WAITARA.

Taranaki Daily News, 18 January 1923, Page 6

WAITARA.

RESULT OF BOROUGH POLLS. (From Our Own ’Correspondent). January 17. The Waitara Borough Council took a poll of the ratepayers yesterday for the proposed (a) £5OOO for re-organ-isation of \the electric light supply; (b) £5OOO for renovation and tar sealing of streets add chipping and painting the town bridge. The result of the poll is as follows: —

Electric light.—For the proposal 156, against 30, informal 10; majority in favor 116.

Street loan.—For the proposal 87, against 95, informal 14; lost by 22. It was generally anticipated that the electric light proposal would go through, but the other issue was doubtful. The number of ratepapers on the roll is 644, but quite one-third of these are absentees. Even considering this the polling was not very -heavy. Although the street and bridge loan has been rejected by the ratepayers, it is quite evident that money will have to be found for the fridge, as it is getting in a deplorable state for the want of chipping and painting.

BOROUGH COUNCIL.

The monthly meeting of the Borowgh Council was held last week, the chair being taken by Councilor Ogle in the absence of the Mayor. The Clifton Hall trustees were granted a renewal of their hall license. A renewal of an auctioneer’s license was granted to Messrs. Gaustad, Marlow and Co. Draft conditions in connection with obtaining electric current in bulk from the New Plymouth borough scheme were received. It was resolved to submit the proposed agreement to Mr. F. A. Brown, electrical expert, Auckland, and Mr. Pigott, the borough engineer. The council favored the durat : on of the contract being five years, instead of ten as set forth in the draft. The town clerk said it had been estimated that the metal required for the main, street would run into £2250 and the tarring £1750. The bridge loan interest took all the endowment money, as well as the Clifton County Council’s contribution, and there was no margin to meet extraor din ary’ expenditure, such as was necessary at the present time. Cr. Ogle said : .t should be an incentive to the ratepayers to vote for the electrical scheme, owing to the fact that the borough was losing about £BOO per annum under the existing conditions. If the loan was not carried, the only reasonable thing the council could do would be to scrap the plant. The proposed scheme with New Plymouth might not be all that could be desired, but it was the best offering.

HARBOR BOARD. The monthly meeting of the Harbor Board was held on Friday last, the chairman (Mr. Jas. Hine, junr.) presiding. The works committee commented on the condition of' the breastwork near the beacon and suggested that repairs be undertaken at the eastern end. It was decided to obtain an estimate of the cost of wooden and fei;ro-concrete piles for the breastwork; and that repairs to the dredge be made in readiness for the purpose of driving the piles. Two defaulting tenants were dealt with and it was resolved that unless paid forthwith steps would be taken to determine the leases, such action being outside the legal action for the recovery for rent due. A letter was received from the Commissioner of Crown Lands at New Plymouth, stating: “According to our records, the foreshore reserve, being part A. extending from the Waiongona river to the Waitara river, is vested in the Waitara Harbor Board. The foreshore north of the H’ver is not vested in your board. Enquiries have been made through the Minister of Lands by a person interested in the smelting of ironsand, resident in Englr/id, if there is any foreshore containing ironsand available for. leasing purposes to work the ironsand deposits, and Would be pleased to hear if your board ns prepared to lease any of the foreshore under their control; also, if this is not available, whether they are aware of any of the foreshore containing ironsand north of the Waitara river.” It was resolved to notify the Commissioner that the foreshore was vested in the board on both sides of the Waitara river, and that realising the value of the wonsand industry to the Dominion, the board is prepared to offer all possible facilities to a bona-fide applicant who proposes to deal with the deposits. PERSONAL,

Mr. Frank Cudby has matte a speedy recovery from his recent operation and is due home from hospitai. Mr. Marlow is again la’d aside through illness. He hopes to get awny for a change and rest as soon as he recovers sufficiently. An old identity, Mr. Joe George, is paying a visit to Waitara, and he received a welcome on the bowling green on Friday last. He is not in the best of health.