GERALDINE

Timaru Herald, Volume CXLI, Issue 20335, 6 February 1936, Page 4

GERALDINE

IMPROVEMENT OF SIDE ROADS COUNTY MAY INCREASE RATES During a discussion at the monthly meeting of the Geraldine County Council it was mentioned that there was a possibility of the rates being increased next year. The matter arose when the necessity of effecting improvements to the side roads in the County was mentioned. Cr. F. R. Flatman: I think the time has now come to call a halt so far as the main north highway is concerned. The chairman has said that the roads are in good order, but I feel that some of the side roads need attention badly. The Council should endeavour to raise the standard of some of its side roads. I think that at some time in the future it will pay to give some of these roads different treatment. There are many side roads which are carrying heavy traffic, including the Woodbury Road, the Peel Forest Road, and the roads leading to the river mouths from Temuka, and I think these should be given special attention. Although the Council will end the year with a debit balance, our financial position is really thoroughly sound as the tarsealing of the main highway has been done without raising loans, and ve have not had to raise the rates to do this work. The chairman (Mr K. Mackenzie): There is a slight possibility that our rates may have to go up next year as a result of the increased amount which the County will have to contribute to the South Canterbury Hospital Board and the Timaru Harbour Boar'.!, but that will not be on account of our own expenditure.

Cr. Flatman: The largest amount owing by the, Geraldine County is on the Geraldine Downs-Raukapuka Water Supply Scheme, which Is not really a County commitment. The only other item owing is a sum which is due to the Main Highways Board for work on three bridges, two at Winchester and one at Cooper’s Creek. The chairman: I agree that certain of the side roads need attention. The bridge at Raukapuka, known ts "Lysaght's Bridge” also requires replacing as it is a course of danger to motor traffic. Mr J. C. Bisdee: The road leading to the Orari River mouth is in a bad condition. Is it a road? The county engineer (Mr C. E. Bremner): Yes, it is a road! The chairman: When the matter of the side roads is being attended to, the road to the Orari River mouth will receive attention. At a later stage Mr Flatman remarked that if the capital value of the County were lowered as a result of the re-valuation which was at present being carried out, the rates would have to be increased in proportion to the reduction in values as the County required the continuance of its present revenue in order to be able to carry out its work.

METHODIST CHURCH. The Rev. W. E. Moore presided at the annual congregational meeting of the Geraldine Methodist Church. The financial position was outlined by the treasurer, Mr G. Loach, junr., appreciation being shown of the improvement in the ordinary income by the wider use of the envelope system of giving. An appeal was made for regular gifts in this way. The chairman expressed the thanks of the congregation to Messrs E. B. D. Logan and E. Undrill, the retiring circuit stewards, and welcomed the new officers, Messrs P. H. Davis and Fred Neutze. The following additional officers for 1936-1937 were then elected:—Local preachers. Messrs H. Grayburn and j. Loach junr.; organist and choirmaster, Mr E. B. D. Logan; deputy organist, Mrs E. Grayburn; financial secretary, Mr G. Loach, junr.; church steward, Mr J. Prouting; society stewards, Messrs Len Neutze, M. Campbell and F. H. P. Wallach; envelope stewards, Miss I. Logan and the Rev. W. E. Moore; sacramental stewards, Misses L. Pratt and M. Cochrane.

Representatives to the quarterly meeting were elected as follow: Congregation, Messrs E. Undrill and A. Sutherland; ladies’ guild, Mrs Undrill; young ladies' guild, Miss K. Davis; Sunday School, Mrs Rae; choir, Miss Ivy Henry; foreign mission collections, Misses I. Henry and I. Logan; home mission collections, Misses L. Pratt and L. Henry; orphanage secretary, Miss Jean Murray; Methodist Times agent, Mr E. B. D. Logan; trust officers treasurer, Mr G. Loach, junr.; secretary Mr P. H. Davis. Before the general meeting the Sunday School teachers met to review the year’s work. It was agreed to reopen the Sunday School next Sunday, and that the picnic be held at Mr w . Neutze’s farm, Speechly’s Bridge. After the ladies had served supper the trustees met to receive tenders for the painting .of the church and Messrs P. H. Davis, F. Neutze, and E. B. D. Logan were authorised to collect special subscriptions for this work. Mr A. Sutherland was the successful tenderer. The Minister was requested to send letters of greeting to the elderly members of the congregation, and a special greeting to Mr and Mrs H. Grayburn, who will celebrate their diamond wedding anniversary next month. Miss Ina Logan was accorded a vote of thanks for decorating the church so artistically during the year. PERSONAL Mr Wilfred McClure has returned from a visit to Invercargill. Mr P. Gardiner (Hastings) is the guest of the Misses Burke (Orari). VITAL STATISTICS The vital statistics for Geraldine, as supplied by the registrar. Mr L. S. S King, show that one female child w«s born during February, compared witn one male and one female birth in February, 1935. Three females died last month, compared with one death in February last year. Two marriage licenses were issued last month, the same number being issued in February, 1935. No registry office marriages were performed in February, 1935 and 1936. GROWTH OF LABOUR BRANCH The present membership of the Geraldine branch of the New Zealand Labour Party totals 356, compared with eight when the branch was formed in 1924. A women’s section was formed in September last when there were 13 members, and the membership is now 99. These figures were revealed by the president, Mr P. M. McKenzie, at the social evening to Mr T. H. Langford on Monday evening. CARD EVENING At the first of a series of euchre parties organised by the Catholic Social Club, held in the Town Hall on Tuesday evening, the women’s prizes were

won by Mesdames J. Stevenson and H McShane, and the consolation prize by Miss Berna Lysaght. The men's prizes were won by Messrs J. McCormick and J. . Stevenson, and th? consolation prize by Mr D. McKay. SWIMMING CLUB The following are the handicaps for the Geraldine Swimming Club’s weekly swim to be held this evening:— Men’s 60 Yards—Jack Stevenson (Bsec), E. Woods (Bsec), A. H. Stringer (Bsec), W. Patrick (6sec), D. Bennett (4sec), J. Webb (scr). Senior Boys 45 Yards —D. Morgan (Bsec), T. Grayburn (Bsec), T. Turner (6sec), J. Sullivan (Bsec), J. Stevenson (scr). Junior Boys’ 25 Yards —G. Sutherland (ssec), C. Small (ssec), M. Bell (Isec), Pl Grayburn (4sec), L. McNamara (3sec). T. Graybum (scr). Learners’ Width—R. Waller (4sec), I. Allen (3sec), J. Eathorn (6sec), A. Allen (2sec), R. Sutherland (2sec), L. Richards (Isec), G. Sutherland (scr). Senior Girls’ 33 1-3 Yards—J. Murray (6sec), P.' Sutherland (6sec), Z. Stevenson (ssec), M. Willis (Isec), M. Barrett (scr), N. Morgan (scr). Jnior Girls —N. Murray (Bsec), L. Morman (2sec), D. Beach (Bsec), Z. Stevenson (scr). Mr E. Cholerton, Optical Specialist, proprietor of Procters, the Premier Opticians, Christchurch, will be visiting Geraldine, personally, and may be consulted on all defects of eyesight at the Crown Hotel on Wednesday, February 12, from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. Appointments can now be made by ringing Mr Morris Williams, chemist, ’phone 61