Rugby secures grounds

The Otago Rugby Union has secured a new lease of the Carisbrook Ground (for 21 years), and a lease of Tahuna Park for five years. The following is the copy of a letter sent to the secretary of the Football League yesterday by the secretary of the Otago A and P Society: "Referring to the deputation that waited on the executive in connection with the lease of Tahuna Park for football matches during the season 1925, we find on going through our records and minutes in connection with the lease of these grounds that a tentative understanding was made with the Rugby Union in April, 1922, giving the Rugby Union not only prior claim on the grounds but also a right which might reasonably be construed as an extension of the lease. The committee, after carefully reviewing the whole position, decided to offer the Rugby Union a five years’ lease of Tahuna Park under certain conditions, which they have now accepted. The committee feels assured that your league will fully understand the position, and under the circumstances it would not have been fair to offer the lease when my committee recognised the union was justly entitled to preference."

New robes for mayor

The official robe of office worn by the Mayor of the city at meetings of the council and important public functions has after 23 years’ service been replaced by a new garment which the Mayor (Mr Tapley) donned for the first occasion at Wednesday evening’s meeting of the City Council. 

The old robe was first worn by Mr G.L. Denniston during his term of office as Mayor in 1901-2, and has graced the shoulders of successive occupants of the Mayoral office down to the present time. The new robe was made to the order of the council by Messrs R. Johnston and Sons, tailors, of this city, and to the eye of the ordinary citizen it is a particularly handsome sample of the tailors’ and cutters’ art. 

The robe is made of the finest corded silk. Violet blue bands of velvet embellish the edges, cape, sleeves, neck and shoulders, and the same material is used to cover wide side panels. The backs and side panels and facings are lined with satin of the same colour while the bottom edges of the panels and cape sleeves are trimmed with gold fringe. A broad bond of ermine encircles the bottom of the robe and a narrower strip of the same fur is run round the edges of the neck parallel with the bands of velvet. 

Three short gold chains are fitted for holding the Mayoral chain in position. The same firm is supplying his Worship with a new hat of the conventional three-corner design.

Minister’s direction unlawful

Some time time ago the Minister of Health announced that he had decided that if the Southland Hospital Board did not grant Matron Ewart, late of the Invercargill General Hospital, a pension of £100 per annum in respect of her 23 years’ service, he would take steps to have that amount deducted from the hospital subsidy due to the board.

Since then correspondence has passed between the board and the Minister, who has discovered that to carry out the direction indicated the department would be exceeding its powers under the Hospitals Act.

The Minister has decided now to agree to the original proposal of the board that a pension of £50 be paid for a period of four years. — ODT, 12.9.1924

Compiled by Peter Dowden