Riccarton Records

Star (Christchurch), Issue 18786, 15 June 1929, Page 26 (Supplement)

Riccarton Records

By Special Correspondent of the ** Star.**

BOROUGH COUNCIL JOTTINGS. < Councillors are taking their job very seriously. Monday night’s meeting concluded just before the clock struck twelve! And some ratepayers reckon that councillors do little or nothing. Recently the Health Department called upon the Riccarton Borough Council to prosecute certain butchers in the borough for not carrying out regulations under the Health Act. It is a fact that in this borough the meat retailing establishments are about as modern as they can well be, and a credit to the owners. The Borough Council replied to the Department that the local butchers refused to carry out certain works on the ground that similar businesses in the city of Christchurch were apparently exempt from the requirements of the Health Act. To this letter Dr Telford, Medical Health Officer, has replied that he will ascertain if exceptions are made in the

city, and that, if the allegations made are true, action will be taken to ensure that the provisions of the regulations are enforced. He added: “No borough is exempt froxn compliance with the [ said regulation; in fact, if a local authority fails to enforce this regulation provision exists for its enforcement by the Board of Health at the cost of the delinquent local authority.” No action will be taken by the council at present. The paths through Ilagley Park, from Deans Avenue to Lincoln Road, are used a good deal by residents who walk to the city and by Riccarton pupils of the West Christchurch School. In wet weather they are very slippery, and the Borough Council suggests that the Domain Board should gravel them Complaints are made that on Wednesdays the streets in the vicinity of Addington saleyards are blocked by motor-cars, despite the liberal provision of parking places. An effort will be made to obtain some sort of order and a better clearance in the various thoroughfares. ELECTRICAL CURRENT FOR WATER HEATING. “ Twelve months ago,” said the Town Clerk at Monday’s council meeting, “ 1

reported to the council that some consumers were using water-heaters during hours when they had expressly agreed not to. At that time we caught ten consumers at it and disconnected them. Certain of them have been re-connected, and others compelled to go on to the continuous service rate. Our load now indicates again that water-heaters are being abused. We made an inspection last Saturday night. We caught three out of four, and disconnected these three consumers. The council is suffering considerable loss from this practice What will we do,” he asked, “ with the people we catch ? Strong measures will have to be taken to keep people from abusing the scheme and from breaking the agreements which they have signed.” These consumers were on the night service, from 10 p.m. to 7 a.m., and in addition they were at present allowed to use the current during all daylight hours on Satu -day and Sunday. One who was caught a year ago was put on the continuous service. Finding that rather expensive, he asked recently to be re-admit-ted to the night service rate. This was granted, and he was one of the offenders detected last Saturday night! The council had power to cut off all light and power in these cases, and the agreement signed by the consumers clearly stated it. It would serve them right to be cut off altogether. Councillor Malcolmson said the electrical engineer had an ingenious device I for detecting these breaches, which amounted really to theft. In answer to Councillor Wood, who said that some people did not use the heaters in winter time, the electrical engineer said that if they used the 'service for even a quarter of an hour

during peak load time the council would have to pay £2 10s for the extra current. When a heater was left on during peak hours it caused the council a loss absolutely disproportionate to the amount of current consumed. It was decided that for a first offence the consumer be disconnected for a month, for a second offence three months, with a re-connection fee of £1: and that prosecution be brought in ! certain cases. It was further affirmed ! that the privilege of daylight service on Saturdays and Sundays was subject ' to instant cancellation in all cases.

PUT IT IN THE “ RECORDS” When the Borough Council was discussing the best way of putting certain information before the ratepayers. Councillor Wise, who knows the borough thoroughly, advised his colleagues H “ Put it in the * Records,’ ” adding that “ pretty well everyone in Riccar ton reads Saturday’s “ Star.” METHODIST ANNIVERSARY. The eighteenth anniversary of the Clarence Street Methodist Church will be celebrated on Sunday next. The choir have been preparing for the occasion, and anthems will be rendered. Mrs Kerr, of Sumner, will be the soloist. The anniversary tea and concert have been postponed to the following week owing to the Mounsey Memorial concert being held on the originally fixed date. The hour of the tea and social will be advertised in these columns next Saturday.

RICCARTON VILLAGE WESLEY CLUB.

Last Monday evening, at the Riccarton Village Methodist Church, the Wesley "Club held its fortnightly meeting, the principal item being a debate on the subject, “ That the Wife Should Hold the Purse.” The speakers for the affirmative were the Misses A Pettigrew (leader), C. M’Allister and M. Clements; for the negative, Messrs C. Marsh (leader). L. Clements and L. Marsh. The Rev Jack and Mr C. Pilling acted as judges. Each speaker made effective points, and altogether the debate was most interesting. The judges gave the' result as a draw, Miss

M’Allister being named as the best speaker. WHARENUI SCHOOL. The monthly meeting of the Whaxenui School Committee was held on Tuesday. There were present Mesdames Knight and Buckett, Messrs D. Swanston (chairman), L. J. Rowell (hon secretary), C. Hansen, G. J. Cullen, G. W. Rylatt, C. L. Thompson and Mr Gates, head master. Apology was accepted from Mr M’Leod, who was absent in Auckland. The head master reported i the roll was now 430 and the ave attendance 392, 22 scholars had been admitted during the last fortnight and 3 had left. Metal was now being spread on the grounds where needed, and three fire extinguishers provided by the board had been installed in the school. With regard to the swimming twentyeight certificates had been received and would be officially presented to those who swam certain distances. GIRL GUIDES. With the object of obtaining funds to assist the Girls Guides of Riccarton the Riccarton Committee held a sale of cakes and produce at Everybody’s Theatre on Saturday morning last. As a result of the effort the funds of the Guides will benefit by quite a substantial amount. Mrs H. G. Livingstone (president) and Mesdames 11. S. S. Kyle, F. S! Wilding, Walker and Y’hitta (vice-presidents) were responsible for the success of the stall.