TARANAKI ITEMS

Dominion, Volume 19, Issue 79, 29 December 1925, Page 4

TARANAKI ITEMS

Twelve applications for the position of engineer to the borough of New Plymouth have been received by the council (states the “Daily News”). The applications will be considered at the next meeting of the council. The position was rendered vacant by the appointment of Mr. W. H. Cook as engineer to the borough of Mt. Albert, Auckland.

A contributor to the “Waitara Mail” reports the discovery on the beach two miles south of Waitara of white terraces, evidently formed by the action of some ofo-time geyser. The area of the terraces is four or five square vards, and the wall of the old pool from which the water flowed is also exposed. The find must have been covered by sand until, recently, as it has not been reported hitherto.

Speaking of the proposal made to the North Island Motor Union that traffic inspectors should be given the power to deal with infringements of traffic by-laws, which was not favoured because of the fact that it was considered to be too drastic an authority to be wielded bv some inspectors, Dr. Adamson stated' at a meeting of the Taranaki Automobile Association that in France, when a motorist was charged with a breach of a by-law, he was taken before the senior police officer and after being dealt with, was allowed to proceed on his way. . There was a saving clause, however, in that if the motorist was not satisfied x with the decision he had the right to have his case heard before a magistrate. This method appealed to members ot tlie executive, wliicli decided to liave the suggestion referred to the union. (“Taranaki Herald.”)

As the roads are being improved, so is the speed of most motorists increasin'* (writes the Patea correspondent of the Hawera “Star”). Efforts are being made by the Patea local authorities to bring offenders to book for * scorching ” but it does not give much heart to ’those who are trying to prevent serious accidents happening to innocent parties when thev read that a fine of £1 is thought by the magistrate to be sufficient penalty for the wrongdoing. Penalties of such an amount only encourage reckless driving.

The work of grading the Whangamomona side and the Whanga Saddle has been finished, and the District Engineer of Public Works, Mr. I. M. Ball, informed a "Stratford lost reporter that it was expected th- metalling would be done m about a month s time. The Stratford side of the saddle, Mr. Ball continued, was not to be done at present, but in all. piobabihty the work would be continued next year, when the money was made available.