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Hokitika Guardian, 2 October 1923, Page 2

Thk suggestion at the late cimfeience of local bodies by one of the speakers that the • Borough Council was doing very little in regard to street impiovoment", was not borne out bv tb,. business disposed of at last Friday's meeting of the Council. Some hundreds of pounds worth of work were authorised, indicating the best of intentions on the part of the councillors. The next thing to he done is to have the works undertaken, The pieselit staff is quite inadequate for the Work iu sight as a result of the loan money available for cx|R‘udilurc. Tb,, stall "ill inquire to be inereased. A good concrete worker is required, as apail from the roads etc., which occupy so much of the overseer's time and .iltoiition. the mamilact lire of concrete pipes and the laying of oonoieie kerb-

ing mid channelling are sufficient, for mint her good overseer. In regard a) purmauelit work we agree with tinviews expressed by Air Cotilson that it would be a retrograde sic]) to revert to wood channelling even tompoiarily. We are (ertain it "ill not be cheaper in tin* long inn, nor t|iiieher as heart timber of tile size required will not lie procured readily. It would be better to lay a short section of permanent concrete kerbing, tintn attein| t. to do it longer section in timber. With a good practical loader in the concrete work, a good showing could lx* made it*

a brief period, it the material wen readily assembled.

Tub motor licensing by-law now being enforced by tln* Westland County Conn oil, appears to be exciting some concern among owners of ears. It would appear, however, with the demand for better roads, that the local body must find more money to provide tin* roads. Hitherto the ratepayers have been finding the hulk of the money for th ( . roads, and increased rating has oceu ]at on for the purpose. Additional lengths of main mads have been added to the care of the ( onnty Colin-

.-•il whir ill i« calling for more money, and equitably it would appear, principal users of the roads should, contribute 11 moiety. To ensure better roads the local body bis incurred considerable liability in ordering road-making machinery, and it is but fair that those who will derive the first lienofit from an improved road surface should pay something towards that cost. Hence the by-law fees. The advent of motor traction lias added considerably to the cost of upkeep of the roads. Motors are expensive in themselves, and owners ask for better roads. It seems a fair solution that some portion of the liability in maintaining the roads of the district should be spread as widely as possible, so that the cost will not fall solely on the ratepayers. Taking this view, much of the objection to tlie taxation now I icing imposed should be lomovod.

The particulars published of the Mostland Racing Club’s summer meeting opening here on Boxing Day, at the time of the Exhibition, show that the programme has been modelled in keeping with the aupicious occasion. The principal event is the Exhibition Cup. and along with the other events to be determined, is well endowed. The stakes are very substantial, and is in tact the strongest programme yet put forward for a two-days meeting on the Coast. This is not the first time the local club has led in this distinctive way. The changed conditions in regard to travel and transport should well warrant the enterprise shown hy

the local Club. Transport is an important phase, for it governs the attendance ot the horses. The trif> ‘over the hill” was heretofore a drawback to many owners. Passenger traffic will be likewise more satisfaetoiy, being less convenient, through the absence of the break in the journey for the coach

section which lor so long intervened. The Club anticipates increased patronage, or the stakes would not he increased -o substantially. For spectators improved accommodation, and hotter serviee generally will be provided, -ho coming meeting marks a new epoch in the history of the Club, which is rising to the occasion to the Iw-st-of local resources.