FAIRLIE

Timaru Herald, Volume CXLIII, Issue 20878, 6 November 1937, Page 3

FAIRLIE

WATER SUPPLY SCHEME “CHEAPER THAN PRESENT SYSTEM” An intimation that the Fairlie high pressure water supply and underground drainage scheme would cost £13,000, was given at the monthly meeting of the Mackenzie County Council yesterday, by the county engineer (Mr D. Jeune). The cost to ratepayers for installing the services would, he said, be in the vicinity of £3O, and an additional loan could be raised to make advances for that purpose. The usual procedure was to advance the £3O at five per cent for five years, and repayment worked out at 3/- a week. There were 200 houses in Fairlie which could be Included in the scheme. The Council passed a formal resolution authorising the engineer to advertise for objections to the raising of a loan before application was made to the Loans Board for permission to proceed. Further, it was decided that an additinal £5OOO, more or less, should be included so that advances could be made for installations. After the permission of the Loans Board was obtained, the proposal would have to be submitted to a poll of the ratepayers concerned. Advances for Installation

Mr C. J. Talbot said an additional loan for the purpose of making advances to ratepayers for the installation of the services, was a most important matter. If that were not done many people would not be able to take advantage of the scheme. Mr A. F. Campbell: It will make ratepayers more favourably disposed towards the loan.

The engineer said after making inquiries he had elicited the information that the average cost of installing both water and drainage to a house would be £3O. The usual thing was for the local body concerned to make money available at five per cent over a periol of five years. That would work out

at about 3/- a week. It was absolutely definite that the loan would never be carried in Fairlie without some such provision. The £3O would cover the cost of the connections from the boundary fence. On preliminary figures, the scheme would cost £13,000. "If you can get that with interest and sinking fund at six per cent,” he said, “the annual cost will be £7BO. At the present time, water and sanitary charges are costing Fairlie £640 a year, a chanrge that is likely to increase.” The* sanitary charge was at present 30/-, but it would probably go up to £2 next year. Therefore, on a £6OO property, for instance, the water and sewerage charges would be less than those being paid at present. The only people liable to object would be those with empty sections, but even then they would gain because of the enhanced value of property in the town. Mr Talbot: Can the engineer tell us how much should be raised to provide advances for connections? Would £4OOO be sufficient? The engineer: You would probably need £5OOO. The point is that everyone would want to take advantage if the assistance, and you couldn’t discriminate as to who should have it and who should not. Mr P. E. Neilson said he did not think it would be advisable to do away with all the water races.

The engineer replied that the thing would be to do away with as many as passible. Another question that would have to be considered later was whether meters should be installed, and whether a certain amount of water should be supplied free, and anything over that charged.

COURT SITTINGS

“INCREASE NOT WARRANTED” “With reference to your representations on behalf of the Mackenzie County Council for more frequent sittings of the Magistrate’s Court at Fc.fr”?, I have to advise that before the Department’s reply to the County Council was sent, a report was obtained from the local Magistrate, who was definitely of the opinion that any Increase in the regular sittings -vas not warranted.” stated a letter written by the Minister of Justice (the Hon. H.

G. R. Mason) to Mr David Barnes, M.P., and forwarded by him to the Council for consideration at its meeting yesterday. “The statistics show that the number of cases dealt with has steadily declined for several years past. As already advised, Justices should be able to deal effectively with petty charges as they arise, and the Magistrate has indicated that he is prepared to arrange to take a special sitting should circumstances warrant such at course at any time. The only procedure in such cases would be for the local Clerk of the Court to communicate with the Clerk of the Court, Timaru, to enable the Magistrate to arrange the fixture. . This arrangement should overcome any difficulty in respect of any delay which may be occasioned by waiting for the ordinary sitting.” Mr Talbot: I move that it be received. We can’t do anything further.

SPEED LIMIT IN TOWN A letter was received from the Commissioner of Transport (Mr G. L. Laurenson) by the Mackenzie County Council at its meeting yesterday with regard to declaring Fairlie a closely populated area under the provisions of the Motor Vehicles Amendment Act, 1936. He understood the South Canterbury Automobile Association was prepared to assist in the matter of erecting speed limit signs. With regard to Albury, the area was too small to warrant a similar restriction, but warning signs could be erected. It was decided to adopt the speed limit in Fairlie, and also the caution signs in Albury. With regard to the one-way traffic rule on the railway side of the Jubilee garden plots, Mr Talbot said that it did not mean that two-way traffic would not operate on the other portion of the street. Vehicles would only be able to enter the one-way section from the Allandale end, or through the divisions between the plots. PERSONAL The Mackenzie County Council is forwarding a letter of congratulation to Miss M. Giddings, formerly of Fairlie, for being awarded the Hamilton memorial prize for the most popular nurse in the Christchurch Public Hospital. Mr J. Allen, who recently underwent an operation, was welcomed back to his seat on the Mackenzie County Council yesterday.

AMATEUR ATHLETICS Large entires have been received from Timaru and Temuka for the Fairlie Amateur Athletic Club’s opening meeting, including a number of Timaru women athletes. “THE FLYING DOCTOR” “The Flying Doctor,” which will be screened at Fairlie to-night, depicts i phase of life typically Australian, and reflects a national spirit. The theme of the film is the development of one of the most unique institutions in this land of great distances, the Australian Aerial Medical Services. First conceived in the pipe-dreams of a great pioneer, the Rev. John Flynn, the idea took shape under his direction and the service has brought succour to hundreds of outback dwellers. Mr E. Cholerton, Optical Specialist, managing director of Procter’s, the Opticians, Christchurch, will be visiting Fairlie, personally, and may be consulted on all defects of eyesight at the Gladstone Hotel, on Tuesday, 16th November, from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. Appointments can now be made by ringing our local representative, Mr W. A. B. Morton, chemist, ’phone 36D