COUNTY AFFAIRS.

Hawera Star, Volume XLIX, 15 November 1929, Page 6

COUNTY AFFAIRS.

WAIMATE WEST COUNCIL

THE MONTH’S WORK

The work clone during, the month was reviewed at the monthly meeting or tne Waimate West County Council yesterday, when there were present: Crs. hi. Long (chairman) ,F. Mourie, H. H. Buxton, S. H. le Fleming, J. Leslie, T. A. Bridge. ENGINEER'S REPORT. “The refacing of the lower Oeo Road is finished,” reported the engineer, Mr J. A. Hansen. “The water channels have been cleaned and the metal well backed up. This road is now m very good order. . . “I am having Omuturangi Road scarified, rer-sha.ped, blinded and rolled, Tarpatching has. been carried out on the Main South, Auroa and Taikahi Roads. Ehch year at about this time the tarred surface of the roads is often cut through by the traffic of various, kinds ot farm implements. Cambridge rollers .have a harmful effect and on Wednesday J noticed the marks of a set- of disc harrows on. the tarred surface of tskeet Road. This, kind of traffic does a lot of damage and steps should be taken to stop it. MAIN highways. In a letter from the Public Works Department it was pointed out tfiat, after the estimates for mam .highways had been approved and the worii completed, the cost was. found to be much more than originally approved. The department said that there appeared to be no reason why the board should be kept in the dark until completion and rendering of claims. tut responsibility for such increases ta expenditure lay with the county, and ad vice should be sent to the district engineer of the extra cost, and where an application was needed for an increase in subsidy. - ~ , The chairman agreed, and said that Waimate West had never exceeded the estimates in their work. STRAYING STOCK.

The nuisance ox straying cattle was the subject of a deputation of a settler from Otakeho. He asked if it were possible to abate the nuisance which had been a great inconvenience to him. The chairman said he could see no oblection to a few cows being <qu the- roads by day, but there should be none at night/ This latter was. a serious danger to travellers and owners persisting should be prosecuted. “That is the only way,” said Or. Leslie, “as is done by Eltham.’ • Cr. Buxton said he agreed thoroughly with the chairman about stock being allowed out by day, but not at night. It was agreed to take 'steps to check the nuisance, the chairman remarking that he had every sympathy with the petition. It was the council’s duty to protect life, lie added, and they would do their best in the matter. GENERAL. A letter of appreciation of the work done by the engineer in supervising the work at the Ratapiko dam was received from the Tariki Bower Board, and oi thanks to the council for his services. Mr P. Tarrant was appointed rangeland dog tax collector for the coming year on terms similar to 'last year. An increase in wages of Is per day, as asked for by the employees, was granted for six months, when the position will be then reviewed. The question of damage t» the roads by implement traffic was brought up and* briefly discussed. It was urged that this could be minimised if such traffic was kept on the sides of the roads. Two cases suspected to be diphtheria and scarlet'fever were reported by the health officer. The chairman and the engineer were appointed to attend the meeting of the Taranaki Local Bodies’- Association at Eltham on November 27. Mr A. Franklin’s tender to paint the interior of the office was. accepted. The following contracts for road metal were accepted: Mi; Y. Sheerin, Nos. 8, 9 and 10; Mr J. Parker, Nos. 11, 12, 13, 10, and 17- Consideration of No.s. 14 and 15 was deferred.