PATEA

Wanganui Chronicle, Volume 79, Issue 244, 15 October 1936, Page 3

PATEA

METHODIST CHURCH Rev. Copeland, of New Plymouth, presided at the quarterly meeting of the Patea Methodist Church, last week. A slight deficit was shown in the quarterly balance-sheet. Arrangements were discussed for the District Synod to be held next month at Stratford. The circuit steward was asked to record the services of Mr Sutherland, who had resigned from the position of secretary and treasurer of the Alton Church trustees, after twenty years’ service. Letters of thanks are to be written to the Ladies’ Guild for the renovations to the church, to the Girls' Bible Class for their work in clearing and tidying the vestry, and to the Boys’ Bible Class for the erection of the notice board outside the church. Mr Wainwright, on behalf of the congregation, extended an invitation to the Rev. R. Patchett to remain another year. Rev. Patchett, in accepting, expressed thanks and said he had enjoyed the period he had spent in the Patea circuit. The Ladies’ Guild decided to hold their annual shop day on Friday, October 23. The Benediction closed the meeting, and supper was served. MINIATURE RIFLE CLUB. A combined Banks and Post Office team visited the local range on Monday, but were not successful in defeating the local club.. For handicapping the Banks counted eight shots and the club counted seven shots. Results were: — Visitors—J. McTamney 69, W. Downy 69, T. Burgess 59, J. Finlayson 59, D. Paterson 59, O. Cross 50, J. Woodyear 48, S. Priest 43, A. B. Currie 41, R. Richards 35; total, 532. Club.—W. Old 65, A. Bond 65, T. Floyd 63, T. Hills 63, J. Bates 62, E. W. Mee 62, S. Edwards 61, N. Coad 60. Miss M. Coad 51, R. Wills 43; total, 595. PATEA HOSPITAL BOARD. Mr. C. R. Honeyfield presided at the monthly meeting of the Patea Hospital Board on Tuesday. Messrs. H. Middleton, R. J. Watt, A. J. Gibbs, J. Lupton, W. H. Watkins, C. Campbell, W. Back and F. Naismith were also present. The chairman extended a welcome to Mr. F. Naismith, who replaced Mr. A. T. Christensen on the board. The Director-General of Health advised that arrangements were being made for departmental officers to make a visit of inspection in regard to the difficulties of the staffing in the Patea Hospital, so that it could receive consideration from the Nurses’ and Midwives' Registration Board.— The board decided that the chairman, secretary, matron and doctor marshal all facts and figures so that no points would be missed that might have a bearing on relieving the difficulties under which the board was working with regard to keeping the staff since the hospital had been closed as a training school. Dr. W. T. Simmons, medical superintendent, reported that there were 21 male and 14 female patients in the hospital at the beginning of September. Twenty-one males were admitted and 16 females. One male ano one female died, 23 males were discharged and 16 females, leaving 18 males and 13 females at the end or the month. Miss A. Harris, matron, reported that Nurse Barber had resigned as she had received another appointment, and that Nurse Winks was on annual leave. The month had been very busy. The Hawera Hospital Board advised that they agreed to their engineer acting in an advisory capacity in connection with the Patea Board’s heating system, providing the work did not interfere with his ordinary duties. Messrs. Middleton and Naismith were appointed the visiting committee for the month. PATEA COUNTY COUNCIL. Mr. W. G. Belton presided at the monthly meeting of the Patea County Council on Tuesday. Crs. A. J. Gibbs, R. J. Watt, J. Lupton, W. H. Watkins, C. Campbell, W. Back, J. Peat were also present. A letter of sympathy in his illness is to be sent Mr. Leith, for many years a servant of the council, and wishes for his speedy recovery. In response to a request from the Post and Telegraph Department for support in the health stamp campaign, it was decided to make a casn donation of £2 towards the fund. A letter was received from the Inglewood Chamber of Commerce asking the council to support the motion for Saturday as the statutory halfholiday. Mr. P. A. Bourke, of Whenuakura, complained of straying stock and the damage caused to his property. The engineer was instructed to - take necessary action as in previous cases. Mr. A. C. Laird, on behalf of the Laird Estate, asked for the council’s [ opinion on council employees being , employed for shearing. , The chairman said he had had a ’ similar communication from others. [ The council’s employees were in the habit of leaving and going shearing. ’ These men had heard that their jobs would not be open to them if they left. After a discussion it was decided to advise Mr. Laird that the council had ti no power to stop the men taking 5 shearing jobs, and that if a vacancy was caused on the staff, the council r must fill it by putting on another - employee. The Patea School Committee asked = for the council’s support in obtaining = a footbridge across the river, and advised that a resolution had been fori warded to the Minister of Public z Works drawing his attention to the dangerous nature of the bridge for foot , traffic. f The chairman said the matter had z been before the council some years ago, and the Public Works Depart- - ment had refused to allow a footi bridge to be put on the present struce ture as it was not strong enough. If i t was required it would mean a new < structure. He thought in view of the s present legislation being brought s down, it would be better to. leave it e at present. The council would probably have to subsidise the new J bridge. It was decided to advise the t- School Committee that as they had y drawn the attention of the Minister of o Public Works, the council would await •is reply.

Mr. W. C. Simpson’s request for re-1 pairs to his road access at Kohi was ! left to the engineer. Mr. F. O. Matthews, Upper Waitotara, was given permission to erect a footbridge subject to the engineer’s approval. Receipts totalled £3280, in the financial statement, and payments passed at the meeting £2924, the debit balance amounting to £6342. Mr. C. H. Christianson, of Patea, lodged an emphatic protest against Che draining of storm water on to his property. The council advised that it had taken action under Section 121 of the Public Works Act. It was decided to call tenders for the supply of dog collars for 1936, and applications for the position of collector. Mr. W. D. de Roo, Health Inspector, reported that there had been one case of scarlet fever; he had made 22 inspections, and one requisition had been made. The Traffic Inspector, Mr. Williams, reported that eleven informations had been laid and eleven convictions, during August. Tho draft traffic regulations were received from the Transport Department, and suggestions as submitted are to be forwarded to the department. Mr. L. A. Bradley, of Waverley, neighbourhood, and it was decided to advise him the matter would be considered when the riding estimate came under review. The chairman, Crs. Campbell, Lupton, Watkins and the engineer were appointed a committee to consider the tenders for shell rock cutting to be supplied to Moumahaki. A discussion was held on ragwort in. the county, and it was decided to draw the attention of the Department of Agriculture to its growth and to ask them to take early action to control it. Application for a further supply oi sodium from the department is to be made to get ragwort on the roads upriver underway. Engineer’s Report. Mr. J. N. Anderson, county engineer, reported:— “Kapara Riding.—The work of reinstating the Waitotara Valley Road is proceeding slowly, but every rain brings down a number of further slips that hampers progress considerably. Some portions of the road near Ngamatapouri were resurfaced witTi shingle and the contractor is at work washing further supplies. Mr. G. W. Sexton is making good progress with his contract on the Makakaho Road. “Moumahaki Riding. General maintenance has been attended to on most roads in the riding. Nine chains of new metal were laid on Hylands Road-Ngutuwera Valley, and some shingle surfacing was done on the Waitotara-Ngutuwera Road, Lower Okoutuku Road and Moturoa Road. “Wavefley Riding.—A section of the upper end of Herengawe Road has been formed and Blakes Road, Kohi Highway and portion of Karahaki Road have been graded. General maintenance work has beer attended ~0 on all roads. “Otoia East Riding.—No. 5 scheme men have been working on Maben Road and the road is open for ' irsedrawn vehie’es as far as McCartney’s. There are a number of fairly heavy slips only partially cleared and in several places underslips are causing trouble. Surface work has been attended to on all other roads. “Otoia West Riding.—Government grant metalling has been started on Upper Manutahi Road and several other sections to be metalled under Government grant proposals are being ormed. Two short section' have been metalled, one on Upper Manutahi Extension, and one on Amons Road, Alton Township, and portion of the existing metal on Hursthouse Road has been resurfaced. “Manutahi Crusher.—The crushing plant started work on September 29 and is working very well. There have been several hold-ups due to rain and up to the 10th instant 450 cubic yards