Bay Of Islands County Council

Northern Advocate, 16 September 1941, Page 3

Bay Of Islands County Council

As a mark of respect to the passing lof a former member of the Bay of Islands County Council (Mr T. Hedley), members of the council stood in silence at the opening of the monthly meeting held at Kawakawa recently when a small agenda was dealt with. After considering various ways of dealing with the menace of wandering stock on county roads, it was agreed that applications be called for three rangers for the county. Cr. G. H. McKenzie brought to the council’s notice the unsatisfactory state of the tar-sealing in and about the Kaikohe Town District, urging that as the contractor was still liable for the upkeep of the newly-laid sealing, the Public Works Department should be communicated with requesting that repairs be carried out. A motion to this effect was carried.

The county engineer (Mr S. B. Clifford) was requested by Cr. J. R. Morris to prepare a report on how the Opiu. Road, near the wharf, could be widened.

Repairs to the Otiria-Ngapipito Road, which is in a rough state, was left to the discretion of the riding member (Cr. S. W. Smith) and the engineer.

Cr. 11. T. Bates thought something should be done to improve the narrow strip of road between the Kerikeri wharf and the Kerikeri bridge as a large amount of traffic passed over the section which was quite dangerous, especially to a driver not conversant with the road.

The engineer is to prepare a report for the next meeting. A letter complaining of flooding in front of the Moerewa School was received from the school committee, which requested that the drain should be attended to. The matter was left to Crs. J. T. McKeown and Smith and the engineer to attend to. At the end of the meeting, the chairman (Mr H. T. Atkinson), on behalf of the council members, presented a wallet and shaving set to the county clerk (Mr A. J. Drage), who is shortly to join the Military Forces. “This will probably be Mr Drage’s last meeting," Mr Atkinson said, “and I would like to state how much I have appreciated his servicess.”

He spoke of how Mr Drage has previously been assistant-clerk, but. upon Mr J. Rayner going overseas, he had assumed full responsibility and his efficiency had been greatly appreciated.

Members of the council joined in toe chairman’s remarks, expressing tueir best wishes for good iuck and a speedy return to New Zealand. It was agreed that the council give Mr Drage a month’s leave on full pay.

Thanking the council for their remarks. Mr Drage briefly replied, and said that he hoped it would not be long before he would be back in Kawakawa.