WAIHEMO COUNTY COUNCIL

Otago Daily Times, Issue 17063, 23 July 1917, Page 2

WAIHEMO COUNTY COUNCIL

The monthly meeting of the Waihemo County Council was held on Saturday. Ihose present were—Crs M'L&y (chairman) O'Neill, Miller, Pilbrow, M'Callum, Mathieson, and M'Lennon. 1

Mr Thomas Walsh (chairman of the Shag Point School Committee) made application for four loads of gravel to be utilised for improving the school entrance.—The council agreed to accede to the request. c ,, Mr <?•. E. Twinin fe , on behalf of the bhag Point Coal Proprietery, wrote complaining of the deplorable state of the Slhag Point road. The writer added that the teamsters were prepared to oart the necessary metal on to the road l when required while the company would find tho labour'. The thoroughfare had not been overhauled for somo 20 years.—The council expressed its opinion that the repairing of the roadwould be of no direct or indirect benefit to the county. To properly repair the road would involve the county funds to the extent of £400 or thereabouts, together with additional expense which would result in maintaining the thoroughfare.—The letter was received. A letter was received from Mr Sydney Beck in connection with the action of the Telegraph Department in closing the telephone bureau in tho evening. He asked the council to help to influence the department in altering its decision.—Cr O'Neill intimated that the telephone restriction which the department had agreed upon could not be' considered in the light of fair treatment to residents interested. The action of the ' department was the result of a report made no doubt by a departmental inspector. He considered that the curtailment of the telephone scrvice required in the interests of the county ratepayers a solid protest from the council. Up to the present the evening telephone service was a great boom.—Other members spoke in similar vein.—Cr Mathieson (Green Valley Riding) said that to his knowledge the best hours for telephone and telegraph business in his riding wore those between 7 and 8 p.m. By motion it was unanimously agreed to forward a letter of protest to tho Minister, and Messrs Leo and Scott, M-P.'s, who represent the districts interested. Mr James Chapman wrote relative to the requirements of the road at the foot of M'Crae's Hill, stating that ho was prepared to give tho council any reasonable assistance. —The inspector to report. Mr Martin, solicitor to the County Councils' _ Association, forwarded counsel's opinions on mi tters affecting chairmen's expenses, timber stacked on roads, and horses straying.—Received. The Inspector's report was submitted and agreed to in every particular. A motion of sympathy and condolence was extended to Cr Clark and his relatives on tho death of a relative who was reoently killed in action. Tho Inspector was authorised to employ labour when available for gravelling, etc. on Dunbacfc roads. Accounts amounting to £366 13s 8d were passed for payment. The yearly balance sheet vsas received and approved. Tho following rates for tho various ridin«s for the year 1917-18 were struck as follows: Meadowbank, Duitbaok, and 1 M'Crae's, gd;' Blue Mountain, Boshey, Goodlwood,' and Green Valley, Id.