RAETIHI

Wanganui Chronicle, Volume 74, Issue 146, 23 June 1931, Page 5

RAETIHI

GENERAL. A very severe frost was experienced on Saturday night and early on Sunday morning. In some parts of the district it was said to be one of the hardest this season. After several weeks without a shock a sharp earthquake was felt about 7.4 b on Monday morning. Three wireless enthusiasts in the person of Messrs G. Smithson, D. H. Sandford and Arthur Ireland have recently passed the examination for a transmitter’s license and Ractihi is now “on th 6 air.” Alessages have been sent out and conversation indulged in between these young men and other parts of tne Dominion. It is noted that reception from and to Ractihi is usually very good, many owners of receiving sets picking up stations in different parts of the world in good volume. Ractihi is 1685 feet above sea-level. At the quarterly communion service at the Ractihi Presbyterian Church on Sunday, five young persons were received into fellowship having been admitted as members by the session. Nurse Halley, who was recently appointed Plunket nurse for the district, has taken up her duties and has been cordially welcomed by tho committee and members of the Plunket Society. The officers of the W.D.F.U. are practical and alive set of officials. At, a meeting of the committee last Friday Airs E. L. Somerville, the president, stated she had heard there were cases of distress in the district. Members of the division might not. have much cash to give but, perhaps they could assist with donations of produce, etc. from their farms. It was decided to ask two members, Miss M. Harris and Mrs W. N. Sandford to represent the division at the meeting called by the Mayor of Ractihi to consider the matter and to make an appeal to members to assist by donations of meat or produce. Next day two sacks of vegetables, apples, etc., for distribution by the committee to be set up by the, Mayor’s meeting arrived at the home of one of the Division’s representatives. BOROUGH COUNCIL A special meeting of the Raetihi Borough Council was hold on Thursday, when there were present: The Mayor (Mr W. Harris), Grs. T. S. Fagg, J. H. Stanley, R. Ciochetto, L. J. Vile, Tom Shout, C. A. McDonald, A. E. Willoughby, W. H. Sandford, the electrical engineer. Air W. Journeaux, the borough foreman, Mr E. C. Davis and the town clerk, Mr J. H. Lucas. The question of the estimated receipts and expenditure for the year was discussed at length. The schedule of estimates showed receipts anticipated to produce £8857. The rates, including arrears, were estimated at £l6OO, special rates £3943, 10 per cent, penalty £9O, interest from the electrical department £1912, Government subsidy £9O, rent of reserves £B2, by-laws fines, etc., £lOO, licenses £2OO, sales of water, etc., £3O. reimbursements £5O, sale of plant £5l, Makotuku bridge loan account £709. The electricity committee estimated that the sale of current, etc., would produce £5187 Is 9d. The expenditure included £7O for license fees to the Public Works Department. The fee had not been paid for the last seven years. Interest, and sinking fund depreciation was set down at £2497 5s 4d. For general maintenance £735 was allocated. The amount spent by the council in connection with the Makotuku river diversion is £204 17s 4d and it is estimated that it will cost another £290 to complete. The estimated credit balance at the end of the year is £59 11s fid, although the electricity department started with a debit of £349 7s 7d. Every item on the expenditure side was carefully criticised. The total was set down at £10,735 10s, leaving a deficit of £lB7B 10s.

The borough’s proportion of main highways work was estimated at £l7l. For maintenance on various roads and streets £638 was asked. Explanations were given regarding a subsidy to the Fire Brigade and library totalling £75. The Health Department’s inspection cost £47. Office salaries and Mayor’s honorarium were £316. For printing and vertising and stationery £lOO was estimated. Interest and sinking fund will absorb £5855. as against £3497 last year. The debit balance on the general account, less credit on the interest amount, was £2184. Water and drainage last year cost £405, so £5OO was set down for this year. Street lighting was estimated at £350, last year costing £346 15s 3d. For fire prevention £lO4 was expended last year and £9O was set down this year. Bank interest last year was £2OO 15s 6d, so the same amount was estimated this year. Aliscellaneous items brought tin the total by £3BO.

Mr T. S. Fagg, chairman of the finance committee, considered the council would have to make some drastic reductions.

The Mayor said the position was serious. He asked if the works committee could not reduce their estimated expenditure. The council could not go beyond the legal overdraft. He suggested that councillors take home the schedules and consider them carefully, and that the meeting stand adjourned for some days. Cr. Stanley .said they must balance the budget. Cr. Sandford contended that it was a mistake to reduce the discount for prompt payment of rates from 5 per cent, to 3 per cent. There was thus no encouragement for a person to pay rates out of overdraft. Cr. Willoughby said it would be false economy to reduce the grant to the Fire Brigade or for fire prevention. Cr. Ciochetto thought users of water for commercial purposes should be made to pay for same through a meter. That would bring in some revenue. Cr. Shout, when he first saw the estimates of the expenditure of the electricity committee, thought the amounts were large, but he had inspected the power house that day and was satisfied. General maintenance contained an item of £2OO for generating plant and switch gear. That appeared large but that day he saw two rats that had got in among tho machinery and had done damage to the extent, of from £3O to £4O. Cr. Vile, on behalf of tho works com mittoe. admitted that if No. 5 unemployment scheme recommenced it might be. able to reduce borough expenditure on tho streets. I' was agreed to adjourn the ineelin<r for a week, when the estimates will be finalised . WAIMARINO GOLF CLUB The following are, the results of the second bogey competition:—A. G. Johns (10) 5 up, T. A. Blvth (15) 4 up, W. J. Felt ham (20) 3 up, C. Harvey (17) I up, A. E. Urwin (12) all square, R. F. Scott (14) 1 down. ”A” ladies: Airs Bryers (16) 2

down, Airs Windle (8) 6 down. “B” ladies (9 holes): Airs Afarshall (28) 4 up, Afrs Scott (30) 2 down, Mrs Ashwell (38) 4 down. Afr and Airs Scott won tho ferns from Mr and Afrs Urwin by 3 ami 2. Aliss Legge and Afiss J. 'lrwin won tho feathers from Airs Windle and Mrs St. George, I up. Tho 6th L.G.U. competition will be played on Thursday next, tho 7th inst., and the 7th on Saturday, 4th July. Tho 3rd modal competition and Ist championship qualifying round will bo played at. the week-end ending the sth July.