RAETIHi.

Wanganui Chronicle, Volume LXXXII, Issue 19437, 24 October 1925, Page 3

RAETIHi.

CHAMBER OF COMMERCE

(From the “Chronicle’s” Special Correspondent. A meeting of the Raetihi Chamber of Commerce was held in the Council Chambers on Wednesday evening, Mr E. Cawthray presided. The Waimarino County Council wrote stating that it was in favour of changing the name of the Waimarino station on the Main Trunk line so that it might suggest connection with the National Park. The names “Ruapehu” and “National Park” were suggested. In reply to the Chamber’s complaint regarding travellers ’ samples being stored ifi the general waiting room at Ohakune Railway Station, the District Traffic Manager informed the chamber that it w r as sometimes unavoidable owing to shortage of accommodation elsewhere, but the matter was being considered. Regarding the complaint of the absence of fires in the waiting room, he had interviewed the staff and they had assured him that there was no cause for complaint as a good fire was kept burning in the waiting room all night. The Wanganui Employers’ Association advised the chamber that generally the half-holiday need not be observed during the Christmas and New Year weeks and the late nights could be observed on Thursday evenings, provided that two consecutive whole holidays were observed in each week, which would be Christmas Day and Boxing Day, and New Year’s Day and the day following. Under the butchers’ award there was some doubt in respect to the half-holiday having to be observed on the Thursday, as usual, or, should it have to be observed, w’hether the day could be changed. The matter of the unsatisfactory delivery of letters posted in the late fee box was brought before the Chamber, and it was resolved that the attention of the. postmaster be drawn to this inconvenience. It -was resolved that every publicity be given to the Christmas trains to Raetihi and the late nights during the holidays. MAGISTRATE’S COURT SETTLERS DISAGREE Percy Coutts, a settler living on the Ohura Road, was charged at the Magistrate’s Court on Wednesday with using abusive language in a public place to Michael Tobin on June 20.

Constable McCowan in outlining the case said that there was bad blood existing between the two parties and it was alleged that the defendant was “making it so hot for Tobin” that he was considering the advisability of abandoning his farm and leaving the locality. Michael Tobin said he was a farmer living on the Ohura Road and on the day in question was delivering the mail, when Coutts accused him of saying he had left several of the gates along the road open. Coutts then made use of most abusive language. There was a shearer working in the shed and there was also a woman near by when the words complained of were used. He had never given any provocation. James Davis, another settler in the locality, said he heard Coutts call Tobin a liar, but could not hear the other words. Coutts’ evidence was a flat denial. Ho said he had only spoken to Tobin once during twelve months. The Magistrate said it was not a serious matter and advised thb two men not to get into arguments. He entered a conviction, but did not impose a fine. He ordered Coutts to pay costs, and witnesses’ expenses, amounting to £8 2s 6d. RAETIHI BOROUGH COUNCIL. ADJOURNED MEETING. SCHEME OF WORKS. The adjourned meeting of the Raetihi Borough Council was held on Thursday evening. The Mayor (Mr. W. H. Sandford) presided, and Crs. Ashwell, Cawthray, Sigley, Anderson, Jenkins, Russell and Fagg were present. Correspondence, Stewart Scott wrote asking that attention be paid to several holes in the Ameku Road, tis they were becoming dangerous to car traffic—Left with the foreman to attend to. Inspection of the Town. On Thursday afternoon a number of the councillors made a tour of inspection of the town and the Mayor stated that it was now a question of deciding how the loan money was 'to be spent. They had gone through the schedule of works and the scheme in view was to cut tho work down as follows:—Water main, £480; sewer mains (Ward Street), £250; Alexander Road, £480; George Street, £445; Ward Street, £120; Hukenoa Road, £144; Grey Street, £1010; Islington Street, £260, Ranfurly Terrace, £120; Queen Street, £240; Grey Street (footpath), £6O; Plunkot Street, £2O; damage to roads by darting, £lOO, metal to crusher, £2O; earthwork on all roads, £150; plant, £250; office additions, £400; engineering, £250; motor reel, £2OO. The Mayor said that on no account must the above figures be exceeded. He then called on the members to vote for the approval of the schedule, but members thought they had not had sufficient enlightenment in respect to the main street. A discussion ensued hs to the class of work which should be carried out on the main street and it was resolved to get the engineer to give an estimate. Cr. Jenkins said he thought that the time had not yet arrived for putting down the whole of the main street in bitumen, more particularly as h number of connections had not yet been made, Cr. Russell advocated the putting down of a section of bitumen road in Ranfurly Terrace. Cr. Jenkins favoured this procedure, and Cr. Sigley suggested that the main street footpath might be put in a better state. Cr. Russell moved that the kerbing and channelling of the main street be gone on with immediately. Cr. Sigley seconded and the motion was carried. Cr. Russell moved that tenders be called for labour only and this was seconded by Cr. Cawthray and carried. It was decided that all private crossings be of cast iron and iron culverts be put in where necessary. Also that, prices be ootained for pipes for Grey Street and the four-inch water mains. Council Offices. It was resolved that the present

Council offices be enlarged as I in the plan presented to the vbuncil. Debentures.

The Clerk reported that ugto the present £10,300 Council debentures had been taken up, fend it was expected that within a short space of time the whole of the £15,000 would be- allotted. •