WAITARA BOROUGH

Taranaki Daily News, 14 August 1930, Page 13

WAITARA BOROUGH

MEETING OF THE COUNCIL.; WANDERING STOCK NUISANCE The work of the month was brought under review at the meeting of the Waitara Borough Council last night. The position of a borough employee holding too many positions was comprehensively discussed. The Mayor, Mr. E. A. George, was in the chair, the others present being Messrs. H. Wakely, T. C. Wilson, T. Taylor and H. Spurdie. A complaint regarding wandering stock on the reserve was received from the Waitara Seaside Committee. The complainants considered the ranger did not visit the property, frequently enough. The Mayor stated the trouble was general, and remarked that the overseer collected the fees and did not impound, the cows, which came out on the roads again as soon as he left. The poundkeeper apparently was holding down too many jobs for the council, and. he thought it was time they secured the services of a new man. Mr. Wakely stated that the poundkeeper had complained that he had not autliority to prosecute. The Mayor: There are some people’s cows on the road all the time,- and as far as I can see, they are never even impounded. The seaside society requested the council to supply 10 or 12 loads of gravel to improve the entrance to the reserve. The society asked that other arrangements be made regarding the road approaching the reserve. The Mayor stated that the works committee had already taken in hand the matter of fixing the road, and the council staff was authorised to provide the metal for the entrance. The Department of Health advised that the council’s contribution towards the health inspector’s services amounted to about only 2d. a head, whileother towns averaged 6d. a head. The department proposed to-raise the rate from £l5 to £45. The matter was held over pending further. inquiries. The inspector of health reported on the following notifications: —Scarlet fever 1, pneumonia 1, erysipilas 1, puerperal septicaemia 1, old tuberculosis cases 2. He had visited 27 houses, 18 food sellers’ premises and 18 drainage and plumbing, works. The recent decision in the Court of Appeal, advised the Valuation Department, stated that a local body need not. be supplied with a new valuation roll when the unimproved value system of rating was adopted. If a ratepayer considered his valuation excessive he had the right at any time, on paying a fine, to apply for a new valuation. The council considered this a satisfactory

ruling. The borough ranger reported the impounding of 36 cows, 22 calves, 4 heifers and one horse. He suggested that owners of wandering stock shmild be prosecuted. * The engineer’s report stated that the plant had operated satisfactorily during the month, with the exception of one slight interruption. The Public Works inspector had visited the borough and reported that several decayed poles and, a number of broken insulators needed renewing. Five installations had been disconnected and two reconnected, while applications were in hand for two new installations. During the month 34,350 units had been registered, compared with 28,930 last year, an average of 10.7. per cent. While admitting the passenger train service between Lepperton and Waitara could be curtailed, the members of the council were unanimous in voting against further alterations, and the Mayor was deputed to attend a meeting at New Plymouth held for the purpose- of hearing contentions against any curtailment.

The works committee reported the metalling of Cracroft Street was completed, and that of Brown Street almost finished. It recommended that the metalling of Grey Street to the railway station be taken in hand. The foreman had been instructed to do the work necessary in Grey Street, also to improve the access to the beach reserve. Reparding Mr. L. H. Sampson’s request that the council share a portion of the cost of the materials used in the building of a wall along the roadside the committee had declined to accept any responsibility. The report was adopted, and the council upheld the decision of the commit* tee regarding the wall.