OTOROHANGA NEWS

Te Awamutu Courier, Volume 58, Issue 4152, 28 June 1939, Page 5

OTOROHANGA NEWS

COUNTY COUNCIL’S MONTHLY MEETING. MUCH-BUSINESS DEALT WITH. (Our Resident Representative.) The Otorohanga County Council met for their monthly meeting on Tuesday, when the following were in attendance.—Crs P. T. Crowley (chairman), V. W. Simms, Bluck, F. Potts, W. Thomson, A. Jamieson and H. E. Grierson, with Mr S. J. Fortescue /county clerk) and Mr Gerald Jack’fson (county engineer). RIDING ACCOUNTS. Since the previous meeting of the council, mainly owing to the excellent first quarter’s collection of heavy traffic license fees £476, and motor drivers’ license fees £302, the riding balances show very little material change, in fact, in Te Rau-a-moa and Waipa ridings the credit balances have increased—Te Rau-a-moa by £23 and Waipa by £l4. Wharepapa, owing to Messrs Smyth and Boryer’s payment of £63 7s lOd, have improved their credit balance by £lO7, to £403 9s 3d. The following are the balances of the respective ridings:—Debit: Honikiwi £l6 Is 6d. Credits: Mangaorongo, £1,068 19s 3d; Te Rau-a-moa £506 3s Id; Waipa, £359 0s sd; Wharepapa £403 9s 3d. The expenditures out of the riding

accounts are: Honikiwi, £9l 17s 6d; Mangaorongo, £406 19s lid; Te Rau-a-moa £147 2s 7d; Waipa £97 6s 2d; Wharepapa, £257 Ils sd.

WANDERING STOCK. The question of wandering stock on the roads on the county in the Otewa riding, was considered, ft was disclosed that wandering stock, especially semi-wild horses—were a menace to road safety.—lt was decided i prosecute owners of wandering stock forthwith. HOSPITAL RATING. The matter of hospital rating was discussed at some length and the Social Security scheme of the present administration, bearing thereon, was fully considered.—lt was resolved to urge that the present hospital charges to county councils should be abolished. PERMITS TO MOVE FURNITURE. It was resolved that permits to move furniture should be granted without the present traffic restrictions, as there have been many instances of hardship through the present methods of issuing permits. PJVER ROAD DEVIATION. The matter of {he Waipa River Road deviation came v- for consideration, the proposed works being subject to a 3 to 1 subsidy from the Public Works Department. The engineer had been in conference with the Public Works Department and a scheme formulated to carrv out the works to the best advantage. Cr. Simms complained of the delay and

the methods employed, so far, regarding the work. ' BLUCK’S ACCESS ROAD. Bluck’s Access Road, on the main highway, was brought up for consideration, and the matter was left with the county and Public Works Department engineers to finalise. SLIPS IN HONIKIWI RIDING. The recent slips in the Honikiwi Riding, on the Otorohanga-Kawhia Highway, were discussed.—Left for the engineer to deal with. NEW ENGINEER. The appointment of the new engineer to the county, Mr Burt McKenzie, in succession to Mr Gerald Jackson, who recently sent in his resignation, was confirmed. Mr McKenzie will take over his duties as from November Ist, from which date, Mr Jackson receives three months’ holiday on full pay. DEPUTY ASSESSOR. Mr E. L. Strawbridge (Kio Kio) was appointed deputy-assessor to the county, to act when the principal assessor (Mr H. Rothery) was not available. COUNTY OFFICE HOURS. The question of keeping the county offices open between 12 noon and 1 p.m. for the convenience of ratepayers, and others was considered. The clerk explained that any change in the present system would probably involve an increase in the present

staff. The chairman thought that the < position did not warrant any change at the present time.—Decided to leave the matter in abeyance during the < winter months. RAILWAY FACILITIES. Cr. V. W. Simms was appointed to represent the county at Wellington, in endeavouring to bring about im- ; provements in the disembarking of ’ passengers from the express trains, stopping at Otorohanga. DEPUTATION. Mr Worth, a sawmiller of Otorohanga, waited upon the council regarding the cartage of logs over the county roads. He objected to the levy the council proposed for the use of the county roads. He said he was only averaging some two trips per day. The mill was a small one, and t he would just as soon close down as to agree to pay the demand of the I council. He had no intention of cart- 5 ing over the county roads during the j winter months.—lt was decided that Mr Worth make an offer in writing 1 for the consideration of the council at « nexi meeting. t t SHEEP WORRYING. The prevalence of sheep worrying £ by dogs was the subject of some dis- s cussion. Complaints were received f from several districts and further re- j. ports will be considered at next meeting. I COUNTY CLERK’S CONFERENCE. v It was decided to grant the county c clerk leave of absence to attend the r

county clerks’ conference, at Hawera. A communication from the Prime Minister’s Office, regarding a World conference, to bring about a more pacific feeling among nations, was considered, and, after some discussion, in which the proposed movement received scant support the communication was received. A considerable amount of the usual routine business was transacted and a long list of accounts were passed for payment.