OPUNAKE.

Hawera Star, Volume XLVIII, 12 September 1924, Page 4

OPUNAKE.

(From Our Own Correspondent.)

LOCAL ELECTIONS. Considerable interest is being taken in the election of two representatives of the town district to the Power Board, which is to. take, place on Wednesday. The sitting members, * Messrs C. A. Trotter and J. P. Burton/are seeking re-election, and are opposed by Messrs T. S, Hickey and D. Mourie. This is the first occasion that electors have had of returning seven members for the Town Board, and 10 candidates have been nominated, namely— Messrs A. J. Brennan, G. Feaver, W. E. Gunson, F. Hammond, T. S Hickey, A. F. Hinch, R, Morris, d’. Mourie, H. Munro, and C. A. Trotter. Messrs Trotter, Feaver and Munro are the only members of the old board to seek re-election. The remaining candidates are new to local body work, with the exception of Mr D. Mourie. Electors' have, however, a good team to select from, and the contest will cause much interest locally. It can confidently be expected that whoever the seven elect may be that the new blood which must inevitably be returned will infuse more interest in Town Board affairs than has been the case for some time past. HARBOUR BOARD.

The monthly meeting «f the Harbour Hoard was held on Tuesday. Present: Messrs T. P. Hughson (chairman), H Hurst, H. Young, C. A. Trotter, A. 4 Moore, and T. H. Sinclair. The chairman referred to the indisposition of Mr R. Ferguson, and expressed the hope of a speedy recovery. On the motion of the chairman, the motion of which notice was previouslv given striking the rate over the harbour district was carried, Mr Moore dissenting. Correspondence was received from the Valuer-General in connection with ratepayers’ roll, and agreeing to the suggestion to use where oracticable the county roll.

From the Harbour Boards’ Associa- ? 101 u being report of conference recently held. Mr Moore proposed that the board support the resolution of the conference disapproving of the Government appointing nominees to harbour boards. Motion lapsed for want of a seconder.

It was resolved to confirm the r inance Committee’s recommendation that F. Roebuck’s tender of 30s per ton for cartage from New Plymouth, and A. E. McDonald’s tender of 20s from Eltham and Hawera be accepted. The engineer reported that the work in connection with preparing for drivmg piles on the 25ft spans of the staging had occupied most of the month. Timbers for the next span had been prepared, and pile driving- recommenced on the 3rd inst. Owing to the foregoing works occupying the 'space where boulders were to be placed no stone work had been done during the month. The excavation of roadway has been proceeded with, and the five-ton crane has been utilised in removing boulders accumulated during the excavations. The slight protection now effected is resulting in a large deposit of the spoil being retained; Some difficulty is being experienced in getting delivery of ironbark timbers promised for July last. The agents reoort that shipping' from Australia to New Plymouth is hard to procure, but hope that a shipment will be made from Sydney about September 15. Onlv sufficient beams for three spans were now in hand. On instructions from the chairman he had secured the 30 piles authorised at last meeting from Messrs Mill ward and Co., these being grev gum of a length of 44ft, the price showing a large saving over other piles purchased. The whole of the heavy timbers for staging are now on order, but only one-seventh of the piles and one-eighth of the other timbers have come to hand. The machinery authorised at the last meeting has been procured. D. Farrell (labourer') had a finger crushed on August 21. There are now 21 men emploved on the works.