TAIHAPE

Wanganui Chronicle, Volume 77, Issue 34, 9 February 1934, Page 3

TAIHAPE

AMATEUE ATHLETICS A meeting of the Taihape Amateur Athletic Club was held on Tuesday evening, when there were present, Messrs. T. Auld (president) H. D. Bond, J. Bridson, A. P. Scccombe, C. L. Mullany, R. Kiely, J. Me. Donald, R. Finn, Dr. Kronfeld and the Secretary (Mr. F. H. Bray). Mr. A. A. Nattrais, chairman of the Wellington Cvcling centre was also in attendance and explained the constitution of the recently-formed New Zealand Amateur Cycling Association, and gave much useful information in re<rard to cycling. He informed the meeting that the New Zealand Amateur Cycling Championships would be held on a grass track at Wellington on Saturday February 17, and pacemakers -would be supplied for the mile and three mile events. Each Athletic centre was allowed live representatives in ca'eh race. The chairman explained that as the New Zealand Championships were set down for February 17, and Guilliard would probably be competing it would be necessary for the Taihape Club to change the date of its floodlight meeting, which had been originally fixed for February 17. No advice had yet been received from the Dwight Brothers as to whether they could compete at Taihape on their way back from the New Zealand Championships and it was for the meeting to decide whether the electric light meeting originally fixed for February 1« should be held on February 19 in the hope of getting the Dwights to appear on their wav back to Auckland, or at a later date. It was eventually decided that in the event of no information being received on Tuesday of this week from Auckland regarding the Dwight Brothers, the floodlight meeting be held on February 24. After some discussion it was decided to award trophies valued at 6/for first and 2/6 for second, for the last two ladies’ races held at the twilight sports, and also to award trophies for the ladies’ race at the twilight sports today, and tn inform ladv competitors that after today they will be competing at twilight sports meetings for a points prize to be awarded at the end of the season. It is hoped that this w r ill encourage ladv competitors to run at the twilight sports meetings and floodlight meetings. All girls who have left the Primary school are eligible to compete in the ladies’ race. A. AND P. SHOW Arrangements in connection with the 23rd annual show of the Rangitikei A. and P. Association, to be held at Taihape on March 1, were practically fin alised at a meeting of the association on Saturday, when the president (Mr. J. Webb), presided oxer a large attendance. As Messrs. Borthwick and Co. declined to alter conditions relating to the silver cup donated by them, it was decided that they be a>kcd to donate a miniature cup each year for presentation to the winner. Correspondence was received from Hon. J. G. Cobbe, Mr. A. Stuart, AI.P., and the Minister of Internal Affairs advising that the association had been allotted £2OO from the “Lucky Surprise” Ait Union. The secretary’s reply was approved. The secretary informed the meeting of the arrangements that had been made regarding judges for the show. The meeting decided to appoint Mi. K. T. C. tScott, of Marton, judge of the vegetables. • Mr. E. K. Fannin reported that the Government apiarist would judge the honev exhibits, free of cost to the association. The secretary of the Meat Board wrote in connection with the judging and consigning of fat lambs, and the secretary was deputed to attend to the details as set out in the letter. A quotation was received from the Taihape Municipal Band lor playing at tiie show and also at the open-air conceit at night. It. was decided to submit the quotation to the concert committee. BOROUGH AFFAIRS rhe resignation of Mr. E. Hob man a., an employee of the Taihape Borough Council was placed in the hands of the town clerk yesterday. The resignation was accompanied by the following letter, which has been handed to the Press for publication: — “Attached please find my resignation as an employee of your council. 1 would be pleased if you would place this and the following letter before vour council. Ln reply io your lettei of January 27 re explosives, I must point out that 1 never at any time used gelignite at the reservoir, but that 1 used dynamite. At no time on various jobs have 1 been instructed what or what not to use. 1 took it for granted that lythite was to be used because it was the cheapest. Your engineer told me it was to be used in order to economise. This explosive is claimed by the manufacturers to be double the strength of other explosives and from experience 1 find this correct. Therefore, if 1 had used four plugs of lythite it would have been quite in order, but because I used three plugs of dynamite, only half the strength, I have to face dismissal and disgrace. AA hilst on this point, 1 might point out how I came to use the dynamite. Although the engineer had instructed that lythite was to be used, he left me for three weeks on end with no supply whatever, and during this period kept at me for not pushing the job on. After wasting much time picking at a hara patch of shell rock and making very little headway, I grew tired of asking the engineer for explosives and decided to use three plugs of dynamite which I had at my home. This belonged to me and I used them at no cost or damage to anyone in the hope of loosening the shell rock a little so as to push the work on. I notice in the engineer’s report to you, dated December IS, 1933, that I told him I had received four plugs or explosives from Mr. D. Ryan. I told him that I received 34 plugs only and that T had handed the tin containing same to Mr. F. Sainty. I also informed the engineer in his office what I had done and he said that it was a

pity that the stuff had not been got rid of on the job, meaning the reservoir. I notice further that he reported that I had used explosive carelessly at the reservoir and damaged the latter. 1 am absolutely certain that not one shot was fired within 4 to 5 feet of the batter, and as the holes were made by other men, I can bring them forward to say that I was always most careful in picking the places for shots and that all were away from the batter at least the distance already mentioned. I might further mention that whilst putting in a culvert on the Alain North Road, the engineer delayed the work several days owing to his not troubling to ascertain the quantities I of material which I required to push the job ahead without any delay. He made three trips to the Valley Road mill for about 100 ft. of timber and held, me up for two days on account of not bothering to order the correct amount of shingle and cement. After holding the work up in this manner, he called at the jol; and abused me for not getting the job finished, saying that he would not be responsible for the delay and that I would have to bear the blame. Men working with me overheard this and are fully acquainted with the other facts, and they are quite willing to come forward and verify them in your presence. In returning to the reservoir, I may state that whilst on this work the engineer instructed me to work eight hours per day and not seven and ahalf as was booked up. This went on for 11 months, during which time I was given days off on pay. 1 often asked the engineer about this extra half-hour per day I was working, ana he kept putting me off by saying he would look into the matter. I am not asking for this overtime, but blame myself entirely for relying too much on the engineer. You will see by the time-sheets that some show me working 74 hours and some 8, also some nothing at all. At all times, however, I worked 8 hours, as shown on the men’s time-sheets, as they will back me up in that I was with them all the time. These statements are absolutely cor . rect and are but a few of the thing? to show that the engineer has not played the game with me. I think I hat it is only fair for the council to give mo a chance to clear myself by them holding an open inquiry at which I will bring forward witnesses to show my statements already mentioned and any which I may make at the inquiry to be true. I intend handing a copy of this letter to the Press, as I see no reason for keeping the matter a secret, seeing that the public has already seen the uncalled-for remarks passed about me through the borough reports in the Press. Hoping you will decide tc hold :i> inquiry, as you must admit that there are two sides to all arguments, and that I am entitled to n fair hearing. Thanking you in antici pation. I am. etc., F. HOLMAN. GENERAL NEWS Owing io the wet weather the garden party arranged by Airs. AV. AIcA, Duncan Ijas been postponed until to morrow (Saturday), afternoon. Horton’s free bus will leave the Post Office at 1.45 p.m. sharp. The swimming carnival and twilight sports arranged for yesterday were also postponed on account of the inclement climatic conditions.