GERALDINE

Timaru Herald, Volume CXXXIX, Issue 20107, 14 May 1935, Page 3

GERALDINE

MEETING OF COUNTY COUNCIL GENERAL BUSINESS The monthly meeting of the Geraldine County Council, held yesterday, was attended by the chairman (Mr K. Mackenzie) and Crs. F. R. Flatman, T. Lyon, A. H. M. Bain, R. Brodie, C. Ley, H. J. D. Acland. and A. Bisdee. A motion of sympathy with Mr F. T. M. Kissell and family in their bereavement, was carried in silence. Cr. Ley moved that a motion of congratulation be extended to the chairman and Cr. F. R. Flatman on the honour accorded them in being awarded the King's Silver Jubilee medal. The Geraldine County Council was the only local body in the district which had the proud distinction of having two of its members thus honoured. It was very pleasing indeed to see that their services had been recognised by higher authorities. In reply, Mr Mackenzie said that the honour was miexpected, and he did not know who had made the recommendation on his behalf. However, after 25 years or so of service in public life, he had been very pleased to know it had been appreciated, and to receive the decoration, and the certificate from His Majesty which accompanied it. Cr. Flatman. who thanked Cr. Ley for proposing the motion, said he did not know from whom his recommendation had come, but he took second place to no man in regard to loyalty to his King and Country, and that had made him doubly pleased to receive the decoration. Any other service which he may have rendered had been solely his duty. From the loyalty point of view he took second place to no man. So long as a man w r as loyal to his God, his King, and his Country, he did not care what his views were, as he could not be very far wrong. The chairman then took the opportunity of welcoming all the old councillors. Some had had to contest their seats in the election, but others had not. He congratulated Cr. A. Bisdee on his election, and welcomed him to the Council table. It was with regret that he saw that an old member, Cr. J. C. South, had been unsuccessful at the poll. However, it was a chance that they all took, and no doubt the time would come when other familiar faces would be missing from the Council table.

The chairman was appointed the Council’s representative on the local District Highways Council. The secretary of the Timaru High Schools’ Board of Governors wrote inviting the Council to appoint one representative on the Board. The chairman explained that in the past Messrs A. H. M. Bain and R. Brodie had represented the Council on the Board. However, for the ensuing terms there would be only one representative. On the motion of Cr. Bain, Cr. Brodie was appointed the Council’s representative.

Cr. Brodie thanked Mr Bain for his nomination, explaining that he and Mr Bain had been on the Board for the last eight years. As an ex-pupil of the High School, he was very interested in the work of the Board.

The chairman reported that the committee appointed had inspected the proposed deviation route of Sercombe’s Road. The County Engineer (Mr C. E. Bremner) suggested that a new road should be formed on the side of the hill, but Mr A. G. Macdonald was not very keen on the proposal, as it would mean that the Council would have to purchase five or six acres of his land which was a good grazing area. If the plan were carried out, it would involve some expense as two small bridges, also culverts, would be required. It had been offered as an alternative suggestion that the level of the road should be raised two feet, and it might be better to do that. There ■would be plenty of material available as Mr Macdonald had no objection to the removal of soil from a bank in the vicinity. If the new road project were carried out. blasting operations would be necessary as part of the material encountered would be rock. However, it was work which could not be undertaken during the wet weather, and in the meantime the matter could be further investigated. Main Highway Resurfacing In referring to the re-surfacing of the County’s portion of the Christ-church-Dunedin Main Highway, the chairman stated that the specifications for the Geraldine Borough and Temuka Borough portions had been accepted by the Highways Board on a basis of three tons of material to the chain, compared with five tons to the chain on the County’s portion. However, he understood that finance was the difficulty so far as the tw T o Boroughs were concerned. Cr. Flatman said that he would like to ask the County Engineer if he considered the re-surfacing satisfactory. Mr Bremner replied that the work had not been so satisfactory as that done by British Pavements, Ltd., in the previous contract. Cr. Flatman: I am glad to hear the County Engineer say that. To me the work is not so good a job as it might be for the money expended. It is not really so good as the sample laid down in front of Mr W. Lewis’s property at Orari Bridge. The County Engineer remarked that a great deal of improvement would take effect when the summer motor traffic commenced. The mixture was not the same as that laid down by British Pavements. Ltd. Owing to the aggregates which had been worked out, it had been necessary to modify the specifications, and the shingle was not so good as that available from Sockbum. There was not the same nice finish, but he believed that it would work quite well. The chairman intimated that No. 1 section of the contract had been completed, but. owing to the frosty conditions which were commencing, operations had been suspended for the winter months. Financial Statement The financial statement showed that receipts for the month totalled £1026 Os 2d. There was a debit balance at the bank of £2944 Is 2d, and cash in hand totalled £267 14s lOd. Payments to be made amounted to £6826 12s 7d, but of this amount £4267 3s 6d had been drawn, £3515 being the third progress payment for Sanders and Sons contract. After the cheques had been met. the debit balance would be £4942 12s sd. However, the subsidy on Main Highways contract due. would be paid in a few days, amounting to £5107 7s lOd, which would make a credit balance of £164 15s sd. These figures showed the Council to be £l7O worse off than at the same time last year. However, the Council had been involved in increased expenditure owing to the resurfacing of the County portion of the Main Highway.

The chairman remarked that the financial position could be considered satisfactory. The receipt of the Highways Board subsidy would more than wipe out the deficit. Cr. Flatman gave notice of motion to move that a general rate of three-

sixteenths of a penny in the £ be levied over the whole County for the year ending March 31, 1936. Unemployed Labour Question The Commissioner of the Unemployment Board wrote in regard to the class of work which could be carried out by relief labour. The Council would realise that it was very essential that the Board should protect the interests of the employed and unemployed by requiring that the latter should not perform any work which would have the effect of displacing ordinary labour. The chairman explained that as there had been differences of opinion by the two certifying officers as to what work the Council could carry out with the aid of unemployed labour the Council had sought an explanation of the position. In one instance the county had cleared an accumulation of growth from a drain which had not received attention for several years. No exception had been taken to the use of unemployed on that occasion, but a year later when the drain again required attention the County Council had been informed that the services of the unemployed could not be used for that purpose. However, it was very satisfactory to receive a definition of the Council's position. The Council had played the game all along. Several councillors complimented the county engineer on the useful work he had found for the unemployed. The letter was received. Dangerous Corners In the course of his report the engineer reported that the newspaper advertisement requiring road junction fences to be lowered had been complied with in a number of cases. However, he submitted a list of 36 ratepayers who had not cut down their fences at intersections. Agreeing that it was essential that the danger to traffic should be minimised, the Council decided that further action be taken to compel delinquents to have the work carried out. As Mr Wilson (Cave) had ignored a notice to cut gorse, it was decided to forward a legal order under the Public Works Department to clear the gorse. % Railway Stock Bridge. Mr T. H. Bell, Orton, wrote drawing attention to the dangerous state of the stock bridge over the north stream of the Rangitata. While crossing the bridge with 700 breeding ewes two had broken their legs and had had to be destroyed. He had put in a claim to the Department as he understood the Railways Department was supposed to keep the bridge in reasonable repair. He asked the Council to inspect the bridge and uphold his claim. The County Clerk was instructed to reply that the County Council had no jurisdiction in connection with the bridge. Hobson Trust Rentals. The District Public Trustee, Timaru, who wrote in connection with Thomas Hobson’s Trust, advised that a reduction of 10 per cent. was made in the rentals due by all the lessees in this district, and Mr W. M. Patrick’s rental was specially reduced to £6O per annum. On April 18 last year the Council had agreed to continue the rent reductions for a further 12 months. As the matter was now due for review, he would be pleased to receive the Council's intentions concerning the rentals for the next 12 months. It was decided that the rentals remain the same for a further 12 months. Sea Erosion Possible. Mr David Brown, “Riverslea,” wrote complaining that the contractors at present working at the end of the road near his property at Milford Beach were removing sand in such a manner that, when a high sea occurred, his property would be flooded and considerable damage done. He had already pointed out the position to the county engineer, and, if he suffered any loss in this way in the future he would hold the Council responsible.

Mr Leo. Gorman, Orton, wrote in a similar manner. Cr. Bisdee pointed out that the Beach road was blocked by a pit which the highway contractors had constructed in the middle of the road. One bank of sand which was a natural protection from the sea was being removed, and thus the farm property was endangered. The chairman explained that the county engineer had diverted the sand removal operations. It was very probable that the sea would again build up the sand banks. The matter was the responsibility of the contractors and not of the Council. However, the Council could attend to the matter of the road. Correspondence It was decided to purchase a framed portrait of His Majesty from the Soldiers’ Civil Re-establishment League (Wellington) as an appropriate commemoration of the Jubilee. The Town Clerk (Temuka), who wrote in regard to the King’s Silver Jubilee, intimated that his Council had made a grant of £SO to the local committee arranging the celebrations, and he would be pleased to know if the Council was prepared to subsidise this to the extent of £2s.—lt was decided that a statement of accounts be supplied before the Council made a payment. The Town Clerk (Temuka Borough Council), advised that his council were undertaking necessary repairs to the roadway in front of Mr Bennett’s premises. In regard to the application of Mr Peters. Orari Road, the county clerk advised that the applicant would pay all costs for piping and connections and £4 5s per annum for the water supply to his house. The Temuka poundkeeper (Mr J. R. Bradshaw) reported that he had impounded 30 cows and one bull during March, and 40 head of cattle during April. The Geraldine ranger (Mr F. W. Grayburn) reported that he had impounded 45 cattle and one horse during April. The District Railways Engineer, Dunedin, who replied to the Council’s letter in regard to the Rangitata Island water works, stated that at present the north branch of the Rangitata River was flowing on the south bank. There had been no interference with the supply of water to the Rangitata Island water race. The contractor had been instructed to see that there was no cause for complaint from the owners or users of the irrigation channel. The secretary of the Orari Park Domain Board complained that although the county engineer had been instructed prior to December 5 last to inspect and report in regard to drainage near the Orari Coronation Hall, nothing had been done. The committee would appreciate having this matter attended to before the heavy rains.—Work to be done.

Mr P. Lysaght was granted permission to cut five cords of pine wood in the Council reserve on the Gorge Road on the usual conditions of 5/- a cord royalty. Messrs R. Lee, C. S. Stanley, T. Hunter, and Hewson Bros, submitted the following proposition as suitable work for unemployed labour, and requested the Unemployment Board to give the request favourable considertion—Deepen the road drain on the north side of Patterson’s Road, from Factory Road to Guild’s Road. The granting of this request would be greatly appreciated, and would be of considerable benefit to the locality indicated.—The county clerk was instructed to reply stating that the petitioners would have to pay half the

cost under the 4A unemployment scheme.

The South Canterbury Hospital Board forwarded copies of the estimates of the Board for 1935-36 and a statement showing the allocation of the levies payable by local contributing bodies for the 12 months ending March 31, 1936. The Council’s contribution totalled £2901 15s 9d, payable in quarterly instalments of £725 8s lid.

The secretary of the Timaru Harbour Board advised that by resolution, the Board had fixed the amount of the contribution to be paid by the Council (excluding the boroughs of Geraldine and Temuka) towards providing interest on the harbour loans for the current year at three thirty-seconds of a penny in the £ on the total rateable property in the Geraldine County as now constituted. The contribution was made payable in two equal instalments, the first on December 20, and the second on March 1, 1936. The clerk of the Pleasant Point Town Board wrote acknowledging receipt of fifty drivers’ licenses from the Council. She was willing to undertake to issue on the Council’s behalf any license applied for by residents of the ..Geraldine County at a commission of 6d each.—Agreed to. In connection with the Council’s recent claims for subsidy on the resurfacing of the county portion of the Christchurch-Dunedin Main Highway the chairman of the No. 15 District Highways Council <M F. Langbein) requested the Council to forward the relative vouchers covering the second and third progress payments to the contractors. These would be returned after being checked, and payment made accordingly.

Mr G. Berry, Epworth, Temuka, inquired if Mr Wade had permission from the County Council to put a gate across the ’ road leading into the Temuka riverbed, as children round about that locality used it to go down and play. However, since Mr Wade had brought the police over to have the writer arrested for being there, the children were afraid to use it. He thought the gate should be removed and the road left open to the public.— “This is that neighbours’ quarrel we have heard of before,’’ remarked the chairman. The letter was received.

Mr J. M. H. Tripp, Silverton, Geraldine, a former member of the Council, reminded the Council when making up the estimates to allow for planting the reserve on top of the cutting opposite his home on the Orari Gorge side of the river. The Council had agreed to plant this reserve two years ago. He had arranged with Messrs Tripp Bros, to do their share of the fencing, but, so far, no trees had been planted. Dead trees also required replacing in Dobson’s plantation which had been planted in Douglas firs.—Referred to the next meeting. Mr W. J. Ward. Ohape, Temuka, asked if the road passing his property could be shingled before the winter. Since the road had been formed 15 years ago it had not had a good coat of shingle. At present it was not so bad, but when the wet weather commenced portions would be impassable for a car.—Work to be done.

Mr T. H. Stratford, Upper Waitohi. complained of the state of the road leading to the back of Mr Maxwell's Bush, and also up the hills by the writer’s house. They were full of ruts and washouts. The Council promised to do the work some time ago.—The engineer was instructed to arrange for the road to receive attention. Mrs C. C. Bruce, Hilton, wrote that about two years ago she had applied for some protective works at Sharpe’s bridge to stop the Kakahu from flooding her property and also damaging the road. The work was to have been done by unemployed labour, but nothing had yet been done. The land was all Crown land and there was a good natural bank which could be made up to keep the flood in the riverbed. She inquired whether the work were still to be done.—The engineer was asked to inspect the locality. Mrs P. W. Hislop, a vice-president of the South Canterbury Federation of Women’s Institutes, wrote stating that she had been deputed to write to the Council in regard to tree-planting, where possible, on highways and roads within the county. The Institutes were anxious to plant mostly native trees and shrubs, and these trees’would be planted singly and at some distance apart on one side of a road only. It would naturally be a very small beginning, perhaps one or two trees at a time.

The application was granted, and the engineer was requested to suggest suitable localities where trees might be planted. Mr J. Bigham, Gapes Valley, asked that the county engineer or the foreman inspect Clement’s Road and see him at the some time as he desired to know what further would have to be done to the road. He was referring to the road the trouble had been over.— The county clerk was instructed to reply that the engineer would see Mr Bieham when the gorse was cleared. Mr G. S. U’Pritchard. Scotsburn, Peel Forest, wrote complaining that since the trees on the property which he was renting had been cut down a large portion of the ground had been rendered more or less useless, and would necessitate cultivating to bring it back to usefulness. As this would involve him in expense he wondered if the Council would consider granting him a reduction in rental for a term. As some of the windows in the house had been broken ever since he had been in possession would it be possible to have them attended to before the winter?

The Council decided that it could not reduce the rent. It was decided to supply glass for the windows from Geraldine, Mr U’Pritchard to do the work.

The Health Inspector (Mr J. Menzies), who wrote in regard to the Council’s letter concerning an open drain on a Council section at Geraldine, advised that he had inspected the locality, but at the time of his inspection on April 4, no nuisance existed, the recent heavy rain having evidently cleared any offensive matter. There had been, however, some water lying in the open drain. This was due to the drain being somewhat lower than the pipe over the roadway. He suggested that the open drain through the Council’s yard should be so graded as to allow water to flow freely. While he had not put a level over the drain, it would appear that the bottom of the open drain could be graded from the pipe at the Manse section to give the necessary fall, as the bottom of the pipe was about six inches higher than the bottom of the open drain. He understood that the upkeep of these open drains through the sections fell on the occupiers.

The chairman and Cr. Flatman were requested to wait on the Geraldine Borough Council in regard to the matter. RIVER BOARD In the Geraldine County River Board account there was a credit of £968/18/6, and cash in hand totalled £23/10/-. Receipts totalled £271/2/5, including rates £lO5/5/9 and rents £164/16/8. After payments amounting to £44/19/2, had been paid, the credit balance would be £954/4/4.

Mr J. White, Main Road, Winchester, applied for the willows to be cut on his boundary on the Hae Hae Te Moana riverbed, and also for an embankment to be put yp along the river, say about 10 chains to 20 chains. He would help the Council by doing the necessary ploughing.—lt was decided that the

work be done by unemployed labour. The secretary of the Temuka Returned Soldiers’ Association (Mr C. A. Double), wrote conveying the Association’s thainks and appreciation for what the Council had done in findingblocks of willows for their unemployed soldiers for the Association’s wood schemes which had helped it considerably to tide ex-soldiers over the winter months during the last two or three years. On the suggestion of Mr Brodie, the engineer was asked to supply an estimate of the cost of extending a groin for river protection at Rangitata Island. The engineer reported that in the South Orari river district, drainage in Clandeboye Settlement still occupied a large number of men and would continue to do so for some months yet, at the rate of progress averaged during the last three months. The main outlet of the road drainage having required attention the drainage gang’s service had to give attention necessary to prevent flood damage to the road crossing. Willow lopping and securing with wire engaged the attention of several men on the Belfield reserve frontage and there was still a considerable amount of this class of work to be done. In the Upper Orari Waihi river district, obstructing willows in the bed of the Opihi river at Russell’s and Lyons’s frontages had been removed. One or two small jobs of a similar sort had to receive attention by the engine gang to prevent erosion along the river bank as much as possible. Willows complained of at Mr C. C. Bennett’s garage, Geraldine, had been lopped and secured along the bank. In the Rangitata Island river district several visits had been made to Hawke’s Rest during the month of April. On each occasion the river had been in flood and offered no opportunity for making a start with proposed work. Early in this month, however, conditions improved and a start had been made. The work was now proceeding and should be completed so far as funds would allow by the end of this month. The report was adopted.

KING’S JUBILEE The parents and friends of the Hilton School gathered for a short ceremony on Friday afternoon, to commemorate the Royal Silver Jubilee. Proceedings began with saluting the flag, after which the children sang the National Anthem and “God Defend New Zealand.” They then recited “The Children’s Song,” and “Patriotism,” and the infants recited “My Country.” After the singing of a flag song, a ribbonwood tree was planted by the oldest boy and the youngest boy of the school, and a scarlet manuka by the oldest girl and the youngest girl. The chairman of the School Committee (Mr E. O. Winmill), then introduced Mr P. G. Withers, who congratulated the committee and staff for having organised a jubilee ceremony at the school, and said that he counted it a privilege to be asked to speak to the children. It was a wonderful thing he said, to plant trees on such occasions, for, just as they to-day were benefiting by the trees the pioneers had planted, so future children of Hilton School would appreciate the trees planted that day. The children should plant trees whenever they could and make a habit of doing it. Mr Withers then spoke of the loyalty of British people to the Empire. Loyalty meant faithfulness, and children fi»st learned to be faithful to their parents and to their school. Later they learned that they were citizens of a mighty Empire to which they must be faithful, for the

Empire was like a great family with their gracious Majesties, King George and Queen Mary, as the leaders. If the children learned the lesson of faithfulness to the schools and homes they would grow up to be good citizens of the great Empire to which they were all proud to belong, and proud to be loyal subjects of King George and Queen Mary who had so unselfishly served the people for 25 years. Mr Withers then presented the Jubilee Commemoration books to the children, after which Mr Winmill moved a vote of thanks to the speaker for his address. On behalf of the children, Miss Hewson returned thanks, and the singing of the National Anthem concluded the ceremony. BASKETBALL The following teams will represent the Geraldine Basketball Club on Thursday:— Second grade v. High School, at Geraldine, at 3 p.m.—J. Hewson, R. Glover, J. Murray, N. McCullough, I. Evans, J. Vincent, M. Gresham, C. Davies, S. Vincent. Reserve, E. Waters. Third grade A v. Kerrytown, at Geraldine, at 2.15 p.m.—M. Barrett, M. Willis, M. Grindell. J. Weaver, K. Collins, J. Cairns. E. Thornley, E. Cairns, P. Jones. Reserves, P. Collins, P. Sutherland. Third grade B v. Orton, at 2.30 p.m.— M. Woods, E. Waters, E. Murray, R. Barrett, J. Lapthorn, N. Charles, L. Taylor, M. Pratt, J. Gresham. Reserves, R. Padgett, N. Callanan. 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.