GERALDINE BOROUGH COUNCIL

Timaru Herald, Volume CXLVII, Issue 21528, 15 December 1939, Page 3

GERALDINE BOROUGH COUNCIL

Deputy-Mayor Resigns Sealing Of Cox Street Claiming that there had been too much secrecy about the sealing ot Cox Street and that the Mayor of Ceraldine (Mr D. C. McKechnie) had not kept him conversant with the arrangements made, Cr. A. J. Bell asked to be relieved of his duties as DeputyMayor at a meeting of the Geraldine Borough Council on Wednesday evening. Members of the Council said they were sorry that Cr. Bell would not reconsider his decision, and accepted his resignation from the position with regret. Cr. P. H. Davis was elected Deputy-Mayor. A resolution urging the setting up of a separate patriotic controlling committee for the Geraldine and Temuka area was carried unanimc .-.sly. The Mayor said it would be necessary to arrange send-offs for soldiers in the near future, in addition to raising patriotic funds and entertaining soldiers from camp. He had discussed the matter with the chairman of the Geraldine County Council (Mr K. Mackenzie) and it was suggested that district committees be set up with a central committee in Geraldine, comprised of the chairmen of the committees and representatives of the Borough and County Councils and the Geraldine Reutrned Soldiers’ Association. It was suggested that the following might be set up:— (1) Peel ForestArundel; (2) Rangitata; (3) OrariBelfield; (4) Woodbury-Tripp; (5) Kakahu-Beautiful Valley; (6) HiltonGeraldine Flat; (7) Geraldine (including Pleasant Valley and Orari Bridge); (8) Winchester. Arrangements made for the sealing of Cox Street were confirmed. It was decided to prohibit the parking of cars in the main street on Christmas Eve and New Year’s Eve from the Bank of New Zealand corner to the Town Hall. Cr. Russell (chairman of the Finance Committee), who reported the debit balance at the bank to be £1737/2/6 after accounts amoi..iting to £l5l/14/6 had been paid, said the overdraft at the bank had been reduced by £271 this year. On behalf of the Geraldine Toe H Group, Cr. Sherratt exprer'ed thanks to the Council for the assistance it had given with the construction of the children’s playground. Of the £l7/10/- needed for 14 lights he had about £l4/10/- promised, reported the Mayor, who suggested that some contribution be made by the Council. The Council agreed to contribute £2/2/- towards the cost of the lights.

The County Clerk, Geraldine, advised that the Council had agreed that a concrete ford be constructed over the river at the Wilson Street crossing, and was willing to assist with the construction. He also advised that the Council would be pleased to pay half the cast of the upkeep of the Geraldine Rest Room when the total expenditure to the end of March was available.

Thanks were expressed by the Geraldine Scout Cub Committee for the Council’s gift of a site for the new Scout den.

The Main Highways Board representative (Mr F. Langbein) advised that approval had been given to the acceptance of Messrs Fulton and Hogan’s offer to seal 80,38 chains of the Geraldine-Falrlie main highway for £l5ll/10/- The Board was also agreeable to finance the Council’s share of the cost over a period of five years. •

The secretary of the Geraldine Volunteer Fire Brigade advised that a motor chassis and engine had been given to the Brigade by Mr E. Undrill, and the Brigade wished to dispose of the old engine. Permission was granted. The Geraldine branch of the Labour Party was granted the use of the Domain for a children’s party.

MINISTER INDUCTED

PRESBYTERIAN GATHERING The induction of the Rev. W. R. Lapsley to the charge of the Geraldine Presbyterian Church took place on Wednesday evening. The Rev. M. Wilson addressed the newly inducted minister and the congregation, and the Rev. lan Dixon. Pleasant Point, preached. After the Induction the congregation adjourned to a welcome social to Mr and Mrs Lapsley in the Presbyterian Sunday School Hall, over which the Rev. W. F. Nichol presided. Addresses of welcome were given by the Revs. F. H. Wilkinson, Canon A. H. Norris (Anglican), F. O. Prosser (Methodist), Messrs K. Mackenzie (Session Clerk), E. N. J. Hannah (citizens) and the Rev. J. Johnson. Items were given by the choir, and a pianoforte duet was played by Miss E. Sherratt and Mr C. S. Davies. Mr E. Budd sang a song and Mrs W. H. Kirk gave a monologue.

SCHOOL BREAK-UP

PLEASANT FUNCTION HELD The break-up ceremony and presentation of prizes of the Geraldine District High School took place yesterday. Arriving with a large bag of toys, "Father Christmas” proved a popular person with the infants, who all received gifts. Some people had the idea that Geraldine was a back water now that the highway was dashing in the other direction, said Mr T. D. Burnett, M.P.. when addressing the children. It was not true. Geraldine was still an important centre. It was one of the most beautiful districts he had seen in both islands. Great cities and great populations would not be safe in the future and city planners and builders would have to spread the people over the countrysides. To-day the world was in flames and Germany was trying to destroy British democracy. New Zealand’s part, as well as at the front, was producing for the Allies and he asked the children to decide during their holidays how they could play their part in some small way. The chief aim of education was to grow up a good citizen in the fight for democracy, he concluded. The headmaster (Mr J. J. McGuigan), who conveyed Christmas greetings to the pupils, .announced the winners of Mr Burnett's prize for an essay on "Early and Modern Geraldine,” as follows: Nita Crotty 1, Edna Parish 2, James Bowkett 3.

Other speakers were the Mayor (Mr D. C. McKechnie), the chairman of

the Geraldine County Council (Mr K Mackenzie) and the chairman of the School Committee (Mr A. M. Fyfe). Prize List Dux of the secondary department. Nita Crotty; dux of the primary department, Clarence Mitchell; Colin Couling Memorial Prize (Form 1 boy). Guy McColl; Pearson Memorial (boy), Douglas Gale; Pearson Memorial (girl), Marie Grierson; headmaster’s prize, mast sensi’ le and useful boy in the playground, Nelson. Merit Prizes—Secondary: Va, Anthony Grayburn. Edna Parish; Vb. Gwenda Sherratt; IV, Raymond Johnson, Isabel Hearn, John McColl; Illa, Peter Grayburn, Marjorie King; IHb, Owen Neutze, Dorothy Nutsford Intermediate: Form 11, Clarence Mitchell; Form I, Norman Eathorne, Olwyn Hughes. Primary: Std. IV. Kenneth Maister, Elizabeth Parr; Std. 111, Ralph Wylie. Eileen Hutt; Std. 11, Lester Bell, Helen Ashby; Std. I, Ross Titheridge, Margaret Armstrong. “SUEZ” "Suez,” which will be screened at Geraldine to-night and to-morrow night at 8.15, tells the story of de Lesseps, portrayed by Tyrone Power, whose heart was torn by two great loves. One woman, Annabella, ever at his side wanting everything he could give; one, Loretta Young, haunting him with the image of lips and arms denied him. Yet his flaming vision and courage lashed men on to fight the choking sands, tame the wild Bedouins and face the dread black simoon ip all its savage fury.

A meeting of Hilton residents interested in forming patriotic and farewell committees will be held in the Hilton Hall on Saturday, December 16. at 8 p.m.

“Procter’s," the Premier Opticians Christchurch, will be making theii

next professional visit to Geraldine early in the New Year, when they may be consulted on all defects of eyesight at the Crown Hotel. Appointments can now be made by ringing Mi Morris Williams, chemist, ’phone 81. ..