Slimy ditches call for sandy measures

Officials at the Southland Western District A. and P. Show at Thornbury. Back row (from left):...
Officials at the Southland Western District A. and P. Show at Thornbury. Back row (from left): Messrs B. Hancock, James Ronald, F. Linscott, J. B. McLean, T. McIntyre, John McNaughton. Front row: Messrs W. S. Fleming, A. Orbell, Thos. Ayson, R.Bernsdon...

The long-standing grievance regarding the certainly unsavoury and probably insanitary ditches which has vexed the St Kilda Council and the Drainage Board reached something like finality yesterday.

At the inquiry the facts of the case were further laid before Mr W. S. Short, as representative of the Public Works Department, and the board's case was very clearly put by Mr Small, chairman, of the Drainage Board Works Committee.

He stated that the board's policy was first to deal with the disposal of house sewage, and then, when funds were available, with storm water. He submitted tabulated statements showing clearly how much more liberally St Kilda had been treated in drainage matters compared with other parts of the board's area.

The evidence of the board's engineer showed that he had recommended the disinfection of the ditches and replacing the slime with sand. Mr Short suggested that this offer should be considered by the St Kilda Council and after a brief consultation by the representatives of both parties, it was agreed that the whole question should be left in the hands of Dr Champtaloup and the board's engineer (Mr Slinger).

Mr Short congratulated both sides on the understanding arrived at, and expressed his recognition of the difficult problem before the Drainage Board in dealing with the disposal of storm water that accumulated on the St Kilda flat.

• At Clinton this week a youth from Waiwera South, was charged under the Defence Act with failing to render personal service while being enrolled in the Clinton Senior Cadet company. He pleaded not guilty.

Captain J. R. Henderson, in charge of group 16, and Sergeant-major Connolly gave evidence to the effect that the youth had been passed as physically fit in September 1911, and had been duly enrolled, but since then had not attended any of the parades. His objection to attending was that his parents were members of the Society of Friends, and military training was against the tenets of this religion. The officers had interviewed the lad's mother, and had explained the position that on account of religious objections the boy could be exempted from doing military training, but he must perform physical training.

His mother would not allow her son to attend the parades, however, being advised by other Friends that even physical training under a military officer would be against the rules of the society. On being questioned by his Worship (Mr J. R. Bartholomew) the youth, a well-built young fellow of 17 years, nearly 6ft in height, appeared as if he had not any idea on the subject himself. The magistrate adjourned the case for a month to allow of an arrangement being arrived at meanwhile, and said that the lad did not seem to have the conscientious objections which his parents had.

• The record-breaking motorist is, it appears, a bashful creature when he sees a constable in his vicinity (says the Press). In the Christchurch Magistrate's Court on Wednesday one of the presiding justices asked if it were the custom for constables to hold up their hands when a motorist was exceeding the speed limit.

"No notice is taken of a constable in such a case," said sub-inspector McGrath, "the motorist who is exceeding the speed limit, when he sees a constable, exceeds the speed limit still more, and gets away as fast as ever he can."

- ODT, 23.11.1912.

 


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