GENERAL NEWS

Timaru Herald, Volume CXXXIX, Issue 20095, 30 April 1935, Page 6

GENERAL NEWS

New Electrical Consumers. During the period ended April 13, 15 new consumers were connected to the Municipal Electricity Department’s supply, bringing the total number of consumers in the borough to 4279. Traffic Fines. Traffic lines in cases brought before the Court by borough inspectors amounted to £46/10/8 for the year ended March 31, compared with £3B 12/6 for the previous 12 months Trafalgar Street. A petition has been received by the Timaru Borough Council for the widening of Trafalgar Street on its northern side and at the eastern end, but the matter was held over until the estimates for next year are under review. New r :cnic Reserve. An offer of seedlings from Mrs V. G. Hamilton, Pages Road, for the planting of the Scenic Reserve was accepted with thanks by the Timaru Borough Council at its meeting last night. Suggestions made by Mrs Hamilton regarding the reserve were referred to the Special Reserves Committee for consideration. Cygnets For Park. . With a view to adding to the bird life at Timaru Park, the Borough Council intends to acquire a male white swan and two cygnets. It has been decided that the curator endeavour to arrange with the curator of the Wellington Zoological Gardens for an exchange with paradise ducks or pukekos from Timaru.

Pictures Accepted. In a letter received by Miss NevillSmith from her brother. Mr H. NevillSmith, he states that the three watercolours he sent in were accepted and “hung” at the exhibition of the Australian Water-Colour Society of Art. Among the artists exhibiting are Norman Lindsey, Minns, Townsend and many other well-known Australian artists. Formal Withdrawal. Mr H. G. R. Mason, M.P., who was nominated as a candidate for the Auckland Mayoralty, announces that the retention of his nomination after his telegram of withdrawal was due to a technicality, and yesterday he formally withdrew. He will also take the platform in support of Mr J. Sayegh, the official Labour candidate and the Labour ticket..

Timaru Library Returns. Reporting to last night’s meeting of the Timaru Borough Council, the librarian (Miss M. E. E. Culverwell) stated that the estimated average attendance in the newsroom of Timaru Library during March was 6711 persons, or a daily average of 216. Book issues totalled 18,478, a decrease of 136 volumes compared with the corresponding month last year.

Badminton Club. A badminton club has been formed in Timaru, and at the moment has a membership of 40. The club has secured a lease of the Drill Hall, where four courts have been marked out. Badminton has a strong hold in other centres, and the local club, which will open its activities to-morrow night, hopes to arrange matches with outside clubs. Gisborne Railway. Complete satisfaction with the terms of the project arranged by Mr W. D. Lysnar during his visit to London for completion by private enterprise of the Gisborne railway is expressed by Mr John Hackson, Mayor of Gisborne, and chairman of the District Railway Committee, who has had the opportunity of inspecting the memorandum submitted to the New Zealand Government. Building Permits. The value of buildings erected in Timaru during 1935, permits for which were issued by the Timaru Borough Council, was greatly in excess of the previous two years. For the year ending March 31, 1933, buildings, including 23 dwellings, were erected at a cost'of £23,335; In 1934, the value of buildings, including 40 dwellings, was £38,872, while at the end of March this year, the value was £86,127, which included 91 dwellings.

Unlighted Bicycles. In a report to the Timaru Borough Council at last night’s meeting, Traffic Inspector C. H. Newcome said that particular attention was being given to bicycles without lights at night, carrying passengers on the machine and other bicycle offences. A raid was carried out recently in co-operation with highway traffic inspectors. Cars were used, these making the raid successful, as cyclists could not speed away from a car. On foot, however, there was no chance of catching them.

Condition of Stafford Street. In urging that something be done to improve Stafford Street, Cr. P. C. Vinnell said at last night’s meeting of the Timaru Borough Council that s;me councillors seemed to think that the street was a good one, but they should take a ride in one of the Council’s buses. “Either the buses are scrap iron, or the road is not worth riding over —perhaps both,” he added, The Council agreed to resurface that portion of the street between North Street and Woollcombe Street, at a cost not exceeding £270, and if the weather was suitable the engineer was instructed to do the stretch between Beswick Street and the Old Bank Hotel.

A Sporting Offer. When spoken to yesterday by a representative of the “Timaru Herald," Mr J. H. Smillie said that his nomination paper for one of the seats of the Mackenzie County on the Timaru Harbour Board had been inadvertently sent forward by one of his nominators to the secretary of the Harbour Board instead of to the Returning Officer at Fairlie. Mr Smillie said he much regretted the unfortunate mistake. He had always supported the progressive party on the Harbour Board and realised the grave danger that confronted South Canterbury by not keeping the harbour up-to-date. They should not neglect their port, for If centralisation came about the first to suffer would be those on the land. Mr Smillie said he had spoken to his opponent, Mr D- C. Kidd, and Mr Kidd

had most sportingly offered to resign from the Board and contest an election with him providing his nominators were willing to agree to such a course.