OPUNAKE.

Hawera & Normanby Star, Volume XLIII, Issue XLIII, 14 January 1924, Page 4

OPUNAKE.

(From Our Own Correspondent.)

TOWN BOARD.

The statutory half-holiday was fixed as Wednesday for the ensuing ytmr. Mr Jaa. Rickey's tender of 4s 6d per yard for boulder stone was ivcoepfced. It was decided to ask the Egmont County Council to give a priea for crushing st 'lie ar >. laying down on roadway. Tho Board also decided to have Layard Street to cottage hospital completed. Messrs E. J. Wallis and T. J. Mildenhall each tendered lid each for supply at «dog collars. —It was decided that the requirements bo procured in «aval proportions from eudh of the above.

The following tenders were accepted for Lease of Board's reserves:—Section 10, block 45, W. Fawcett, £6 10s per annum; section 8, block 40, A. Callander, £5 per annum. Mrs W. Nightingale, licensee of. the Opunake Hotel, was granted permission to erect a- balcony. Mr H, B. Gibson, solicitor, who had the preparations of the by-laws in hand, wrote stating that he could not make any reduction in his account of £25 12s unless same was paid before December 20. in which case he would be pleased to donate rubbish baskets, to be placed in Main Street, —Tho Board sot up a committee of all members to deal with the matter.

Ifc was resolved to draw the atten-. tion of the Egmont County Council to repairs required to decking vVaiaun bridge.

HARBOUR BOARD.

The monthly meeting of the Harbour Board was held on Friday. Presesnt: Messrs T. P. Hughson (chairman), A. H. Moore. R. Ferguson, C. A. Trotter, C. H. Hurst, H. Young, and T. H. Sinclair.

Notice of the annual conference of engineers, t'j be held at Ihinedin, was received.—Mr Moore moved that the Board's engineer he granted leave of absence to attend the conference, and that no expenses be allowed.—Seconded by the chairman. Mr Young moved us an amendment that leave of absence be granted, and that the Roaird pay the expenses of the engineer.—The amendment was carried.

It was decided to allow members' travelling expenses at the rate of Is per mile (mile t# be counted one way only) plus 2s 6d for luncheon, the remuneration to be retrospective to June 1, 1923. The chairman reported that the committee set up to report on; A. McHeown's application for vefund of expenses in promoting the Harbour Bill had not yet obtained the whole of the information desired.—Tt was agreed that the? committee's fine be extended. On the chairman's recommendation, it was also decided to extend the time of the committee set up to deal with the by-laws. # ■ ■ The chairman reported on behalf of the Works Committee that the tenders ■eoeived for a supply of ironbark tinier were considered excessive. The committee therefore instructed the engineer to make arrangements to procure sufficient timber for constructing 300 feetj of mole, and that tenders be again invited for the-'remainder when & more favourable opportunity offered. —The action of the committee was confirmed.

The Finance Committee reported that they could not recommend an increased of the clerk's salary.—Adopted. A notice of motion by Mir Moore: "That the engineer's reports be filed in the Board's office/ was seconded by the chairman, who explained that he had taken the last three reports of the engineer away with him, and had overlooked returning them. Reports previous to this were filed in the Board's office.—The motion was carried.

Mr Moore moved a further notice of motion, via: 'That the present Works Committee be dissolved, and that the committee be reconstituted." Mr Moore stated that the present committee^ did not' exercise sufficient supervision,. He criticised their action in allowing the engineer 4o buy a blacksmith's outfit without first submitting a complete requisition of the items reauired. He also claimed that in other irections the engineer had too much freedom of action. —The motion lapsed for want of a seconder.

The engineer reported that plant purchased was now almost to hand, and a commencement had been immediately made with the erection of cranes, etc. He recommended that five sets of switches and one diamond crossing be procured. Messrs Cooke and Co., Auckland, liad made the most favourable quotation for the supply of these. As a result of the dry weather the well had gone dry, and arrangements must be made for a more permanent supply of water. The contractor for the removal 'of earth had not yetVmade a commencement. It is expected that the work will be well iir'h&nd before the middle of the month.'

_ HOSPITAL COMMITTEE. The monthly meeting of the Hospital Committee was held on Saturday. The chairman reported' that he had arranged for the grazing rights of Allison Street property at 2s 6d per week to the end of March or until such time as it could be sown down in permanent grass.—Action confirmed. « The secretary reported that the water being drawn from the Hospital well was lately most unsatisfactory. The health inspector is having an analysis made, but pending his report 6teps have been taken to rectify as far as possible the trouble.

On the motion of Messrs Young and Ferguson, the chairman, secretary arid Mr Morris were appointed a committee with power to act, in connection, with the matter.

A hearty vote of thanks was accord ed Mrs S. Cox for donations to Hos pital.

For some time past considerable dissatisfaction appears to exist with the management of the local hospital, and with a view to removing any misunderstandings that may exist, it was resolved to ask the Taranaki Hospital Board to appoint a-committee to confer with ,the local committee on matters pertaining to the local hospital.