Inspector Reports To Whakatane County Council.

Bay of Plenty Beacon, Volume 16, Issue 13, 30 October 1950, Page 5

Inspector Reports To Whakatane County Council.

This is the report presented by the inspector, Mr A. Carling, to the Whakatane County Council yesterday:—

Dog Registration: One hundred and ninety-two registered during the month, total to date 2,383. Fees paid into office £649 15s. Rog registration is now nearing completion and I hope to complete it within the next fortnight. 3,000 dog collars and Arecoline Hydrobromide tablets have been ordered for 1951.

Drivers’ Licences: Thirty-eight issued. Tests Conducted and Extensions Made: Fifteen car and light trade motor; 2 heavy trade motors, 7 road machines, 2 passenger service vehicle, 1 taxi cab, 3 motor cycle, 1 test over 70 years, 1 Whakatane borough test, 1 applicant failed to pass the required test. I spent one day on traffic control along with Inspector M. C. Bridge at the Maori Celebrations.

Offence Notices Nos. 464, 465 and 466 issued.

Copies of above notices together with correspondence attached. Heavy Traffic Licences: Eleven collected to the value of £3l Is Bd. Eight new heavy traffic licences taken out during this month. All known Heavy Traffic Licences have been renewed. On September 19 I spent the day with the Transport Department Inspector, Mr M. C. Bridge, weighing heavy vehicles in the Galatea district. Fifteen vehicles were weighed three logging trucks, seven with sawn timber and five metal trucks. One logging truck carrying 4400 super feet was overloaded to the extent of two ton 13cwt on one axle. One truck with 3076 super feet of sawn rimu timber was 1 ton 9cwt overloaded on one axle. There were four trucks carting road metal from the wash, operating without permits which were overloaded by varying amounts from 1 ton 3cwt to 1 ton 14cwt carrying 3 yards of road metal. Permits have since been applied for and I would suggest that the permits should read—for a twoaxled heavy motor vehicle 4£- tons rear axle or 3 yards of road metal.

New Road Classifications: Most operators in the County have applied for permits to operate on the County classified roads, t£he iriain outstanding ones are: Rangitaiki Dairy Factory Ltd.; Whakatane Board Mills Ltd.; (both these I have been informed are awaiting the next meeting of directors for signature); C. H. McDonald, C. Honeycombe; H. Nuku; B. Magee; F. Harawira; Brown and Brebner and T. G. London.

All the above have been supplied with permit application forms but. have no,t filled them in and returned them to this office.

Ranging and Impounding: Twelve horses and 4 cows were impounded from Te Teko, Poroporo, Matata and Waimana. Six horses were impounded by Mr W. Petty. Pound and sale fes collected £5 9s. Noxious Weeds: Three settlers were served with requisition notices to clear hemlock in and around the Edgecumbe Railway Station. Four settlers were instructed to clear gorse and two settlers were instructed to clear ragwort. We have a fair stock of sodium on hand and will be able to meet all our settlers requirements. The enquiries I am receiving indicate that the use of Hormone weed killers are becoming more popular and I recommend to ,those who intend to use them for ragwort control to use Weedone Concentrate 57 at the rate of \ pint to a 3 gallon water in a knapsack spray pump using a size 30.00 low volume nozzle and to spray before the plants reach the flowering stage. For blackberry, duberry and sweetbriar use Weedone 2.4.5 T at the rate of | pint to 3 gallon of water in a knapsack spray pump using a size 30.00 low volume nozzle or 4ozs using the ordinary nozzle. Best results are obtained when blackberry is sprayed between December and March. For gorse and barberry use Weedone bursh killed 32 at the rate of f pint and 3 galons of water in a knapsack spray pump using 30.00 solid cone nozzle or 4ozs to 3 gallons of water using the ordinary type of nozzle. Spraying of gorse can be carried out at any time providing the weather conditions are reasonably good.

Where water is available I could, recommend a spray in preference to a dust and an oil based solution is also preferred because it does not wash off the plant so easily in broken weather.

For spot spraying of ragwort Atlacide gives very good results and is probably the most economical. Noxious Weds Control: The Government noxious weeds grant for the same amount as last year was approved. The gangs have started work in the following districts: Waimana, Te Teko, and the local gang working, Paroa, Poroporo, Rewatu, Peka-

tahi and Awakeri. Work will also be started in Matata, Pikowai and Braemer areas in two weeks 7 time. A mob of sheep is grazing the Waimana river bed area. Ruatoki Maori Affairs Department: I visited the Ruatoki district with the District Field Supervisor, Mr J. Merritt, where he had commenced the spraying of ragwort on a contract basis with Messrs Tebbutt Bros, of Taneatua who are carrying out this work with a boom spraying outfit with Wedone Concentrate 57 at the rate of about 2£lbs per acre. If the results prove satisfactory a very large area in this district will be treated.