WAIMATE WEST COUNTY

Taranaki Daily News, 10 December 1926, Page 9

WAIMATE WEST COUNTY

THE MONTH’S WORK. MEETING OF THE COUNCIL (From Our Own Correspondent.) The monthly meeting of the Waimate West County Council was held on Thursday. Present: Mr. E. Long (chairman), Crs. Sir William Le Fleming, F. Mourie, J. Leslie, J. S. McKay, J. F. Stevenson, Messrs. V. H. Hobday (clerk) and J. H. Hansen (engineer). Leave of absence was granted to Cr. A. Gamlin. The council forwarded two grounds of objection to its being cited in the Dominion drivers’ award since its drivers were only employed on driving work part time. A further authority was received from the Bank of New Zealand to increase the limit of the council’s overdraft. A further instalment of heavy traffic fees was received from the Main Highways Board. The clerk explained that the council had paid all its quota in one sum and was now getting a quarterly refund. An extremely lengthy report as to eaeh county's method of working and heavy traffic by-laws was received from the Main Highways Board, the only notable point, according to the chairman, being the fact that every county condemned the system of the lorry-driver having to keep a tally of his mileage in each county. Another matter brought up was the consideration of the Skoglund scheme for apportioning heavy traffic fees as against the executive’s scheme. Mr. Long said that he did not favour either, but suggested the executive consider the two schemes and pick the best out of each. This was the method favoured ami the report was received. A request was received from the Sawmillers’ Association that no rates should be paid on standing bush. The chairman said that in the face of it it would be a hardship since the standing bush was really the sawmillers’ stock in trade, and that also the late Premier, Mr. Massey, had considered that it would be detrimental to afforestation. Cr. Stevenson said that there had always been trouble between the sawmillers and the counties over the roads. The chairman said that it might be a hindrance to the planting of trees, but at present there was nothing much definite to go upon. Cr. Sir W. Le Fleming was of the opinion that the afforestation lands were rather over valued. The chairman instanced the two dangers of afforestation, blight and fire, and spoke of the fact that most of the blue gums on the coast had been stricken with blight this year. Cr. McKay said that it would hardly be fair for a sawmiller to have to pay a rate on timber when it was not possible for the bush to be milled owing to lack of access. The matter was held over for further information. Crs. Stevenson and McKay brought up the bad state of the Normanby load and the matter was deferred until the position of the loan account be gone into. It was also decided to interview the Hawera County with a view to giving attention to the Upper Iraha Road. The taking of the necessary action was left to the chairman and engineer. It was decided to grant the staff the usual Christmas holidays. Accounts amounting to £692 9b fid were passed for payment. This being the last meeting of the year, the chairman wished the members, the staff and Press the compliments of the season and the meeting terminated. THE ENGINEER’S REPORT. Mr. J. A. Hansen, engineer, reported as follows: The staff has been occupied most ot the past month repairing the Main South Road. The whole of this road between the town boundary and the Oeo dairy factory has been patched and refaced with bitumen where necessary. I have had the tarred surface made wider at the turns. The sides of the roads have also been graded. The metal has been backed up and the water-tables have been cleaned out. About 60 chains of the Taikatu Road has been re surfaced with bitumen. The grader has also been 73991 b. of butter-fat had been taken up the high sides along the metal. I have also had the sides graded off along the metal on the Omuturangi Road. I am sorry to have to report that the council’s heavy draught horse died a few days after last meeting. The report was adopted.