H. B. COUNTY COUNCIL.

Hawke's Bay Tribune, Volume XII, Issue 230, 11 September 1922, Page 5

H. B. COUNTY COUNCIL.

MONTHLY MEETING. The monthly meeting/of the Hawke’s Bay County Council was field this morning. Air. T. E. Crosse presided and there were also present Crs. W. Shrimpton. C. C. Smith. J. J. Rathie. I. B. Logan Mr. Alason Chambers was unable to be present owing to indisposition. Details of local body requirements in hydro-electric power as reported to the council for submission to the Minister for Public Works were as follows: — Napier Borough 900 k.w., Hastings 1000 k.w.. Central Power Board. 1000 h.p.. Borthwick’s, 700 h.p., Whakatu 670 h.p., Tomoana 750 h.p.. North British 500 h.p. In view of the time having reached the point of expiring during which the council can recover rates from Crownthorpe settlers it was decided to sue for arrears.

The question of joining two blind roads as asked for by the Raupare settlers was deferred pending a report from the engineer.

Several letters were received on they subject of the council planting trees. The Forestry Department advised that the section empowering road boards to spend money on tree planting had apparently been overlooked in the Counties Act. It was decided to take action to secure the inclusion of the section concerned.

The chairman was appointed to attend tjio Waikaremoana delegation to visit Wellington. Hastings Chamber of Commerce asked the council to subscribe to the cost of advertising Hawke’s Bay. Owing to no fund being available out of which to make a donation it was decided no action could be taken. Dealing with engineers’ reports, Cr Logan said an old friend came up in the matter of bridging the Poporangi and Ohara streams. It had been proposed that heavy traffic bridges should be put in, and the Government has offered £l5OO as a contribution on a £1 to £2 basis. The settlers had offered considerable assistance, but the slump had eventuated and the work seemed further away than ever. In times of flood the area was absolutely cut off, and valuable life was in jeopardy. He had been approached by.ratepayers who suggested light traffic bridges and he was inclined to favour this. Air T. Jowsey had offered his team free of cost if the work was done.

On Cr Logan’s motion it was decided to have plans and specifications prepared to come before the councl at its next meeting.

A deputation waited on the council suggesting arrangements to open a new road between the Twyford and Raupare roads. The deputation said the road would be 271 chains long and cost about £4OO. Forming and metalling was not required, but a fenced-off area was wanted so that children could get safely to school instead of having to pass through paddocks containing cattle.

The Masterton Chamber of Commerce wrote on the question of improving the grade on the Rimutaka railway. The chairman said the council could not be expected to give any reasonable expression of opinion on such a huge subject with which they were not conversant. Other members concurred. A sum of £502 native rates for 1919 was written off. The amount collected was 83 per cent. —a record. The clerk (Mr. A. H. Ferguson) was congraulated on his success. A committee was set up to confer with Holt and Sons on the question of the Ohurakura road. Hblt and Sons have recently purchased Mrs. Perry’s bush at Ohurakura.