COUNTY MEETS

Bay of Plenty Beacon, Volume 1, Issue 80, 27 October 1939, Page 8

COUNTY MEETS

A VARIETY OF TOPICS

RATING RUATOKI

The Whakatane County Council met on Tuesday, members present being the chairman, Cr J. L. Burnett Crs H. C. McCready, W. A. McCracken, A- F. McGougan, F. J. Burt, D. W. Spence, R. F. Wardlaw, T. G» H. Gawte, L. W. Lux ton. Leave of absence was granted to Cr G. T. Smith.

An application for a street light opposite new shops and hall at Edge cuinbe was referred to Gr Spcncc and the engineer, with power to act

S. A. Souter who applied for relief in the matter of rate arrears of £218 on property recently acquired by him as mortgagee was informed that the council could not compromise. A letter was received notifying that the Bay of Plenty was in Zone G for patriotic funds purposes, comprising Opotiki borough and county, Whakatane borough, harbour board and count}', Tc Puke borough and Tauranga county, harbour board and borough. Headquarters is Tauranga borough. The area and organisation is the same as for centennial purposes. Health Inspector P. A. Wallwork wrote stating that he had inspected the tourist camps at Ohope. He did not propose to take action with regard to recommendations until after the Christmas holidays, when he had seen the camps under holiday use. Ruatoki Rates. The acting registrar, Native Department, wrote stating that the question of whether the Ruatoki blocks were or were not rateable was at present under discussion with the department's head office, and that the question had been referred to the Grown Law Office. It was the council's opinion that the Ruatoki area should be rated, and to effect this, legislation should be enacted if necessary. It was recommended that the council chambers should not be hired on Sundays, or for smoke concerts, card parties and such like, and that the charge should be 5s for day time use and 10s for night time, farmers' associations to have free use of the chamber.

Some organisations had booked the room ahead, said the chairman, and they would be given a month's notice of the increase. Accounts amounting to £438(> 17s were recommended to be passed for payment. Topics dealt with in the works committee report included a letter from the National Centennial Council approving of the Whakatane pro posals for the Heads Park, and the dressing sheds at Ohope. Information Avas asked concerning the placing of a suitable plaque at the dress ing sheds. The clcrk reported that expenditure on the sheds had been £292 19s 7d. The ccntehnial allocation for the year Avas £150 and the balance in hand £106 14s lid. The expenditure did not take into account expenditure on water supply over the last tAvo months. The engineer reported the estimated cost ol' completion Avas about £320, and tlie subsidy Avouid be £150. It aa;is resolved to complete the scheme.

Timber Cartage.

Several matters concerning the cartage of timber Avere dealt Avith. including a letter from the District Public Works engineer concerning the use of the Te Whaiti to M'mipara road, staling that the department had considered the matter and did not A'iew favourably the alternatiA'e suggestions made by the coun cil. It did not think that the council was being treated harshly in being required to contribute £200 :m----nually. The Avorks committee is to report to the NoA T em.ber meeting of the council on this question.