SOUTH OTAGO NOTES

Evening Star, Issue 23679, 12 September 1940, Page 15

SOUTH OTAGO NOTES

[From Odr Correspondent] AIR FORCE QUEEN. Following the decision of the Toko- ' mairiro district to conduct a minor queen carnival to support the Air Force Queen (Miss Mary Pratt) in the big Otago Carnival, a large and representative meeting of supporters of the Bruce County queen was held on Tuesday night. Three nominations for queen were received, and Miss Joan Cochrane was finally selected, with Misses Jean Paterson (Kiness) and Cathie Sheat (Glenore) as maids of honour. The following executive committee was elected to further the Campaign :—Messrs W. T. Sheat (Glenore-Manuka, chairman), R. G. Cullen (Clahksville-Moneymore), J. Clark (Lovell’s Flat), Thos. Bishop (Hillend), A. I. Young (Waihola) A. Higgs (Glenledi), N. Drmnan (Milton boundaries), S. J. Ottrey (stock agents and buyers), Mesdames W. H. Elliott (Milhurn-Clarendon, convener Ladies Committee), and R. Sinclair (Taien Mouth district), Mr IJ. 'Walker was elected secretary-organiser, and Miss Joyce Morris treasurer. Messrs Sheat and Austin were appointed representatives on the central executive. Proposals for several attractions were diseased, and a plan of action agreed ppon. The meeting was very enthusias-

tie, and indications are that the county queen will have a lot of support. The borough queen has not yet been ■elected; -but the committee is active and an announcement is expected this-weet: MILTON borough council. ■ Milton Borough Council held its monthly meeting last night, the mayor (Mr W. J. Cockburn) presiding. The meeting was opened by the mayor reading a text and councillors repeating the Lord’s Prayer. The finance report showed a credit of £23 13s 3d on August 31.. It was agreed to donate 10s 6d to the Dunedin branch of the crippled children’s fund, and to open a subscription list. A request from the Christchurch Welcome Club for a donation was referred to the Otago Patriotic Committee with » favouarbTe recommendation. The borough solicitors notified that arrangements had been made for the water reticulation loan of £B,OOO from the Pension Fund of the National Bank of New Zealand, the interest to be 4i per cent. —Received. It was reported that a seat had been donated to the council for erection in

the business section of the town.—Donor to be thanked and his name inscribed on seat. Reference was again made to the shortage of houses in the borough, and it was decided to again make application to the State Housing Department for further houses, as the position was acute. Some discussion took place on the mater of stock being left in the salevards after sale days, and it was decided to take action to have the matter remedied. —Milton Maternity Ward.— Correspondence was received from the Secretary, South Otago Hospital, asking the council if it had any objection to an additional loan of £5,000 being raised for the purpose of erecting a maternity ward at Milton. There would be no increase in the levy this year, and probably none next year. The writer also stated that the hoard was not delaying the project, as tentative plans had been prepared and sent to the Health Department, but so far no reply had been received. —Considerable discussion of an animated nature took place, Cr A. Rennie (borough representative on the Hospital Board) stating that the hoard had that week agreed to go on with the work. He moved that no objection he raised to the new loan. —There was no seconder. —ln the course of discussion it was pointed out that the Hospital Board

had estimated for £30,000 capital expenditure for 1940-41, £6,000 of this being for the maternity ward at Milton. Local bodies had been notified of this and levied accordingly. There had been no objection; the board had the authority to ’proceed 'with the raising of the money, and there was no necessity to ask for this extra authority now. Members were agreed that it was time pressure was brought to bear on the Hospital Board, and it was eventually agreed that the board bo written to pointing out what had been estimated for, and for what local bodies had been levied, and asked to proceed with the work without further delay. It was also suggested that the board be asked to utilise the tuberculosis block, which was not being used, as a temporary children’s ward at Balclutha Hospital, and this suggestion was adopted. One councillor suggested that it would be a popular move in the district if an endeavour was made to be again brought into the Otago Board’s area, and another said it looked as if something like this would need to be done, unless Milton district got a better deal from the South Otago Board.

PERSONAL. Mr Keg. Hood, who leaves Milton shortly for camp, was yesterday the recipient of a money-belt and a sum of money from his fellow workers in the finishing department at the Bruce Woollen Mills. Mr H. Wilson made the presentation, and wished the recipient all success.