OTAHUHU

Pukekohe & Waiuku Times, Volume 6, Issue 279, 29 May 1917, Page 2

OTAHUHU

FOOTBALL. [The Otahuhu Agent for " The Times" is Mr Bathe, from * whom copies of the paper may be ordered. Mr Bathe is also authorised to receive advts. and printing orders on our behalf. | OTAHUHU v. PONSONBY. On a sodden ground and under very unfavourable weather condi' tions Otahuhu met Ponsonby on Saturday last at Otahuhu. The state of the field and the greasy ball did not make for a high standard of football. Ten minutes after play had started it wat impossible to recognise the players for mud. Ponsonby soon demonstrated that they were out to win and some fine passing runs were engaged in, resulting in Walsh scoring an easy try behind-the posts, Cross converting. Ponsonby had a great advantage ia the scrum, their front-rankers hooking the ball on almost every oocasion. Considering that Otahuhu had had no practice together they put up a very creditable showing. Early in the second spell Higgins secured for Otahuhu and after a dashing sprint scored between the posts, G. Martin converting Honours were now even and some very fast play was engaged in, Eustace, Cloke and Kirk being conspicuous. Otahuhu lost two very easy tries during the second spell, Martin in one instance diving for the line unopposed but having the misfortune to lose the ball just as he got over. Towards the end of the second spell it was evident that the superior condition of the Ponsonby team was telling. Otahuhu tackled like trojans but they were unable to stem the tide. From a scrum in Otahuhu's " 25 " McClymont secured and passed to Rae, who scored at the corner, but Cross failed to convert. Loose play then followed and from the ruck Cross secured and scrambled over the line between the posts. He also succeeded in piloting the ball over the bar. The game eided: Poni sonby 18 points, Otahuhu 5.

Otahuhu showed a decided improvement on the previous week's play. The forwards followed up well and the tackling of the backs was good. It is to be regretted that Eustace will not be seen out again this season as he leaves foT camp on Thursday next. A DISPUTED CLAIM In the civil action .heard at the Magistrate's Court last Thursday, Lloyd and Co. v G. Turner (East Tamaki) for £l9 9s6d for timber and materials supplied. Defendant stated that he did not recognise the claim. He was a share milker for Mr A. Harris and he contended that Mr Harris had agreed to build k room on to his present building if he (defendant) went there to milk his herd of cattle.

David Burnside, foreman for Messrs Lloyd and Co, deposed that he had been asked by defendant for an estimate for building one room, defendant saying that he was worki ing for Mr A. Harris, who had agreed to pay half the cost of the work. He (witness) gave an estimate and defendant called a few days later and secured the timber and paid £5 on account. He subsequently called at various times for materials for the building. Mr A. Harris, on being sworn, stated that he had never authorised defendant to order timber on his behalf and that he did not agree to pay half the cost. Defendant asked him about enlarging the house but he informed him that he would not expend one shilling towards the improvements as he had not decided whether he would keep to milking or go in for sheep next year. The next thing he knew was that defendant had ordered the timber and that it was carted on to the property. He emphatically denied having had anything to do with the transaction. The Magistrate (Mr Frazer) held that defendant had made the arrangements with Messrs Lloyd and Co anl therefore was liable for the work. Judgment was given for the amount claimed with costs.

The history of the acquisition by Otahuhu of the property known as Otahuhu Park, embracing 14J acres, was detailed by Cr Hall at last Thursday's meeting of the Borough Council for the benefit of the new members of the Council. The Park, which commands extensive views of the Tamaki valley and surrounding harbours, was a gift to the town of Mr Alfred Bturges, the first Mayor of Otahuhu, and is destined to become a truly attractive place of resort. Cr Hall went on to explain that a lady donated the sum of £SOO for the provision in the grounds ot a children's park but as it was thought that it was too early to carry that work into effect representations were made to the lady and her consent was gained for expending her £SOO in preliminary operations, such as the provision of shelter-trees, paths, etc, on condition that £IOO each year for five years should be put aside by the Council to meet the future layingout of a Children's Park. Cr Hall added that the Auditor had recommended that a separate account for the Park should be opened with the Post Office Savings Bank and h* mentioned that subscribers would thereby have the assurance that any donations given were kept quite distinct from the Council's general funds. This recommendation was adopted, the Mayor, Crs Moffitt and Clements being appointed as a Park Committee.

Arrangements are well forward for the "At Home " promoted by the Otahuhu Branch of the Women's Patriotic League to be held in the Parish Hall on Saturday afternoon next in aid of the Dominion Gift Fund. Returned soldiers are invited to attend. A particularly good musical programme will be submitted on the occasion and residents by their presence are asked to support a deserving cause. Privates B. Whiteley and W. Sloggett are at present back in Otahuhu on final leave. Both are looking remarkably well.

The first Of a series of dances to be held on alternate Wednesdays commences to-morrow evening in the Otahuhu Public Hall. Edwards' orchestra will be in attendance and a large attendance is anticipated. Judging from the distinguished talent engaged to take* part in the grand vocal entertainment promoter by the Otahuhu Fire Brigade to be held on Friday, the Bth June, a crowded house should be secured. Among the returned soldiers wh have seen a good deal of service at the front and have recently returned to the Dominion are Privates Patrick Jones and Michael Kayes, who are well-known in Otahuhu. gAt a special meeting of the Otahuhu School Committee held on Wednesday last the nutter of the illness of a scholar being alleged to be due to punishment received at the Sfchool Was considered. Evidence Was taken and it appeared that no punishment at all had been inflicted on the child. The Committed placed on record their complete satisfaction with the manner in which the School was conducted and with the work of the teachers, and at the same time regretted that an unfounded charge should have necessitated the enquiry. Several Applications for sewer connections came before the Borough Council last Thursday. One applicant suggested that inasmuch as the sewer was on the opposite side of roadway to his property he should only be called upon to bear the cost of connection as far as the centre of the road, his contention being that the owner on the other side of the 1

toad would be paying less than he did if such principle was not adopted. "■ Another applicant askbd that paytalent by instalments for the cost of connections shouldjbe allowed. One or two Councillors spoke in support of financial latitude being, if posiWe, given where necessary and both points as well as the other applications were referred to the Drainage Committee for consideration. At last Thursday's meeting of the Otahuhu Borough Council the names of 182 persons who were on the Borough Electoral Roll in respect of residential qualifications and who had failed to vote at the recent elections, were struck off the Roll in accordance with the provisions of the Municipal Corporations Act. It is open, however, to any of such persons still holding the necessary qualifications to take s'eps to again to become enrolled. Otherwise in the event of an extra-ordinary election they will bo debarred from exercising the franchise. Ihe Mayor (Mr A. McDonald) incidentally mentioned at the Borough Council meeting last Thursday that the interest taken in the recent elections was most encou 'aging to the Council, the number of th )se on the roll and failing to vote being of a very low per ceutage. A good deal of interest was evoked in the Public School a few days ago when some voting took place among the girls in Standards 3, 4, 5, and 6, for the purpose of selecting a number from each of those standards to take part in a motor trip to the Auckland Museum last Thursday (Empire Day), kindly promised by Messrs Andrew and Andrew, motor contractors, of Otahuhu. As the result of the voting 42 children, together with their teachers, were taken to the museum on Thursday and all thoroughly appreciated the kindness of Messrs Andrew and Andrew. The same firm have promised to convey a number of school boys for a motor trip to the Onehunga zoo on Thursday next. At the Otahuhu Magistrate's Court last Thursday the Otahuhu Borough Council claimed from W. O'Hara the sum of £2 4s in respect of night-soil removal fees. The Town Clerk (Mr C. J. Kent-Johnson) said that under the Council's existing order defendant was liable. When the Council took over the night-soil seivice a charge of Is per pan was determined on and a copy of the arrangement had been sent to those who were not connected with the main sewer thereby bringing all within the drainage area.—The defendant maintained that as he had applied for a sewer connection he should not be charged night-soil removal fees. Judgment was given for the amount claimed and costs 6s. As the outcome of a tour of inspection of the roads of the borough made on Saturday, the 19th inst, by the Mayor and Councillors various improvements are suggested. Huia rrad, -it was thought, should be patched, whilst in Seddon Terrace at the junction of Station road a drain trap was proposed with the water tables to be cleaned out. The entrance to Mr Williams' property in Golf avenue, it was thought, should be levelled and small repairs carried out at Hutton, Luke, and Princess

streets. In due course it is hoped these improvements would be effected. At last week's Council meeting Cr Hall moved that the various matters arising out of the inspection should be referred to the Streets Committee. This gave rise to a good deal of discussion, Cr Brady contending that the Streets Committee, in order to deal with matters which they regarded as urgent, should have power to give instructions to have such work carried out It was pointed out by the Town Clerk that the Committee could authoriso work to be done up to £"> Cr Mofhtt expressed the view that tho Committee might differ in opinion from the Council as to what was urgent. Cr Hall's motion was ultimately adopted.