SOUTH CANTERBURY.

Press, Volume LXI, Issue 18407, 13 June 1925, Page 5

SOUTH CANTERBURY.

TIMARU. Social and Personal. Commander the Hon. Guy Stopford, U.N., and Mrs Stopford, who are the guests of Mrs Neville Jameson (Otumarama), will Jeave to-day on a short visit, to Mt. Cook. Miss Alisoii Bristol (North street) has returned from a Visit to Mrs Robert Ensor (Rangiota). Miss K. Byrne loft Timaru yesterday to •spend a short holiday in Christchurch. , Miss ilester Brown (Avenue road) left on Thursday for Christehurch, en route for Melbourne. Miss Cox, who lias been staying with the Misses Cox (Nile street) returned to Christehurch yesterday. Sir Thomas Mackenzie arrived in Timaru from the North yesterday, and will go on tp Dunedin to-day. • Madame Winnie Fraser will arrive from Oamaru to-day, and will be the guest of Mrs Mansel (Nelson terrace). On Thursday night M,iss Beatrice Webster (Nelson terrace) gave an enjoyable liridge party in honour of her gnest, Miss E. White (New Plymouth). Others, who played Were Misses Greta, and Janet Pat.erson, M. Thomson. Bourne, A. Johnston, N. Harper, Ethel le Crcn„ F. Clissold, B. Newman, and L. Hav. Miss A. Johnston won the first prize and Miss F. Clissold the consolation. Stre«t Appeal. Undaunted by the bitter cold yesterday, tho local branch of- the Commercial Travellers' Association made its annual street appeal in aid of the South Canterbury cfrphanages. Dressed in fancy costumes, reminiscent of university students' revels, the trav6l- - permitted few people to escape them in the town or on the railway station. His Excellency the Governor-General and party, passing through on their way to Christ- j church, were surrounded by a dozen costumed collectors, whose request for a donation was liberally responded to. A well-stocked stall was also conducted by a committee of ladies at the coruor of Stafford and Strathallan streets. In spito of the inclement weather conditions, the orphanages should benefit materially as a result of the appeal. Harbour Board. A special meeting of the 'Timaru Harbour Board was held yesterday to consider what ■ action should be taken with regard to the repairing or replacing of tho bucket ladder of the Board's dredge, which was seriously damaged last Tuesday. There were present: Messrs W. Haymau (chairman), J.. Bitchener, M.P., T. B. Garrick, F. • ' 11. Flatman, A. R Guild, A.F. Campbell, H. B. S. Johnstone, G. T. Dawson, J. Kennedy, W. T. Ritchie, W. H. Orbcll, E. It Isaac, and G. J, "VYallace. Tho chairman said that there appeared to be nothing to be done, under tho circumstances but to lay the dredgo up until a new ladder could be obtained or the present one repaired. Fortunately the dredge had just finished' deepening the channel, and was cutting new ground when the accident occurred. The ladder had always'been weak at the point where? it ha:d been damaged, and had frequently been patched.

In reply to questions, the resident engineer (Mr F. W. Clarke) expressed tho opinion that the silting which would take place in tho channel whilo tho dredge was laid up would not int'erforo with the working of tho There was now a depth af 30 feet, of water .in the channel.

The resident engineer reported that .on Tuesday/, \yhen dredging, at the' extreme end of ..the, channel the bucket, ladder had been ba,dly damaged in tho middle. At first it seemed that ,the best proposition would bo a jiew ladder,, but after further consideration, and. taking into account the age of the vessel, ho was doubtful .if if would. be a sound and economical policy, to scrap- tho present structure without considering the feasibility of repairing it, making it much stronger where it had collapsed, . and reinforcing elsewhere, where necessary. If this were done, it would be good for the term of usefulness of the dredge. Messrs Stevenson and Cook had quoted a price of £BOO for the repair work. The dredge master 'stated in his rer port that the ladder had hit tho maiden bottom and puckered both cheeks and top angles at tho middle." The sea had been smooth with a swell' at times, such as was usually met with at that part of tho channel outside tho shelter of the Eastern Extension. Considerable difficulty was experienced at this point in getting the anchors to hold, .and one had been dragged on an average each day. In his opinion the swell had slackened the centre chain -&y dragging the anchor, and before the ladder could be lifted the second swell ; ran it on to the hard ground.. Fortunately the , mishap, had taken place at low water, and tho rising ticjo had. ..enabled the dredge to be berthed at ■ the wharf drawing over 30 feet at tho ladder end.

After a lengthy discussion, it was decided, on the motion of Mr Bitchener, .that the Marino Department should bo asked to grant the dredge'g annual certificate one month oilier, and that tho drodge should.be sent to Port Chalmers for docking and repair on September Ist. -