WAIMATE.

Timaru Herald, Volume CXXIII, 7 April 1927, Page 12

WAIMATE.

(From Our Own Correspondent.) SCHOOL COMMITTEE. At the monthly meeting of the Waimate District High School Committee there were present —Messrs It. B. Hurst (chairman), \V. E. George, G. Campbell, W. Wilson and Mesdames Pitts and O’Brien. A welcome to the acting headmaster, Mr J. L. Mcnzies, was extended by the chairman. ■The chairman reported on the visit of the Minister of Education, (Hon. 11. A. Wright) to Waiimato, and btated that the Minister informed them that the chances of a separate high school were, very fair. The acting headmaster (Mr J. L. Mcnzies) submitted the following report: —Primary roll at date of last report, 285 boys, 310 girls, total 595. Admitted 5 boys, 3 girls, total 8; withdrawn 2 boys, 4 girls, total 6; present roll 288 boys, 309 girls, total 597. Average attendance for quarter 264.4 'boys, 286.2 girls, total average 550.6. Secondary roll at date of last report, 66 boys, 59 girls, total 125; admitted 2 girls; withdrawn 1 boy, 1 girl; present roll, 65 boys, 60 girls, total 125; average attendance for quarter 57.9 boys, 5.5.6 girls, total average 113.5. Staff. —The resignation of Mr Peglcr rendered necessary the services of a relieving teacher and Mr P. O. Burtt commenced duties on Friday Ist April. Concert. —On Thursday, 3J.st inst. a concert was held, Mr E. L. Davies, assisting, and as a result, a satisfactory sum of mone.y was raised, which, with the GoVernment subsidy, will render possible the purchase of a good number of library books. Grounds.—During the past week or ton days, considerable improvements had been effected in the school grounds, and to the chairman, who was assisted in this work by Mr Mumford, is due an expression of thanks for the time and labour expended. The report was adopted. In regard to stocking the library, Mr Mcnzies spoke of the need for cupboards to house the books, and -intimated that Mr Healey had offered to put on a picture benefit. A vote of thanks was passed to Mr Mcnzies for his work in connection with the concert. Accounts amounting to £5 14s 4d were passed for payment.

MAGISTRATE'S COURT. At the usual sitting of the Magistrate's Court, Mr C. R. Orr-Walker, S.M., was on the bench. ' Charles Eric Eago applied for the remission; of! maintenance on his child, who was in a receiving home. Applicant stated that when the order was made, lie was a casual worker, earning about 12s a day. Witness had been six months sick, and was keeping his wile and three children. He had during the past six months been earning JJ2 per week. The case was adjourned. For failing to register her orchard from which fruit was sold, Mrs M. E. Prattley was fined 10s and costs. For failing to comply with the terms of a maintenance order for the support of ITis illegitimate child, being in arrears £44 3s 4d, A. L. McLean was convicted .and sentenced to two months’ imprisonment, the. warrant to bo suspended as long as defendant paid 12s a week off the current order and 4s a week off arrears.

CIVIL BUSINESS. Judgment for plaintiffs, by default, with costs, "was given in the* following undefended cases .‘—Joseph Tangney v. Isaac Benson, claim £7 9s 3d; Joseph Tangney v. Charles Raurangi, £l4 17s 4d; Do Lambert Bros. v. Alexander Davidson £2 Is sd; Public Trustee v. G. A. Lundon £6 10s; County Council v. Duncan, Einlayson, £5 11s 9d; same v. Charles Ellen, £1 2s 9d; Ethel McDougall v. James Sullivan £6 7s Od ; Pj’ne, Gould, Guinness Ltd. v. Michael Horgan, £l5O 3s 4d; Countv Council v. C. A. Tasker, £3B 11s 8d; James Moir v. Ada Brackenridgc, £1; Dash Ltd. v. Alex Champion, £2 11s; same v., John Gale, 15s; Graham and Clear v. H. Butcher £2 16s; Gordon Bros. V'. Michael Kennedy, £l2 7s; same v. Norman Tregonnmg. £4 4s; John O Brien v. Norman Tregonning, £2 ss; D. Keyes v. C. Beattie £9 19s lOd. RENT OF TAXI STAND. Reserved judgment -was delivered in the case Waimate Borough Council v. James Moir and Samuel Jacobs (taxi proprietors) for the use of the taxi stand. The judgment was as follows : “The claims made under Clause 18 of a by-law passed, which resolved to charge £5 per annum for each taxicarriage using the stand, and a committee was appointed to drawi up regulations governing the right to use the stand. There ds no evidence that these regulations were drawn up or passed by the Council later. I am of the opinion that the plaintiff must fail in its claim, upon the ground that, even if the charge has been legally and properly made, the action has been commenced too soon. The rent could not have commenced toi run till, at the earliest, May 11th, 1926 (the date of the resolution fixing the rent), and probably not till the dale when the regulations referred to were duly passed and notified to the defendants; and as there is no provision for the rent being payable in advance, and by quarterly instalments, the plaintiff must wait till one full year has expired from the time defendants commenced to. use the stand before suing for the £5 or even a part thereof. I very much doubt whether any rental could accrue until the regulations referred to have been passed by the Council, and brought to the knowledge of a taxi owner using the stand. I am also of opinion that the whole motor bylaw amendment aforesaid ist unenforceable.” Concluding, the Magistrate said: — “As these findings preclude the plaintiff from getting judgment on this

claim it is unnecessary for mo to 1 decide the other questions raised by the defence, and I prefer to sav nothing further than to indicate that l think Clause. 18 of the. by-laws, and the- procedure generally, to fix the charge for the use of a taxi-stand, should he carefully! reconsidered by tlm legal advisers of the Council.” Judgment was given for defendants, with costs. DOG AND SHEEP. The ease in which William J. Boyce claimed £5 as damage done by James Howe’s dog to his sheep, and defendant counter-claimed for £B, the value of the dog shot by plaintiff, was concluded. Evidence was given for the defence by Margaret Howe, Norman Howe, and James Howe. The Magistrate said that ho was convinced that the dog was the culprit. Defendant had admitted that the dog would he valueless if it worried sheep, and ho would! allow 5s damages for the dog. without costs. Judgment would be for plaintiff on the claim for £2, with costs, and for defendant, on the counter-claim for ss, without costs. SEPARATION. Ellen Mary Beattie (Mr Boland) wasf granted a separation order against her husband, Charles Beattio, with the guardianship of four children under 16, and their maintenance at the rate of 10s per week, until they were sixteen. Evidence was given that defendant had contributed very little to tha upkeep of the family, and had been violent when in liquor. JUDGMENT SUMMONS. _ On a judgment summons, William Baker was ordered to pay John O’Brien £l3 17s 7d, in default 14 days’ imprisonment. PERSONAL. The Mayoress of Waimatc, (Mrs. Geo. Dash) is at present in Christchurch, attending the New Zealand gathering of Girl Guide Commissioners. Rev. Father Joyce is at present in Waimate, conducting a Retreat. NOMINATION FOR ELECTIONS. The following nominations have been made for local government offices in Waimate : , For Mayor—Mr Geo. Dash. For Council —Councillors Lewis, Nelson, Paul. Robinson, and Messrs Clark and Harris. . For Hospital Committee —Messrs White and Dash (sitting! members).