WEATHER RECORDS

Hawke's Bay Herald-Tribune, Volume 81, Issue 42, 12 November 1937, Page 7

WEATHER RECORDS

Borough Council and Work of Hastings- Recorder ANNUAL GRANT MADE "I was amaze^ at the work involved, and the wide service that. is bqiog given not oply to the people of Hastings. but to Hawke's Bay," said the Mayor of Hastings, Mr G. A. Maddison, last evening when bringing to thp notice of the Borough Council the observations made by Mr H. Nelson I'owler at the meteorological station at Oornwall Park. On Mr Maddison 's suggestion it whs decided to make a grant of £5 and tq exereise a measnre of qontrol upon the service in accordance with Mr Fowler's expressed desires. The Mayor stated that he had had an interview with Mr Fowler and had been given an insiglit into the wprk involved. Mr Fowler was asked to provido the Government with daily roportg as well as aggregate rcports- for ihe month and the work was of a most complieated nature. He was expected to do all this, and much inore, for the payment of £2 19/- a quarter. • ' ' lt appears now ' that it is quite a common tbing for sports bodics, Qutdoor organisations and theatrical companies to insure against rain," said Mr Maddison, "and Mr Fowler becorrtes the arbitrator and has to sit beside the gauge during the hours under cover and receives no payment for this service. I understand the insurance companies have been approached but refuse to give him any consideration. " Mr Maddison went on to give some indication of the extent of the service Ihat was given by Mr Fowler, Many schools checked-up their Tocords witu his, he said, while in times of possiblo frosts orchardists and other sections of Ihe farming community made the utmost use of him. Even banks consulted him with regard to the production of wool, wrhile he had supplied information required for law suits. , The Government was asked to increase his salary, said Mr Maddison, but he had been advised that there was little possibility of this eventuating, for it was considered that his service was a duty to the town itself. The suggestion was made, however, that ha should make a ckarge of 5/- for his services such as was done at other stations. "It is quite clear that he is not being overpaid," said. the Mayor with a smilc. "He cettainly is providing a very useful service and I feel that it is timo that liis position was reviewed. Mr Fowler is particularly interested in .the work, which is a hobby with him and I will move that tlie council make him an annual gra-nt of £u, and that a charge of 2/6 be made in the future to those who call upon his services foj commereial gain." The council unanimously approved of the motion.