrock, and consider tho financial and what tho hut-holders and the Association were prepared to give. ! He thought that the first thing to do was to turn the river just above the ; present groyne at Warouig’s; they j could then build protective works alongtho bank. Mr Murray, the river ex- 1 pert, had stated during the week that by scooping out the shingle the river could be' turned into its old channel. ' It had been estimated that the scooping : work could be done in throe or four days at a cost of £4 per day.

Mr Raymond: “Was it Mr Murray’s pronosal to start above this groyne ?” Mr Clements: “Yes.” Mr Williams contended that tiro sea was the greatest menace. When the river was low and the mouth blocked, that was when the damage was done. Mr Hammond said that the river was washing the bank away every day; it was imperative that the river ho turned. " Mr Williams said- that he would like in see this done, but. he. did not brow how tliev could do it. Mrs Beri said that the protective works should he started without delay. Mr Craig said thatfan cstinfatc had heen' made for the groyne, arid ten chains of; protection embankment, consisting ;of iron piles and- 'blue ;gum hoarding, the price to bo im the vicinitv of £250. : ’ After further discussion, Mr Raymond said that in order to get- at something definite lie would move that a committee bo formed 'consisting of three Tperilbers of the Milford Lagoon Association and three lint-holders, for tho purpose of arranging finance, and I the erection of a, protection for the i bank ; the river to he turned before starting the protection works. Mrs Beri seconded the notion, uhieh was carried, the only objector being Mr Williams, who contended that tho protective bank should he '(-rented befnro they attempted to turn the river. If thpy delayed until the r.ver was ' turned there would he no. Lank left, j Mr Martin said he had been given - to understand that a man and tractor , would seoop out tbe -hingle in the old j riverbed in three days. j In answer to Mr Maze,, the thairman j said that tho new rvoync had nndoubtedly been of good service during the week. Mrs Beri said ibat the scooping and protective work could be done simultaneously. Mr Cray: “What about finance?” Mrs Beri: “If the Association and hut-holders can’t find all tbe money, then they could devise wavs and moans of getting it, such as a "garden party or a picture entertainment.”

Mi- Cray then gave details of the! piles and timber required for the pro- 1 tectivft ivories and groyne, which amounted to £248 18s. j Mr Clements said that the hutholders had always worked well in the past, and lie desired to know how far they would go in financing the presentscheme. Would they give £2 for every £1 the- Association gave? Per'liaps.it would be better to form the district into a rating area, when all would be rated according to valuation. He .thought that the hut-holders and the Association should work solidly together. If this were done they wglild hnve the whole-hearted support of Temuka people. He moved that tho president, secretary and treasurer represent the Association. Mrs Beri said that until the groyne ,at Wareing’s had boon erected, "Mr Wareing liad given £IOO and tho Association £lO. She thought that each hut-holder should pay for the protective work fronting his own section, if the Association found the material. Mr Clements inquired if the hutholder s would be- prepared to spend £IOO if the Association found a similar amount P The secretary said that Mr E- D. Clarke had given £lO, Mr Hammond had promised a similar amount, Mr Cartwright and two Timani ladies had given .one guinea each, and t-lip Mills family had given three guineas. - Mr Raymond. Airs Beri, and Airs yurtin .premised further sums of fivo pounds each. ; A list of 22 hut-holders was then compiled, and a small committee. was formed to immediately call upon each to ascertain the extent of financial assistance they were prepared to give. A... suggestion was made' 'that the County Council be approached fee a subsidy, but no motion was passed. Mr Lawlor pointed out that they could not turn the ri.vor .without the permission of the River Bnatfl, and Afr Clements was deputed tc. interview Mr K. Alackenvde this morning. Messrs Raymond, S. Webb, and C. Williams w«re appointed to represent the hut-holders, and Air Clements was appointed to replace the .treasurer on the Association committee/. It was also agreed that the: -subcommittee have, power to act. ‘ COATAIITTEE AfEETTNG. - 'A meeting c.f the newly-appointed committee ■ was then held, and owing to Mr Bremner, the .County. Council’ engineer, being .on /holidays, it was agreed to ask AJr A.; J. .McPherson, the - borough tqwn clqrk, whei .was in tho .vicinity; to give whatever assistance lie could. ' , It was also decided to purchaso thematerial required and tp do work .by- day labour. 1 under the'vsupervision of; Mr R, AleLeod. : .v■ ; PERSONAL. ■ Miss Pearl" Airay; left on Saturday afternoon. on a, .visit .to; .Christch urch. h - Airs Theo. Brown, of Johannesburg/' South Africa, is the guest of Airs Airay, Studholme Street. - '■Miss- R,Mansell,--who was spending the holidays - with.: her: sister*,'Mrs R. Comer,, Milford, returned to Christl church qji Saturday, Miss Afay Kellahan left Temuka on Saturday for the myth.

Mr B. Woods, _ Christchurch, arrived in Temuka on'Friday to fill the position ] endered vacant by Mr W . Ycitclrs transfer.

Mrs R. S- Smith, who has heen on a visit to her parents, Mr and Mrs E. Blackmore, Temuka, has returned to Dunedin. Mr IT. Robinson, who; has been attending the Pentecostal Conference at New Plymouth, returned to Temuka last Thursday. Mr C. T. Leggett, Auckland, is spending a holiday with his 'grandparents, Mr and Mrs Chas. Story, Studholme Street, Temuka. The Rev. and Mrs A. Petrie, of Lyttelton, will arrive in Temuka today. The Rev. Mr Petrie will conduct the Anglican services on the 16th and 23rd, in palco of the Rev. G. Nclhatn Watson, who goes to Lyttelton to-day. The Rev. W. H. Norton, of Centre Bush, Southland, officiated at all the services at tho Presbyterian Church yesterday, and will continue to do so for the next three Sundays. Ho is an old Rangatira Valley resident, having rereived his early education at that school.

OBITUARY. MRS M. J. DAVEY. There passed away at Temuka on j Friday a very (Id resident of tho district ini the person of Mrs M. J. Davey, wife of George Davey, Main North Road. The. late Mrs .Davey, who was then Miss Findlay, arrived in New Zealand from England in 1872, and went to Timaru, where she joined her father, who had arrived in this country several years prior to that. Some 42 years ago she married Mr GecM-go Davey, of Temuka, and the couple took up their residence in ; Dyson Street. Shortly after the dawn of the present century Mr Davey sold out and bought the farm which they ■ now occupy. She leaves a husband | and four surviving children, their names being Mr Frank Davev (Taumjarunui), Mr Henry Davey (Opunald), !Mr Charles Davey and 'Mrs S. W. Trumper (Temuka). The late Mrs Davey took a very keen interest in all matters pertaining to the welfare of the Anglican Church, and her quiet unassuming manner wm her many friends. The funeral took place at Temuka yesterday afternoon, the Rev. G. Nelham Watson officiating.

MRS E. ROOKE. One who can be justly termed one ' of the original pioneers of the province 'of Canterbury was removed by the passing away of Mrs Emma Rooke, at her residence, “Foormosa Villa,” Davie Street, Tcmuka, on Saturday last. The 1 old colonist had reached the mature ago of 84 years. Tho late Mrs Rooke was born in Surrey, England, in 1843, and with her parents, Mr and Mrs Wm. Duffell, came to New Zealand aboard the ship “Cressy” (one of the first four ships), arriving in Lyttelton on December 27, 1850. The late Mrs Rooke. who possessed a very retentive memory, and was wont to recall incidents of tho voyage, often related how tho passengers were ordered to assist the crew at manning tho pumps. On arrival, the Duffell family went to livo at- Papanui, where Mr Duffell followed farming occupation. In 18C2 Miss Duffell married. the late Mr Leonard Rooke, who had arrived by the ship “Bill George Seymour.” After her marriage tho couple took up residence at Ricearton, and in 18GG thev came to South Canterbury, where they accpiired the property at Washdyko whereon the- aerodrome now stands. Here- the couple carried out farming operations for eight years, leaving at the end of that term for Hilton, where they continued their calling for a further twenty yearsc Through hard work and good management, the late Mr and Mrs Rooke were able to retire in 1895, going to live at Temuka, and taking up their residence in “Foormosa. Villa.” It is a noteworthy fact that the Rooke family have long been connected with the property at Hilton, three generations having been identified with tho farm. Tho late Mrs Rooke often detailed tho hardships borne by the pioneers, and at periods reminiscently referred to the times when her father, on arrival, built their first little shack on the side of the hill at Lyttelton, this being composed of native fern.

The late Mrs Rooke was predeceased bv her husband in 1915, and is survived by all her eight children. They are Mr Harry Rooke, (Orari), Mr Leonard Rooke (Arowhenua), Mr William Rooke (Alburv). Mr Arthur Rr,oke (Wnddington), Mr Ernest Rooke (Orari), Mrs S. TT. Pierce (Hilton), Miss Rooke (Temuka), Mrs J. F. Hunt (Temuka). The late Mrs Rooke was beloved by all who knew her, and her passing away marks the severance of another link with tlgi pioneer days. Tho funeral will take place at Temuka this afternoon.

„ 1.0.0. F. LODGE. The installation of officers e.f. the above Lodge took place in the Lodge room, whore the ceremony was carried out by the Installing Master, Bro. F. Dcmus, D.D.G.M., of Geraldine, assisted by members of Victoria Lodge. The officers installed were: P.G., Bro. J. B. Davis: N.G., Bro. A. L. Smith; Y.G.. Bro. W. Sceler ;• secretary, Bro. G. Harris; treasurer, Bro. J." King; record secretary. Bro. H. R. Woodham ; R.S.N.G.. Bro. H. Harrison: L.5.N.0.. Bro. R. Pizzov; R.S.V.G., Bio. N E Prodd.v: L.S.Y.G.. Bro. W. Burns; R.S.S., Bro. C. Davies: L.S.S.. Bro. W. Berry; warden, Bro. G. Phillips: conductor, Bro. W. F. Gaby: T.G.. Bro! B. Maclachlan. After tho installation members spent a most enjoyable time, and at supper the customary toast list Vvas gone through.