TARANAKI COUNTY COUNCIL

Taranaki Daily News, Volume LIV, Issue 274, 16 May 1912, Page 4

TARANAKI COUNTY COUNCIL

SPECIAL MEETING. A special meeting of the Taraanki County Council, at which there was a. full iittf'inhi:;.e of councillors, was held yeauiuay for the purpose of considering the adjustment of representation, the altering of ridings, and the making of new by-laws. The chairman (Mr. J. Brown) presided. RIDINGS ALTERED. After considerable discussion, on. the motion of Cr. Hill, seconded by Cr. MeAllum, it was decided to constitute a new riding, to be known as the Mnngorei Riding, and to comprise the Waiwakaiho, Mangorei, Henui, and Carrington road districts. The proposal was strenuously opposed by Cr. M. Hopson, who moved nn amendment, seconded by Or. Billiig, that the matter be held over until bucli time as the Local Government Bill was dealt with by the Government. The amendment was lost. The Moa Riding will in future be composed of the Moa road district. A proposal by Cr, Rilling, that the Waitara Riding be divided at the Waiongona river into two separate ridings, lapsed for want of a seconder.

Further discussion resulted in a motion, which was proposed by Cr. Hill, and seconded by Cr. McAllum, being carried—in the face of some opposition—that the balance of the Hurworth Ridinfc not included in the new riding be attached to the Omata Riding. Another controversial proposal was touched upon by Cr. Andrews, who moved that the Omata and Okato Ridings be amalgamated. In support of the motion it was urged that greater community of interest would obtain by having one riding from New Plymouth to Okato. On the other hand, it was pointed out that it would be impossible to expect a community of interest, in view of the fact that Omata Riding was paying three times as heavy rates as Okato.

The motion, which was seconded by Cr. Hopson, was defeated. REPRESENTATION ADJUSTED.

Following on a discussion of adjusting the representation of the Council, the meeting decided, on the motion of Cr. Tate, seconded by Cr. Hopson, that the Moa Riding should be represented' by three councillors, the new Mangorei by one, Waitara, by two, Omata by one, and Okato by two councillors. The representation is thus increased by one member. BY-LAWS ADOPTED. The Council Approved, with two amendments, of the new by-laws, as drafted by its solicitors (Messrs. Govett nnd Quilliam). The by-laws have been compiled with the object of regulating heavy traffic, traction engines, motor traffic, width of tyres on wheels, vehicles for hire, and offences on roads. VARIOUS MATTERS. In view of a particularly glaring offence recently perpetrated by a motorist the Council 'decided, on the motion of Cr. Andrews, that persons forcibly evading payment of tolls should be proceeded! against under the Public Works Act. Cr. Hill's action in authorising tho placing of a further 20 yards of metal on Colson road.and that of tile chairman, in authorising the completion of the approaches to the bridge across .the Henui bridge, at Hurworth, were both confirmed.