Williams Lake Tribun

NEWS EXCHANGE

OF THE CARIBOO .

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Volume 21 -- Number 47.

WILLIAMS LAKE, B.C. Thu

: yor’ rsday, December 8, 1953.

Single copy 10c. $2.50 per year.

New Post Office Busy Place On Opening Day

Promptly at nine o’élock ‘Monday morning the doors of Williams Lake’s modern post office were opened for business.

All day long there was a

steady stream of customers to

the new building as townspeople satisfied their curiosity for Sa ae

a look at the new quarters.

Busiest wicket was the one hand- ling the issuance of post office box keys. A line-up was in evidence here the entire day.

Box holders do not have to enter the post office proper ta receive their mail. The outside doors open into a small public lobby containing the rows of boxes and a writing counter. From this lobby another set of doors gives access to the business section of the post office with its rows of wick ets. A departure from the old type of “Sereen line” that extended from the floor to ceiling is noticeable ‘right away. The working counters now fol- 22 ee

Henry Greer Castillou Called To Bar

Henry Greer Castillou, son of Judge and Ms. Henry Castillou, of ‘Williams Lake, was called to the B.C. bar Monday at a ceremony in Su preme Court presided over by Mr. Justice Wilson.

The new barrister is also a gradu- ate in forestry engineering and plans on finishing several forestry con- tracts on Salt Spring Island before he enters legal practise in Vancouver.

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HEADS LEGION W.A.

photo by Blackwell's

Mrs. Don Mars, who was elected at the recent annual meeting of the Women’s Auxiliary to the Canadian Legion as president for the coming year.

low the trend found in banks with low, glass partitions separating the employees from the public. Large plate glass windows surrounding the building give it a look of spacious- ness.

Although the main part of the post office will be open at 9 a.m. daily, the outer lobby containing the boxes will be open at $ a.m. and close at 9 p.m. ‘All of the boxes have now been rented. !

Employees have not really nad a chance to enjoy the improved condi- tions over the old building. They worked Sunday moving equipment and mail and added to the general confusion of such a shift, the Christ- mas rush is beginning to be felt with no extra staff due to be taken on until next week.

Customers renting boxes were find- ing the things a little difficult the first day too. After they had located heir number they usually had a i struggle to open the box with the new keys showing a tendency to stick.

There was no official opening to mark the occasion of a new servich for the community. Waiting at the door to get in when Postmaster Cece Rhodes turned the key were Pat Stinson and Eric O'Dell, Sr. Mr. Rhodes did a quick switch from his doorman role to get behind the counter in time to hand Mr. Stinson the first mail through the General Delivery wicket. A press photograph- er was on hand to mark the occasion for posterity. :

‘The official post office opening has peen delayed until such time as the entire Federal- Building is complet- ed when a ceremony will be held.

First Snow Fall Blankets Town

The first snowfall to be worth mentioning was recorded in Wil- liams Lake Monday night and added by intermittent falls Tuesday left us with quite a blanket of white.

Mild weather conditions in the middle of the days have resulted in a number of. minor accidents as roads and streets became slick with ice. Most spectacular mix-up oceurred Tuesday morning on Sugar Cane hill when three vehicles tangled. Esti- mated damage to all cars was $300.

Chetwynd Says

Highway Work

May Be Done In Two Years

The provincial government hopes to have the Cariboo Highway re-surfaced to Prince George within two years, with the possibility of the work only taking one year, Hon. Ralph Chetwynd. Minister of Trade and Industry is reported to have

told a meeting of the Clinton

Chamber of Commerce at the

South Cariboo centre last Monday.

he report of the meeting, which appeared in the Ashcroft Journal, goes on to say that Mr. Chetwynd re- yealed the appropriation for next year’s public works program is the same as that for 1953.

‘The Minister joke on the new machinery tax explaining that it is deductable from income tax. It is the beginning of the removal of tax from land and homes. He particularly stressed the income tax deduction

angle. i

Speaking of the Pacific Great Bast- ern Railway, Mr. Chetwynd sail there is a strong movement afoot to have the rails torn up south of Lil- looet. He said he considered this @ dangerous policy. This country needs the PGE to yun into Vancouver, both from a commercial and economic standpoint and also from a safety ‘standpoint in case of war or a dis- aster to the other railway lines throvgh the Fraser Canyon. He urged cattlemen and other strong repre- sentative bodies in this country to pombard the government in the strongest possible terms to work for completion of the PGE to Vancouver.

He said he plans to be in Ottawa in the near future to spearhead PGE

talks there and to attend the Dom-

inion-Provincial Tourist Conference.

Opposition was expressed by sey-

jag, | Commission resulted

|eral members of the chamber to the idea of having the name of Highway No. 2 changed to No. 97. Mr. Chet- wynd explained that the proposal was to have Highway No. 2 kept on the signposts and No. 97 underneath it. Members felt the name Cariboo High- way should also appear on the signs.

A request from residents of Chasm and. Clinton Sawmills to be supplied with power from the B.C. Power in the minis- ter promising to take the matter up with the proper authorities in Vie- toria.

The condition of the cemetery was discussed in some detail and Mr. Chetwynd thought it probable that a grant might be made to help keep it up, in view of the fact that some of the graves are known to be quite old. foe eda

|| ELECTION RESULTS For the convenience of the || public, The Tribune will again, |] operate a telephone si vice on | s of the election next

the result Thursday.

Results should be known about 7:30 p.m. Just ask the operator for 56R3.

Po

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While an estimated one million head of beef cattle have been moved, ouc of drought-ridden range-lands of south and south- western U.S. this year, to be sold at sacrifice prices or destroyed,

Apache Indians of the San Carlos: creased their herds and lost none

men give the Indians credit for long-sighted range management that has provided water in this period of drought and admit the Apache can still teach the paleface a good deal about rai This cattle round-up on the Gila river shows the Indian herd in

prime condition.

DROUGHT

Election Next

Returing Officer Joe Smith.

The three who will stand for the two vacancies on the Board of Vil- jage Commissioners are retiring com- missioners Malcolm F. ‘Mac’ John- son and Anthony A. ‘Tony’ Borkow- ski, and a newcomer to the civic field, Herbert John ‘Herb’ Gardner.

Mr. Gardner, local manager of H. J. Gardner & Sons Ltd., announced his intention of running Wednesday. Although this is his first attempt to secure a seat on the commission, he has been prominent in community work since he came here from his native town of Quesnel in 1940. He served six years on the Board of School Trustees. the last one as board chairman. He was president of the Board of Trade for two years in 1944 and ‘45, and during the war was 0.C. of the 39th Company of the Pacific Coast Militia Rangers. He is 37 years of age.

Centra! Press Canadian

-reservation, Arizona, have in- through drought White cattle- In announcing his intention of run- ming, Mr. Gardner states that his main interest is to see that something

is done about the condition of the

ing cattle.

ENGINEERS WILL MAKE NEW PLAN OF SEWER SYSTEM

The argument that commission- ers have been carrying on about the relative merits of lanes and streets as routes for the proposed sewer sys- tem lines will probably end up with a compromise arrangement.

Last Friday the. commissioners | sweated over a layman’s plan of the system using lanes wherever they thought it tebe feusible. This week two representatives of the engineer- ing firm entrusted with the project plan arrived in town and agreed that

Juycees To Sponsor Stewardship Meet

The annual custom of holding a, erty owners to ascertain the general stewardship meeting prior to the! feeling on the proposed sewer system civic election will again be observed | for the village. It is estimated that it

Junior Chamber of Commece. Monday night at the Parish Hall Village Commissioners will” report) on the progress of village affairs over the past year. Time will also be allotted to candidates for the coming election to give their opinions on |syhat: future policy. should. be. Co=missioners are extremely anx- ploug +8 have 5 good turnout of prop

this year under sponsorship of al take up to $1200 to handle the

| Francisco.

preliminary work of preparation of a by-law for the system and commis- sioners would like a definite idea of the trend of opinion before proceed- ing. The meeting will start at 8 p.m.

Les Pigeon returned last week

from a month's vacation at San

in some cases the use of lanes would be feasible.

They have taken the suggestions away with them and will work out a revised plan to incorporate the sug- gested changes, including the use of two disposal beds instead of a single tank.

Likely to be left out of any project contemplated at this time will be the new sub-division. Originally this was included, but commissioners are swinging to the opinion that it should be left out to keep initial cost down. This opinion will likely prevaii un- less property owners in the sub-divi- sion can make their voices heard.

Suggests Street Name Be Changed

E. G. ‘Tony’ Woodland appeared before the village commissioners at last Friday’s special meeting on the sewer system, but liis suggestion had nothing to do with the subject at hand. Mr. Woodland wanted the name of one of the town’s main streets changed. ©

Mr. Woodland said he had been giving the matter some thought for a considerable time and he was con- vinced that Railway Avenue should be changed to Mackenzie Avenue after the founder of Mackenzies Ltd. pioneer town firm.

In giving his reasons for the pro- posed change, Mr. Woodland said he didn’t like the name ‘‘Railsoad” as a street designation, since it made people think of a run-down section of-town. And he thought his choice of a new one was only right, since the name of Roderick Mackenzie h heen associated with the business life of Williams Lake since the days when the community was first estab- lished.

Commissioners felt there was a lot of merit to the suggestion and in- structed the village clerk to ascer- tain what steps were necessary to make such a change. When this in- formation is forthcoming the board will consider the matter again.

Mrs. Maltman of Vancouver, ar- rived recently for an extended visit with her daughter and Dr, and Mrs. J. Haramia.

n-ir-law,

Success of the first official ‘thank you’ banquet here last night tender- ed to members of the Williams Lake Fire Brigade by the Village Commis- sion indicated the affair will become an annual one.

There were 21 guests present, mainly active members of the bri- gade, with a scattering of former active firemen.

Chief Claude Huston echoed the sentiments of the entire brigade when he said he did not believe that the commissioners could have chosen a more direct method of thanking the firemen than by sponsoring a banquet.

The chief said the men of the bri- gade knew the village was in no po- sition to pay for fire protection and their work as volunteers was done with a feeling of community servic At the same time Chief Huston said he thought the Williams Lake de- partment had developed into one of the most efficient and capable in the province.

Commission Chairman Alastair Mackenzie told the firemen that the commission was well aware of their value to the town. In praising their efficiency he said that the volun- teers responded to the call of duty as quick or quicker than a paid brigade.

Mr. Mackenzie paid tribute to Chief Huston as a ‘go getter’ who has devoted much of his time over the years to the brigade. Speaking of the brigade's fire truck, he said that not only had Chief Huston argued successfully the need of such a trnek, he had also gone out and pepled to arrange the financing of the purchas

ARENA WORK BEE

If you like to swing a hammer and have a couple of hours free or Sun- day, the War Memorial Arena Society could use your talents. rena maintenance committee rman Benny Abbott has called a hee for 11 m. Sunday. Ben he has lined up donations of Jumber from several mills and the |plans include general repairs, build-

ing a new dressing room and provid- jing rest rooms,

ch work

Firemen Honoured By Village Commissioners At Banquet

Three Entrants Ensure

Thursday

Three men had filed nomination papers at noon today when nominations in this year’s civic election closed with

streets in Williams Lake. It his be- lier, he states, that the village should embark on a program of grad- ually bringing the town’s side streets up to a better standard.

Commissioner Tony Borkowski would not commit himself to enter- ing the field until this morning. His decision to stand was prompted by a desire to see the sewer system by-law through to either acceptance or re- jection by the ratepayers. In his last year of office he was in charge of streets and parks. During his term, Mr. Borkowski has served as village representative on the Hospital Board where he has been chairman of the finance committee.

Commissioner Johnson was the first candidate in the field indicating his intention of standing two weeks ago. Like Commissioner Borkowski, he stated that there are several vil- lage projects started in his term of office that he would like to see car- ried though. Last year he was in charge of the sidewalk program.

Next Thursday, December 10, is election day and voters will have to indicate their two choices of the three candidates. Polling sta- tion will be in the Municipal Hall (Fireball) and hours of voting are from 9 a.m. to 7 p.m.

Nomination and election days came a week earlier than expected by candidates and the board of commis- sioners. Several weeks ago an an- nouncement from the Village office stated nomination day would be December,10 and election day De- cember 17. This information, it transpired this week, had been taken from -an-o0id cypy of the “Village Municipalities \Act. The revised act sets neminatjon day “as the first Thursday in ‘December and election day on the second Thursday.

Candidates will be given an op- portunity to express their opinions

“Your present brigade is the re- sult pf the organizational work of Claude Huston, R. M. Blair and Ken Rife,” he said.

‘The department has found time to take on other work for the com- munity besides fire fighting, the chairman stated, specifically men- tioning the work of washing down the town streets periodically, ard the original promotion of the public beach and construction of fioats there.

A brief history of the brigade was given by Bob Blai,r who took his lis- teners back to the middle 20’s when he said that three men were respon- sible for the work of firefighting in those days before the village was in- corporated. The men were Tom Denny, Rev. D. A. Resker and the late Sgt Frank Gallagher.

There was no equipment in those days and about 500 feet of 13% inch hose, Mr. Blair remembered, but the men did the best they could.

This situation lasted until 1929 when three serious fires occurred, one destroying a two-storey building located on the now vacant lot next to Mac’s Pool Hall. A meeting was held following this to organize a proper brigade, although it did not prove too successful a venture. At the meeting “were Sid Western, Claude Huston, Ken Rife, Mr. Blair, Westley Moore, Tom Moore, ‘Shorty’ Kitche and Dr. Connelly. (The last four men are all deceased.)

‘Tom Moore was elected chief but later dropped out and Mr. Blair took over unofficially. The village was in- corporated following this and two hose reels and two chemical engines were purchased. In 1930 the b organized as it is known toda its beginning when three men, Mr. Huston, Mr. Blair and Mr. Rife met to plan the future of the group. Mr. Huston took over as Chief, Mr. Blair as Deputy Chief and Mr. Rife as secretary.

Other speakers included Deputy, Chief Bert Levens, Commission A. A. Borkowski, gade captain Sid Pigeon. Commis- sioner Stan Goad acted as master of ceremonies. Tom Bishop thanked the commission on behalf of the brigade members,

Alf Eagle and bri-|

on municipal affairs at the public stewardship meeting to be held Mon- day evening.

Pest Office, Liquor ‘Store New Open

: During Noon Hour

| :

| A second dent in the solid noon | hour closing custom peculiar to Wil- liams Lake was made this week with | the opening of the new post office.

if The post office will now remain open at noon with a clerk on duty at the general delivery wicket. The first break in the custom came a month ago when the government liquor store added another permanent full time clerk to the staff and left the door open from 12 to 1 p.m.

Some businessmen see the time ap- proaching when -private firms will start remaining open all day. Our days of amazing visitors with the in- formation that you can’t find a door open in the business section during noon hour have been relegated to the past.

MANSLAUGHTER CASE DISMISSED

Case of John Terry Johnson, 22, of Alezia charged with man- slaughter in a highway fatality near here September 6 was dismissed at the preliminary hearing last Thurs- ay due to insufficient evidence.

Mrs. Susan Hampson of Prince George lost her life when the Hamp- son family car, which was driven by Jobnson at the time of the accident, went off the Cariboo Highway near Lae La Hache.

According to the testimony of Paul Henry Hampson, husband of the dead woman, he, his wife and three chil- dren and Johnson were heading for Kamloops for a holiday when the ac- cident occurred. They arrived in Wil- liams Lake about 2 a.m. and wanted to stay overnight but were unable to find accommodation. They decided to go on Lac La Hache or 100 Mile. Mr, Hampson was driving as they

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