PENINSULA COUNTY

Evening Star, Issue 21640, 8 February 1934, Page 11

PENINSULA COUNTY

PAYMENT DATE MISTAKEN PENALTY ON OVERDUE RATES REFUNDED Claiming that it was due. to a misunderstanding that their 1932-33 rates had b€en paid by March 31, 1933, instead of March 27, as ordered by the council, several ratepayers wrote to the Peninsula County Council, the month! v meeting of which was held this morning, requesting that the 10 per cent, penalty charged be refunded. It was decided to accede to the request in respect to rates paid' between March 27 and April 1, 1933. Present at the meeting were the Chairman (Mr H. Macandrew), Crs .1. Cross, W. D. Stewart, J. T. Irvine, TS. Edmonds, .1. .1. Nyhon, 11. J. I’. Robertson, J. Hellyer, and R. Brunton. “ We are here to administer justice, but 1 consider it injustice to demand a penalty on rates that were overdue only a few days due to a misunderstanding,'’ said Cr Robertson. “ 1 cannot see how any settler would purposely avoid payment if he had the money, as is proved in the cases in question.” The County Clerk reported that the council had paid 10 per cent, on the collection of the rates and penalties, and if the penalties were refunded the council would lose 10 per cent, of those amounts. Altogether £BOO of last year’s rates were outstanding at the end of March, when payment was due. Cr Irvine said that the bulk of the farmers on the Peninsula were unable to meet their financial obligations. It was the Government which should assist these people, and not the council. People who paid fates year after year scarcely needed advice on when they would be required to forfeit a penalty, even if the date had not been clearly given at the time the demands for rates were rendered, said the Chairman. -The- County Clerk said that there were only about a dozen ratepayers who had paid their rates after March 27 up till April 1. Cr Robertson moved that the penalty, on all rates paid between. March 27 and April 1 be refunded. Cr Stewart seconded the motion. 1 which was carried. Mr J. M. Kcown (Tomahawk) complained of the unsuitability of having to pay rates at Portobello. ‘ Due to this he had been fined 10 per cent, on last year’s rates, and he asked that this fine be refunded. He stated that the council would not be inconvenienced with rates being overdue if a hotter arrangement for their payment were devised.—Received. HARRINGTON POINT CAR PARK. A request that the council favourablv consider the declaring of a parking area at Harrington Point in the in” terests of public safety was received ■ from the Otago Motor Club. The letter stated that numerous complaints had been received from motorists to the effect that cars were parked in the turning place, which was not only annoying but dangerous, in case of Tire. Notices denoting a parking area had already been erected, said the Countv Clerk. Explaining the position, the County Engineer said that tho council had no power to prosecute any offending motorist pules sa parking area, as well as a, turning area, was declared. A bylaw would be necessary. At present he could not order a motorist to move ■unless he was actually on the spot at the time of the motorist’s arrival. “ 1 should like to have power to deal with these offenders,” the Engineer continued. 11 The difficulty is acute on aundavs, when cars are frequently parked in rbr turning area. In the event of the council passing a resolution to declare a parking area, 1 can

prosecute immediately under the bylaws.” The Chairman said that it was apparent action would have to be taken. Cr Edwards: Notices will not make the position .any better. There are notices there now. Cr Hellyer: Properly planted notices will have to be erected. Is there enough room to park al Ithc cars that go to Harrington Point? Voices: No. Cr Hellver: If the council undertakes to park the cars it will have to do so, or it will be responsible. It was decided that the county clerk and engineer ascertain what steps would be necessary, and that the Motor Club be approached for assistance in the payment of the expense that would be incurred in the passing of the bylaw. DANGEROUS QUARRY ALLEGED. Mr A. R. Dixon (Ross Point) wrote concerning the quarrying operations of the council near his crib. Ho stated that the quarrying threatened to undermine the natural support of his land. The blasting was proving to bo a definite source of danger, as rocks often landed on his section, sometimes close to the crib. Apart from the writer’s civil rights in the matter, it would appear that blasting operations at the quarry constituted a breach of the Stone-quarries Act, in that they were causing danger to life and property. It was reported that work at the quarry had now censed, and it was decided to investigate the trouble as soon as 'possible. TAR SEALING MAIN ROAD, Regarding the council’s proposal to include another four chains of tar sealing on .the Dunedin-Portobello road near Portobello, the Main Highways Board’s district representative advised that the board was not agreeable to alter the original agreement. However, the board had approved of having the scaling done apart from the agreement, the council’s share to be on the ordinary £2 for £1 basis. The cost was £l2 14s 4d, the council’s share being £4 4s M. The County Clerk reported that apparently a mistake had been made regarding the subsidy, which was £,‘i for £l. Future_ maintenance of the road would he paid by the council at the rate of £.'l for £l. The letter was received. ENGINEER’S REPORT. Reporting on the work done during the past month, the county engineer stated:—Otago Heads Riding: Watortablo cleaning had been done on Pipikariti road. It was proposed to widen several dangerous points on this road, and to use the rock spoil for walling purposes. Portobello Riding: Clearing of the watcrtahlcs and trimming of the formation bad been done on PortobelloCape Saundor* road. Water tables bad been eleaned on Khmiard’s road. Highcliff Riding; Water tables bad been cleaned ois Paradise road and on the High road. Tomahawk Riding: Trimming of the formation bad been done on the Glen road. A small bridge had been rebuilt on Smaiil’s road, and loose decking had been spiked down on four other bridges. Water tables had been cleaned on _ Smaiil’s road. North-east Harbour Riding: Trimming of the formation bad been done on Abbotsford road (Waverley). and one sharp corner was being eased. Water tables had been cleaned on Marion and Jane streets (Macandrew Bay). A commencement bad boon made with the building of a concrete culvert in Princes street. Broad Ray Riding; Water tables had been cleaned on streets in Broad Bay. Trimming of the formation and water table cleaning were being done on the Camp road. Stone was being quarried for patching the formation on Wilson's road. One shanp corner on Wilson’s road was being eased.—The report was adopted. RANGER’S REPORT. Eighteen bead of stock bad been found wandering during the month, reported the county ranger.—The report was adopted. FINANCE. Accounts amounting to £Bl7 I7s lid were passed for payment.