South Taranaki News

Taranaki Daily News, 17 November 1926, Page 2

South Taranaki News

(From Our Own Reporter.)

Telephone No. 596.

P.O. Box 133.

AFFAIRS OF THE BOROUGH WORK OF THE MONTH. MEETING OF THE COUNCIL. The monthly meeting of the Hawera Borough Council was held last night. Present: The Mayor (Mr. E. A. Pacey), and Councillors W. Page, G. J. Bayley, H. N. Lester, E. Morrissey, J. M. Townsend, W. G. Walkley, A. Reid and W. Butler. The borough engineer (Mr. John Sturrock). reported that a little had been done in the repairing of eraeks in footpaths but the wet weather had interfered with progress. The flooding in Campbell and Burns Streets had been remedied to some extent by regrading the channels and putting in a short length of pipe. Some repairs had been made to a fence at the park and repairs were to be made at the Waihi Beach. The maintenance work usual to the time, of the year had been in hand. Tiie borough inspector (Mr. L. Hunt) reported that house inspection had been carried out in Wilson Street and where necessary notices had been sent to owners or occupiers. Building permits totalling £2074 had been issued during the month. There had been no prosecutions during the month of October. Fourteen drivers’ licenses had been issued and 10s fees for dog registration’ had been collected. The British Imperial Oil Co.’s bulk tanks had been tested to a 101 b pressure and had passed and the depot had been licensed. The abattoir report for October stated that 30 bullocks, 113 cows, 31 heifers, 435 sheep, 19 lambs, 45 calves and 12 pigs had been slaughtered and there had been no condemnations. Fees and rents totalled £lO4 6s Bd, being £95 10s and £8 16s 8d respectively. The fees were £1 Ils 3d less than in October, 1925. The total fees for the seven months ended October 31 were £-30 6s les< than those for the corresponding period of last year. REPORTS OF DEPARTMENTS. The sanitary inspector (Mr. F. G. Coleman) reported that during October no cases of infectious disease had been reported in the borough. One plumbing job and four drains totalling 160 feet had been inspected, and three other sanitary inspections had been made. The following food premises had been inspected.—Six butchers, six bakers, eight eating houses,, three fish shops, four ice sellers and makers and two aerated water factories. Four plumbing and drainage permits had been issued and one parcel from overseas had been disinfected. One milk vendor had been fined £5 and costs 17s Od. The librarian (Miss M. Newland) reported that there had been a decrease of 15 members during the month, 11 joining and 26 leaving. November began with 495 subscribers, as compared with 480 in the same month of 1925, so that there appeared to be a steady increase each year. Twenty-eight new' books hau been purchased, including two miscellaneous works. The librarian stated that rather a bad leak showed up in the library recently during one of the heavy showers and she requested that it should br repaired. The borough ranger (Mr. G. H. Blackwell) reported that during the month four horses and two cows had been found wandering in Glasgow, Campbell and Argyle Streets and in Glover Road. The reports were received.

The balances as at October 31 were submitted by the clerk. Accounts in credit were shown as follows: General, £7lB Ss 9d; water, £584 14s 7d; special rate (added area), £l6 14s 2d; deposits, £l6. Accounts showing debits were: Cemetery, £6O 14s lid; hospital, £263 7s 6d; special rate (original area), £1345 7s 2d. The total debit was thus £1669 9s 7d. as against the credit of £1335 17s 6d. The application of the Park Bowling Club for permission to hold a fete at King Edward Park in February next and charge admission was granted. The fire brigade was granted permission to erect a platform in Albion Street, subject to the usual conditions, and to rise water. In accordance with a request from the Retailers’ Association the council agreed to contribute £5 per annuni towards the nightwatchman’s fund. GENERAL. In consequence of a request by the Hawera Chamber of Commerce the council decided to ask the sanitary inspector to report fully on the stockyards at the railway station from a health point of view. The application by the Methodist flower show committee for permission to stretch a canvas sign across Princes Street in front of the Winter Show buildings on November 17 and 18 was granted, subject to compliance with tho borough inspector’s requirements. The application of Mr. A. M. Conroy for permission to hold a motion picture entertainment on Christmas night was granted, subject to the programme being approved by the Mayor and Cr. Bayley. The council decided to approve of the formation of a Town Clerks’ Association. The matter of remits for the 1927 conference was left in the hands of the borough solicitor and the town clerk, with power to act. The application of R. E. Familtun for water supply was not granted on account of the statement as to consent not being confirmed. The council approved the Public Trustee’s suggestion to supply the statement of sinking funds in schedule form instead of separately and the council accepted the terms of the £4OOO loan for the Nolantown water supply extension, as submitted by the Public Trustee, subject to the necessary poll. Three representatives of the Pentecostal denomination attended the last meeting of the works committee on November 10 by request and matters were discussed with a view to endeavouring to overcome the annoyance complained of by certain High Street business people. The representatives expressed theiY willingness to occupy positions decided on by the council and undertook to use tiieir best endeavours to conduct their services more quietly and generally to assist in abating the trouble. After the representatives had retired the committee decided that the chairman, in. conjunction with the borough inspector,

should arrange as to places where services could be held. REVISION OF TRAFFIC BY-LAWS. Permission to drive show stock through the borough during show days was granted the Egmont A. and P. Association on the usual conditions. The request of the British Imperial Oil Co. that a portion of Scott Street should be metalled and tarred was granted, provided the company was prepared to pay half the cost. At the last meeting of the. by-laws committee, Dr. Thomson and Mr. E. P. Cox, representing the South Taranaki Automobile Association, attended and the question of speed limits at corners and intersections was discussed at length. It was decided to forward a letter to the association asking that it should write to the council on the Imes of. the discussion relative to a uniform speed limit of ten miles per hour at corners, intersections and junctions of streets. At ihe last meeting of the parks and reserves committee it was recommended that the chairman should confer with the bandmaster as to the stand at the park and then to ask the engineer to give an estimate of the work. The matter of giving attention to the pavilion was left in the hands of the chairman. It was also decided to send a letter to the cricket club asking them to assist the council in preventing boys from damaging- the wire-netting at the tennis courts through practicing near the netting. I The following recommendation of the parks and reserves committee caused a good deal of discussion: "That the town clerk write to all lessees of sub-section 37 who have not yet erected dwellings, stating that the council is prepared to accept surrenders of leases, subject to payment, or arrangement for payment to the satisfaction of the council, of all arrears, the cost of surrender to be borne by lessees.” Crs. Morrissey and Reid strongly opposed the clause. The Mayor said his idea was to have the whole thing cleaned up and to make a fresh start. He spoke in favour of the recommendation, and was supported by’ Crs. Townsend, Lester, Bayly and Page. Cr. Morrissey's motion that the clause be turned down was lost. Cr. Bayly then moved that the recommendation be adopted, and Cr. Reid moved an amendment that the rents on the sections be reduced to the upset price. On this amendment being lost, Gr. Reid moved a further amendment that the matter be referred back to the committee, and this was also lost. Cr. Bayly's motion was then adopted. Cr. Walkley gave notice to move the recission of the resolution at the next meeting. I Dr. Boyd, medical officer of health, Wellington, aud Mr. F. G. Coleman, .district health inspector, reported on the stockyards at the station. Dr. Boyd said some improvements could be made, but he was unable to see at present that there was any nuisance. The drainage was not satisfactory, and the cobblestone flooring needed improving. He thought the yards should be cleaned daily instead of thrice weekly, as at present. The Mayor said the council would appreciate a brief report from the Health Department on the matter, and the doctor agreed to this. The Egmont Racing Club drew attention to the short supply of water at the course, and their application to make certain alterations to the service was granted, subject to the engineer’s approval. The town clerk referred to certain rumours current in Nolantown in regard to the proposed poll on the extension of the water supply system, and suggested that a committee should meet Hie ratepayers and thoroughly explain the position to them. A committee comprising the Mayor and Crs. Page, Walkley, and Butter was appointed for this purpose. The resignation of Mr. J. A. Beauchamp as junior clerk was accepted. MALE CHOIR CONCERT. AN OUTSTANDING PERFORMANCE. The Hawera Opera House was crowded last evening on the occasion of the final concert of the season given by the Male Choir, and the performance, from beginning to end, delighted tire large audience, who were treated to singing of a very high order. The performance added another notable success to the society's already creditable record, and the splendid manner in which the audience received every item showed that the society was fully aware qf popular taste and chose themes that appealed to the publie by their beauty. The choir was capably conducted by Mr. H. C. A. Fox, and the accompanistes were Mis. Trevor Thomas (Wanganui) and .Miss D. .Toll (Hawera), and all fulfilled their positions admirably. The first part of the programme was in the hands of the Hawera Choir, supported by the school orchestra. The choir was again in excellent form in their rendition of “Glory to the Caliph” (from Oberon), which, was repeated on this occasion by request. Both the “I Loved a Lass” (Dyson) and “Night” (Franz Abt) were also capitally sung. The choir, in almost all its numbers, attained a very high standard. There was an absence of incorrect notes and a good volume of tone was combined with a nice blend. During the first part of the programme, four orchestral selections were given by the school orchestra, under Mr. H. C. A. Fox, as conductor. This was the first public appearance of the orchestra, which comprises 28 instruments, and the manner in which they acquitted themselves was splendid. For • many months the orchestra has been practising conscientiously under Mr. Fox, to whom great credit is due for the success achieved on the first appearance. The selections were "The Flying Ace” (march),* a tone poem “Star of the Orient,” intermezzo “In a Canoe,” and a waltz, “Evening Breezes.” The second part of the programme 'was given by the Wanganui Male Choir ' of over 50 voices, and the audience waxed very enthusiastic over the visiting choir’s performance. The choir exhibited a wonderfully delicate control, the tone swelling in volume and then fading, away to a mere whisper without the least trace of harshness or any suspicion

of wrong notes. The numbers were selected, too, in order to provide variety, and such songs as “To the Death” and “My Love is Like a Red, Red Rose,” were full of joyousness and action', while the fine choral ballad “Fallen Heroes” (Jenkins), provided a touch of tragedy and the sternness of war. It is safe to say that the audience was delighted with the visitors’ performance. As soloists Miss Doris Symes and Mr. W. Francis were delightful. Miss Symes has a full, rich contralto, and her singing of “Che Faro” (Verdi), “Nightfall” (R. Schumann), and “My Love is Like a Red, Red Rose” (Jenkins) were very pretty and was insistently applauded.

Mr. Francis has a tenor voice of no small beauty, and he captivated the audience with “Sea Gypsy” (Mitchell Head) and “Spirit Flower” (Tipton). Miss Symes and Mr. Francis were heartily applauded for their duet “A Night in Venice” (Lucantoni).

A unique finale to a capital programme was the singing of the “Soldiers’ Chorus” from Faust, by the combined choirs, comprising almost 100 voices. After the concert a very pleasant time was spent at the Savoy, where the members of the Wanganui Choir were entertained as the guests of the Hawera Society.

At the conclusion of the first part of the programme when the school orchestral selections were terminated Miss Curtis, on behalf of the orchestra, presented the conductor (Mr. Fox) with a pipe. Mr. Dixon, on her behalf, complimented the orchestra on its very fine work. Mr. Fox, in reply, said it gave him pleasure to assist the young people in their studies. In order to successfully train an orchestra it was necessary to look to the young folk, and especially to the schools. He confidently looked forward to several of the junior players making, distinction for themselves. He expected that several of' them would be in the senior orchestra in a short time. THEFT OF A RAZOR. ACCUSED BEFORE COURT. On two charges, one of drunkenness and the other of stealing a razor, Thomas Yates appeared before Messrs. E. Dixon and L. A. Bone, J.P.’s, at the Hawera Magistrate’s Court yesterday morning. On the first charge he was convicted and discharged, but a sentence of one month’s imprisonment with hard labour was imposed on the second charge. The. accused pleaded, guilty to the first ,charge and not guilty to the second. When asked by Mr. Dixon if he had not been before the Coiu’t recently and been leniently dealt with on the consideration that he should procure work, the accused said he had secured a job near Stratford and had worked every shift until, paid off on Monday. Sergeant Henry stated that the accused had been staying at the Railway Boardinghouse at the end of last month, but on being found wandering from room to room he had been asked to leave. The owner of the razor, A. Hodson, said he missed the razor on October 31. It was worth only about 2s 6d, but he valued it because it had belonged to his father. Len Philip, a plumber, said he was working at the Railway Boardinghouse on October 30 when the accused entered the yard and, after putting something behind a box, went away. Witness found that a razor had been left there, and lie reported the matter to his father. Tiie accused denied taking the razor. Sergeant Henry stated that there were twelve charges of theft already known against the accused and two of attempted theft and one of indecency. The sergeant said the man appeared to be nothing more or less than a boardinghouse thief. PERSONAL ITEMS. Messrs. J. R. Corrigan, H. D. Forsyth, and T. A. Winks left for 'Wellington yesterday morning by the mail train to attend a meeting of the Dairy Control Board. The meeting will probably transact important business. The members .have been called together a week before the meeting was due. HAWERA BOWLING CLUB.

Tiie following players will represent Hawera A against Manaia at Hawera to-day:—Herbert, Arthur, Wills, W. Robertson (s); Champion. Colclough, R. Tait, Corkill (s); T. Tait, Tidswell, Westaway, Robb (s); Anderson, Keys, R. Hicks, Linkhorn (s); emergencies, J. Tait; Bootten, Saunders.