PATEA COUNTY COUNCIL

Patea Mail, 15 November 1939, Page 2

PATEA COUNTY COUNCIL

ORDINARY MEETING The o: dinary monthly meeting of the Paten County Council was held on Tuesday, Mr. W. G, Belton presiding. Messrs Watkins, Gibbs, Back, Cotterill, D. Hurley, and Watt were also present . Leave of absence was granted Cr. Pearce. Correspondence was read as under. — CORRESPONDENCE T! e Acting Prime Minister wrote stating that the council’s vjiews re national register and: the curtailment of relief schemes in order to overcome the shortage of farm labour to assist in the increase of production would be placed before the Government.—Received, 'The Health Department notified the appointment of Inspector W. H. Roy in place of Inspector ftceolo, who is in Trcntham Camp.—Receive !. Mr. Roy was formally appointed the council’s health inspector. An invitation was received from the Pa lea Borough Council to attend the opening of the Centennial Memorial at the Beach‘on December 2nd. The invitation was accepted with thanks. The South Taranaki Automobile Association wrote offering fits full cooperation in any a chi on taken to improve the railway crossing at the tipper Manutahi Road.

The County Clerk reported that he had written to the Minister of Transport suggesting that too hanks on each side of the ■ road approach from the west, be cut back for a distance of seven! feet to enable vehicle drivers to obtain a view of the railway line, and that reflecting mirrors be erected on each side of tie road crossing to give a view of the line north and south of the crossing Mr. Gibbs said a tally had been taken of the people using the crossing. There had been 170 motor vehicles and 200 other crossings made by people during the week. 'The sugested improvements would be better than nothing. The clerk’s suggestion was approved. The Wanganui City Council wrote stating that the ' Marton Borough Council had agreed to withdraw, its objection to the basis of distribution of Heavy Truffle fees as sot out in the report of the Conference of May Bth last- The council wished to know if ti e Comity is agreeable to the ha.-.:s of the allocation of fees. The chairman said the statements in the letter were not quite correct. If any local bodies were not satisfied they should have gone on with the matter. He thought the Transport Department should have dealt with the matter iin spite of the war. At the recent Comity Conference it was agreed that the matter of .the collection of fees should be left to the Councils themselves. The fact that the accounts had been audited was sufficient reply to those who did not see eye to eye with the Council.

The Marion Borough Council had only itself to tKank for its present position. ' If its representative had not boon so aggressive they would have gone further than they had. The speaker’s opinion was that the matter would he eventually left to the Transport department. He would move that the Council approve of the present lasis. Cr. Gibbs seconded the motion and said that the City Council vehicles that used the county roads should contribute towards their upkeep. The resolution was carried. Mr. Clift Wills wrote stating that he was resigning from the position of secretary of the Mnnutahi Cemetery Board as three of hiis men were in camp and he had to look after his farm himsblf. The County Clerk said the matter was one for the Cemetery Board. It was decided to write to the committee and explain the position to them. The trustees for the estate of the late Mr. A. Muggeridge wrote offering an ai oa of 1 rood .14 perches ior road deviation of Ball Highway at the rate of £35 per acre, all costs of fencing ole., to be borne by the council.

The offer was accepted subject to the approval of the Highways Board. . Messrs Freeman K. Jackson and Co. wrote with regard to the Highwajs Hoad deviation that they were prepared to sell the land required at the rateable value. It was. decided to interview Mr, E. W, Lai id in the matter. Mr. Gower James, wrote asking for an extended lease of Section 2S Block VI. Tvapara. ' The matter was held over until the next meeting when Cr. Pearce will be present. Mrs. M. Kerso wrote asking for an inspection of the Kapara road by the council. The engineer stated that the road had suffered a fair amount of damage during the late flood. A man was scut up but the slips were too bad for one man to handle, and more men wore sent up. The boulders were too big to handle and explosives had to be used. A lot of green timber had also come cknvn and had to be removed. The job was a nasty one and n slow one on account of the special circumstances. The matter was left in the hands of the engineer with power'to act. A request was received from the Blanket Society for asistance. The sum of £5/5/- was unanimously granted.

Cr. Gibbs reported that he had interviewed Mr. Gudgeon with regard to tlie piece of land required. He moved that permission be granted Mr. Gudgeon, to fence off the portion of land required in accordance with the agreement arrived at with the com-