WAIAPU COUNTY COUNCIL

Gisborne Herald, Volume LXVI, Issue 20052, 26 September 1939, Page 13

WAIAPU COUNTY COUNCIL

LICENSING OF TAXIS RECREATION COMM ITT ElO TOWNS! lIP T Ali-SE AI JN< I (Special to tlm Herald.) TE PUIA, this day. At a meeting of the Waiapu County Council held recently in Te Pula there were present the chairman. Cr. D. \\. W. Williams, and Crs. J. Busby, 11. H. Fail-lie R G. Sherwood Hale, M. Hyland, F. R. JefTerd, 11. M. Jackson, F.’ Manuel, 11. Te Rapu and O. T. Williams.

The Education Department wrote asking the council to replace a culvert on the site of the proposed new native school at Wai-o-matatini. The depsuTmenl'claimed that the existing culveit was not large enough to cope with the surface water from the low-lying area which it proposed to acquire.--The county engineer, Mr. A. K. Gilniour, considered the difficulty would not he overcome by replacing the culvert, as flooding was caused by obstructions in waterway and low-lying nature of the area. He thought that the proposed site was also not suitable owing to the danger of erosion. The council decided that a reply be sent on the lines indicated by the engineer. It was decided that all future applicants for taxi licenses within the county be informed that if licenses were granted they would be subject 10 cancellation under the provisions of the Transport Amendment Act, which would come into operation on June 1, 1940. A letter received from the Poverty Bay and East Coast Taxi Proprietors’ Association staled that the proposed new regulations may limit the licenses so as to allow for one taxi per 1000 of population. It was pointed out that Tokomaru Bay had three cars for a population of approximately 500 people.

Stock On Highways

The Main Highways Board drew the attention of the council to the increasing number of stock which was at large on the highway within the Waiapu County, and asked that stride--control be exercised.—lt was revealed that no contributions towards t'no salaries of the county poundkeepers were made by the board. As the poundkeepers were kept very busy on the county roads, it was not possible to patrol the highways as frequently as would be desired, and the county clerk was directed to approach the board for financial assistance to maintain a ranger to patrol the highway. The Department of Internal Affairs wrote suggesting that the Waiapu and Matakaoa counties combine to form a district committee under the Physical Welfare and Recreation Act. The council thought that this district would be too large and that as no community of interest would exist between the areas controlled by the counties, it would be better if the Waiapu County formed a committee of its own. Several residents of the county were named as suitable to be placed on the committee.

The health inspector reported that three builders had been prosecuted for failing to take out building permits He considered that the prosecution? would have a good effect, and that builders would take out permits in future prior to commencing construction.

The inspector also referred to the start made on the tar-sealing of the main highway through the townships of the county, and stated that tlm benefits, when the work was completed, would be greatly appreciated by residents and business people. He added that a matter which must be kept in view was the cleansing of these roads after stock had passed. To overcome this nuisance he suggested that it may be possible to open bypasses away from the tar-sealed aieas. Mr. 11. Gordon, Waiparc station, applied for permission to erect a bridge over the Ilikuwai Stream at Arero school road. —This was held ovci foi a report by the engineer.

Highway Extension

The No. 4 District Highways Council advised that the Main Highways Board had been unable to favourably consider applications for an exlention of main highways owing to picscnt heavy commitments of the existing highways system. The district engineer wrote asking if the council was prepared to form a special rating area in order to provide a contribution towards the cost of the suggested deviation of the Poroporo Valley road. —It was resolved that the council could not agree to the proposal and was unable to make any contribution towards the cost of the work at present, owing to pressure of more urgent work and the cost of fiood damage. The district engineer asked if the council was prepared to contribute towards the capital cost of clearing Willows in the Hikuwai Stream and whether it would undertake maintenance. —It was agreed that in view of the heavy cost of fiood damage restoration and funds required to complete works under the five-year plan, the council regretted that it was unable at present to contribute. Mr. A. G. Hultquisl, M.P.. forwarded a letter from the Minister of Labour in reply to representations for extension of the fiood damage subsidy of 90 per cent on wages cost, stating that