TAIHAPE NOTES.

Rangitikei Advocate and Manawatu Argus, Volume XLV, Issue 11763, 25 February 1919, Page 5

TAIHAPE NOTES.

From Our Own Correspondent, The operations of t(ie Taihape Domain Board for the year consisted of erecting seats, trimming trees, and general maintenance work in connection with the borough scenic reserves. The balance sheet shows a credit of £72 9s, liabilities being nil. The fences and gates were reported to be out of order in some places, and authority for the necessary repairs being executed has been granted. A letter from the Depirtmeut of Internal Affairs, re the Town Plannine Conference to be held in May, was read at a meeting of the Borough Council on Friday. As the conference takes place after the municipal elections, the Mayor to be elected for the next term was appointed a delegale to the conference. A railway collision occurred at Waiourn on Friday, when an incoming goods train crashed into a standing train. The damage done was not so serious as it might have been, but a number of tracks were derailed and an engine and some of the trucks v/ere damsged. Fortunately. the incoming train was not travelling at a high rate of speed, and'prompt'application of the brakes averted what might have been a serious smash. Traffic on toe main line was not affected, ss the collision occurred in the siding.

£ Messrs O. J. Dymcck, R Howden, and the Mayor have been appointed a special committee for one year to act with the Taihape Executive of the Wanganui Hospital Board.

The Mayor has been invited to attend a meeting of t he Wanganni H oepital Board to arrange for precautions to be taken in the event of a farther outbreak of the influenza epidemic, and baa accepted. The Electric Light and Water Supply[Commiftee has recommended that:immediate inquiries be made as to the ways and means of obtaining a gravitation water supply for Taihape. The borough foreman recommended that the Council should empower the Health Inspector to take necessary steps to have all premises within the area connected with the sewerage system as soon as possible. The poll in connection with the borough loan proposals, involving an expenditure of £17,000 on street improvements, etc., will be held on 26th March.

A permanent branch of the Public Trust Ofiice has been established at Taihape, and it is considered that this is the first step in the direction of having branches of other Government departments established here. During a discussion at the Borough Council meeting on Friday, regarding the necessity of houseowners being compelled to have the sewerage system installed. Or. Wrightaon eaifl that a gooa many working men owned properties, and were williug to do the work if they could afford it. They were also prepared to pay the Council up to £1 per week to have the work done. Or. Reid questioned the statement that a number of working men owned properties, as the statement was not borne out by the information supplied by the Health Inspector. It may interest Or. Reid to know that a great many working men do own houses in the borough, as they have found that it is less costly to purchase a house under the Advances scheme than [it is to pay rent. Those working men who are purchasing houses on the instalment plan would find it difficult to meet the cost of having to pay for sewerage connections in one sntu, and they should be assisted by the Councl whenever advisable. Drainage is absolutely essential, and every houseowner should be compelled to provide proper sanitation. If Cr. Reid makes inquiries, he will find that the opposition to compulsion in the matter of sanitation does not emanate tram the working men who own houses, but from those win can afford to own one or more houses which are let to working men. That it should be necessary to compel these landlords to provide proper sanitation does not reflect to their credit, but working men who own houses ’should be given some assistance by the Council in regard to providing sanitaiion. Many of these houses have been purchaesd as they stood from previous owners who neglected to provide proper sanitation in the first place, an 1 it would be unfair to compel the new owners to accept full responsibility fur the neglect of the previous owner. It would be a wise thing if the sale of insanitary bouses was prohibited, as scuh a measure would insure that sanitation would be always provided, as houseowners usually have a great respect for the selling value of their properties.