OPOTIKI COUNTY COUNCIL

Opotiki News, Volume II, Issue 255, 6 November 1939, Page 3

OPOTIKI COUNTY COUNCIL

monthly meetinc The monthly meeting of the Opotiki County Council was held on Friday, in the county chambers. Present - Mr. W. A. Gault, Crs. G, Neilson, W. A. Butler, A. BA. Blake, S. Alaxwell, J. T. Clark, C. Black, J. McDonnell, T. Burke, R. A. Hcdlev. The, county clerk (Air. J! T. Merry and county engineer (AH'. AY. W. Upton), were also in attendance. The minutes of the previous meeting were confirmo'di and outward correspondence approved. Inward Correspondence. Air. R. C. Drummond, Oponne, requested repairs to his road.—Left to the engineer. Air. Waldman, Lower AVaiawa, asked that the grader he pul on his road. —Left to the engineer, Alt'. Al. Hennessy asked that gor.se on the roadside be cut. Councillors pointed out that property owners were liable to keep their roadsides clear of noxious weeds. The 'council resolved not to do the work. The Nsrtive Land Board, Rotorua, wrote concerning rate demands forwarded, stating that the Department was attempting to put the settler oil his feet, and offered .£SO in settlement, ol rates. The council accepted the offer. Air. Merry stated that ho understood that arrangements were being made to lease Native land! where the rates were not paid. .

Air. Button, secretary of the local ■Centennial Committee, wrote asking for assistance to meet a liability. The letter was “received.” The Acting Registrar wrote concerning the Waiimi road, Torcre, stating that the road Mr. Blake used, trespassed on Native land and that the new road would be legalised. Cr. HedIcy said that all the Natives were using the road! lor nothing and the position was unfair. The chairman said it was unfair to charge two settlers two rates. it was decided to point out that both the settlers have spent a considerable sum on the road already. Left to (lie clerk to reply. The Acting Prime Minister replied to tlie council concerning the recent public, meeting, the letter already having been published in the “News . Air. AleLaughlin, Omaramutu. forwarded a petition, which was sent to the engineer of the P.W.IL, !rom residents. and which stated that the coun(i| had cancelled a grant of £'2oo for a school roadt, and asked that the grant be reinstated. The engineer said that the idea was to make a loop road and the grant was a departmental one and had nothing to do with the council. The council would have no authority to spend the money. The Borough Council said it was proposed to move the pipe line at Otara where it was eitdangeied by the river and asked for the council's authority to place it along the road. 'I lie request was agreed to, subject to the engineer’s approval. (r. Black mentioned that the pipe was exposed in the river and suggested that the borough might wish to take the pipe across tue bridge. 'I he Valuation Department, Gisborne, wrote, stating that all the objections had been disposed of and no Assessment, Court would be necessary. —“Received”.

The Department of ult lire, Hamilton, wrote* asking that a representative* he appointed to tin* dis-ti-ie-t eonne-il the headquarters «>!' which will he at Whakatane. It was decided t 0 write lor further information mi the subject.

.Mr. A. ("• Unionist, M.'l\. "rote enclosing ii letter from the .Minister ot |> u l,|ic Works, stating that tin- council had not made any application ol the grant of £-170 on the Muatuua mad. The chairman said that the letter was very misleading as tenders had been called twice. It was decided toi reply giving Mr. li'ultquist the true position. The Department of Internal Aflairs wrote enclosing a copy of the Act abolishing the Waioeka River Board. The engineer’s report was read and approved. It was decidk'd t„ put the grader on Mr. Millar’s road. The council decided to remove the poplar tree in the Otara river. Members’ Business Cr. Black complained of the Council ; i„d others carting metal through his access road and asked that metal he put’on the mad.—Agreed to. The chairman said that a request bad been made to him to revert the Education Reserve to its original state. I \

Tie- council decided to support the 1 L '~ t. Ir. Burke snid tluit I’td'lic \\oik.s I;.: lies liiid Keen damaging the \\ i'iuValley road.—l .eit to Hie eiif: necr. Mrs. Kfll.v. Stouey Creek, wrote stating that ragwort dii .her propelty was had and .she enclosed .04 towards t.-.. cost ol destruction <4 the weed. 0:\ .Maxwell .said that the Department s.sniild loi'Ce owners to keep their land < oar. Cr. Black said the river-hed properties were very difficult to keep dear. It was decided to do the work providing assistance was pio'id t-d. Accounts aniotinting to OSSt/ 10s 4d tvcie passed for payment, bringing the overilral't up to £7023.

■nurse slionild have collected a fee of 2s 6d from each Maori patient and ease the burden on the Europeans. Mr, Henry said that £7 8s (3d was received in fees since Ist. April , but that since Ist. July the fee had been ; abolished by the Government. I Matron.—Four applications were re- ! eeived for the position of matron and after a brief discussion the board decided toi forward the applications to the 'Department of Health, which is'to bo asked to make a choice. | Tho acting-matron, Sister Stuart, ' reported that tho hospital ‘had been busy during the period. Sister Edwards had terminated her services at the hospital. j Staff.—. The secretary reported that the hospital bad now a complete staff, with/ a waiting list of two, which was phenomenal. j Major Operations.—Speaking in- sup- ' port of his recommendation that a theatre sister should be appointed to the hospital, Dr. James said that there ...was great scope fn the Opotiki hospital •> for major surgery. He had been surprised to findl that there bad been, no major operations performed in Opotjki hospital for many years. These opera- | tioiis were now being done in Opotiki j hospital and lie could sav, successfully. | There was no reason why the major i operations should not be done in Opotilri. At present the staff wa.s inadequate for operation work and it would be a great advantage to have a theatre sister, who would also be avilable for

other hospital work. At the present time jvlien operations were being -performed it was impossible to. give proper supervision in the wards. Members thought the suggestion a good one, the chairman pointing out that by keeping patients in-.the Opotiki district a considerable sum would bo saved by the hoard. Oil the motion of Mr. Neilson the hoard decide 1 to advertise for a theatre sister. Accounts as presented were passed ■for payment. Dr. James stated that there was a shortage of beds at the hospital and said there was room for more beds, in the women’s wardf—The board decided to make, the necessary purchases.