COUNTRY NEWS.

Auckland Star, Volume LVIII, Issue 20, 25 January 1927, Page 11

COUNTRY NEWS.

TE PUKE. At a special meeting of the Town Board the weekly half-holiday for shops in the :own district was fixed for Thursday. The municipal site has been cleared of undergrowth and fenced. An offer has been received of a seat, on condition that other offers were made. After discussion it was decided to arrange for the purchase of the adjoining area belonging to Mr. Mollguard, and to take steps to raise a loan of £000 for this purpose. The question of erecting a restroom was deferred. TAURANGA. The monthly meeting of the Tauranga County Council was held on Friday. It was Atated that under a special order awaiting confirmation by the GovernortJeneral, the date for the by-election was fixed tentatively for January 212. Letters were received from the Main Highways Board and Mr. C. E. Macmillan, M.P., re the KfLlmai Road, stating that the board had agreed to increase the subsidy from £3 for £1, to £4 for £I, Mr. Macmillian suggested that the council might obtain a temporary loan from the board until other arrangements could be made for their quota, in order that work might be proceeded with. After discussion it was resolved to apply to the Public Trustee for £ 1300 on the securityoffered by the Tauriko Special Rating area, and that the engineer be authorised to prepare plans and call for tenders for the formation and metalling.

Acceptance of a tender from Messrs. Wilson and Willnaott for formation and metalling of Barke's Deviation on Tau-ranga-Matamata Main Highway was confirmed. It was stated work was already in progress.

Cr. Lally moved that the offices be removed to Te Puke. An amendment moved by Cr. Francis and seconded by Cr. MacDougall, "That the matter be deferred till next meeting," was carried.

The chairman, engineer, Crs. Darragh. Francis, MacDougall, and Bailey were appointed to inspect certain machinery and report.

liotorua County Council wrote asking that the Oropi route be adopted as the main highway between Tauranga and Rotorua in lieu of the Ake Ake route. It was resolved that a report be obtained to ascertain if the road via Ake Ake would eliminate the Maungeranga Gorge, at the name junctioning with Te Matai Koad, and if so that it be adopted.

A deputation from the Tauranga Chamber of Commerce drew attention to the bad state of the Tauranga-Waihi road, particularly over the 71 miles unmetalled. The condition of the road had been a serious matter to touris.ts and others during the holidays when the weather was unfavourable. The chairman stated that two miles were to be metalled shortly. During the past two years £9000 had been spent on the road. A recent inspection by the engineer disclosed serious overloading of vehicles on the road, and steps were being to prevent it.

A letter from the Katikati Co-operative Dairy Co., Ltd., drew attention to the bad state of approach to the Tahawai station. It was resolved that as the Minister of Public Works had accepted an invitation to visit the district shortiy the matter be placed before him, wih a view of obtaining a free grant in lieu of the grant of £ 150, & 1 for £. 1, now provided for.

The proposal of the engineer to detail men specially for maintenance of main highways was approved.

It was reported that the Te Puke water race scheme had been completed and final payments had been made.

WHAKATANE. A deputation consisting of Messrs. G. A. Brabant, A. P. Moncur, A. F. Read, and P. A. Harron, waited on the Harbour Board in regard to the Borough Council's proposal to take in portion of the Square for building site purposes. Mr. Brabant said that it seemed a shame to spoil the beauty of the Strand. The Square was the Junction of four streets, and it was a very busy portion. It would be a mistake to alter that junction. There was an argument that the proposal would put value on the sections at the lower end of the town, but it would cut off the Quay Street sections, which were owned by the Board. Mr. Moncur believed that any scheme should lirst be submitted to the people, and he asked that the Board defer the matter until after the election in April. Whakatane was going to spread, and they would have to consider the matter from the point of an entrance to the town. Mr. Baird said a mistake might easily be made, and he would like to see the thing done properly. The motion to defer consideration was carried. The Bay of Plenty Sports Club's adjourned annual meeting was held ' on Thursday night, when the report of the committee which waited on the Oddfellows was received. As a result of the conference, it was agreed that the Oddfellows forego Faster Monday after this' year in favour of the Sports Club, in consideration of the Sports Club lending -their equipment free of charge, but subject to losses and damage being made good. Mr. C. E. Young was elected president, Mr. J. A. Ruddy secretary, and Messrs. A. Ilall, J. Francis. D. Carter, with the president and secretary as a committee to carry the club on during the year.