LEAMINGTON AFFAIRS

Waikato Independent, Volume XXIII, Issue 3071, 16 June 1923, Page 5

LEAMINGTON AFFAIRS

TOWN BOARD MEETING REDUCTION IN RATES The following members were present at the monthly meeting of the Leamington Town Board on Thursday afternoon: —Messrs Wm. White (chairman), W. Richmond, J. T. Jarrett, A. E. Peppercorn, W. Harris, T. A. Hicks. Estimates The clerk submitted estimates of income and expenditure for 1923-24, working on the basis of a lid rate. The chairman said lie thought that on these figures they could do with a lid rate this year, instead of 1 :jd as last year, and. he moved that the general rate for 1923-24 be lid in the £. After some discussion all the members agreed to support the motion, which needs to be confirmed at next meeting.

Road Plant The chairman reported that, as requested by the Board at last, meeting, he and Mr Mack had enquired as to whether the Waipa County Council’s road plant would be available for use on the Board’s roads. They had made two appointments with members of the Waipa Council, but the Council had not kept either. Later they had heard that the Tamahere Road Board had a good new machine, which they would hire out, and he and Mr Mock had attended the last meeting of the Board. Their charge was £2 .10/ per day, including driver, but not fuel and oil. The chairman considered this a good offer and worth a trial.

After discussion it was decided to accept the offer of the Tamahere Road Board, the time for ordering the plant to be left in the hands of the Road Committee.

With this machine the Board intends to break up and roll the main roads.

Maungatautari Reserve

The clerk of the Matamata County Council wrote, forwarding a copy of a letter his Council is sending to the Prime Minister re the protection of the bush on the Maungatautari range. The letter again urged the Government to purchase the forest. It was pointed out that the rainfall in the district would be seriously affected if the mountain were stripped of vegetation. It was stated that the area could be purchased at a very low figure. The Council askod for the Board’s support and it, was decided to assist. Postal Deliveries The Assistant-secretary, General Post Office, wrote in reply to the Board’s letter, of 12th ult., re the extension of postal delivery to Flat Park, stating his Department did not see its way to alter the decision given by the Chief Postmaster, Hamilton, that the extension could not be granted. He stated it, was estimated the extension would mean an extra .14 hours’ work for the postman, and it was reported an extra distance of three miles would need to bo travelled, and not two miles as stated by the Board. The chairman said he thought they should stick to their guns, and follow the matter up. Why should one part of their district get two deliveries daily and another part none at, all?

The members agreed the matter should not be dropped, and it was decided to write to the member for the district (Mr F. Lye) asking him to take the matter in hand. Approach to Bridge

A lengthy discussion took place re the widening of the southern approach to the High Level Bridge. A suggestion was made some time ago, by the Board, that the left side of ihe approach should be filled so as to give room for pedestrians to escape motor vehicular traffic.

• On Thursday Mr Hicks said the Board now had funds, and the work should bo done at once. The approach was a continual source of danger. Mr Harris said that a retaining wall would have to be built, and asked whether this would interfere with the foundation work for footway to be constructed on the bridge. The clerk stated plans for the footway could fe* seen at the Borough Council offices and it was decided to postpone definite arrangements till next meeting, and in the meantime to inspect the plans. Finance Accounts totalling £92 2/11 were passed for payment. An account for £1 9/0 was received from Mr G. L. Stead for replacing a car-spring broken on one of the Board’s roads. The Board did not accept responsibility.