WAIMATE

Timaru Herald, Volume CXLIII, Issue 20667, 4 March 1937, Page 3

WAIMATE

BOROUGH COUNCIL MONTHLY MEETING The Waimate Borough Council met on Tuesday evening. Present—The Mayor (Mr G. Dash), Crs. W. G. Paul, S. I. Fitch, R. Watters, A. Sawell, P. Berry, J. Atwill, J. T. Hay and H. White. Permission was given the Town Clerk to attend the annual meeting of the New Zealand Institute of Town Clerks at Timaru on March 9. The Municipal Association forwarded a copy of the order paper for the delegates' conference to be held at Timaru. On the suggestion of the Mayor, it was agreed to entertain the wives of the delegates in Waimate. Cr. Sawell suggested that the names of the different roses in the park be suitably displayed.—The suggestion was approved. The Waimate Caledonian Society applied to have the cycling track at Victoria Park top-dressed before the winter—The Council agreed to carry out the work. The Automobile Association forwarded a supply of acorns from the Royal Park at Windsor with a copy of a letter from the distributors, the London Automobile Association, suggesting that the acorns be planted in commemoration of the Coronation. The Waimate Association felt that distribution should be in the hands of the civic authorities, but asked that a tree be planted in each of the motor camps. —lt was decided to hand the acorns to the gardener for germination and to send a letter of appreciation to the Automobile Association. Mr F. Langbein, of the District Highways Council, advised that as a consequence of the introduction of the State Highways System, It had been found necessary to adopt a new system of numbers in identification of those highways taken over. Mr Langbein further advised that in future it would be the duty of the Main Highways Board to see that landowners having frontages on the State Highways keep the road reserve free from noxious weeds, in the same way as local bodies had done in the past. The librarian, Miss I. Strong, reported that during February, 16 new subscribers had been enrolled, and four had resigned, leaving the number of subscribers at 308. During the month 1955 books had been issued and subscriptions amounting to £l2/12/collected.

Cr. Berry again brought up the matter of noxious weeds, and urged that th: Council should take action immediately as the weeds were now seeding. In one section, he stated, he saw eleven different weeds, which should be declared noxious. He moved that the Council go into the question and draw up a list of different weeds to be placed on the noxious list. On the suggestion of the Mayor, Cr. Berry agreed to bring a resolution before the next meeting, and in the meantime it was agreed that a borough employee be detailed to clean un the weeds on borough property, and that his services be made available to residents. Domain Board At a meeting of the Domain Board, the gardener (Mr A. White) reported that good progress was being made at Knottingley Park in tree-felling and preparing the ground for replanting. He suggested that a footpath be formed from the motor drive on the west side through the Redwoods fronting the Scarlet oaks towards the lily pond. The finest views of the park would be

seen from a path winding in that direction. Members commented favourably on the suggestion, and the chairman of the Park Committee (Mr J. Atwill) wc: asked to confer with the gardener on the matter. Mr J. H. Poff, Deputy Commissioner of Crown Lands, wrote advising that if the expiring leases of Messrs Horgan, Stevens and Dennehy were being put up for tender for a further term, the conditions should be forwarded to the Minister of Lands for approval.— The clerk reported that the necessary details had been sent forward. FIRE BRIGADE ANNUAL MEETING Concern at the lack of water available in the borough for coping with outbreaks of fire was expressed in the annual report and also discussed by members of the Waimate Volunteer Fire Brigade at the annual meeting on Tuesday evening. Captain H. Willetts presided over a good attendance. “There have been five alarms of fire during the year,” stated the annual report, “the biggest loss being the boarding-house in Shearman Street, where, owing to the delayed alarm we were not able to save the building. The water pressure has on several occasions been unsatisfactory and at the fire in Lower High Street it was not possible to use more than one lead. “During the year we sent a team to the Canterbury Association’s demonstration at Geraldine, and the team was successful in one event. Fireman Crawford attended the U.F.B.A. conference at Hastings, and Junior Foreman Riach attended the annual meeting of the Canterbury Association. We regret the passing of hon. life member, E. O’Malley, who always took a keen interest In out brigade. Firemen Hardwick and Dash have resigned owing to their leaving the district. “Our thanks are due to the caretakers for the careful manner in which they carry out their duties. Five members are m training for the demonstration at Nelson next week-” In moving the adoption of the report and balance-sheet, Captain Willetts said that the small credit balance of 19/1 was due to the increased cost of some of the assets procured during the year. He was pleased to see the honora—z life members, Messrs J. Betten and T. Dunstan, present at the meeting. Discussing the fire losses during the year, Captain Willetts said that while the brigade’s appliances were not up to date, they compared favourably with other centres. Larger mains and a greater volume of water were essential. The present poor pressure available was well illustrated at the boarding-house fire in Shearman Street, where only two leads were available.

Lieutenant C. W. Englefield said that the brigade appreciated what the Borough Council had done for it, but stressed the need for a greater volume of water and larger mains. The election of officers resulted: Captain, H. Willetts; lieutenant, C. W. Englefield; senior foreman, G. W. Collett; junior foreman, J. V. Riach; secretary and treasurer. F. Nash. The

branchmen and hydrantmen were reelected. The secretary was granted an honorarium of £2/2 and £l5 was passed towards the expenses of the team attending the demonstration at Nelson. Gold service bars were presented to Captain H. Willetts and Branchman Thompson, who have now 29 years’ service, and silver bars were presented to Lieutenant Englefield (15 years), Foreman Riach (11 years), Fireman Betten (17 years), and Fireman Kernick (9 years). The cup for the euchre tournament w;.s presented to the A team by Senior Foreman Collett. Fireman Crawford, on behalf of the demonstration team, presented Captain Willetts with a small token of appreciation for the work and ment he had given the team. HIGH SCHOOL PUPILS CORRESPONDENCE COURSE In the likely event of the schools in Waimate not reopening on Monday next, a correspondence course for High School pupils is to be Instituted, commencing on Monday next. Under the projected arrangements a schedule of work will be published each Monday. This work is to be posted back to the school by the following Monday for correction- Work will also be allotted to pupils, where r.cessary, by telephone. The High School authorities have made application to the Post Office to have the correspondence course mail delivered free. A similar concession was allowed by the Post Office during the infantile paralysis epidemic of 1925, when correspondence courses were carried out on a large scale. BOWLING The following are the results of the match played against Phoenix Ladies’ Club by the Waimate Club, who von by one point:— Mesdames Black, Winning, Bray, Gunn (s), 21 v. Mesdames Robertson, Calder, Berry, Adams (s), 12. Mesdames Dickson, Barnard, Travers, Grant (s), 22, v. Mesdames Milligan, Speed, Breebury, Aikenhead <s), 19. Mesdames Shaw, SteVens. Turnbull Lewis (s), 15 v. Mesdames Foster, Henderson, Watts, Reid (s), 15. Mesdames Rathgen, Paterson, Wilson, Reeve (s), 13 v. Miss Hilliker, Mesdr.mes Bremner, McLean, Ashton (s), 24. Totals—Waimate 70, Phoenix 70. PERSONAL Miss E. C. d’Auvergne, Waihao Forks, is the guest of Mrs L. F. Pegler, Wellington. Mr Horace Tooley, who is an accepted candidate for officership in the Salvation Army, will leave early next week for the Training College in Wellington. The friends of Lieutenant Bringans, who left Waimate at the beginning ot last year for the Salvation Army Training College, will be pleased to hear that he is now doing splendid work as an officer down at Cromwell. V