GERALDINE

Timaru Herald, Volume CXLIII, Issue 20781, 16 July 1937, Page 3

GERALDINE

WATER FOR FIRE FIGHTING IMPROVED SYSTEM PROPOSED In his report to the monthly meeting of the Geraldine Borough Council on Wednesday evening, the Borough foreman (Mr G. E. Berry) stated that considerable difficulty had been experienced during the recent frosty period in maintaining the amount of water in the reservoir, and, during a period of three days, with the pump working at its maximum hours, it had been impossible to cope with the draw off, with a result that the pressure for firefighting had been far below normal. As an indication of the amount of the draw off during one week, it had taken 66 hours' pumping to raise the level of the water in the reservoir three feet six inches, which time was usually more than sufficient to fill the reservoir. The temporary failure of the scheme under the conditions obtaining during that period once again raised the question of an emergency supply of water tor fire fighting, and also the rigid enforcement of the by-laws regarding leaving taps running at night and thereby wasting water. The Mayor (Mr B. R. Macdonald): It is getting a serious matter. The Borough foreman continued that one plumber had Informed him that he had fixed 23 taps in one day. On the Sunday previous to the fire at the technical school the reservoir was normal. The electric pump had pumped for 16 hours and then for 22 hours continuously on Sunday, but on Monday the water level was still a foot down, and on the Tuesday It was still further down, with a result that when the fire started there was only about a foot of water in the reservoir. Mr Berry continued that when the pipe line to the swimming baths had been commenced, he had suggested that a low pressure “cut In” should be installed in Cox Street, but no action had been taken, and the job had never been done. If the water were in the pipes to draw on the fire engine pump could do so. Cr. A. J. Bell, chairman of the Water Committee, recalled that the same idea had been talked of years ago, but nothing had been done. On the motion of Crs. J. R. Lack and E. B. D. Logan It was unanimously agreed that the Water Committee and the Borough foreman should have power to act on the lines suggested. Requests by Fire Brigade Later in the evening Superintendent C. C. Knight and Deputy Superintendent D. Brett waited on the Council to urge that an improvement be effected in regard to the water supply available for fire fighting. Superintendent Knight urged that sumps should be both in the Serpentine and along the main pipe line along Waihl Terrace, Talbot Street. Wilson Street and Hislop Street. If sumps were provided, it

would mean the engine could pump direct from the mains with a much increased pressure, and, if a low pressure auxiliary were arranged, in the event of the total failure of the high pressure system the brigade could still get adequate water by pumping from the low pressure. At the school fire the men were ready; they had the engines, but it had been absolutely pitiful to try to cope with the blaze that day owing to the lack of water. They could not blame people for leaving their taps running during frosty weather in order to avoM burst pipes, but, when an outbreak of fire occurred, he felt that it was the bounden duty of the residents to turn their taps off, as every single leakage meant a reduction in the pressure. If the Council could insist on that point it would be doing a service to the town. Mr Knight also asked the Council to request motor traffic to stop till the fire engines had p..ssed when proceeding to a fire as was the case in other towns. At the recent fire thoughtless motorists had rushed ahead in front of the engine, which was travelling at a high speed, and thus there was a danger of a serious accident.

The Mayor assured the deputation that the Council would take considerable notice of what had been said, and he was sure the Brigade would be fairly well satisfied with th steps which had been taken. He sympathised with the Brigade in the position they had found themselves when faced with a shortage of water owing to people leaving their taps running, and he congratulated the Brigade on the good work they had done at the fire. Cr. Z. O. Sherratt intimated that the Water Committee had discussed the question of Installing sumps, but no action had been taken pending the return of Cr. Bell, the chairman of the committee.

In reply to a question, the Borough foreman stated that the sumps would cc:t about £3/12/- each, but, If a low pressure alternative were arranged, there would be no need for sumps. CHERRY TREE AVENUE PLANTING ARRANGED At a meeting of the Geraldine Borough Council advice was received f.om the Minister of Internal Affairs notifying that Arbor Day would be celebrated on August 11. He trusted that he could rely on the wholehearted support of local bodies in organising suitable celebrations for the day. The Mayor suggested that the flowering cherry trees given by Mr and Mrs J. M. H. Tripp should be planted on either side along Hislop Street between the motor camp and the Masonic Hall. Cr. J. R. Lack suggested that the flowering cherry trees given by the Mayoress, Mrs B. R. Macdoneld, should be planted along Waihl Terrace near Todd Park. Cr. Z. O. Sherratt remarked that there was a danger of accident if trees were planted alongside the road. In a case at Oamaru an action for damages arising from that cause had cost the local body £lOOO. Cr. A. J. Bell: There are trees all

along the edge of the footpaths in the main street at Wanganui, and street t-?e planting is common in Christchurch. Cr. Lack recalled that in addition to Mr and Mrs Tripp’s gift of £2O, there had been a surplus of £lO/3/4 after the Coronation celebrations, which the Geraldine District Coronation Celebrations Committee had agreed should be handed over to purchase trees for the proposed coronation flowering cherry memorial avenue. On the motion of Crs. Logan and Sherratt it was decided that the Mayor should confer with the chairman of the Geraldine District High School Committee in regard to the pupils taking part in the planting of Mrs Macdonald’s trees on Arbor Day. The Council also agreed that Mr and Mrs Tripp’s trees should be planted on either side of Hislop Street between the motor camp and the Masonic Hall. It was decided to ’’’rite to the Department of Forestry in regard to securing 2500 pine trees for Todd Park, and it was agreed that ornamental trees should be planted on the outside edge with the pines in the centre of the area. BOROUGH COUNCIL HOUSING INVESTIGATOR APPOINTED The monthly meeting of tae Geraldine Borough Council, held on Wednesday evening, was attended by the Mayor, Mr B. R. Macdonald, and Crs. J. R. Lack, A. J. Bell, H. Russell, E. B. D. Logan and Z. O. Sherratt. An apology was received from Cr. P. H. Davis. The Mayor expressed his thanks to the Council for having permitted him to stay aw r ay during his recent illness and for their assistance. He was particularly Indebted to the DeputyMayor, Cr. Lack, and everything had been kept going a good deal better than he could have done it himself. The chairman of the Finance Committee reported that the receipts since last meeting amounted to £829/8/6. Accounts for payment amounted to £219/6/7, which would leave a debit of £996/12/9 at the bank. The manager, State Advances Corporation of New Zealand, expressed regret that the Corporation was still unable to make an offer for the Town Hall and Library loan of £3BOO. The Finance Committee was authorised to make inquiries with a view to raising the money elsewhere. The Officer in Charge, Valuation Department, Christchurch, advised that the Valuer-General had instructed him to revise th'' valuations in the Borough. The field work had been put in hand, and it was hoped to have the work completed in time for adoption for

Ivcal rating and land tax purposed as at March 31, 1938. The Mayor: We have been waiting for a revaluation for some time. I did not expect it to come so soon. Tribute to Foreman Mr M. Bell, of Bell’s Mart, Talbot Street, wrote expressing appreciation of the satisfactory manner in which the new pipe line to supply the baths had been laid along the footpath in front of the mart. This undertaking had appeared at first as if It were going to make a mess of the footpath for the rest of the winter, but thanks to the foreman, Mr G. E. Berry and his workmen, who made every endeavour to do the job quickly and who showed every consideration to shopkeepers and pedestrians by keeping the clay etc. swept up and covered at nights, no inconvenience whatever had been caused either to shops or pedestrians. “That is very satisfactory," remarked the Mayor. In reply to an inquiry the secretary of the Employment Division advised that if the work on the Geraldine bush tracks was a definite improvement, and not maintenance, the utilisation of Scheme 5 labour was approved. Scheme 5 labour, however, could- not be sanctioned for work which was definitely of a maintenance character. As he understood that the proposed work consisted of the drainage and metalling of the paths, he considered it came under the heading of improvement work and might therefore be carried out with Scheme 5 labour. General Tire Council agreed to revert to the practice of opening the office on Saturday mornings. Mr W. H. Broad was appointed the borough housing investigator, under the provisions of the Housing Act at a salai-y of £3/16/- weekly. There are about 300 houses to be inspected. Permission was granted the South Canterbury Power Board to instal a septic tank at the Geraldine foreman’s residence. Mrs M. Gibson was granted permission to erect a garage and workshop at her residence at Hillside, Geraldine. Pyne, Gould Guinness, Ltd., and Mr W. T. Mole, were granted permission to erect petrol pumps at the rear of their premises in Talbot Street. HOCKEY The following will represent Geraldine v. Trinity to-morrow: B. Grant, M. Broad, E. Broad, M. Butcher, M. Toomey, P. Bryant, Jim Kerr, F. Stack, H. Davis, Lew Grant, Jim Pugh, C. Knight, C. Pierce. FOOTBALL The following will represent Geraldine to-morrow:— Seniors v. Old Boys, at Geraldine— P. McShane, R. Worner, A. Morris, W. Judkins, G. Vial, H. Ford, A. Morris, A. Martin, G. Fyfe, W. Taylor, J. Palmer. C. Eathome, P. Callanan, K. Loach, H. Worner, A. Vincent, P. Lyons. Thjrd grade v. Old Boys, at Timaru: D. Johnson, A. McPherson, J. South, H. South, H. Chapman, J. Stevenson,

Roy Brenton, J. Eathome, G. Cowie, W. McCullough, G. Paterson, W. Gale, P. Brenton, R. Hobbs. J. Ivey, T. Waller, D. Bennett, D. Pierce. BASKETBALL I The following will represent Old ; Girls’ v. Rovers to-morrow: M. Willis, i N. Callanan, J. Wills, A. Austin, J. , Stringer, R. Barrett, M. Gresham, E. , j Waters, R. Collins, ' Rovers: J. McMeekin. Roma Padgett. . J. McColl. M. Muff, B. Brown. M. Barrett, K. Trumper, J. Moffatt, K. I Collins. I “UNDER TWO FLAGS” I A dramatic spectacle that rivals the greatest of the screen’s achievements, “Under Two Flags.” will be screened 1 to-night and to-morrow night at the 1 Municipal Theatre. It brings to the 1 screen Ouida's unforgettable story of a man redeemed from the legion of the : doomed by a woman’s love. The picture ' presents Ronald Colman, Claudette ' Colbert, Victor McLaglen and Rosa- - find Russell. A private in France’s : Foreign Legion. Colman is loved by ’ Miss Colbert. She in turn, has cap--5 tured the heart of McLaglen, his t major. When Colman, who has fled 1 to England to atone for his brother’s crime, falls in love with beautiful Rosalind Russell, the tale begins to rise to its peak of dramatic intensity. i Procter’s, the Opticians, Christ--1 church, will be making their next pror fessional visit to Geraldine, on Wed- ‘ nesday, 25th August, when they may be ! consulted on all defects of eyesight at the Crown Hotel. Appointments can 1 now be made by ringing Mr Morris ‘ Williams, chemist, ’phone 61