OTOROHANGA NEWS

Waipa Post, Volume 42, Issue 3271, 12 March 1931, Page 5

OTOROHANGA NEWS

TOPICS OF THE MOMENT. COUNTY COUNCIL MEETS.. (Own Reporter.) The Otorohanga County Council met on Tuesday. Present were: Cr F. Potts (chairman), Crs Irvine, W. Thomson, W. G. Kay, Bmck, Crowley and Bowyer. The engineer reported that in ad dition to the several gangs near Otorohanga, gangs are at work at Arohena, Ngaroma, and Te Rau-a-Moa. Last week's pay sheet contained the names of 75 workers. Difficulty has been experienced in providing sufficient tools and wheelbarrows. Advice has been received that the vote for aid of outlying districts has been exhausted, and that no further authorities on that vote can be issued during the present financial year. Rangiatea School Road metalling has been completed, and also the recent metalling contract on Loop Road at Wharepuhunga. Ngaroma Road metalling and Puketawai Road metauing contracts are both proceeding satisfactorily. The P.W.D. will immediately put relief workers on Mangaiti, Oamaru and Aotearoa roads, and will make the necessary surveys themselves. A Korakonui settler was informed that the Unemployment Board expressly states that under 4a scheme, a father cannot, under any circumstances, employ a son or sons. Mr W. E. Nicholson, Traffic Inspector*, waited upon the council and gave an account of his stewardship to date. The cost to the Otorohanga County, after deducting Main Highways Board’s subsidy and fines secured for the six months ending Bth March is shown as £25. Fines totalled £l2O. Thirty-four prosecutions were instituted, 33 of which were successful and one adjourned to a later date. The local branch of the Farmers Union asked for support in endeavouring to bring about de-rating of all rural lands, and condemning any attempt to increase the taxation on petrol unless the proceeds are devoted to removing the burden on rural ratepayers; that the County council should demand representation for rural ratepayers on the commission which the Government proposes to appoint to inquire in highways matters. Agreed to. As the result of numerous complaints regarding ragwort-infested areas at Ngaroma, the council is directing attention of the noxious weeds inspector to the matter. The Te Awamutu Power Board wrote offering to supply, erect and maintain a lamp of 100 watts capacity, at £6 per annum, at the Te Kawa crossroads. —Decided to advise the board of the charges made by the Waitomo Power Board for similar lights. The matter of the value _ of relief work now being done within the colunty under the various schemes, caused considerable discussion. It was the general opinion that about 40 per cent of value for the wages paid by the Crown, was being earned by relief workers. As the clerical work involved in the schemes (some £l3O per week in wages) had increased greatly, it was decided to make an extra allowance of £2 2s per week to the clerk as from Ist February, while relief workers are employed by the county. Cr Bowyer opposed any increase in salary to the clerk, and wished this fact recorded in the the rest of the ‘council were unanimous in agreeing to the temporary subsidy.

Mr E. G. Kedgley, Otorohanga, has been advised that he obtained his B.A. degree at the recent examinations. “* The Town Board is now gravely concerned regarding the increasing shortage in the town water supply—owing to the contf nued dry weather conditions of recent weeks. It is necessary to shut off at the main between twilight and daylight. . Com\ missf oners of the Board are now considering ways and means. of providing a more comprehensive supply for the growing requirments of the community. ' , Miss E. Snaith, who leaves this week with her parents for the Homeland, was farewelled by a large number of her young friends prior to her departure for Auckland —where she embarks. Miss Snaith was the recipient of mementoes —and goodwishes from her legion of friends. An unusual crop of potatoes is now being dug at Meadowlands, by Mr W. G. Signal. One sample tap produced 64 potatoes, of Maori Chief, and another 42 up-to-date tubers, all the potatoes were matured. The crop is a most uniform one. The Railway Department has now commenced the erection of warning signals at the very dangerous crossing, north of the local railway stasation. This locality has been the scene of many fatal accidents. Many flockmasters of the hinterland of this region who withheld their wool clips, on account of the low values ruling at the earlier sales, of this season-, are now rushing the clips to the railway all along the line —in anticipation of reaping higher rewards at the forthcoming metropolitan wool sales. The popular Methodist Missioner, Sister Rita, who has been stationed at Otorohanga for a considerable period, has received notice of her early transfer to Auckland. The Rev. Sylvester has been appointed to fill the vacancy, which now becomes a separate circuit. The P.W.D. is calling tenders. for 4£ miles of metalling the new diviation Main Highway, betwe|a Otorohanga and Hangatiki. The completion of this work will divert a heavy volume of through traffic to this route.