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The Huron Expositor, 1965-12-16, Page 1Whole No. 5103 106th Year SEAFORTH, ONTARIO, THURSDAY, DECEMBER 16, 1965 -- 12 PAGES Council Seeks PUC Report Seaforth will press for an ;,..early report from the Public Utility Commission and town auditors covering the losses which were discovered in PUC accounts last year. Councillors raised the matter near the close of a five-hour meeting Monday night, which carried on until 1 o'clock Tues- day morning. It was the final cocil meeting for the year and eluded a wide ranging dis Sion of matters which had en touched on at other meet- ings throughout the year. . w • • 1 4 19. n i • SEAFORTH DISTRICT HiGH SCHOOL volleyball team has captured the WOSSA 'B' Championship. The team de- feated Parkhill 15-13. Shown here are: front (left): Chris Turnbull, Joan Gorwill, Debbie Miller, Pat Bannon, Maria 13 Year Pupil Is Killed Struck by a car as she cross- ed the highway from a school bus, Anne Marie Devereaux was. killed late Thursday: afternoon. The 13 -year-old • daughter of Mr. and Mrs. Joseph • W. Dev- ereaux was on.;yher,'way home from St.. Jamest. -S.eparate School, Seaforth. The ' accident occur- red about five o'clock in front of the Devereaux farm, ,two miles east of Seaforth. • The bus, driven by Robert Watson, of Seaforth, was stop- ped in front of the Devereaux gate. A sister, Theresa Dev- ereaux, 12, left the bus and crossed the road. Anne Marie, coming behind her, was struck and carried several hundred feet along the highway, Both the bus and the car were westbound toward Sea - forth. The accident was witnessed by Theresa and by the girl's father, who was waiting for his daughters in front of the Dev- ereaux home. Three Devereaux children, William, Michael and Joan, got a ride home from Seaforth school with an uncle, James Devereaux, and did not take the bus as they normally do. Another sister, Eleanor, was home from 'school after having her tonsils out. Twins Joseph and Fergus, about two, were also at home. A 16 -year-old Wingham area youth, Robert James Broome, was charged With criminal neg- ligence caysing death, and later with dangerous driving and il- legally pJssiig a school bus. He is to appear in Goderich on Thursday.. No decision concerning an in- quest has been announced by the coroner, Dr. F. G. Thomp- son, of Clinton. Constable Alex Twaddle of the Goderich OPP detachment is investigating. Funeral Monday Funeral services were held Monday morning in charge of the W. J. Cleary funeral home, with Requiem High Mass at St. James' Roman Catholic Church. Father J. T. Saigeon officiated. Pallbearers were Jack Pa- trick, John Maloney, Ken Dev- ereaux, William . ,iViurphy, Dan Murray and Janes Nash. Hon- orary pallbearers were Neil Devereaux, Tom Devereaux, Doug Philips, John Eckert, Bob Eckert and Michael Bannon. FloWerbearers were Paul Pa- trick, Bob Biggar, Pat Murray and Keith Miller. Interment followed in St. James' ceme- tery. FRANKLIN BRYANS, who is studying toward an M.Sc. \ degree in Physiology at UWO, has been elected President of the Society of Graduate Stu- dents. The Society of Gradu- atetud S n e is isorganiza- tion n rganiza - a tion representing the inter- ests of the 571 full-time gra- duate students in all facul- ties ,at Western. Willems, Angela Devereaux, Maureen Bannon; (rear):. Miss Weiler, Dawna Reynolds, Mary Sills, Susan Leonhardt (man- ager), Faye Munro, Sheila Dietz, Karen Kale, Barb Box.— (Expositor photo by Phillips). PUC Plans Water Meters For Domestic All domestic water consumers in Seaforth will have their serv- ices metered, the Public Utility Commission decided at a meet- ing on Monday morning. Decision to install meters across the board was taken be- cause it was considered an in- equality existed in the method in which rates are now applied. About one-third of the domes- tic accounts are metered, and in most of these cases it is found that the consumption is les than the minimum rate. In a recent survey it was found that 141 out of 182 domestic accounts which were metered were under the minimum of $15.00 a year. Cost of the meter installa- tion program is estimated at $15,000. No decision has been taken, according to PUC man- ager R. J. Boussey, as to whe- ther the program will be car- ried out at one time, or whe- ther the cost will be spread over an extended period. Pending the completion of the metering .. program, all domestic accounts will be bill- ed at the minimum rate of $L25 per mou4h. When the in- stallation is cotnpleted, the rate structure will be reviewed and a new and more equitable sche- dule which reflects today's costs will be worked •-out. The decision makes no dif- ference as far as ipdtistrial and commercial accounts are. con- cerned. These are all metered and will continue to be billed on the basis of water consumed. Kincardine Marks Move To Seaforth Mrs. Jean Henderson, of Sea- forth eaforth Manor Nursing Home, was honored in Kincardine last week at the annual meeting of the Kincardine Chamber of Commerce. In reporting the event, the Kincardine News said: "Two members of the com- munity were honored at the annual Chamber of Commerce dinner banquet. Retiring presi- dent of the chamber, Ross Mac- Lennan, had the honor of pre- senting Citizen of the Year awards to Mrs. Jean Hender- son and Mr. Robert Scott. Mrs. Henderson, who has recently moved to Seaforth, acted as secretary - treasurer for t h e Chamber. In presenting the award, a beautiful silver tray, Mr. MacLennan thanked Mrs. Henderson for her excellent contribution to the organiza- tion," • Area School Official Resigns Secretary -treasurer of Tuck- ersmith School Area since 1961, Ivan Forsyth resigned at a meeting of the board on Thurs- day. Mr. Forsyth, who is a former reeve and Huron warden, said the resignation would be eff tive early in January, as oon as the year's bu ' s com- pleted. Huron C u Yrecently creat- eded . County Area Ar ea No, 1, encompassing Tuckersmith and Stanley Townships. xhau�N'6 Consumers New Power Costs The meeting was informed that effective January 1, 1966, the power cost from the On- tario Hydro to Seaforth will be increased by 2%. The new in- terim rate will be $24.10 per kilowatt per year, plus an en- ergy charge of 2.75 mills per kilowatt -Tour. The previous charge was $36.70 per kilowatt with no charge for the kilowatt. hour consumption. The in- crease will' be absorbed by the PUC and will not result in an increase in rates to consumers here. The estimate of the cost of power to the PUC has been de- termined under a new method of costing as discussed at the OMEA District meetings held in the past six months, and as approved by the Board of Di- rectors of the OMEA on Nov. 12, 1965. As a result of the new formu- la, interim rates will be in- creased for 70 municipalities,. decreased for 281, and=.for, the remaining 10 municiPalit#es there will be little or no change. _ In setting .the interim rates a year ago for 1965, the HEPC decided, within certain limits, to maintain the 1964 levels, pending, completion of the cost- ing study. This resulted in only 21 increases in interim rates last year, and in some cases the 1966 interim rates will re- flect increases in costs over a two-year period. In Hospital When Car -.Tractor Crash Mrs. Edward Wasman, 73, of 192 St. George Street, Mitchell, was admitted to Seaforth Com- munity Hospital late Tuesday afternoon with fractured ribs. She was a passenger in a car Club Talks Plowing Match Ways in which the club could co-operate in plans under way for the 1966 International Plow- ing Match here occupied Sea - forth Lions at their meeting in the Community Centre Mon- day evening. Arranged by President Art Wright, the meeting heard Don McKenzie, reeve of Ashfield and chairman of the traffic, tickets. and parking committee, de- scribe details of handling the daily attendance expected to average 25,000 visitors. He was introduced by J. M. Scott, who is hosting the international ev- ent at Scott Farms, adjoining Seaforth. The regular draw, arranged by Bob Huard and George Hil- debrand, was won by the lat- ter, and reverted on bidding to Orville Oke. Open New Warehouse Construction of new ware- house accommodation for Texa- co was completed last week and occupied by Walden & Broad - foot. The new building which is 22 x 60 and metal clad, replac- es a warehouse which was de- stroyed by fire on February 13 this year. Mr. Walden said the new building cost $8,000. While the construction was under way, the firm was ac- commodated across the road in a portion' of the CNR freight sheds. Nearing 94 Breaks Hip Robert Smith is a patient in Seaforth Community Hospital as a result of a fall in which he fractured a hip. Mr. Smith, a former reeve of Seaforth, will be 94 on December 2Dth. driven by her husband, which was involved in a truck -car col- lision 3% miles east of Sea - forth on No. 8 Highway. The Wasman car was proceed- ing east when it and a tractor, driven by Wilfred O'Rourke, RR 1, Dublin, were in collision. Mr. O'Rourke was taken to hospital with lacerated fore- head, and Mr. Wasman for hip X-rays. Neither was admitted. The accident was investigat- ed by OPP Constable Ray Primeau. Answering queries, Mayor Flannery said he understood auditors were discussing the matter of the losses with a bonding company and that the delay arose because of the re- presentative of the auditors, who was looking after the mat- ter had been called to other duties. Councillors recalled that it was understood the auditors were to appear before council last summer to discuss the mat- ter, but that meetings which had been tentatively arranged were postponed. Concern arose because mem- bers 'said they were, being ask- ed what action had been taken, and what the overall situation was. "I have been trying for six months to get these an- swers, but I just get the brush- off," Reeve Dalton said. Councillor Betty Cardno said she understood the auditors were ready to meet council, but that they were waiting for an invitation. with particular concern as to metering all domestic accounts. He had reservations, he said, as to an across-the-board instal- lation of meters. Councillor Kling recalled the PUC for a number of years had a policy that provided for the installation of 20 or 25 meters a year. This would have re- sulted in all the accounts now being metered had it been con- tinued. Council agreed the maximum sewer service rate, as provided in the bylaw establishing the most recent sewer installation, be applied. When the latest section was brought into use, maximums which had been present in an earlier bylaw were applied, but as a result of council's instructions this no longer will be the case. Sewer rates will be on the basis of the total water account without any maximum. When an additional sewer program is introduced, a com- plete review of sewer rates will become necessary and a co- ordinated rate established for the entire town. This would reflect more accurately the cost to be established for the entire town, councillors said. The question as to what con- stituted the frontage of Sea - forth Community Hospital for sewer charges was raised by Clerk Ernie Williams, who ask- ed for instructions. Council agreed the frontage would be considered as being Centennial Drive, extending for a length of 400 feet. Mayor Flannery recalled he had understood in August there would not likely be a bill sub- mitted by the auditors for. many hours of extra wo ich had been involved n the in- vestigation. Referring to `' other matters with which the council and PUC were involved, Reeve' Dal- ton inquired as to what pro- gress had been made in arriv- ing at a rate for the collection of sewer accounts by the PUC. When new billing procedures were adopted last year, the rate increased 8%%, based on col- lections every two months. The PUC is billing at this rate, but council had indicated it would not agree to accept the accounts until recommendations had been received from the audi- tors as to an equitable basis. These recommendations had not come forward. Council instructed Mayor Flannery to make arrangements for a special meeting with the PUC, so that the problems could be discussed as soon as possible. More Meters Mayor Flannery said the PUC was reviewing the basis on which water rates were charged Suggest Widening Area Report Suggests Town Wide Sto ast Minute Present? Having trouble choosing just the right last-minute gift? What could be more acceptable than a subscrip- tion to The Huron Expositor —a gift that continues all year long. Every week it is a reminder of your thought- fulness. There is lots of time to Phone 527-0240 and tell us the names of those you wish to remember. An attractive card will announce your gift. If you prefer, we will bill you later. For the student, a type- writer or a new style square - ring binder is a popular gift. Perhaps the housewife would appreciate a handy stapler or a pencil sharpener. WINDING UP 1965 business at a five hours plus meeting Monday night and Tuesday morning, Seaforth Mayor J. F. Flannery (top), Reeve Carl Dalton and Deputy Reeve Wilmer Cuthill are all ready for 1966. They were return- ed by acclamation at the re- cent elections. A program of a storm drain construction to service the town was formally unveiled at coun- cil Monday night • as members considered a report filed by James F. McLaren Ltd., consult- ing engineers of London, who have been working on the pro- ject for more than a year. a Preliminary discussions in connection with the report had been held in October, when representatives of the company reviewed the proposal. A reference in the report to an earlier report prepared by S. W. Archibald in 1949, touch- ed off a discussion as to steps that should be taken to control water coming from McKillop or. the north, and from Tucker - smith on the west, into Sea - forth. Councillors questioned whether the McLaren proposals were adequate to handle the water coming in from outside, as well as water originating in the town. Discussion suggested that the report had looked only at the requirements within the town proper. Most of the drainage trouble originates along the northeast- ern boundaries • of the town, where flood waters from McKil- lop originate. Councillors sug- gested that the engineers fail- ed to appreciate the volume which was coming into the town from this direction, Reeve Dalton pointed out that it would be impossible to solve the problem unless the entire area was looked at. He said it would be necessary to consider the whole area, includ- ing a portion of McKillop, Sea - forth and a portion of Tucker - smith, and that Seaforth should initiate action that would re- sult in an engineering report being prepared. Ino, :this way the cost of corrective work would be distributed in rela- tion to the benefits that would result. Council agreed when Coun- cillor Kling suggested the en- gineers should be approached to come to Seaforth this week when the area was in flood.. Council named a special com- mittee, including the members of the public works committee, and Councillor Kling to discuss the possibility of providing a sewer line paralleling Goderich Street on the east, to serve eleven suites in an apartment building, as well as four other properties. The matter was raised by a letter from Dr. E. A. McMaster, the owner of the apartment building, who asked that a sewer outlet be provid- ed. It was indicated little dif- ficulty would lie in the way of a line being constructed, but necessary approval would have to be obtained, and the cost in turn would be assessed against the properties that would bene- fit. The general government com- mittee will investigate a re- quest of the Canadian Institute of Cultural Research, who ask- ed that the town make a grant as a Centennial project towards providing instructional books for children in undeveloped countries. Reporting for the public works committee. Reeve Dalton said a number of trees had been removed, drains repaired and grading carried out. Consideration had been given the purchase of a new snow- blower, but the amount allow- ed for the old blower—$50.00— was considered insufficient, and as a result -the committee re- commended no action be taken. Mayor Flannery said in his opinion the snowblower was the most useful piece of equipment which the town had ever bought, and wondered whether or not in view of the use to which it was put, it would be wise at this time to consider trading the unit. Councillor Kelly agreed and said a faster blower would be of greater advantage. He would like to see snow removed from other streets, particularly East William Street, where there is a lot of pedestrian traffic, and where it is difficult to maintain the sidewalk in the wintertime. It was agreed the present blower would be advertised for sale, and if a reasonable re- turn was obtained, considera- tion would be given purchasing a new unit. Council endorsed a sugges- tion that the Bell Telephone ar- range free service between the Dublin exchange and Seaforth. A survey in town, it was in- dicated, had favored such a move. It was explained that if this was not carried out, resi- dents within two or three miles of Seaforth, on the east, would have free service under the Bell plan with Mitchell, but would be unable to talk to Sea - forth without paying a toll. This would create a definite hardship in the case of the people from the Dublin area who carry on business in Sea - forth, as well as Seaforth resi- dents in communication with the Dublin area. Councillor Kling urged the endorsation should stress the necessity for both Dublin and Seaforth pa- trons being listed in the same directory to avoid directory duplication that exists now. A proposal from the Chamber Seaforth firemen:'; Galls in towvrl duriii Chief John�F. Scoff' cul as lie Presentedlits a _� report Nlond$Y cit rF?ng ¶ith tl�e, exce G.fgn of thg Texaco wlt4oa w a re; last' w ter, the losses were `quit ; >nalUi. He set the 'i'exat;,o fixe at W $30,000. - During the year 41 insPe tions of aortmise carried Seout fh avid prethese. es disewlasre. ed that in two homes. fuses were badly overloaded, creat-" ing fire hazards, and ` in four other homes defective chimneys were located. During the same period there had been 20 rural calls. These included six barn fires, three of which were saved. In addition, 16 rural calls were received which involved one man. Chief Scott said there were 20 men on strength and there had been excellent attendance on calls, with an average of 88 per cent. While certain minor• . equip- ment was required, generally the equipment was in good con- dition, he said. The fire mar- shal representative on one oc- casion had suggested investi- gating the purchase of a new truck, but Chief Scott question- ed the necessity. Admitting he might be old- fashioned, he said that while there would be some advantag- es, he doubted these would off- set the cost involved. Answering a query as to the liesctn with rural tank storage trucks,he said McKillop had an interest in the Blyth truck and all that was required was a phone call if additional water was required at a fire in Mc- Killop. Rural fire protection in the area covered by Seaforth works out at 6e an acre. Chief Scott said that this means that for every 100 acres. a rural resident was obtaining fire pro- tection for only 60c a year. Council accepted the fire chief's report and expressed confidence in the operation of the brigade and the leadership which he was providing. Ap- proval was given the payment of the annual grant to the bri- gade, based on •20 members at $100 each. While Clerk Williams said that as far as he can determine, there was no bylaw governing the erection of signs in Sea - forth, other than on Main St., and as a result no approval was required, he had asked the De- partment •of Highways whether there was any objection to a sign being erected by Rowcliffe Motors. The firm had asked permission, which council granted, to erect an illuminat- ed sign 10' x 6', in front of its Goderich Street premises. Drain Plan of Commerce that the council act with neighboring municipal- ities in protesting a CNR pro- posal to discontinue passenger service between Goderich and Stratford was endorsed. Reporting for the police com- mittee, Deputy Reeve Wilmer Cuthill said arrangements had been made to classify constables with representatives of the On- tario Police Commission. The two constables involved would go to Toronto on Thursday for this purpose, He said no re- port on the arbitration proceed- ;ngs had been received. He said that new uniforms, at a cost )f $120 each, had been provid- 'd fnr the two constables. They' ^re allowed $150 per year fnr clothing. Council approved payment at the rate of $250 for each mem- Acts em- Acts ber of council, and $400 for the mayor. As the motion was adopted, Clerk Williams drew attention to the implications of the Canada Pension Plan which becomes effective the first of the year and suggested pay- ment next year might be made on a monthly basis, rather than annually. The mayor was instructed to proclaim Monday, Dec. 27th, Boxing Day, a public holiday. Recognizing that Christmas was but a few days away, coun- cil approved a bonus of $15.00 to each of the town employees. As council concluded, retir- ing members. Frank Kling and Walter Murray, expressed ap- preciation for the associations they had enjoyed during the year, and Mayor Flannery ex- tended greetings to' the mem- bers. To Provide Industrial Aid Seaforth council acted Mon- day nicht to provide encourage- ment for new industry. Council instructed the Wel- fare, Recreation and Industrial Committee to determine what land might be available for in- dustrial purposes, and to re- commend lands that should he optioned or purchased. The committee also sought assurance that the town would providewaterand sewer serv- ice to any land purchased for industrial purposes. Council agreed, but not until members were assured lands concerned would be within the town. There was concern that before a commitment was made there should be knowledge as to the location and require- ments of a particular industry. No further action had been taken concerning the Centen- nial project. Councillor Donald- son said, but added an early meeting was planned. The committee met several times s i n the summer ands sought approval of a project in the arena area. However, addition,- al ddition-al information requested ty Toronto two months agi), its yet has not been provided, •