COUNTY AFFAIRS

Hawera Star, Volume XLVII, 9 March 1928, Page 6

COUNTY AFFAIRS

IV AIM ATE WEST COUNCIL. Business transacted at the meeting I of the Waimate West County Council in addition to that reported yesteiduy was as under: COMPENSATION FOR ROADS. The question of an amendment to the Main Highways Act to allow local bodies who bad brought up their roads to the standard previous to the Act coming into operation being compensated for the extra work done and expense incurred was brought up as the outcome of a circular from the Local Bodies’ Association. Tim chairman said Air. Coates had told him that the counties should keep “pegging away.” and he added that thev should not take “no” for an answer.- There was no doubt the counties should get credit for what they had done. All counties could give particulars of the amounts spent. He felt sure this was the first intention of the Government. OPENING A ROAD. The Trustee Executor and Agency branch of the New Zealand Insurance Company wrote stating that they were executors of the estate of the late William Hicks, in which was a farm of 32 acres on the Normanby Road. The company said they intended to subdivide and sell the property, and asked the council to open an unformed road fronting sections on the said road, which could lie done at a comparatively small cost. _ The chairman said this unformed road ran from the Normanby Road near Stoddnrt’s into the block in question. The engineer said he had inspected the locality, and found it would need about a chain of six foot filling. Cr. Gamlin said lie assumed -the work should he carried out when necessary. Cr. Stevenson remarked that it was not the business of the council to make boundary fences. The matter was left to the chairman and engineer. STRAYING CATTLE. A letter was received from the Otakeho School Committee objecting to cattle being allowed to stray on the roads and, it was asserted, being put into the school paddocks, injuring the grounds. Sir IVm. Le Fleming said that this was tho case of a cottager’s few cows which were turned out on the roads. This was right, but they should not he turned l into private grounds. The teachers took a pride in the gardens and grounds, and an example should be made.

The engineer said they do not object to cattle being put on the roads in the daytime, but they v should not be allowed out at night. The chairman said that sheep and cattle had to he taken along the roads in large numbers at this time of the year. Some were driven at night, and this was had' enough, hut when they strayed at night it was very serious. Sir IVm. Le Fleming said' that in these days of motor traffic stock should he kept off the roads at night a,S' well as during the daytime. The engineer remarked that the Impounding Act needed amending, and also the question of fees. ANNIVERSARY DAY. A letter was received from the town clerk, Stratford, asking the council to endeavour to have Aiarch 31, Anniversary Day, made a general holiday. The clerk said that tiie day was observed by banks and law offices, and it would be a big help to him and all offices and enable them to- get on with their annual balance. Members agreed that it was a matter for the Counties’ Association to discuss, so as to give a. lead and it was resolved to bring the matter up at the next conference. Councillors approved of a suggestion to try closing the county office on March 31 for one year. HOSPITAL LOAN EXTENSION. Sir William Le Fleming moved, and it was agreed, that the action of the council’s delegates in advocating an extension of the term of the loan for the Hawera Hospital be endorsed by the council. He added that the council had given them a free hand to vote as they thought fit after hearing the pros anti , cons. He considered it must be for the advantage of the ratepayers. He added that if all ratepayers were “flush of funds”, it would be better to get in and pay off the loan, and otherwise it would be an advantage to have a longer time in which to pay the loan and a better opportunity of doing so. He considered the delegates did the right thing in advocating an extension. Or. Stevenson agreed that there was on Ij- one thing for it. The amount of extra, money; was, he said, all for interest as was only fair and right. He approved of the motion. Another councillor said lie had thought that by extending the period of the loan, they would lose a heavy subsidy and that by extension they would get, say, only £1 for £l. Members generally agreed the motion would help the hoard and their own representatives. GENERAL. A request from tho Hibernian Society or the use of the tractor to drive a heavy roller was granted and it was left to the engineer to arrange. In connection with a small area of land on the Sweet Road, which Mr. J. Sclieuber wished to> buy or to. lease on a 999 years- tenure, it was- considered doubtful whether the county had a crown grant of the land and in consequence could give- a title. Eventually it was left to* the clerk to investigate the position.