WAIMATE.

Timaru Herald, Volume CXXV, Issue 18540, 10 April 1930, Page 11

WAIMATE.

FIRE AT FARMHOUSE. At about 10 o’clock yesterday morning, a fire was discovered in a nineroomed two-storey house at Waituna, owned and occupied by Mr Edward O’Neill. The outbreak was first seen by Mr E. O’Neill, Junr., who was working in a paddock near the house. The upstairs portion soon became a mass of flames, the efforts of Mr O’Neill and Mr Thomas Hayes to extinguish the blaze were ineffective, it was only possible to remove some of the furniture to a place of safety. The house, which was one of the oldest wooden structures in the district, was totally destroyed, only the chimneys remaining after the fire had been in progress for about two hours. It is understood that the house was insured for £I2OO, and the furniture for £250. PRESENTATION. At the conclusion of the Waimate School Committee meeting on Monday night, the chairman, Mr W. F. George, said that Committee members had informed him that the completion of their term of office could not be allowed to go past without in some measure recognising the services of Mr W. G. Paul. Mr Paul, said the speaker, had carried out the duties of secretary in a manner which was a model of accuracy and efficiency, and had placed many of the Committee’s most difficult problems before them in such a light as to make the solution of them appear simple. Their secretary’s figures and statements were accurate and dependable, and on the occasion of picnics, and whenever school funds were being raised, Mr Paul had done work altogether outside his sphere of duties. His services could not be praised by remuneration, but to show that they were appreciated, members had given the speaker the privilege of handing over a solid leather suit case suitably inscribed. In reply, Mr Paul thanked the speaker for his remarks, and said that he would treasure the present received as a memento of the service he had been privileged to render to the Waimate School. BOROUGH COUNCIL. A meeting of the Waimate Borough Council was held on Tuesday night. Present—The Mayor (Mr G. Dash), Councillors W. G. Paul, J. Atwill, A. J. Kirby, A. E. Lewis, G. F. Richardson, Dr T. W. Wylie and A. J. Hoskins. Correspondence. A letter -was received from the District Traffic Manager, New Zealand Railways, stating that a letter sent by the Council had been overlooked. The Traffic Manager had been in Waimate in the meantime, but would look into the matter of the Mill Crossing on his next visit.—Received. An application was received from the Waimate branch of the Salvation Army for a subsidy to its band funds, as granted to the other bands in the town. Councillor Kirby said he would be pleased to see the Army Band subsidised to the extent of £lO per annum. The Mayor stated that a special lamp had been erected at a cost of £lO per year for the convenience of the Army, and he would move that the matter be referred to the Finance Committee for consideration when estimates are being framed for the coming year. Councillor Paul seconded the motion, which was carried. The secretary of the Waimate Retailers’ Association wrote asking that itinerant trader’s fees be raised from £5 to £25. The Mayor said that if a representative was sent to the next Municipal Conference it should be a recommendation that the matter be borne in mind, and that the Retailers’ Association be advised to that effect.—Carried. The Waimate Amateur Athletic Club applied for permission to erect a calico sign across Queen Street.—lt was decided to grant permission, provided the sign was erected to the satisfaction of the chairman of the General Committee. Deputation. Messrs S. I. Fitch, W. P. Black, H. M. Whatman and G. Collett, representing the High School Board of Governors, waited on the Council in regard to improvements in the vicinity of the new High School premises. Mr Fitch said the Board would be pleased if the Council could see thenway clear to make an allowance on the estimates for improved roading in the vicinity of the school. The Board was spending some £7OO on the laying out of grounds, and was setting out to do more than that, for which they would receive a subsidy. Mr Black said that there was an excellent opportunity for the Council to add another beauty spot to the town. The streets should be tar-sealed on the crown, and a strip four feet wide left and planted with trees. Councillor Paul asked if trees on both sides of the street were asked for. Mr Black replied that if the frontage to the school were done immediately that would be sufficient in the meantime, but if funds permitted both sides being planted, and further improvement would be effected. Mr Whatman said that slovenly surroundings were not a good example for school pupils, and the Board knew in approaching the Council that they were assured of a sympathetic hearing. Mr Collett endorsed the previous speakers’ remarks. The Mayor said that every reasonable request put forward had always been met. The area referred to was in the rough, and would lend itself admirably to improvement. Fortunately, too, they had recently had a visit from Mr Mawson, with whom town planning had been discussed. The corner opposite was, in addition, owned by the Council. There was not much money involved in the whole scheme, and most of the cost had been allowed for in the coming year’s estimates. The Council would view favourably anything that would tend to the inculcation of ideals of beauty. After discussion, it was decided to refer the matter to the Works Committee for a report to be submitted to next meeting. Committee Reports. The General Committee reported in regard to the residence in Victoria Park, they had arrived at a conclusion as to the number of rooms desirable and the adjuncts suitable, and had fixed a maximum amount to be spent. They had asked builders to submit sketches and details of what they can offer for the money to fill requirements. Having inspected Shearman Street east in front of Olympia Hall, they could not agree that further lighting is needed there. On the motion of Councillor Lewis, it was decided that tenders be called for the caretaker’s building at Victoria Park. The report was adopted. The Committee announced that the value of buildings for which permits had been issued for the year ending March 31, amounted to £13,645.

Town Planning. The Mayor submitted a report on the conference held in Timaru on the question of regional planning and on a visit paid to Waimate by Mr Mawson, Director of Town Planning. The report was laid on the table. Water Supply. The chairman of the Water Committee reported that, in company with the Mayor, he visited the water area to note conditions at the end of a long dry spell. Water was still going over the apron, although through a blockage in the Sanders Fall pipe they were drawing all the town supply from the creek. There was abundance of water. A large mob of sheep camped in Konini Gully recently and the Council should make emphatic protest against this filthy objectionable trespass. The Mayor commented strongly on the damage done by the sheep, and it was decided to write the owner of the sheep asking that the practice be not allowed to occur again. The report was adopted. Finance. The Finance Committee reported another satisfactory year. The gross income had been £8735/11/1, and gross expenditure £B4OB/12/4, leaving a credit of £326/18/9. Of the estimated expenditure totalling £7961, they spent the whole, and £7B/10/- additional besides paying the allocation on the Pareora bridge of £368/6/8. The credit balance had not been achieved by starving expenditure, but rather by diligence, in keeping after sources of income. They estimated an income of £7961, and collected this and another £524, excluding repayment from the reserves fixed deposits of £250. Rates were £2540 or almost double the amount received five years ago. Mr Runciman was to be congratulated that although having to start £2OO behind the amount of rates and charges usually collected at the date he took over, he has been so diligent that we have less owing now than at any year end for very many years. The Council was to be congratulated that, while adequately keeping up the services of the borough and increasing the sealed surfaces, buildings and facilities, there had been no increase in rates, and there is a substantial credit for the year.—The report was adopted. General. Councillor Kirby referred to acts of vandalism by children In the destruction of seats and trees in Belt Street. On the motion of Councillor Twomey, 1 it was decided to ask the school headmasters to caution children against committing wanton damage. The Waimate Golf Club was granted the use of the triplex mower at a charge of £l/1/- for three days. The Inspector of Health reported that six samples of milk had been taken for investigation. A petition from three residents asking for asphalting on footpath and shingling on the crown of the road in Smith Street, to be provided for when estimates were being drawn up, for next year.—Referred to the Works Committee. Accounts amounting to £948/17/8, including £750 transferred from the general account to fixed deposit, were passed for payment. Meyer Street. In a report re Meyer Street, the Mayor said the extension to George Street, for which a gift of land was offered by the Meyer family, was held up through the action of the Town Planning Office. On a protest against the decision that a forty foot street was insufficient, they secured a promise that the Director of Town Planning would visit Waimate and inspect the site. Mr Mawson was in Waimate on 29th of March. After inspection he agreed that a forty-foot street w T as sufficient, the full length, as this would never become a main artery of traffic. The Mayor moved that the Town Planning Department be written to for permission to make this street and that : on receipt of their consent, the opening of the street be taken in hand. . An offer of the land required at £2OO was received. He had now secured an option over the two sections in line for the street, and of three others joining the property of the same estate for the sum of £4O per section, or £2OO in all. He moved that the Council purchase the sections from the Molloy estate for £200.” The report was adopted. We have a Client with £6OO cash who desires to purchase a Farm of about 175 Acres as a going concern. Reply to FORBES WALLACE. Box 47, Waimate.