COUNTY AFFAIRS.

Wairarapa Age, 14 December 1935, Page 6

COUNTY AFFAIRS.

MEETING OF FEATHERSTON

COUNCIL

The monthly meeting of the Featherston County Council was held at Martinborough yesterday, there being present: Councillors Q. Donald (chairman), W. B. Martin, R. W. Matthews, •J. Thompson and D. Cameron. Apologies were received from Councillors Bidwill, Smith, Gillies and McLeod. The Treasurer reported the following receipts since last meeting:—Licences, £7l 4s 6d; rents, £25 14s; rates, £47 18s 2d; Main Highway subsidy, £ll2l 7s lOd; unemployment, £179 '9s 9d; transfers, £365 4s 6d; miscellaneous, £l5 10s 2d; total, £1826 9s 3d. Accounts amounting to £4079 7s 7d were passed. Constable McLeod, Teatherston, advised that during 1934 seventeen persons were prosecuted for riding bicycles without lights, and that all were fined. This had stopped the nuisance to a great extent, but a watchful eye was still kept for offenders. R. Camp Road, Featherston, wrote drawing the council’s attention to the neglected condition of Camp Road.—Referred to the Overseer.

D. H. ‘S. Riddiford, Longwood, Featherston, wrote directing attention to the condition of the gorse fence on the right-hand side of the East Coast Road, leading round the corner from Wantwood Flat towards Hillside. The fence had now grown so high that it obscured the view, making the corner dangerous one.—The matter was left in the hands of Councillor Smith. Messrs Gawith, Biss aud Griffiths, solicitors, notified that in an interview Mr. W. H. Pain had stated that he was prepared to give the council the land required for a holding paddock without any conditions. The writers suggested that the council immediately instruct the engineer to have the necessary plan made. The engineer reported that he had already made a field survey of the locality. Messrs Gawith, Biss and Griffiths, writing in reference to arrears of rates, stated that it seemed clear to them that the Commissioner of Crown Lands did not intend to do anything except to endeavour to force the Crown tenants to pay the, rates out of 1 'the usual miserable pittance that was left to them after the Crown had obtained payment of its order on the dairy cheque in each case.” The county could not afford to hold up the matter of the recovery of the 1933-34 rates, as it must obtain judgment early in the new year. It was proposed to proceed as instructed in each case. After judgment had been obtained, the council could grant any concessions and make any arrangement it liked.—The action of the Clerk in instructing the solicitors to proceed against defaulters was endorsed.

The District Engineer forwarded a circular letter in reference to traffic inspection, which stated that while the present group system of traffic control had gone a certain distance towards securing observance of the principal requirements of the motor vehicle regulations now in force, this could not be considered as wholly effective and it was felt that if the Highways Board took over full control of traffic enforcement there would be more complete and uniform enforcement.—lt was decided to support the decision arrived at at the Masterton conference, to object to the proposed alteration. The District Engineer wrote, stating that the Main Highways Board had now decided to amalgamate the Mar-tinborough-Otaraia and Lake Ferry Highway, to be known as the No. 72 Martinborough-Lake Ferry Highway. The Clerk to the Masterton County Council notified the decision recently arrived at in connection with the apportionment—boroughs 25 per cent., counties 75 per cent.—of heavy traffic and licence fees.—On the motion of Councillor Cameron, seconded by Councillor Martin; it was decided to agree to -the apportionment. The chairman of the Main Highways Board wr&te stating, that in accordance with the usual practice, the board desired that all local authorities be requested to take special steps to adequately maintain the main highways during the forthcoming holiday season. It was anticipated that the holiday traffic would be very heavy this year maintenance machines should be available during the whole of the period, even though this might necessitate the retention of employees during the holiday season, or the engagement of additional labour.

It was decided that the ranger be instructed to keep a look-out for stock wandering at large on Ward’s Line and Battersea. Road;

The engineer reported that V. A. Draper’s tender at £614 8s 6d had been accepted for the contract for the improvement of the Kikawera cutting.

It was decided that the Christmas holidays be the same as last year.