TUAPEKA NOTES.

Evening Star, Issue 14163, 13 September 1909, Page 4

TUAPEKA NOTES.

[From Oob Own Oohee§pondekt.]

The bi-monthly meeting of the Tuapeka Gounfy Council was held at Lawrence"on Priplay afternoon. A good deal of time was taken up. in the consideration of a sot of by-laws for the regulation of motor traffic on the'county roadst The by-laws adopted are on the Mines of the Southland County by-laws,, and will come into effect on the Lst January. 1910. Motor cars are to be prohibited on the following county roads:—Between Beaumont and Roxburgh, east bank of rjyer; from trig. 8., Beaumont, to Rongahere; and from Brice's Hill to Labes Bridge, Tuapeka Flat. A large number of requests were preferred for roads and other works, but, with one or two exceptions, the Council positively refused to entertain them. At the present time the Council's overdraft at the Bank of Mew Zealand runs into close on £4,000, and the Committee of Ways and Means wero averse to' the incurring of any further expenditure. It was resolved that a general rate of Id in the £ bo made and leyied on all rateable property, within the county for tho year 190910. Despite the Council's heavy overdraft and the need pf more money fpr public works, councillors were not disposed to act ■on the hint recently thrown out by the Minister of Public Works on the occasion pf his recent visit to Lawrence, and increase the rate." '''You have tho power," said the Minister, when interviewed by a county deputation for grants for roads and bridge-works, 'Ho raise, your rates to 3d in the £; why don't you do so, instead of coming to me for help?" One of tho deputation replied that councillors who snpported such a proposition would jeopardise their seats at the next county election. Tim Hon. Roderick smiled, but said naughtA question touched on at the Council meeting promises to bulk large sooner or latpr in the affairs of local bodies interested in tho finding of funds for charitable aid. The Chairman (Mr Win. Knight) mentioned that Dr Valintine, Chief Health Officer, had suggested that the whole burden of charitable aid should be thrown on local bodies, as ho reckoned that these bodies, if called upon to raise all the revenue, would bo more careful on that ground alone in its expenditure. Mr Knight dissented from that view, as from his experience in these matters it was more advantageous in tho public interest that members should not come immediately in contact either with the recipients or would-be recipients of charitable aid. Then, again, charitable aid should only be given for stated and not indefinite periods, and the greatest care should bo exercised U } J the granting of requests for charitable aid. Many got aid, and got it for an indefinite period, who should not have got it. That had long been his opinion. Furthermore, if tho local bodies were to bo responsible for raising the whole of the revemio for charitable aid, why should they be taxed to provide in cases of wifo desertion, or where criminals undergoing sentence made no provision for their wives and offspring? To his mind, it was the State's duty to look after unfortunates of either of those classes, and it would" bo unfair to throw (.lie burden of their nunport on tho local taxpayer. Several of the councillors were of the same mind ns the chairman on this subject, and it was resolved eventually to take steps to frustrate any attempt by Parliament to thnw the whole burden of charitable aid on local bodies, and to enlist the sympathy and support of Messrs Allen, Scptt, Malcolm, and the Hon. Thomas Mackenzie in opposition to such a proposal. The Tuapeka Hospital Board met on Friday evening', and had under consideration a suggestion from the Public Health Department that a ward should be- get aside at tho hospital for maternity cases. Dr Sutherland, the rnfcident surgeon, approved of tho suggestion, and as he said the expense of putting i.p a word for the purpose would not entail very much expenditure, it was resolved to fall in with the wishes of tho Public Health Department The clerk laid on tho table a Hst of patients, classified, ami admitted into the hospital as "paying patients," who had contributed practically nothing to the funds for their keep while in tho institution. In somo cases it was. resolved to accept 50 per cent, of the amount owing, and give a clear receipt, while in others a 75 per cent, reduction was accepted. One of tJic committeemen remarked that it was a, .scandal that so many of those who wore treated m lhe hospital, and well able to pay, should bo so negligent-, and at the same time so anxious to avoid the payment of their just dues. The hospital charges to tho patient m a position to pay were very reasonable indeed, and it betokened base ingratitude r>~:i criminal selfishness when such people, restored to health and strength, were unmindful of their lawful obligations to the institution. The remainder of the business dealt with by tho Board was of a routine character. _ An effort is to be made to resuscitate an institution known as the Tuapeka Horticultural Society, which at one time flourished in our nii<jst, bub has been last sight of for the last two or throe years. Some of our leading amateur growers regard it as a misfortune, when the resources" of lhe district are so well known in the growing to perfection of all kinds of choice flowers fruits, and vegetables, that flier* is no live society in our midst, with at least one good show in the year. A canvass fur membership is lieing made, and so far very liberal support has been promised. The next step will be to call a. public meeting appoint a committee, and again call into evidence an institution that .should have a lung, useful, and successful career. An accident, which- might easily have had a fatal ending, happened on Friday afternoon to Mrs Sloper (wife of tho Jiscnsec of the Bridge Hotel, Waipori) and a lady friend along the Wetherstonca road on the way out to Waipori. They were driving a horse in a light, trap, and in attempting to pass a dray going in the opposite direction the wheels become interlocked, with tho result that the trap and its ncnupaiii s were capsized. Beyond a searo and a few bruises, Mis Sloper and hor friend suffered no serious'injury, hut the trap and harness were considerably knocked about. Tlie samo afternoon a young man, named Walker, in the omplov of Browne Bros., while delivering a load of coal, had the misfortune to get a capsize, causing tho dislocation of his collarbone and r,n injury to his right hand. I mentioned some time ago that the Lawrence Retailers' Association were backing up Iho efforts of flic Waitahuna. Farmers' Club to get telephone communication opened up between Lawrence and Manuka Creek, and later to Milton, and thence Dunedin. The Borough Council are also rendering all possible help, and it is to bo hoped before long that the Government will meet the wishes of those who arc moving in the matter. Mr James Allen, M.P., has promised to render ail the help he can.