NORTH OTAGO.

Otago Witness, Issue 4033, 30 June 1931, Page 26

NORTH OTAGO.

NEWS FROM THE DISTRICT. OBITUARY. One of the earlier settlers of the Hampden district passed away on June 18 in the person of Miss Catherine Douglass. The deceased lady was the youngest child of the late Mr and Mrs A. Douglass, and was born in Perth, Scotland, in 1851. Her parents migrated to New Zealand by the Strathfieldsaye, arriving at Port Chalmers in 1858. Her mother died on the voyage, and her father, with bis young family of 10, first farmed on the Otago Peninsula, and later settled in Hampden in 1860, where the deceased- had resided ever since. Miss Douglass, who had reached the age of 80 years, was of a very kindly disposition, and was ever ready and willing to assist those in distress. She is survived by an elder sister, Mrs B. Duncan, of Hampden. The funeral was largely attended by Hampden residents, the service being conducted by the Rev. J. Harkness.

Very many friends of Mr George Jardine will deeply regret to learn of his sudden death last week. The news came as a great shock to his intimate friends, especially to his fellow members of the North Otago Rugby Union, who were engaged at the -weekly meeting of the Management Committee when the information was communicated to them. Mr Jardine was found lying dead in Rother street at 5.45 last evening, his bicycle, which was undamaged, lying some distance from the body. There are no suspicious circumstances attending the case, although it was at first thought that Mr Jgrdin'e had been the victim of a motor accident. It is understood death was due to natural causes. Mr Jardine was born at Awamoko, and was 61 years of age. For many years he was farming at Duntroon, but on removing to Oamaru 15 years ago he entered the employ of Messrs Wright, Stephenson, and Co. in the seedcleaning department, and had been engaged by that firm ever since. He was of a pleasant personality, and made a great number of friends, especially amongst members of sporting bodies. He received his early education at the Oamaru North School, and was a wellknown figure in Rugby circles since his early manhood.'' He commenced his football career with a club called the True Blues, formed amongst north end players, and then joined the Athletic Club, of which he had been a staunch supporter ever since. He represented North Otago on several occasions in interprovincial matches, and for the last, four years he had been a member of the Management Committee of the Rugby Union. He was senior vice-president of the Caledonian Society and~ a member of the Scottish Society, taking a keen interest in the affairs of these bodies. He is survived by his' widow, one sou, four daughters, and three brothers. After a short illness there passed away at her residence at Weston on June 21 Mrs Margaret Copland, who had lived in or near Oamaru for very many years. On the death of her father, James Munro, of Perthshire, Scotland, the deceased, with her mother and her four sisters, travelled by a sailing ship to New Zealand, where her only brother was already living, o.ie was married to the late Mr Alexander Milpe Copland, who predeceased her by many years. She was one who had lived for her family. She was a very old member of St. Paul’s Church, Oamaru, and later a member of the Weston Presbyterian Church She is survived by two sons, Mr A. H and Mr D. M. Copland, and one daughter, Miss C. Copland, all of whom reside at Weston. Hdr sisters are Mesdames E. Weller and S. H. Tempero, of Oamaru.

PERSONAL.

The resignation of Mr William Gardiner aq a member of the Waitaki Electric Power Board on account of ill-health was tendered to the board on Tuesday-morn-ing. The chairman (Mr J. M. Forrester) stated that* Mr Gardiner was one

of the original members of'the board, and had worked on the original committee. It was with great regret that they learned that Mr Gardiners ill-health prevented his attending meetings. -The resignation was received with regret, and a minute of appreciation of Mr Gardiner’s services to the board was recorded. It will be necessary for the Waitaki County Council to appoint a representative in Mr Gardiner’s place. ACCIDENTS. While skating at the Drill Hall, Miss Muriel Campbell, of Tees street, feil heavily"and suffered a compound fracture of the right leg below the knee. She was attended by Dr Butler, and removed by ambulance to the Oamaru Hospital, and is progressing satisfactorily. Alexander Ogilvie suffered a fracture of the right leg through being crushed by a truck at the Waitaki hydro-electric works. He was admitted to the Oamaru Hospital, and is making satisfactory progress. NEW ZEALAND INDUSTRIES WEEK. A meeting of the Retailers’ Committee was held on Thursday afternoon in connection with New Zealand Industries Week, to be held at Oamaru next month. Mr J. AL Robertson presided. lhe Oamaru Borough Council forwarded £lO towards the expenses which would be incurred during Industries Week.—Received.

Ihe Waitaki Electric Power Board advised that assistance would be given towards the special lighting of Thames street. The chairman reported that a deputation had waited on Mr Dalmer, who, subject to the approval of the committee, had approved of festoons of lights on the main street from Tees to Dee streets, and extra illuminations at the^monuments. lhe bands wrote acceding to requests to play in the evenings during Industries Week as follow: —Municipal, Monday and Thursday; Regimental. Tuesday and Wednesday,. The Pipe Band has been requested to play on Friday. Mr D. L. Patterson reported that the Oamaru Woollen Mills would be open for inspection by school children during Industries Week. Messrs J. Al. Robertson, D. Findlay, D. S. Bain, and the secretary were appointed an Advertising Committee. Canvassers were appointed to collect funds from retailers for expenses of the campaign.

FARMERS’ UNION. The secretary of the Provincial Executive of the North Otago Farmers’ Union (Mr A. A. Woodward) has received word from Air A C. Cameron (president of the Dunedin Chamber of Commerce and provincial secretary of the Otago Farmers’ Union) that he will be pleased to attend the meeting of the union at Oamaru on July 17, and address the members. Mr Cameron will deal with the economic position generally, and the measures which business men deem necessary to meet the present economic position. This will lead on to some of the economic problems which are being tackled by the Farmers’ Union, and will show the necessity for farmers and business men getting together to weather the present crisis. PUKEURI FREEZING WORKS. The Pukeuri Freezing Works closed down for the season on Thursday, reaching a total tally of 358,143, which is a record for the works. The previous record for the works was established last year, when the tally was 348,163. The figures show that 9980 more head of stock were put through the works this year than last season, which must be very gratifying to the directors and shareholders of the Waitaki Farmers’ Freezing Company. CORONER’S INQUEST. At an inquest concerning the death of Edgar John Jamieson, who was found dead at the Waitaki Hydro Works on Thursday morning, the doctor who had performed a post-mortem examination stated that he found the deceased died from haimorrhage of the brain as tbe result of a blow on thq head. He was unable to deduce from his observations the cause of the blow. A verdict in accordance with the medical evidence was returned. Inquiries showed that the injury wag received in the course of a friendly boxing bout.

FLIGHT OF AEROPLANES. Considerable interest was taken in the flight of nine aeroplanes, in battle formation, over Oamaru on Saturday afternoon.- The planes were from Christchurch, and were on their way to Dunedin. There were many here who had not previously seen such a number of machines engaged in a flight. GOLF. The Bogey Match played by the Ladies’ Club .was won by Mrs Ireland, handicap 7, 1 down. A Flag Match was played bv the Men’s Club on Saturday. The A Grade was won by K. Kinder with 20 strokes, reaching the eighteenth hole, and the B and C Grade by Milne with 24 strokes, with a drive for the nineteenth hole. PLUNKET SOCIETY. At the annual meeting of the Maheno branch of the Plunket Society there were present Mesdames A.- S. Clark, AY. B. Currie, J. Guthrie, T. Livingstone, Wylie, J. C. Nicholls, H. Andrew, J. Milne, Watson, Souness, A. Clark, and Miss Hammond. The annual report and balance sheet were adopted. The following officers were elected for tbe- ensuing year: — President. Mrs A. Clark; vice-presidents —Mesdames 11. Andrew and J. C. Nicholls; secretary and treasurer, Miss Hammond. The committee expressed the hope that all parents receiving the nurse’s help should become members or at leastsubscribers to the branch, and so lessen the work- of the officers. Nurse Malcolm gave a very interesting address on the growth of the Plunket movement. Mrs Andrew thanked the speaker for her most inspiring address, and said she was sure that the member would continue to give her every assistance in her work. Votes

of thanks were passed to the Church Committee for the use of the hall, Mrs Barron and Mr J. M. Saville for auditing the books, and to those who had assisted in. any way to make the year a success. MEN’S HOCKEY. The Oamaru men’s hockey team had an > easy win over the Rovers’ team at King ' George's Park on Saturday, defeating the latter by 5 goals to nil. RUGBY FOOTBALL. Ideal weather prevailed for Rugby on Saturday, and there was a large attendance of the public at the Show Grounds to witness tlie Town v. Country fixture and the Old Boys v. Athletic game. The senior match was an excellent exhibition in which Athletic made most of the play, and was decidedly unlucky in being deprived of the victory by a last-minutte try. Both teams were 6 all up to the last two minutes, when Athletic scored an unconverted try, to be immediately capped by Old Boys bringing off a surprise try. which M'Donald converted, after the bell had rung. The Town v. Country game was somewhat disappointing, as there was not that bright open play that was anticipated. Town ran out the winners by 16 points to nil, but on the play there was not the disparity indicated by the score between the teams. The Country forwards were superior in scrum work to the Town pack, and held their own in other departments of the game. There was a decided lack of crisp passing from the base of the serum by the Town halfback, R. Hunter, otherwise the margin might have easily been greater, for in the second spell the Town backs made good use of their chances. The defence of the country players was, on the whole, sound, and the tackling good, and with a little more finish to their play they would have carried the issue to a closer finish.

FOUND DEAD. Air Edgar Jamieson, aged 22 years, employed at the AVaitaki Hydro Works, was found dead in his hut early on Thursday morning. A doctor was summoned, and, in his opinion, the deceased had been dead for several hours, but he was unable to give a certificate. HARE DRIVE. A party of 16 held a very successful hare drive on the property of Air J. O. H. Tripp, Kurow, on Thursday. The tally secured totalled between 170 and 180 hares. COUNTY COUNCIL ELECTIONS. The election of representatives for the Kakanui and Papakaio Ridings of the Waitaki County Council on Friday resulted as follows: — Kakanui Riding.—R. Dick 141, W. Cooper 137, P. F. Dougherty 107. Papakaio Riding.—E. S. Brewster 264, 11. 8. Orbell 123, J. B. Chapman 65. Informal, 8. Alestrs Dick and Brewster were elected. The votes polled numbered: Kakanui, 385 out of a roll of 586. and Papakaio. 460 out of 845. The official recount will be held to-day.

MR W. GARDINER’S RESIGNATION. The resignation on account of ill-health of Air William Gardiner* as chairman and member for the Papakaio Riding was received at the Waitaki County Council’s meeting on Friday. The chairman said Air Gardiner had been a member of the council for a considerable time. He was a highly-respected citizen of North Otago, and had devoted much time to council work. He had kept up wonderfully under the disabilities ha had been suffering, and they regretted hrs resignation exceedingly. Cr Aleck commented on Air Gardiner’s long and faithful service to the council. He felt the parting of the ways very much, and regretted Air Gardiner had to resign. During his chairmanship he had always sought to do his duty to the ratepayers without fear or favour, and he was a >.very valuable citizen to North Otago. Crs Rodman, Roes, and Rutherford spoke in similar vein, and the following resolution was carried by the council: —“ It is with feelings of very dee-' regret that we record the resignation of our esteemed fellow-councillor, Air William Gardiner, who has had to take this step which we so much deplore. Air Gardiner was elected a member for the Papakaio Riding in 1911, and during the years which have passed since, he has given full and faithful service, not only in matters pertaining to that riding in- particular, but to the interests of the ratepayers of Waitaki County as a whole. For the last six years Air Gardiner has controlled the destinies of the council as chairman, and we desire to record our sincere appreciation of the able manner in which he has carried out the duties of that office. We express the hope that relief from his many and varied activities will prove of* some benefit in restoring his health, and that; he may be spared for many years to come. On behalf of the ratepayers and residents of the AVaitaki County, we express our sincere thanks and appreciation for the great work he has done during the period under review.”