MAIN TRUNK

Wanganui Chronicle, Volume 73, Issue 449, 15 December 1930, Page 3

MAIN TRUNK

HUNTERVILLE PROGRESSIVE LEAGUE A meeting of Hunterville and trict Progressive League was held on Friday night, when there was a poor attendance. Officers were elected as follow: Patron, Mr T. A. iDuncan, president, Mr R. M. S. Jones, vice-presidents, Messrs W- H. Bowick, G. B. Gregory and G O’Brien, secretary and treasurer, Mr W. A. Bowick, committee, Messrs Alex Dalziell, W. C- Smith, R. K. Simpson, A- V. Sutton, G. Stratford, W. Johnson. A. Kilmistcr. The secretary’s honorarium was fixed at £5 ss. It was decided to meet monthly on the third Thursday in each month. The question of affiliation with Wanganui Development League and the election of delegates was held over until next meeting.

UNEMPLOYED COMMITTEE

At the meeting of the Progressive League on Friday night it was decided to appoint an Unemployment Commit tee and the committee of the League was appointed a committee with representatives from other bodies in the district. The secretary was instructed to write and endeavour to obtain a vote of money in aid of unemployed men in the district. The secretary was also instructed to write to the County Council, Rabbit Board, Churches, Farmers’ Union, Legion of Frontiersmen, Cemetery Trustees, Putai Ngahere Domain Board, asking that representatives be appointed from those bodies It was decided to meet on Thursday next at 7.30 p.m.

RAETIHI

PUBLIC LIBRARY CONTROL AND MANAGEMENT. When the subscribers and members of the Raetihi Library met in the annual meeting in November 1920, it was decided to ask the then Town Board to assume control of the affairs of the library and act as the controlling authority so as to obtain a subsidy from the Education Department. The meeting also requested the Town Board, after accepting the control, to hand the management back to the society of subscribers and members. In December of the same year the Town Clerk notified the Library Society or management committee that the Town Board would take over the control in terms of the committee’s letter. Every year since then the subscribers and members have elected a committee to manage the affairs, and the Town Board and its successors the Borough Council appointed a Library Committee when the other committee were appointed. The Library Society or Management Committee has never had a banking account or possession of funds. The Town Clerk has always been the treasurer and the money went into the Borough Council’s funds and all payments were made by the Council. At the meeting on Thursday the Library Committee of thp Council recommended the payment of the sum of £2, being the librarian’s salary for four months. The amount was duly passed but several councillors remarked on the small remuneration. Cr. Harris, who is the chairman of the Library Committee, explained that the reason could be found in the interest taken by the young lady in the work of the library.

In accordance with notice of motion the Mayor, Mr H. W. Littlewood, moved that the Council take over the property and control of the Public Library, heretofore controlled by the Library Committee for the following reasons:—

1. That the Council do now account to the Auditor General annually for the funds of the library.

2. That the auditor general has requested the Mayor to appoint the town clerk, secretary and treasurer for the reason that the present system is unsatisfactory

The Mayor asked for a seconder and after some hesitation Cr. Baird said he would second the motion to enable it to be discussed but he would not say he would vote for it.

The Mayor said they would agree the present Library Committee had done good work but the position was most unsatisfactory. The control and inanagenrent of the public library should be under the Council. The auditor-general had made pointed remarks about the matter.

In answer to a question the Mayor said the Government subsidy was paid to the library, through the Council. Cr. Sigley contended, that, as the Government had announced that there would not be a subsidy this year there would not be any responsibility on the Council and they would not have to account for any money. Considerable discussion ensued, the Mayor remarking that he was allowing latitude so that full consideration could be given to the matter. Cr Harris, chairman of the Library Management Committee as well as the Borough Council Committee, explained that the library could have a set of account boobs opened that would show every detailed transaction. This could be done and the books handed to the auditor The Town Clerk was overworked at the present time and he should not be overburdened with more duties. The Mayor contended that his idea was to help the clerk, who was the treasurer and who had to keep the accounts for the library. Cr Baird said he could quite understand the present position. It was evident the Council had some kind of control. He was one of a sub-com-mittee who purchased some books. The Council considered and voted a small payment of £2 that evening. Cr. Fagg would like to know the legal position. Cr. Sigley moved an amendment to the effect that the control and management be left as at present until the restoration of the Government subsidy. This was seconded by Cr McDonald and carried by 7 to 3.

Cr. Baird moved an addition and that a full statement of the work of the library be rendered to the Council every quarter and if this is not considered satisfactory the Council reserve the right to take further steps in the matter at any time. This was carried by eight votes to tw GENERAL. Owing to the* holidays the Borough Council agreed to hold its next meeting on January 3, 1931.

No cases of infectious diseases were notified to the Health Department during the last month. The inspector, Mr J. M. Swain, made 27 visits and served two requisitions. He also took four samples of milk and sent them to the Government analysis!. He inspected milk carts and containers used for conveying milk for sale.

During last month there was only one stoppage on the Raetihi main power line. At 4.10 am. on November 26, overhanging trees came in contact with an earth wire and shut off the plant, per medium of the protective relays. The service was restored at 4.45 a.m. on the main section of the line and at 8.20 on the Ohakune line. Repairs to steps at the power house’have been completed. The installation of the earth leakage and protective relays at Ohakune Power Station to protect the RaetihiOhakune feeder line is now in hand, and should be completed in about a fortnight. The Mayor reported to the Council on Thursday that Mr A. E. Willoughby had made a donation of £3 10s for improvements to the camping site for motorists. This work was to be carried out by the unemployed and the subsidy of £2 for £1 was to be asked. The Council has just finished spending £lO on the site and it was agreed to ask the Wanganui Automobile Association for a subsidy to enable further work to be carried out under the unemployed scheme.

THE WATER SUPPLY

STETHOSCOPE TO BE PURCHASED The quantity of water consumed in the borough of Raetihi has been the cause of much discussion and the subject of much consideration by the Council and staff. The electrical engineer reported to the Council that in October last 2,555,072 gallons of water were pumped into the supply tank. This was an increase of 874,320 gallons on the previous October. He was given authority to make a test and did so, the report of which was given in the

“Chronicle,” whose representative was present when the test was made by the engineers. The electrical engineer made a special report to the council on which he declared that there can not be any error in the quantity of water shown as pumped and delivered into the storage tank and the tank and pump main revealed no sign of leakage. The engineer gave the gallons pumped for the various months since January, 1929. Sometimes when the quantity this year was compared with last year there was an increase and sometimes a decrease. September this year showed a decrease of 374,144 gallons, while October showed an increase of 874.320 gallons and November showed a decrease, the figures being for 1929 no less than 2,245,456 gallons as against 1,859,472 gallons this year.

The electricity committee recommended the Council to adopt the engineer’s special report.

The Works foreman submitted a report on the matter, as it came under his department, the electrical engineer only being concerned with the electricity consumed by the motor which drives the pumps. The foreman stated that in conjunction with the electrical engineer a test was made with the pumps during the night of Monday, November 17. This test proved beyond all doubt that the pumps arc delivering more water to the reservoir than has previously been claimed by the engineer. The foreman gave some data regarding the consumption of water. A meter was installed in the supply pipe of what was considered a large consumer. A reading was taken at the end of two months, which gave 79,503 gallons, three and a-half months later the meter read 151,393 gallons, at the end of 10 months from the time it was installed 216,700 gallons had passed through it. This gave an average of 39,751 gallons per month from the first reading of 21,670 gallons per month over the 10 months. He gave further figures of private consumers which are dependent solely on the borough water supply. There are four cottages supplied through a meter, the total number of gallons consumed by these cottages in twelve months from November 18. 1929, to November 24, 1930, was 118.990 gallons. This is an average per cottage per month of 2,479 gallons, or 81£ gallons per day consumed. He also gives figures relating to the water supplied to the swimming baths last season. A meter was installed on a bypass of the main valve, and this was used at times other than filling or cleaning operations. The amount of water that passed through the meter was .189,596 gallons for the season. In addition the baths were filled through the main valve eight times, equalling 70,000 gallons per fill, with two fills for cleaning during the season. This makes the total consumed during the season 889,596 gallons. The big variation in the pumping figures from month to month in the engineer’s report is conclusive evidence that the water mains arc not leaking to any great extent, otherwise the pumping figures would maintain approximately the same level, or show a progressive increase. It is not generally known that a half-inch tap turned full on will deliver 300 gallons of water per hour. Under the pressure and conditions we have in the borough, a tap or a number of taps left running for any length of time can soon add considerably to the pumping figures for the month. It seems to him the only successful way to deal with the water consumption is to meter the large consumers and charge a flat rate over the rest, until such times as meters can be installed. There are 210 connections and taking them on the average consumption of the four cottages, we get a figure of 520,590 gallons per month, only one quarter of the average pumping, and out of that 210 connections 50 per cent were using rain water, and have the town water as a standby only.

Inspections from time to time have revealed sundry wastages such as tanks filled from pipes without ball ’cocks attached, ]eaky taps, overflowing cisterns and continuous flows in lavatories. He would point out that it would be possible to calculate the amount of water used by the people connected with the sewer drainage. If this was carried out it would be necessary to make a test of the flow over a period of at least 24 hours.

The Council received an offer from an expert who was prepared to make a thorough test. He explained how it could be done. He had done it for other places and quoted Invercargill. His fee would bp £lO 10s per week and travelling expenses.

The Mayor said the matter was serious and drastic steps would have to be taken. A lot of money was being wasted. Valuable juice was being wasted and it could not be allowed to continue. Metering would have to he done, and those who were getting more than their share of the water would have to pay for it. He did not like to suggest anything in the nature of increased taxation but it would have to be done. He

would move that the electricity committee bring down a scheme for metering at next meeting. This was afterward altered to the works and electricity committees conjoined. Cr. Sigley said the figures were staggering if they were correct. The Mayor said he believed they were correct.

Cr. Sigley thought, the Council should invest in a water stethoscope or whatever was the name of the instrument used by the expert. The foreman said he could use it ad find if there were any leaks.

Cr. Anderson suggested there might be a leak in a main that did not show on the surface, but other councillors did not agree.

After discussion it was resolved to get quotations for a water stethoscope and if the price did not exceed the vicinity of £3 that one be purchased immediately and a full report as to the result be made at the next meeting.

TAIHAPE

SCHOOL SPORTS Tin* annual Taihape. District High School sports were held on the Oval Domain on Thursday. Fine weather prevailed and all the events were keenly contested. Results arc as follows: primary School Boys. Standard .111 to Form 11. 75 Yards Junior Handicap.—J. Little .1, B. Niven 2, IL Thompson 3. 220 Yards Senior Handicap.—F. Graham .1, J. O'Brien 2, E. Palmer 3. 440 Yards Handicap.—R. W. Williams 1, I. McKenzie 2, A. McDonald 3. 100 Yards Junior Handicap—J. Little 1, A. McDonald 2, L. Shergold 3. Junior Relay Race. —H. Watson, C. Keats, Jj- Walker, H. Easton 1. Senior High Jump. —F. Graham and E. Palmer (dead heat) 1, R. Williams 3. Height 4ft. Gin. Primary Relay Race.—J. Esler, J' Gregory, E. Palmer, R. Williams; and D. Baird, J. Beiliss, L. Shergold, F. Graham (dead-heat) 1. Junior Bicycle Race.—G. Quigley 1, R. Hesketh 2, S. Bowie 3. Senior Bicyclo Race.—J. Esler 1, T. Robinson 2, E. Palmer 3. 100 Yards Senior Champions—p.— Esler 1, Williams 2, Beiliss 3. 75 Yards Junior Championship.—Graham 1, Watson 2, Shergold 3. Sack Race.—C. Keats J. E. Walker 2, B. Niven 3. Senior Tyre Race. —J. Beiliss 1, D. Baird 2, N. Roberton 3. Junior Tyre Race.—L. O’Brien 1, P. Ford 2, F. Baird 3. Primary School Girls. 50 Yards Senior Handicap.—M. Keats 1, R. Robertson 2, E. McMahon 3.

50 Yards Junior Handicap.—N. Blockley 1, M. Keats 2, R. Robertson 3. Senior Sack Race.—R. Robertson 1, V. Fulljames 2, A. Sexton 3. Junior Sack ace.—E. McMahon 1, N. Blockley 2, M. Keats 3. 75 Yards Senior Handicap.—R. Robertson 1, E. McMahon 2, V. Fulljames 3. 75 Yards Junior Handicap.—V. Fi 11jaines .1, M. Smith 2, M. Keats 3. Senior Skipping race.—K. Quilter 1, D. Jensen 2, B Fleet 3. Junior Relay Race. —Z. Graham, M. Keats, E. McMahon, N. Blockley 1. Primary Relay Race.—V. Fulljames, K. Quilter, R. Robinson, J. Marlow 1. Thread the Needle Race.—Kathleen Quilter and J. Beiliss 1. Three-legged Race. —E. McMahon and M. Keats 1. Wheelbarrow Race.—V. Fulljames and E McMahon 1. Senior Tvre Race.—E. McMahon 1, K. Quilter 2. Junior Tyre Race. —M. Keats 1, V. Fulljames 2. Egg and Spoon Race.—K. Quilter 1, E. McMahon 2 D. Hall 3. Standard I. and IL (Boys and Girls). Boys 50 Yards Race.—B. Hay 1, J. Cunningham 2, Wong Nam 3. Girls 50 Yards Race. —J. Graham 1, E. Schofield 2, J. Skews 3. Boys Potato Race. —Hall 1, Farquhar 2, Howden 3. Girls Potatoe Race.—Jean, McDonald 1, Peggy Bird 2, Lily Miller 3. Boys Relay Race. —B. Dunn, R. Smith and J. Farquhar 1. Girls Relay Race.—Joyce Reeves, Joan Skews and E. Schofield 1. Boys Sack Race.—Robertson 1, P. Ormond 2, H. Ormond 3. Girls Sack Race. —Jean McDonald 1, June Graham 2, Connie Greenlees 3. Boys 75 Ya? Race.—Cunningham 1, Baker 2, Harding 3. Girls 75 Yards Race.—P. Baird 1, J. Graham 2, E. Schofield 3. Boys Three-legged Race.—Quilter and Cunningham 1. Girls Three-legged Race.—June Graham and Jean McDonald 1. Boys Wheelbarrow Race.—P. Ormond and H. Ormond 1. “ Mix-Up” Race.— June Graham, June White and Ngaire Thurston L Boys Tyre Race.—Quilter 1, Harding 2, Hall 3. Girls Skipping Race.—Connie Greenlees .1, June, Graham 2, June White 3. Girls Running Backwards Race. — Joan Skews 1, Peggy Baird 2, Jean (

Streeter 3. Boys and Girls, 5 to 8 Years. Boys Race, 5 years.—Jackie Bowick 1, George King 2, Keith Murphy 3. Girls Race, 5 years.—Pat Graham 1. Peggy Cunningham 2, Kathleen Winchcombe 3. Boys Race, 6 years.—Clive Pedersen 1, Maurice Curtis 2, Reggie Martin 3. Girls Race, 6 years.—Gwen Robertson

1, Molly Woodcock 2, Gloria Moss 3. Boys Race, 7 years.—Murray Pedersen 1, Rex Sinclair 2, Ronnie Schofield

Girls Race, 7 years.—Doris Miller 1, Hilda Bird 2, Edna Bailey 3. Boys Race, 8 years.—Rangi Mataparua 1, Malcolm Boden 2, Leo Jensen 3.

Girls Rae., S years.—Pat Smith 1, Gladys Gardner 2, Peggy Hill 3. Boys Wheelbarrow Race, 5 years.— Les Patrick and Jack Bowick 1. Girls Three-legged Race, 5 years.— Joan Sainty and Edna Smith 1. Boys Wheelbarrow race, 6 years. — Archie Hobman and C. Pedersen 1. Girls Three-legged Race, 6 years.— Gwen Shergold and Betty Winchcombe I.

Boys Wheelbarrow Race, 7 years. — Keith Hay and Basil Thomas 1.

Girls Three-legged Race, 7 years.— Doris Miller and Ivy Murrell 1. Boys Wheelbarrow Race, 8 years. — Leslie Quillinan and Teddy Smith 1. Girls Three-legged Race, 8 years.— Gladys Gardner and Peggy Hill 1. Boys Three-legged Race, 5 years.— Jimmie Wilson and Keith Murphy 1. Girls Skipping Race, 5 years.— Peggy Cunningham 1, E. Nedham 2, Pat Graham 3.

Boys Three-legged Race, 6 years.— Reggie Martin and Archie Hobinan 1. Girls Skipping Race, 6 years.—Hilda Bird 1, Gwen Robertson 2, Gwen Shergold 3. Boys Three-legged Race, 7 years.— Gavin Curtis and George Whale 1. Girls Skipping Race, 7 years.—Doris Miller 1, Ngaire Fitzherbcrt 2, Hilda Bird 3.

Boys Three-legged Race, 8 years.— Rangi Mataparea and Ronnie Schofield

Girls Skipping Race, 8 years.—Peggy Hill 1, Joyce Linton 2, Patty Smith 3. Secondary School Boys

75 Yards Handicap.—D. Jarvis 1, T. Sexton 2 # C. Dick 3.

75 Yards Champions? ip.—L. Davey 1, H. Darvill 2, A. Hurst 3. Won by inches.

100 Yards Championship.—L. Davey 1, H. Darvill 2, A. Hurst 3. Won by inches.

100 Yards Handicap.—D. Jarvis 1, T. Sexton 2, F. Gregory 3.

220 Yards Championship.—L. Davey 1, H. Darvill 2, A. Hurst 3.

220 Yards Handicap.—D. Jarvis 1, F. Gregory 2, C. Dick 3.

880 Yards Handicap and Champion ship.—Jarvis l t Hurst 2, Davey 3.

High Jump. —A. Hurst I, L. Davey 2, R. Christensen 3. Height 4ft. 11 in. Long Jump.—D. Jarvis 1. T. Sexton 2, H. Gregory 3. Distance 16ft. sin. Throwing the Cricket Ball.—L. Darvill 1, Bekl and Gregory (dead-heat) 2. Distance 64yds 2ft.

Secondary School Girls. 100yds. championship.—D. Abbott 1 J. Masters 2, O. Williams 3.

race.—A. Prime and E. Bailey 1. # 50yds. championship.—D. Abbott 1, J. Masters 2, O. Williams 3. Three-legged race.—O Williams and H. Masters.

Egg and Spoon Race (championship). —D. Abbott 1, J. Masters, O. Williams (dead heat) 2. Egg and Spoon (handicap) race.— J. Bicknell 1. M. Phillips 2, G. Reid 3. Skipping Race (championship).— D Abbott 1, J. Masters 2, O. Williams 3. Skipping (handicap) race—H Masters 1, G. Reid 2, P. Rodman 3. Running Backwards Race (cham ponship).—O. Williams 1, J. Ryan 2, D. Abbott 3.

Basket Ball (goal throwing).— J, Masters 1, O. Hunter 2, 0. Williams 3. Sack Race.—J. Ryan 1 M. Wilshcr 2. A. Prime 3.

MAJESTIC THEATRE

Filled with colourful ad venture, thrilling drama, aching suspense, heartv humor, . “With Byrd at the South Pole” is showing on Saturday and Monday next, is one of the strangest and most interesting pictures ever made. It is the living record of the men who battled the ferocious elements of the Antarctic for twenty months, and returned to tell what they saw. The entire picture was made in the Bay of Whales, in the area of 750 miles surrounding the South Pole. The daring flight across the Pole is one of the big thrills in the story. The picture shows the life, the work, the play of the men during those twenty months practical isolation. The humorous incidents of their every day life are relieved in film. A picture that is sure to fill the theatre on both nights of showing. Reservations may be made at Dashwood’s.

OHAKUNE

BITUMEN WORK As soon as the weather definitely settles the Wnimarino County engineer. Mr H. L. Hogg, proposes to commence the bitumen work on the OhakuneRaetihi road. The materials are being ordered and the plant prepared to be in readiness for work on short notice. When the plant Is in the locality the county engineer proposes top-dressing portions of the existing work and generally dressing the roadway.

The need for a more comprehensive bitumen programme is being made more apparent each year. Traffic is increasing to such an extent that it is a very difficult matter to keep the ordinary macadam roads in reasonably good order without heavy expenditure. The County engineer recommend ed to the Council on Saturday that a definite annual allocation should be

made for this eloss of work when conditions again become normal. Ohakune County Roads. The County Engineer, Mr H. L. Hogg, reported to the Council meeting on Saturday that the repairs to the Wnngaehu bridge. Wangaehu Valley road, have boon delayed owing to nn accident tn nne of the bridgemen. The work will be c inpleted as soon as possible. The Rangataua road is being trimmed up and repair metal delivered in various localities. The County Engineer says the request for metalling on the Ngapakahi road could probably bo mot if those interested contributed either cash or labour to load the motor lorries.