GERALDINE.

Timaru Herald, Volume CXXV, Issue 18538, 8 April 1930, Page 10

GERALDINE.

CROQUET FINAL. The final of the Croquet Club’s championship will be played during the week between Mrs C. W. McKenzie and Mrs Hayes. RAINFALL ON DOWNS. Mr M. G. Williams, Geraldine Downs, reports that the rainfall for March at his observatory was 116 points. Rain fell on seven days, the heaviest fall occurring on March 3rd, when 64 points were registered. Last year 278 points fell in March. WEATHER CLEARS AGAIN*, Following a rainy, overcast weekend, the weather cleared yesterday morning and a glorious followed. The rain had the effect of freshening pastures, but more would have been ' welcome to the farmers. SPECIAL COUNCIL MEETING. The Mayor of Geraldine (Mr J. Kennedy) states that no special meeting of the Council has been held as a result of the resolution passed at the last meeting that the Finance and Works Committees should report to a special meeting on office organisation and outside transport. An ordinary monthly meeting of the Borough Council will be held this evening. 1.0.0. F. DANCE. An enjoyable dance was held by Loyal Geraldine Lodge, M.U.1.0.0.F., in the Pleasant Valley Hail, and upwards of 120 couples were on the floor. As a result of the function, the funds of the Lodge will benefit materially, and much credit goes to the secretary (Mr B. Heaton) and the committee who were responsible for the arrangements. PERSONAL ITEMS. Mr E. A. McPhail, inspector of the Bank of New Zealand, accompanied by his wife, left Geraldine yesterday. Mr W. Neutze, of Timaru, who has been spending a holiday with his parents at Geraldine, will return to Timaru to-day. Mr and Mrs Harold Porter, England, who has been staying with Mrs J. Barker, Woodbury, have left for Christchurch. PEEL FOREST EXCURSION. Despite the overcast weather on Sunday, the excursionsts from Christchurch who visited Peel Forest spent a most enjoyable time. Before the 8 o’clock train drew out of the Christchurch station passengers whose destination was Peel Forest were given the option of abandoning the trip on account of the weather and having their fares refunded.. Very few, however, took advantage of the offer. About fifty detrained at Rangitata and proceeded by buses to Peel Forest. The rain ceased, and under pleasant conditions a party, in which were elderly people and children, set out to climb the picturesque eight-mile bush track which winds to a height of 2500 feet above sea-level, where a wonderful view of the Plains is obtained. Those who considered the climb too strenuous were motored to Mount Peel. The return journey was made via Geraldine to Orari. At Mount Peel Homestead the visitors were shown a giant totara, which is said to be 1500 ye. i s old. 1* is thirteen months since the last railway excursion to Peel Forest, but yesterday’s outing proved so successful that the Railway Department will run another shortly while the autumn tints are at their best. MANY YEARS AGO. The days when Talbot Street— Geraldine's main thoroughfare—was a winding bullock track through bush and scrub, were recalled by an old resident in conversation with a ; “Herald” representative yesterday. ! Commenting on a paragraph that ' appeared recently regarding the reI moval of an old landmark from the i corner of Wilson and Talbot Streets, i he said that the details were not all correct. He could remember when business premises were erected at that s corner in the early sixties, and at that ! time there was no other building be- | tween it and the old bark hut beneath j the tree, which still stands, at Logan’s i corner which was used in the early I days as a suveyors’ hut, and later as a school. The premises at the corner | of Wilson Street were first occupied by j a Mr William Grimmer, who carried j on a general business, grocery, drap- ! ery, butchery and bakery—and incidentally, the first Post Office. The late Mr Jas. W. Pye, at one time chairman of the Geraldine Town Board, learned his trade under Mr Grimmer in these , premises, and then successfully carried ! on a thriving drapery business. Mr | James Watt was the butcher for Mr | Grimmer, and is now living in Timaru. , Later the corner was turned into a j butcher’s shop, and was occupied by j Lawson and Lodge. Mr Fred Worner followed them, and continued in the butchery business until his death, when his brother, Mr George Worner | took over and carried on, eventually

selling to Mr R. P. Craig. Mr Mick I Connolly occupied part of Grimmer’s i premises in the seventies as a saddler ! and harness maker, subsequently sell- • ing out to one of his employees, the I late Mr George Bethune. The slaugh- ! terhouse in connection with Grim- | l mer’s butchery was located on the i ground occupied now by the C.F.C.A., ! adjoining Mr Jack Dean’s residence in | High Street. Later tenants were men- j tioned in the recent report. The pro- j perty is owned by Mr H. Tripp, of Timaru. “THE SHOP WORN ANGEL.” “The Shop Worn Angel,” a new , Nancy Carroll-Gary Cooper co-starr- j ing Paramount picture, will be shown I at the Municipal Theatre this even- ) ing. It is laid in a dramatic period of the world war, at the time when the I youth of the country were shoulder- | ing arms, and marching, perhaps, for- j ever, from home in the defence of | their native land. It is a period of I excitement and movement, a time which every man and woman remembers keenly. The story, from the pen of Dana Burnet, concerns the meeting of a little Broadway butterfly, whose life is closely intertwined with that of j a wealthy playboy. She meets a boy. Their love is mutual, but the girl finds that ridding herself of her past is a difficult assignment. Supports include a two-reel comedy. Gazette and cartoon. MAGISTRATE’S COURT. A sitting of the Magistrate’s Court was held in Geraldine yesterday morning, before Mr C. R. Orr-Walker, S.M. Lice Infected Sheep. The Inspector of Stock (Mr W. , Scott) proceeded against W. W. Scott and R. C. P. Parry on a charge of j exposing lice-infected sheep. Each defendant was fined £1 and costs 10/-. I Plaintiff Non-Suited. E. M. Redman, Four Peaks, married j woman (Mr J. Emslie) proceeded against Charles C. Judge, Ashburton, I stock-dealer, for £5, alleged to be | owing for materials furnished and ! services rendered, by the plaintiff, for i the defendant, at the request of his agent, J. Skinner, in respect to the J treatment of a mare suffering from , milk fever subsequent to foaling, the j mare being the property of defendant I and left by him in the care of Skin- | ner. i Judge was not represented by a ! solicitor. Mr Emslie said that defendant had i a very valuable mare, which he left j with Skinner until after foaling. After ; the mare had foaled, plaintiff had j seen that the foal was dying and had ; drawn Skinner’s attention. Skinner j suggested getting in touch with Judge, ; but plaintiff was unable to locate him. I Plaintiff had done all possible for the mare and the foal, and had saved the mare’s life. The foal died, however. Judge had promised to pay plaintiff for her work, but had not done so. Skinner had said all along that the mare belong to defendant Judge. She had attended the mare for a week, up till midnight. Defendant offered her the foal in payment, but she had said j it was dying. Defendant said he had not pur- ! chased the horse. It had been pur- , chased by his firm, Judge and Cornish. | Plaintiff said she had sent two accounts to defendant, and had asked him personally for the money. Defendant: “You thanked me for I the foal.” Plaintiff: “I did not. It was dying.” j To Mr Emslie, plaintiff said that i Skinner had always led her to believe 1 that defendant would compensate her. j Defendant stated that the mare had been purchased from Skinner by his i firm as a maiden. It was found to be in foal, and Skinner agreed to graze it until foaling as compensation. Skinner, however, would take no re- , .* sponsibility in the event of the death j of the mare at foaling. Defendant had suggested to Skinner that plaintiff be given the foal, and this the plaintiff j had readily agreed to. The only refer- : ence he had had from plaintiff in re- ; gard to the present claim was a letter demanding £5. When he spoke of this I she said: “I suppose I was angry or ! I would not have sent it.” To Mr Emslie, defendant admitted 1 the mare would probably have died if plaintiff had not cared for it. He had ' not promised plaintiff any money. I The Magistrate said that if a person ! did work without the authority of yie : owner, then that person could not make a claim. To his mind the position. as far as plaintiff was concerned, hinged on Skinner, and not on defendant. Plaintiff was the agent and , servant of Skinner. The law required that a person must be engaged directly or indirectly. The foal had j been given to plainti:ff for what it was worth, and it would have been a win for plaintiff if it had lived. How- j ever, he sympathised with plaintiff, 1 and if it were in his power he would I invoke the equity and good conscience | clause in the Act, and give plaintiff j i something. Unless he could see there was overwhelming evidence in favour of plaintiff, regarding this clause, he ; could do nothing else but non-suit her. 1 _ | COUNTY COUNCIL MEETING. j j A meeting of the Geraldine County j Council was held yesterday. Present—- ; Messrs K. Mackenzie (chairman), I Councillors R. Brodie, F. R. Flatman, i J. C. South. C. Ley, T. Lyon, I. Bristol ! and A. Bain. Chairman’s Statement. I The chairman said that in February j an application had been made for a l ' subsidy on extraordinary flood damage, I but so far no reply had been received ! from the Department. Some of the | work was urgent, and would have to be 1 gone on with soon. They had received a copy of the River Board Bill i which would be brought down by the Minister of Internal Affairs during the next session. It %id not look as if there would be any material alterations.

Councillor Bristol: ‘‘Can’t we get on some sounder footing and be given

more power in the matter. The Government will have to look after the land. It is beyond our power to do it.” The engineer (Mr C. E. Bremner): “There is no suggestion of the Government contributing. The onus of river protection is on the shoulders of the settlers, which is manifestly unfair.” The chairman said that a report would be submitted later in the day. During the visit of the Minister of Agriculture and Lands (the Hon. G. W. Forbes), he had visited the Orari River protective works. The Minister had considered it an urgent matter, and had promised on his return to Wellington to place the matter in the hands of the Minister of Public Works. A communication received from the Public Works Department stated that the engineer would be sent down to inspect. Satisfactory progress was being made with the work in connection with the transfer of river conservation reserves at Rangitata and other places. It had been suggested that the money from the rentals of these should be paid into the general funds of the River Board. Councillor Flatman said that the rental from these reserves would amount to from £SOO to £7OO a year, and this would pay interest on a lot of money for river protection. Councillor Brodie: “Then there would be no need to strike a general rate over the whole county for river protection.” Councillor Flatman: “We must avoid that if we can.” Continuing, Mr Mackenzie said that he had inspected the Waihi at the back of Whites and Shaws, and the Highways Board would give them a subsidy on work done to keep water off the road. This would not stop it flooding private property, and he did not see what they could do, as it would be very difficult to alter the course of the river. The settlers, however, would agree to the banking being done, provided the channel through White’s was cleared out. During the month Mr F. Cooling, of Mount Peel, who had been in the employ of the Board for forty years, had retired. He had been met by the ratepayers in the district and presented with a gold watch and chain, and both he and Councillor Bristol had attended the gathering and had presented him with a rug on behalf of the Council. Finance Committee. For the Finance Committee, Mr F. R. Flatman reported that receipts for the month were £6575/0/6, including general rates £223/8/7, arrears £9l/8/7, penalty £22/1/7, water rates £37/19/3, heavy traffic fees £606/3/3, McCullough’s banking contract £133/17/-, Geraldine Borough bitumen road contract £965/16/4, main highways subsidies £4200/4/7, Public Works Department (Hanging Rock Bridge) £B4/5/4, refunds to plant account £lO6/3/6, dog registration £55/2/6, motor drivers’ licenses £l7/5/-, rents £9/5/-, contractor’s deposits £ls, miscellaneous £7. There was a credit balance at the bank of £3242/0/5 (including £2098 of loan money for bitumen); cash in hand amounted to £lO2/2/4, making a total of £3344/2/9. That day’s paysheet amounted to £2OOO 8/5, and of that amount £209/4/- had already been drawn for cheques to the Timaru Borough Council, heavy traffic fees and £72 progress payment for Barker’s Bridge contract. They would be left with a bank balance of £1552/18/4. Ex- j penditure in the riding account was as follows:—Temuka £204/12/5, Geraldine £lB3/8/11. Mount Peel £52/19/6. Councillor Flatman said it was very satisfactory to find that they had finished the year with a credit balance. The Council had carried out a good deal of work, both in connection with bitumen contracts and river flooding, but they were only really scratching the surface of what was required. The position was quite sound, but they would need to continue to practice economies. The chairman: “There are a number of payments that will fall into the coming year.” The report was adopted. Councillor Flatman Laid that the payment of rates was very satisfactory, especially considering the year. There was a total of £14.966 struck in rates last year, and of this £14.240 had been paid, leaving only £726 outstanding. At this time last year £233 was outstanding. Tenders Accepted. The following tenders were received for the disposal of pound timber and sheds:—J. Cook £.15 (accepted); F. F. McGarva £l2 and G. A. Mehrtens £lO/10/-. The tender of P. Scott of 10/6 a cord for 258 cords of firewood at Victoria Bridge was accepted. The following tenders were received for the reserve at Waitohi water race headworks:—H. Christie (Pleasant Point) £6/10/- (accepted); F. A. Sims and J. W. Campbell £6. F. E. Brown (Pleasant Point) £4. The following tenders were received for the Rangitata Island river protective works:—G. F. Cooper £64/10/(accepted) and M. J. Driscoll (£lO2. The tenders for the contract for Temuka bridge repairs were as follows: R. McLeod £499 (accepted); Hamlyn Bros. £555/14/2, I. F. McGarva £6lO/17/-, F. H. Demus £653. | The tenders for the contract for ' metalling Mackles Road were:—C. Foley £2l/10/- (accepted), J. Leonard £25, S. G. Ashby £25/10/-, and G. F. Hooper £36. The tenders for the contract for the Temuka River and other banking were as follows: —C. Fcley £l4l (accepted), J. Leonard £159/17/- Quinn and Brosnahan £lB9, H. M. Seyb £223/1/3. Obstetrical Appeal. I Mrs R .Armitage, Temuka, and Mrs | J. M. H. Tripp. Geraldine, wrote asking I the Council to make a donation toward the fund for the Chair of Obstetrics. It was decided to grant £5 to the Obstetrical Fund, and £5 to the Cancer Research Fund. Rangitira Valley Road. Mr W. R. Maxwell, Upper Waitohi. wrote on behalf of those interested to draw attention to the portion of the Upper Rangitira Valley Road, which was still unmetalled, and in wet weather was almost impassable. As the mailman went over the road every day, there was a danger of their losing the mail service, unless the remaining part of the road, about eight chains, was shingled. They understood that a grant had been made for the work, and it was in urgent need of being done before winter came on. The engineer said that the old grant had been used. It was decided to apply for a grant of £SO, £1 for £1 for the work. Main Highway Bridges. The District Highways Council, Christchurch, wrote in reference to the advance of the Council's proportion of the cost of erecting the Cooper’s Creek, Waihi, and Winchester Creek bridges on the main highway, advising that the Main Highways Board was prepared to advance the sum of £2600 for a period of ten years, interest on outstanding instalments being payable at the rate of 5£ per cent. It was decided to call tenders as soon as the plans were returned from the Highways Board. Dangerous Corner. | The danger that exists at Langford's corner, at Winchester, for highway traffic through motorists not keeping

to their correct side of the road was the subject of a letter from the South Canterbury Automobile Association. The letter recommended that two domes be placed on the road at the intersection where roads branched to Geraldine and Orari. The chairman: “I think they would be a nuisance.” It was decided to paint a white line at the corner. Correspondence. Mr F. C. Roberts, Temuka, wrote making application for an electric street lamp to be fixed to the electric pole at the extreme north end of Seddon Street, Temuka.—lt was decided that no funds were available at present. The Timaru Borough Council wrote enclosing a cheque for £560/8/1, the Geraldine County proportion of the heavy traffic fees. The managing director of the Kakahu Lim orks wrote drawing attention to ,>ad state of the road between Winchester and Hilton. The | engineer reported that the work was in | hand. The assistant inspector of the De- j partment of Agriculture, Fairlie. wrote j that when making an inspection of ; part of the Geraldine County which ; came under their district he noticed ; several patches of blackberry which required to be cut. These were at Trinp’s Cutting and at Patrick’s. Mr F. Brown, of Fendalton. wrote asking the Council to give him access to his property at Blandswood. Peel Forest. —It was decided that the riding member should inspect. The secretary of the Orari Domain Board wrote requesting permission to lay down a block of concrete fronting the Orari Hall to the water channel.— Permission granted. Mr S. Gray, Department of Agriculture. Pleasant Point, wrote offering to lease a reserve of 12 acres, opposite the Pleasant Point slaughter yards.— The county clerk to make inquiries and report. Offer Of Land. The Temuka Town Clerk wrote that her Council would be pleased to consider any reasonable offer made by the Geraldine County Council for one acre three roods of land situated at Winchester. A councillor: “It will soon be riverbed property.” It was decided to offer £2O for the property. Temuka Library Grant. The hon. secretary of the Temuka Library (Mr F. J. Smith), made application for a renewal of grant toward the public reading room of the library. The amount of the grant was £lO. —It was decided to pay the grant as usual in October. Claim For Extras. In connection with the claim of R. Saunders and Son, Ltd., for extras on their contract for sealing the Arundel portion of the main highway, the county engineer reported that the Main Highway Board was prepared to pay a subsidy of half the claim if the Coun- j cil were prepared to accept liability for the amount. The extras were labour ; and cartage.—lt was decided to ack- ! nowledge the Council’s portion of the j Claim. Engineer’s Report. The engineer (Mr C. E. Bremner, i C.E.), reported that the usual routine work had been carried on during the j month. The report was adopted. It was reported that a motor truck ! would shortly be necessary in the | Mount Peel Riding, and the suggestion j was made that the lower ridings should ; obtain a new tip truck, and that the j Mount Peel riding should take over the old truck at valuation. General. The county engineer (Mr C. E. Bremner, C.E.), reported that nothing so far had been done to clear gorse off the road reserve fronting lands formerly occupied by E. Taylor. The Crown Lands Department was to have given this attention failing the occupier doing so. At the request of Councillor Bristol it was decided to have the Mt. Peel Road attended to before the winter season. An application of Mr H. Killoh. Orari, for permission to erect a second petrol pump on the kerb in front of his shop was granted. It was decided to allow a grant of £IOO from the Hobson Trust Fund to the Winchester Library. Councillor Flatman said that the road to Fairlie was in a bad state, and the pipes had been ready for placing in the culverts for some time.—The engineer said that the work would be placed in hand during the coming month.

RIVER BOARD. The Council then sat as a River Board. The River Board statement showed that there was a credit of £553/0/2 in the general account, and £124/18/1 m the Waihi River District Loan account. The report was adopted. Engineer’s Report. The engineer reported that protection on McCullough’s frontage in the Orari River District was now’ well forward toward completion. The Commissioner of Crown Lands, and Minister of Lands had inspected the Orari river diversion on Mr A. T. Austin’s, and notes had been made of the inspection by the Minister. General. Mr R. N. Cuthbert, Clandeboye, wrote asking if the flood gate put in by the authority of the River Board. and which was broken during the last flood, could be fixed. —Engineer to report, with a view to having work attended to. It was decided that a ten per cent penalty be imposed on all Ruer Board rates cutstanding. On the motion of Councillor Lyon, seconded by Councillor J. C. South, the

I engineer was directed to clear the I shoaled shingle in the former Waihi 1 riverbed near the dam at Mcßride’s, ; and to carry out other w ork which was i necessary, and that proposals be subI mitted to the Main Highways Board for extending banking through Mr M. Shaw’s and Wade's frontages to intercept the river overflow on to the main highway. Councillor Flatman drew attention -to a dangerous place at Worner’s, near Peckham’s Bridge.—lt was decided that as soon as authority was received from the Main Highways Board to protect, the water going over at Lysaght’s. Worner’s W’ork would be done at the j same time. A Groyne Wanted. Mr R. Morrison, of Geraldine, waited on the Council asking for a groyne to be put in at the back of his property. He had erected extensive protective works himself, and he pointed out that the work afforded protection to those further downstream. He asked that the waterway be cleared of willow’ roots. An inspection was made of the site during the lunch adjournment. Councillor Ley: “He has helped himself.” It was decided to put in a ten-foot groyne, the site to be fixed by the engineer.