OTOROHANGA.

Waikato Times, Volume 107, Issue 17994, 12 April 1930, Page 10

OTOROHANGA.

DISTRICT HAPPENINGS. (Our Resident Representative.) The Weather. Welcome rain commenced to fall on Tuesday evening, and continued intermittently throughout the following day. The Roads. The Public Works Department has commenced the tar-sealing of the Caves road and is taking soundings for the piles to be driven for the new bridge over the Mangapu river on the new main highway route from Otorohanga to Hangatikj. At Tuesday’s meeting of the Otorohanga County Council that body was advised that the Main Highways Board agreed to take over the maintenance of the highways through the county as from April 1 for a period of five years, the council to pay the board £45 per mile annually towards the cost of such maintenance. The new deviation between Otorohanga and Hangitiki will now he declared a portion of the Auckland-Wel-lington main highway. The board will reduce all acute angles on the road .north of Otorohanga straight away. They will also find one-third of the amount required to replace the present bridge known as Austin’s. The old highway between Otorohanga and Hangatiki is declared a main road and the cost of its maintenance will devolve on the county as formerly. Band Reorganisation. At a special meeting of the Otorohanga Band Mr A. E. Wilson-Smith presided over a moderate attendance. tl was decided to reorganise the band, to scrap all obsolete instruments and procure new instruments from whatever firm that would be prepared to make a reasonable allowance for the old ones. It was decided to place the band under the aegis of the Friendly Societies. A motion was carried that the band can never be taken over by the municipality. II was decided that an expenditure of £IOO for instruments and £IOO for uniforms was urgently imperative to place the band on a proper footing. TOWN BOARD MEETING. The monthly meeting' of the Otorohanga Town Board was held on Wednesday evening, those present being: commissioners F. O. R. Phillips (chairman), Kedgley, McCready, Bell, Pierard, and Clive Tucker (town clerk). The question of fencing in the catchment area at the intake of the water-works was discussed and it was decided to fence the whole area, the work to he under the control of the works committees

The water in the reservoir was reported to be low, but as winter conditions are apporaching, the board was satisfied that there was no occasion for anxiety. It was decided that the charges for admission to the pictures be revised as follows: Dress circle Is 6d, except on Saturdays, when the charge will be 2s; back stalls Is 6d (always) and front seats Is (always). The resignation of Commissioner E. H. Kedgley, who is leaving the town, was accepted with regret. All members of the board eulogised the work done by Commissioner Kedgley during his term of office. The hall committee was authorised to procure the necessary floor coverings for the public rest rooms. The work of forming the rock gardens on each side of the municipal hall is to be proceeded with at once. When the work of formation is completed suitable plants and shrubs will be introduced through the kindness of Mrs F. 0. R. Phillips (wife of the chairman), who will provide these free of cost to the board.

The board decided to approach the Main Highways Board, with a view to taking over the town portion of the Auckland-Wellington main highway in accord with its recent action with the Otorohanga County Council. Complaints were received regarding motor vehicles being left standing on the streets all night. Offenders are to be warned that this is a breach of the by-laws, and that prosecutions will follow.

The board advised the local Rugby sub-union that its application for the use of the Island reserve would be granted provided that any work of preparation required on the grounds would be done at the union’s expense.

The board also advised that it looked to the sub-union to work amicably with all other sports bodies using the Island reserve.

The Otorohanga Sports Club has been granted the use of the municipal hall on sports night (Easter Monday)' at the,same charge as former!v viz £lO.