WAIROA COUNTY

Poverty Bay Herald, Volume LXI, Issue 18580, 14 December 1934, Page 10

WAIROA COUNTY

MEETING OF COUNCIL (Herald Correspondent.) ( The Wairoa County Council met on Wednesday. Present: Crs. A. G. Nolan, chairman, W. J. Hill, A. T. Carrol), S. A. Dickie, W. Tait, G. C. Ormond, and F. H. Norris. The chairman stated he would, like, on behalf of the council, to congratulate the reporter, Air. T. Lambert, on attaining his eightieth year, and while still carrying on the work to thank him lor lus services over a long period of years. It was reported by the chairman that lie had not- been able to meet the chairman of the Hospital Board on the subject of the rest room as proposed by the* Borough UouVoiJ. Air. Brewster: had telephoned him and it would appear that the modified scheme was feasible and they were to confer later. The chairman also reported that the local bodies iii No. 5 group had met in Napier, and the allocation of heavy traffic fees among the areas was fixed the same us last year.

The Treasury advised particulars of amendments to the Local ’Authorities Interest Reduction and Loans Conversion Act,' 1934, and provisions in the Finance Act, 1934, for a' grant of 12). per cent, on rates levied by the council for the year ending March 31, 1935. —The chairman said that a great deal was involved in the preparation for these refunds. Those who had paid their rates would get a refund of 121, per cent, and in the case of those who had not, the 121,-' per cent, would be, credited to their rate account. It was only in this way that the council would get, anything out of it, and it (night come to £4CO or £SOO. —The chair* man was appointed to sign the allocations.

The Minister of Finance wrote advising that it was anticipated that equipment satisfactory to all concerned would be available for the transport of frozen meat between Wairoa and Waikokopu. —This letter was received.

The Minister of Lands wrote regretting that the question of purchase by the Crown of 400 acres of Kaiwaitau block could not be entertained. —The clerk suggested that to save other lands from being; smothered by drifting sand they should apply to the Land Court, to sit in January, for the vesting of the area in the council. This was agreed to, the chairman and Crs. Ormond and Carroll to be a committee to wait on the Land Court judge. The Highways Council, Napier, advised that the following additional main highways have been declared in the county* Waikaremoana-Hopuruahine turn-off, 13m. 55ehs.; Nuhaka-Wai-kokopu, 6m. 50chs. —This was referred to the engineer. The Public Works Department’s engineer at Wairoa notified that £75, £1 for £l, for metalling on the Tangiwai road, appeared 011 the Public Works estimates in error.—A formal resolution to maintain this road was passed. The engineer also asked for the council’s views-on the proposal to reopen as a stock route the Waikaremoana-Hangaroa road. The chairman said that though it might benefit, say, himself in the Ruakituri district, the expenditure was not warranted from a county point of view. There was not much stock to go that way to the Waikato, and the bridges would cost the county about £SOO. Or. Norris thought it could not be so very expensive just as a stock track; the route should have been kept open from the start 40 years ago. Cr. Dickie held that if the track were again opened it would be the same in a few years. It was decided to advise the engineer that there was not sufficient stock likely to use the route, and the expenditure was not warranted; in addb tion. the council could not subsidise the work nr maintain it if it was done. It was agreed that the Ruakitui'i-Waimana road was the best route, but work at both ends had been suspended. The Deputy Valuer-General wrote, forwarding a form of application for payment of 75 per cent, advance of subsidy on general rates and stating it was not proposed to pay the advance in future if the local authority had a cash balance. This was stated to be a new departure. The chief surveyor, Gisborne, forwarded tracings and schedules of a plan of the Waihi-Waireira road, approved of. —A resolution was passed to legalise the road.

Leave was granted to Mr. P, A. Milne to attend the annual conference of the New Zealand branch of the Royal Sanitary Institute.

The Commissioner of Unemployment wrote extending the term of appointment of Mr. W. .T. Hill, as supervisor of unemployment relief works in the county for a further six months as from December 1. 1934.

The Director-General of Agriculture advised that the council could appoint its own noxious weeds inspector. Cr. Tnit said it was satisfactory that the council could do this, but there was still no power to compel the Crown to clear its own properties. The. Whakatane County Council asked for supjKU't to a resolution urging the Government to effect trade treaties with foreign countries to open up new markets for the primary producers of the Dominion. The chairman said the Whakatane people had been doing some thinking. They all hoped the Government was doing something in this delicate question, though it did not appear so on the surface. It was decided to support the resolution, as it might strengthen the hands of the Government, and to send copies to the district members.

The engineer was granted permission to attend the New Zealand .Society of Civil Engineers’ conference. The ranger reported having impounded three head of cattle.

. Messrs. O’Malley and Jones, on behalf of Mr. P. O’Connell, objected to the erection of gates on the Waihua-Mohaka by-road as proposed by Mr. B. Tumataron. The council considered the objection reasonable under the circumstances stated and upheld it, Mr. O’Malley and Mr. Tumataroa to be advised accordingly.

The Borough Council sent copies of the programme in connection with the visit of the Duke of Gloucester. The chairman asked councillors to intimate to him early how many were to join the official party. Permission was accorded the Flaxmills Company to erect a telephone line on (he usual conditions. Messrs. Dinton Bros, wrote regarding the supply of 4Coyds. of metal on the Nuhaka River road and made an offer to assist which the council agreed was a very fair one. The request was agreed to. The works committee reported on the purchase of three trucks and a car after trading in the present vehicles, subject to the state of the finances after March 31 and the provision of spare tyres. The engineer’s report was adopted, and his action in letting a metalling contract at Putere to Mr. A. W. Stewart was confirmed. It was decided to tar seal a short length of the highway at each side of the railway crossing at Te l hi.

A rubbish dump for Frasertown was agreed to near the metal dump. Or. T’ait drew attention to the continual repairs to the Rakaipaka bridge, and said it should be.inspected, as much