COUNCIL MEETS

Bay of Plenty Beacon, Volume 1, Issue 30, 30 June 1939, Page 5

COUNCIL MEETS

BUSINESS ON AGENDA

The monthly meeting of the Whskatane County Council was held o;t Tuesday, those present being the acting_chairman f Cr J. L. Burnett, Crs Wardlaw, Smith. Cawte, Spcnee, Burt, Luxton and MeCrcadv and the ~ J engineer and clerk. The Finance Committee reported that the Hospital Board had advised in response to the council's request to take more drastic action to collect outstanding fees, that legal proceedings would be taken in a large number of cases. GRANT FOR DOMAIN. A donation of £15 as an equal charge on the Taneatua and Opouriao ridings was made to the Taneatua Domain Board. Jt was resolved to advise the Commissioner of Transport that the council is not in favour of the Minister assuming control of the licensing of taxicabs in the Whakatane County, the chairman stating that this might ! lead to a. monopoly. It was decided that six months' trial be given to new hours for the council's office. These will be from 8 a.m. to noon, 1 p.m. to 4.35 p.m. from Monday to Friday. The rating resolution was adopted. MAIN HIGHWAYS. A circular memorandum was rccciv. Ed from the Main Highways Board stating that it would be unable to approve of any general increase in highways in the current year, and would only be able to give consideration to adjustments shown to have spccial merit. It was recommended tha.t the council's formal applications be deferred until next year and that the chairman press at the District Council meeting for declaration of the Tc Tcko-Galatea road as a Main Highway. Cr Burnett said it seemed that there would be little use in applyi'.i'V for any increase in highway mileage, but the question of the Galatea voad should fee brought forward again. The class of traff'c it carried warranted it ""being made a main highway . After a report had been received it was decided that the council could not accede to a request from Mrs D. G. Fisher for a culvert to be installed on the Thornton-Whakatane road The works committee reported that, it had met a, deputation of Opourno settlers and had advised the deputation that the council would be prepared to undertake any necessary work respecting the Awahou Roo.d drains and culverts affecting the road but that any question of digging e drain in private properties would be matters for the settlers themselves. The engineer, Mr C. 11. Brcbner, reported that sealing and .formation of footpaths in, the Waimana townshin would cost approximately f7OQ. and the widening of Ruddick's Road £259. COUNTY RANGER. After a discussion it was decided that a committee lie set up to go through appli-at'ons for the position of county ranger, and that :i meeting of the full council should fellow to make an appointment from applicants selected by the eomnvttee. The. committee is to be the same P.-i acted except th't Cr Luxton will take Cr McCracken s ■dace if the latter does not find .1 convenient. In tHb cou r se of the discussion it was .stated that the salary increase to £350 had had the efiect of bringing a good type of applicant. Cr Luxton reported that, with Cr MeCracke.n. he inspected Lhe Edge. cumbe stock paddock and pound. They recommended that a circular trough of about 900 gallons be installed on the concrete slab from th' 1 old dip yo that large mobs would have plenty of water. The iences needed some repairing. He rcporte 1 that Mrs T. Anderson would take "Ivrge of the pound and stock paddock as pound agent.