Local and General News

Timaru Herald, Volume CXLIX, Issue 21867, 21 January 1941, Page 4

Local and General News

Gifts to Library At a meeting of the Timaru Borough Council Library Committee it was resolved that letters of thanks be sent to Mr D. S. Kemshed for 50 books on the history of economics, and also to Mrs Watkins for a donation of gramophone records and a postcard collection from the estate of the late Mr A. E. A. Watkins. Literature for Soldiers At the meeting of the Timaru Borough Council last night, Or. P. B. Foote said that in a recent letter a soldier stationed abroad had complained of the acute shortage of reading matter. The men were Isolated and reading matter of any description would be welcomed. On Or. Foote’s suggestion it was decided that the chairman of the Library Committee, Cr. J. S. Satterthwaite, and the librarian, Miss A. K. Elliot, should arrange for the dispatch of a supply of reading matter which was not required further at' the library, in addition to anything which might be done by the Patriotic Society. Children’s Court Three cases involving six boys were dealt with in the Children’s Court yesterday. Associated with the Magistrate (Mr H. Morgan) were Mrs P. C. Vinnell and Mr W. Thomas. Charged with breaking a window in an unoccupied house, four boys were admonished and discharged. A fine of 2/6 was imposed on a boy who rode a cycle at night without a light. Another boy, charged with the theft of a box of cartridges from a Timaru firm, was admitted to supervision for 12 months. .Borough Electrical Engineer Nineteen applications have been received for the position of Timaru Borough electrical engineer to replace the late Mr A. E. A. Watkins. At the meeting of the Council last night the Omnibus and Electricity Committee recommended that three applicants be invited to wait on the Council at a special meeting on January 28 before the appointment was made. After a discussion in committee it was decided that the councillors who had not seen the applications should be given an opportunity to do so, and that the names of additional candidates to be interviewed, if any, be submitted at a special meeting of the Council on Thursday evening. Damaged Cell Window James Duncan, North Street, a machinist, appeared before Mr H. Morgan, SAI., at the Timaru Magistrate’s Court yesterday on charges of drunkenness and of breaking a window of a cell at the Police Station. Constable A. S. Chiles said that Duncan was arrested on Saturday night after causing a disturbance in North Street. Witness visited the accused in the cell at midnight, and 10 minutes later hea«d a crash. Returning, he found that Duncan had pulled the grill away from a cell window and smashed the glass. He was bleeding at the wrist and the, injury necessitated medical attention. Duncan was convicted and fined 10/- on the charge of drunkenness and ordered to pay £1 for damanges to the cell window. Traffic Staff Congratulated In his report to the Timaru Borough Council last night, Mr W. H. Osborne, Caroline Bay supervisor, said that the parking of cars on New Year’s Day had been carried out so satisfactorily that the acting Senior Traffic Inspector, Mr D. Cameron, had asked him to congratulate Mr J. Shaw and his fellowworkers on the excellence of the arrangements, and the successful parking of such a huge fleet of cars, about 1550 in number. The new parking area proved of great value, as without it the northern area would have been overcrowded. It was estimated that from 1900 to 2000 cars were parked between the Viaduct and the Marine Parade area. The Council congratulated the staff on the control of the traffic during the holiday period. Film for Patriotic Purposes Advice was received from Mr G. A. Hayden, secretary of the National Patriotic Fund Board by the Umaru Borough Council last night, that the Government had made available the film, “One Hundred Crowded Years” to raise money for patriotic purposes. The film had been made by the Tourist and Publicity Department to mark the centenary of New Zealand and was of exceptional Interest to the people of the Dominion. Mr Hayden said that before arranging a definite itinerary he would be pleased to receive an assurance that the Council would be prepared to grant permission for a Sunday night screening of the film at a reasonable charge to the public. The Council agreed to grant permission for a Sunday night screening provided it was held at a time when it would not interfere with the church services. Motor Camp Regulations Although the Council had refused to grant a permit a number of motor camping parties had taken up sites in Virtue Avenue during the holidays, said Cr. P. B. Foote at the meeting of the Timaru Borough Council last night. In the absence of the Mayor, Mr W. G. Tweedy, he had had Inquiries made and the Inspector had been informed that as no charge was being made for the use of the sites the motor camp health regulations did not apply. There were anomalies in the Act, which, for health reasons, should obviously be removed. The Mayor, who endorsed Cr. Foote’s remarks, said that it was essential that the position should be rectified, although no doubt the Council could take action under certain of its own by-laws. It was decided that a report be secured on the matter, and that representations should be made urging the elimination of the anomalies in the Act. Broken Glass on Bay “The worst feature of the holiday season has been the amount of broken bottles which have been thrown about the sands and grounds,” said Mr W. H. Osborne, supervisor at Caroline Bay, in his report to the Timaru Borough Council last night. “In spite of the utmost vigilance,” he continued, “this broken glass is a menace to the safety of the throngs of bathers and the thousands of children who visit the Bay. May I ask the Reserves Committee to consider the advisability of erecting notices, offering a rewardto any person giving Information which leads to the prosecution of persons who wilfully contribute to this great danger.” The Reserves Committee decided that the staff be asked to obtain information, if possible, regarding anyone responsible for breaking bottles in order that action may be taken. On the proposal of Cr. P. B. Foote it was decided to offer a reward of £5 for Information leading to the conviction of any person breaking bottles at Caroline Bay.