NORTH OTAGO

Timaru Herald, Volume CXXXVIII, Issue 19959, 17 November 1934, Page 6

NORTH OTAGO

TOWN AND COUNTRY ITEMS (From Our Own Correspondent) OAMARU, November 16. People’s Day at Show: People’s Day of the North Otagc Show was held to-day in fine, but overcast weather. There was a big crowd of people, but the attendance did not appear to be quite as large as usual. Main interest centred in the sideshows and competitions and draught horse section. Unfortunately the entries in the jumping events were not numerous and the events therefore did not hold the attention of the spectators as they did formerly. The pony trots, however, were popular events the boys and girls showing some good riding. The sideshows did good business throughout the afternoon. Straw Ballot: The final result of the straw ballot conducted by Dr E. S. Stubbs, with a view to ascertaining the opinion of Oamaru ratepayers regarding his public baths scheme is as follows: In favour 553; against, 549; informal, 2. Personal: A distinguished visitor to Oamaru Sir Alan Anderson of Messrs Andersor Green and Co., manager of the Orient Line, director of the Bank of England and the Suez Canal Company, arrivec yesterday and will be a guest of Mi and Mrs K. Austin, at Elderslie, until Saturday. Human Bones?: During ploughing operating on Mi J. B. Chapman’s property at Waitak: on the Kaik. bones bearing a strong resemblance to the skull bones of s young child were turned up. The bone: are being submitted to a medical mar for examination. Old Maori Shrine?: ' Some,time ago, a large block of finegrained sandstone," measuring 5 feet bj 4 feet was found at the Kaik. close tc the Maori Cemetery at Waitaki South The stone lay on top of a heap o. ashes and burnt clay and from thi: evidence, it was assumed that it wa: used for the purpose of an immense oven. This early theory is now negatived by enquiries that have been madi by Mr J. B. Chapman, from Maori: lore arx relics. A more probable theory is tha the stone is an old Maori shrine usee in connection with the ceremony per formed by a Tohunga in removing i curse or spell. The Maoris of Waitak South and Morven have requested tha the stone be erected at the Maor i tery at Waital i South, and thi: request will be acceded to. Magnetic Lorry: The Main Highways Board magnetic lorry is now operating in the Nortl Otago district, and is at present engaged on its interesting work on th< road from Holmes Hill to Weston Fitted in the lorry is an engine anc generator which excite the huge magntet situated about four inches froir the roadway, and the magnet ther picks up articles that are most damaging to motor tyres, such as pieces o] horseshoes, nails, bolts, tins, etc. —ir fact anything made from the metal: iron, steel and tin. It is very fascinaitng to watch the lorry at its work. Licensing Authority: At the sitting of the No. 9 Transport Licensing Authority (Messrs A. I. W Wood, chairman, J Preston, and W Blackie) D. K. Giffin was granted a renewal of a license to run to the Oamaru races. # H. F. Furney, of Oamaru. was granted a renewal of a license for a service between Oamaru and Georgetown. Hunters D.O.T. Motors, for whoir Mr IT. S. Ross appeared, were grantee a renewal of a license for a service between Oamaru and the Waitak: Hydro with an altered timetable. A. S. Clark, for whom Mr L. Sumpter appeared, applied for a renewal ol a license to run Sunday trips betweer Maheno and Lake Ohau. An objectioi: by D.O.T. Motors that the service was merely a “blind” to take the cream oi the trafle between Oamaru and the Hydro was withdrawn, and the renewal was granted. R. Adamson applied for an area license for a goods service betweer Oamaru and Kurow. Mr L. H. Sumpter said that the applicant’s mail contract over the route would expire on December 31, anc would bo taken over by Mr G. R. Hunter. Under a temporary license Mi d up a goods service in the district through which he passed. . The application was opposed aj D.O.T. Motors and the Railways Department. Decision was reserved.