GENERAL NEWS

Timaru Herald, Volume CXXXVI, Issue 19156, 12 April 1932, Page 6

GENERAL NEWS

Receipts from the Timaru omnibus service during March amounted to £775/9/2i, as compared with £Bl9/3/11 in the corresponding month of last year.

During the year ended March 31, 3323 house to house inspections were made by the Timaru Borough Council’s sanitary inspector. The number cf notices served in regard to hedge encroachment was 103.

The total head of stock slaughtered at the Municipal Abattoir last month was 2747 head, of which 4 sheep and 4 cattle were found to be diseased. The revenue for the month was £209/11/3, as against £213/19/- for the corresponding month of last year.

Steady rain started to fall at Woodbury early on Saturday night, and continued steadily up till 7 o’clock on Monday morning, when 235 points had fallen. The rain then continued. All creeks were high, and the land had had a thorough soaking.

The borough engineer (Mr T. O. Fox) reported to the Council last night that the laying of the new water mains was proceeding satisfactorily, and the streets finished to date were Sefton, York, Clyde, Gibson Street from Church Street to Arthur Street, Matilda, Brunswick, Dee, Chapel and Sutter Streets. The work in Middle Street was now in hand.

An announcement is expected shortly from the Associated Banks stating a willingness to adjust their rates according to the Government’s plan for a general reduction of costs, including fixed charges. The Associated Banks have been in close touch with the Government over the question, with a view to effecting an all-round reduction taking place in bank rates and deposit rates generally. It is understood that the banks have agreed to reduce the bank rate on advances by onehalf per cent.

At a special meeting of the Board of Governors of the Timaru High Schools yesterday morning, the chairman (Mr J. Bitchener, M.P.), Mr S. D. Mason, and the secretary (Mr A. C. Martin) were appointed to represent the Board at a conference, convened by the Otago Board, to discuss the proposed abolition of secondary school Boards and the Department’s policy in regard to the control of secondary schools. The conference is to be held in Wellington, and the delegates appointed left for the north yesterday afternoon. Mr Mason will also act as the representative of the Timaru High School Old Boys’ Association at the conference.

Reference was made by the Mayor (Mr T. W. Satterthwaite) at last night's meeting of the Timaru Borough Council to the public meeting to be held on Thursday night to discuss the advisability of commemorating the jubilee of the weeks of the Benvenue and City of Perth, and as a message from the Council to the public meeting, the following resolution was carried:—“That a proposal be placed before the public meeting on April 14th to commemorate the jubilee of the wreck of the Benvenue and City of Perth by suitably housing on Caroline Bay the life-boat used on that occasion.”

“The supply of water from the race is more than necessary for the town’s requirements, and the reservoirs are full,” stated the borough engineer in a report to the Council last night. “As the flow in the river is now down to normal, I propose opening the valve at the base of the dam in order that repairs may be carried out to the intake of the race which was damaged during the recent flood. In any case this valve should be operated in order to ensure it is in working order, as occasion may arise when its efficiency may be of the utmost importance.” He further stated that while this work was being done the concreting of a portion of the race near the Tycho flume, which had to be suspended owing to shortage of water in the river in November last, might be completed.

Almost; twelve months ago a movement was set on foot in Timaru with the object of organising a military band to undertake a tour of the Old Country, the primary object being to advertise New Zealand. The High Commissioner for New Zealand in London was communicated with on the subject, and he has replied stating that he would place the matter in the hands of his publicity department. Application was made to the Department of Internal Affairs twelve months ago for permission to conduct an art union to raise funds to finance the tour, and when the matter was again brought under the notice of the' Minister lately, he replied stating that the application would be given every consideration when Cabinet reviewed the position regarding art unions.

It was not until late yesterday afternoon that the weather showed definite signs of improvement in Timaru. In the early part of the afternoon the sun made a brief appearance, but conditions again became overcast, and further light rain fell. The fall for the 24 hours ended 9 o’clock yesterday morning was 168 points, making a total of two inches since the rain commenced in the early hours of Sunday morning. Several additional points were recorded after 9 o’clock yesterday morning. The fall was general throughout South Canterbury, but in some parts was not as heavy as in town. At Holme Station, Pareora, the fall throughout the period of rain was 172 points. The river was fairly high at the Holme Station bridge, and the ford was unsafe for traffic. Although the Pareora river has risen a good deal, the fall round Mt. Nimrod has not been at all heavy. In the Cave district rain fell steadily throughout Saturday night and Sunday, the record up till yesterday morning being two inches.

The schoolboy traffic patrol scheme was instituted at the Main School yesterday, under the auspices of the South Canterbury Automobile Association. The scheme was explained to the patrols (boys chosen from the senior classes) by the president of the Association (Mr J. Palliser) and a trial was held at the corners of Grey Road and Arthur Street and North Street. Each of the patrols, of which there are two at each corner, carries a red flag to warn motorists that children are about to’ cross the road Waiting til there is a lull in the traffic stream, the patrol steps out two paces from the pavement, and raising his flag, signals the children across. When a vehicle approaches the flag is lowered and the patrol holds the children back on the pavement until all is again clear. The scheme lias been successfully operated in other centres and was efficiently carried out yesterday. To-day at lunch hour similar patrols will be at work at the Waimataitai School, and arrangements are in train for the scheme to be Extended to other schools, both town and country. The idea of the scheme is to give the children a “traffic sense,” and to educate them in the correct way to cross roads. Motorists would be advised to proceed cautiously w&en the red flag is raised.

For the year ended March 31st, 1932, the sum of £llß3 was expended in wages for unemployed at Fairlie, Albury and Cave.

During the period ended March 31st the Timaru Borough Council connected up five new consumers of electricity, bringing the total number of consumers in the borough to 3884. The value of the business transacted in the private installation department during the period was £22/4/9. A collision took place at the corner of Church and Wilson Streets shortly before 8 o’clock yesterday morning. It is understood that a lorry was proceeding down Church Street towards town, and a car came out of Wilson Street travelling north. The vehicles met, the lorry finishing up against a telegraph post on the left-hand corner. The vehicles were not seriously damaged, and no one received bodily injury. Although Mackenzie County received its share of rain over the week-end. it is understood that no serious damage was done. The main highway yesterday was in fair order for travelling, although there were many sheets of flood water on the sides of the road. Water stretched right across the highway just below Rocky Gully bridge, but the depth was not great. It is believed that heavy rain was experienced at Tekapo. Yesterday afternoon the weather had shown an improvement in Fairlie, but lower down in the vicinity of Cave and Albury a heavy drizzle fell until a late hour. Farmers from the Opihi districts and the lower end of Totara Valley, who attended the stock sale at Point yesterday, had either to leave their vehicles at the Tengawai bridge and walk to the saleyards, or make a long detour " ; .a Cleland’s bridge and the Fairlie road. The action of the Levels County Council in closing the Tengawai bridge was strongly commented on by many farmers. Several of those present were anxious to lay the position before the chairman of .the County Council, but Mr Garrick was not present. It is understood that a special meeting of Levels County Council is to be held on Thursday next to consider the question of the bridge. The question of expense keeps many people from taking up golf. When, however, you can obtain a complete outfit for 57/6, the matter of expense begins to fade into the background. England, Mcßae’s now offer a complete set of excellent clubs (brassie, mid-iron, mashie and putter), and a strong caddy bag, all for this ridiculously low price. And this is an outfit of which you may justly be proud—each and every item is “right.” Cali and see this unique value at England. Mcßae’s, and practise some shots at their practice net