Province and Suburb

Sun (Auckland), Volume II, Issue 417, 27 July 1928, Page 2

Province and Suburb

(From THE SUN’S Correspondents.)

OTAHUHIi AFFAIRS RATES ADVANCED The traffic committee reported at the meeting of the O.tahuhu Borough Council last evening that at a meeting held at Papatoetoe on Wednesdayevening it was recommended to include Papakura in the traffic inspector’s territory at the rate of £l5O a year. It was further recommended that if Papakura accepted the terms that an assistant b© appointed to the inspector at a salary of £2 10s a week. A deputation comprising 13 ratepayers of the proposed special rating area waited on the council and entered a strong protest against the scheme. Mr. Gray said that if levied the extra amount would be beyond the means of the majority of residents. It was decided to consider the whole question of providing roads and footpaths in that area of the borough surrounded by Fairburn Road. Great South Road and the Tamaki River at a special meeting of the council to bo held next week. The council decided to support the Auckland City and Auckland Museum Empowering Act. A letter was received from the Un- | der-Secretary of the Department of Internal Affairs advising that there were no funds available for the renovation of the Xixon monument, and recommending that another application be made next year. Messrs. Hall and Wills were appointed as the council’s representatives on the band committee. It was decided to erect small kennels for the purpose of impounding stray dogs, prior to destroying them. A petition was received from residents of Huia Road, asking the council to abate the storm water nuisance caused by the council turning water off the road on to their properties. The AVorks Committee’s recommendation that the drain be opened up to relieve the situation was adopted. The rates levied for this year amounted to 10 1-Sd in the £ on unimproved value, compared with 8 5-8 d in the £ last year. KING COUNTRY NEWS A meeting of the Ohura Teachers* Institute, at which representatives of all the adjacent schools were present, was held to consider the progress of handwork among the scholars, some excellent examples being on view. It was resolved to take steps lor the formation of a good central circulating library from which all the country schools could draw, and to enlist the support of the public in the proposal. It is estimated that it can be got under way for about £4O. * * * Evidence of the difficulties encountered in the back districts by mailmen engaged in the delivery of rural mails is supplied by recent experiences of the contractor for the Raurimu-House-boat-Wanganui River route, the car being bogged eight times during one trip, and having to be finally abandoned. The road, which is a popular tourist highway, is in a deplorable condition on what is known as the “lower end.”

At a meeting of the Taumarunui Radio Club, over which Mr. A. S. Laird presided, it was announced that every effort was being made to deal with the nuisance of “interference,” and that the postmaster, Mr. N. R. Mclsaac was doing all he could to assist the club to obtain improved conditions.

At the last meeting of the Wanganui River Trust the question of the future of the river boat service was brought up, but the Press was excluded from the discussion. When the trust resumed open meeting it was announced that important information was presented to the members of Parliament directly concerned, and it is understood that a decision favouring Wanganui interests was arrived at. In his report on the matter the board’s chairman, Mr. J. 11. Burnett, said: “it is not at all likely that any private company will take it up. The only public body that can come to the rescue is the River Trust Board, which already has the necessary authority, but the situation is full of difficulty, and will require your earnest consideration.** * * * The president, Mr. A. G. Riches, was in the chair at a social evening arranged by the executive of the Taumarunui Winter Show Association, at which the Mayor, Mr. G. B. Manson, proposed the toast of ‘The Taumarunui and Districts’ Winter Show.” There was a large attendance, including many representatives of kindred associations. Various speakers stressed the necessity for increased space owing to the remarkably rapid progress the association’s exhibitions were making. OPOTIKI INTERESTS The total revenue of the Whakatane Borough Council's electric department for the financial year ending March 31 was £4,071, and expenditure £5,244. A special rate amounting to £1,680 was provided to cover the shortage of estimated revenue over estimated expenditure, but sales of electricity increased considerably more than was anticipated, thereby showing actually an approximate profit of £1,500. A large portion of the increase last year was due to the supply to factories on the Rangitaiki Plains. These sucon the Rangitaiki Plains. These cusshortly, as they are changing over to the Bay of Plenty Power Board. At the present time the annual revenue from the factories exceeds £I,OOO, and to counteract the loss it is proposed to canvass the borough for electricranges.

Owing to the serious competition of tno railway there has been a heavy falling-off in the "Wliakatane Harbour Board’s revenue. The estimated revenue for the year ending September 30 was £8,388, and expenditure £5,073, to which had to b© added a debit from the previous year of £4.681, bringing the total to £12,755. The rate struck in the previous year was three farthings. The chairman of the board said they would have to fac© the position and put the board on a sound footing. After a long discussion the board de - decided to strike a rate of i;d, an increase of a halfpenny.

WAIHI SCHOOLS COMMITTEE A special meeting of the Waihi i Schools Committee was held .on Wed ! nesday evening, at which Sir. E. Dur«' ,on was appointed secretary in place Mr. J. C. Ross, who is leaving the distnct. An offer front Mr. W. Thomp. son to supply macrocarpu tree for the Waihi Beach school grounds was copted. Tite chairman. Mr. J. Beeche, pre sented the retiring secretary. Mr! Ros! with a handsome solid leather case, rr behalf of the committee. Mr. Beech, assured the recipient that his efforts on behalf of education in Waihi had been greatly appreciated, and that parents in Waihi hud much to thank hint for. Mr. Ross suitably replied. MANURE WA PRESBYTERIANS The sixth annual report, submitted at the annual meeting of the Manurewa Presbyterian Church, on Wednesday evening, showed steady increase in membership during the pa?r year, and considerable advancement i n the work of the church in all its branches. The Rev. T. 11. Uoseveart, moderator of the Auckland Presbytery, presided over an attendance o t GO members. The balance sheet showed income from envelopes and collection plate as £195 3s Bd, and a credit balance of over £l9 stands after all expenses have been deducted. The building fund account has a cash balance of £25. The Sunday School report disclosed a very satisfactory state of affairs; attendances had increased from 40 to SI since moving into the new hall, and the balance sheet shows £ 7 13s 4d in credit. The Ladies’ Guild had a very successful year, and raised £241 5s 2d and. after substantial advances to the furnishings of the new church and the fencing of the property, closed the year with a credit balance of £7 5s 4<t Misses McCallum. Grassick and H. Donaldson were elected to fill three vacancies on the committee of management. A hearty vote of thanks was accorded the various bodies for their splendid efforts during the year. The Rev. T. 11. Roseveare congratulated the secretaries for the way in which the reports were submitted, and also the members of the Ladies’ Guild for their donations toward the church work. At the close of the business, musical items were given by Mrs. Bodle and Mr. H. Donaldson, vocal solos; Mr?. Guthrie nnd Mr. Donaldson, vocal duet; Miss Roseveare. elocutionary item. HAMILTON NEWS Three young taxi-drivers were cautioned by the Myor, Mr. J. R. Fow, at the Hamilton Borough Council meeting on Wednesday evening. Judging by the Mayor’s comments, the offenders had annoyed other drivers and had been the means of causing geenral friction and disturbance. The evidence of the persons concerned in the complaints was sufficient to render the taxi-drivers before the council liable to Police Court proceedings. They could consider themselves fortunate that action was not taken, said the Mayor. Thcouncil had resolved not to cancel th* offenders’ licences, but in the event of any further trouble it would have no hesitation in doing so. When the Waikato River w..s diverted into its new course at Arapuni last January and thousands of acres of land were covered with water, many claims for compensation were made to the Public Works Department. Among them was one from the Hamilton Borough Council, which a*ked th* Department to defray the cost of clarifying the river water and remov- j ing the silt and pumice which were brought down in large quantities. At the Borough Council meeting on Wednesday evening the engineer, Mr. R P. Worley, Informed the council that he had been informed that there was little likelihood of the council recovering from the Department. Cr. J. E. Tidd asked if it was a fai t that the council was at present spending £2B a day in removing silt from the water. The Mayor. Mr. J. R. Fow explained that during January the cost was considerably more than that, but the expense had been reduced a great deal since then. The engineer said th** river had been lower than it had b*en for the past 10 years last month. Rrcent weather, however, had necessitated the treatment of the town warer with alum.

In accepting the explanation with relief, Cr. Tidd pointed out that if hi’ question had been answered in th* affirmative it would mean the counci was spending £IO,OOO a year in treating the town water. If this had beer so lie w*ould have urged ini mediate consideration of the proposal to utilise the splendid catchment area at Pirongia, which would ensure excellent water for all time. However, as Hamilton water was being obtained from the river and the cost of pumping was negligible owing to the borough's owe electricity being used, any fre*ischeme could well be left alone for th* present. The Hamilton Borough Council ha? deferred for a month the quisti'*® 1 considering what additional m«n.should be taken to relieve unemploymenL On the recommendation of a committee. the Borough Council at *** meeting last night defined its future policy with regard to the erection o. hoardings in the borough. It was d* • cided that licences be issued by thtown clerk for all applications approved by the inspector dealing wifirecognised business areas, but that applications for outside these areas referred to the council. The Hamilton Borough Coundl. which runs its own electricity under* taking, derided on Wednesday cveninto increase the discounts for promr l payments of accounts by id a unit. take effect on all accounts render' - after August 3. The council, althoitfjexpressing satisfaction at the and stable condition of the depart®*®* could not see its way to reduce t** charges at present. On the eve of his departure Dunedin to take over the chief accountant of the Money and Savings Bank Department, Mr- **- M. Jackson, of the Hamilton braJtfn. was given an enthusiastic farewell ye-* ter da y afternoon by his colleaguessuitable presentation was made*