GERALDINE

Timaru Herald, Volume CXXXIX, Issue 20098, 3 May 1935, Page 4

GERALDINE

FINAL MEETING OF COUNCIL COMPLIMENTS PASSED The final meeting of the Geraldine Borough Council as at present constituted, was held on Wednesday evening. Present —the Mayor (Mr B. R. Macdonald), Crs. J. R. Lack, E. H. Logan, G. H. Patrick, W. A. Sherratt, and A. J. Bell. An apology was received from Cr. M. Campbell who had been granted leave of absence for the two last meetings. The Mayor intimated that he had attended the community • sing conducted by Messrs Alan Brown and Bert Goodland of Station 3YA, under the auspices of the Geraldine Women’s Institute, the proceeds being for local charities. The Institute had handed over £8 Bs, a third of the net proceeds, for the Mayor’s Relief Fund, and he greatly appreciated the donation. On Anzac Day, on behalf of the Council, he had attended the customary combined service. In regard to the Royal Silver Jubilee he had convened a public meeting, and arrangements were in train. He had arranged for eight strings of coloured lights to be hung at intervals across Talbot Street during jubilee week. The Power Board charge was £1 for each string, but he anticipated that the Board might make a reduction to local bodies. The Mayor’s action in obtaining eight strings was approved, and, on the motion of the Mayor and Cr. Bell, the Council agreed to authorise the expenditure of up to £2O for the jubilee celebrations, which the Geraldine County Council had agreed to subsidise £ for £ on expenditure up to £25 each by the Geraldine and Temuka Borough Councils.

Finance The financial statement showed that receipts for the month totalled £lls 7s 3d. There was a debit balance at the bank of £B6 12s lOd, and accounts for payment amounting to £176 18s Id, increased the deficit to £263 10s lid. The deficit at the May meeting last year had amounted to £363. The improvement of £IOO in the Council's position had been due to the fact that it had not gone in for any large expenditure simply because the resurfacing of the Main Highway through the borough had to be undertaken. No authority had yet been received from the Main Highways Board to call tenders for the work. The incoming Council would have a hard row to hoe to keep within the finances if it went on with the resurfacing project, and, especially so if the work had to be paid for in one sum. The Council would also have to meet the payments in connection with the recent purchase of the Dennis fire engine. Taking the financial state of the borough throughout the year, the position was very satisfactory. General The telegraph engineer, Timaru (Mr L. O. Tyrrell) advised that in connection with the public call office which had been recently installed at Geraldine, it had been found necessary to disturb the asphalt footpath. He asked that the Council arrange for the necessary re-surfacing work to be done.—Noted. The secretary of the South Canterbury Hospital Board forwarded a copy of the estimates for the year ending March 31, 1936. The Geraldine Borough Council’s levy would total £l5B Os 20, payable in quarterly instalments. The first instalment of £39 Is was authorised for payment. The librarian (Mrs K. E. Pierce) reported that 743 books had been issued during the month. Three new subscribers had joined for one quarter. Receipts totalled £3 Os 6d. Domain Board In the Domain Board Account receipts were nil, and there was a debit balance of 17/8. The Geraldine Football Club wrote applying for permission to charge for admission to the Domain on eight playing Saturdays duuring the coming season. It was decided to grant the Club two playing Saturdays, the incoming Council to consider the question whether the Board should charge a percentage of the gate takings on all occasions where a charge was made to enter the Domain. Cemetery Board Receipts in the Cemetery Board Account totalled £5 12s, while there was a credit balance of £l3 Is 7d. VALEDICTORY The Mayor remarked that, as it was the last meeting of the Council prior to the election, he would like to say that he had enjoyed the four years he had spent in the chair. He thanked all the councillors for the way they had supported him and for their generous help. The members of the staff had been very useful to him, and it had been a pleasure to work with them.

In regard to the new council the burgesses had done him the honour to reelect him unopposed, but it was in the lap of the gods what the new Council would be. Several valued members of the Council were not standing, and he could only thank them for their services. Cr. W. A. Sherratt had come in and filled the vacancy caused by the death of Mr J. Kennedy, and they were very thankful to him for his assistance, and sorry he was not standing for a further term. Cr E. H. Logan had been a member of the Council for many many years; in fact, he had been a member of the Town Board. He could only say good-bye to Mr Logan and thank him, not only on his own account, but also on behalf of the burgesses of the town. Cr. Logan had always acted in the best interests of the town. Cr. M. Campbell who had retired was not offering his services again. Mr Campbell had been quite a useful man, if only to see that he kept the Council up tp time. The Deputy-Mayor (Mr J. R. Lack, thanked the Mayor for his remarks, and congratulated Mr Macdonald on being elected for a further term. He thanked Mr Macdonald for his services in the past, remarking that what he had done he had carried out in the belief that it would be in the best interests of the Council. He hoped that whatever Council was elected the Mayor would have a pleasant and successful term of office. Mr Lack paid a tribute to Mr Sherratt’s services, remarking that he took pride in the fact that he had been one of those who had proposed Mr Sherratt. Mr Campbell had done good work, and the thanks of the Council were due to him. Mr Logan had been a valued man on the Council; in fact he might say he bad been second to none. Mr J. Kennedy had done yeoman service for the borough, and his death had been a distinct loss. Mr Logan had had the interests of the Council at heart, and he held the respect of all the members of the staff, every member of the Council, and all the ratepayers. Owing to his deafness, however, Mr Logan aid not wish to stand again, and they wished him the best of health in his retirement from the Council. Mr Lack felt that Mr Logan would look back on his lengthy term of service with much pleasure. Crs. Logan, Sherratt, Patrick and Bell spoke in similar strain. The Town Clerk (Mr B. Hayes) congratulated the Mayor, and thanked him and the councillors for their remarks in regard to the staff. Their relations had been most amicable throughout the year, and it was with regret that he saw that several of the councillors were not standing again, as it meant the breaking of old associations.

Before closing the meeting the Mayor remarked that he would like to thank the reporters. The Council had been well reported, and he owed the reporters a debt of gratitude for the way they had treated him. For his own part they had smoothed out his remarks if he had not always expressed himself quite clearly.

Goodland of Christchurch, under the auspices of the Geraldine Women’s Institute, in aid of local charities, resulted in more than £25 being raised. The president of the Institute (Miss M. CruickshankL intimated that £8 8s each had been given to the Geraldine Benevolent Guild, the Mayor’s Relief Fund, and the Geraldine Volunteer Fire Brigade. PLEASANT VALLEY JUBILEE An enthusiastic meeting of the Pleasant Valley School Jubilee Committee was held on Tuesday • evening, Mr J. Brophy presiding. It was reported that ex-pupils’ subscriptions were coming to hand, and arrangements were well under way for the celebrations. A discussion took place regarding the programme for the sports day, and suitable arrangements were made. MINIATURE RIFLES The Pleasant Valley Ladies’ Miniature Rifle Club held its first practice shoot on Wednesday night. The following were the scores:—Miss J. Tiplady 70, Miss C. Fawdray 69, Mrs G. Tiplady 69, Mrs Waters 69, Miss D. Fawdray 67, Mrs J. Tiplady 66, Mrs F. Hughes 65, Mrs W. Fawdray 64, Miss G. Gregan 64, Miss E. Hughes 63. Mrs T. Hughes 60. GOLF The following team will represent the Geraldine Golf Club v. North End at Timaru to-morrow: D. J. Lack, E. E. Scott, W. C. Webb, R. Patrick, J.JD. McMillan, D. C. Williamson, C. W. Lynn, W. Hamilton, J. Scott, G. N. Feilden, G. B. Creemer, E. P. S. Bennett, Mesdames D. J. Lack, E. P. S. Bennett, D. C. Williamson, W. C. Webb, A. L. Brenton, J. Scott. The Geraldine Football Club has been granted permission to charge for admission to the Domain for the senior match v. Zingari to-morrow at 2.45 p.m. Businessmen are requested to decorate their premises for Jubilee Week. Monday next will be observed as a public holiday.

Mr E. Cholerton, Optical Specialist, proprietor of Procter’s, the Premier Opticians, Christchurch, will be visiting Geraldine, personally, and may be consulted on all defects of eyesight at the Crown Hotel, on Wednesday, 15th May. Appointments can -now be made by ringing Mr Morris Williams, chemist.