OPOTIKI COUNTY COUNCIL

Opotiki News, Volume II, Issue 268, 8 December 1939, Page 2

OPOTIKI COUNTY COUNCIL

monthly meeting The monthly meeting of the Opotiki County Council was held at the council chambers to-day. Present; Mr. W. A. Gault (chairman), Crs. G. J. Neilson, W. A. Butlerßurke, A. EL Blake, R. -A. S. Maxwell, J. T. Clark, J. C. Black; Mr. J. T. clerk) and ' Mr. W. W. Uptoiti (County engineer). The minutes of the previous meeting were confirmed and outward* correspondent read and approved. Iniwardi Correspondence Mr-A. G. Hultquist, M.P., wrote notifying the council that he had enlisted with the New Zealand- Special Forces and notified the council concerning his deputies. The Department. of Agriculture wrote concerning its invitation to he represented at Wliakatane on the Primary Production .Council. The chairman was appointed. Mr. Stewart waited! on tho council concerning access to his property at Waiotahi. The engineer estimated that the cost of the bridge would he about £SOO. It was decided to get a report on the. matter. Omarumutu Native School wrote concerning the school road stating they had been misinformed. It was expected that work on the new school would commence early next year. It was decided to apply far a. free grant. The Native Department wrote ro Wainui road requesting the council to either refund to the department the rates collected! on that portion of tho road or to maintain that portion of the road. Or. Hedley suggested writing saying that the council intends to keep the little rates it can collect on the Coast rood. Cr. Black said that it was a bad position as only two ratepayers were being taxed whereas a large number of ratepayers were paying nothing. The chairman said he considered one paragraph very cheeky. It was decided to write' to Mr. Moncur on the subject.

The Borough Council wrote re the provision of Plunket and Rest Rooms, asking the county to contribute £250 towards the cost. Mr. Merry explained the position stating that years ago the council had! favourably considered the position but when the major scheme was brought forward tho council lost interest. Tho council had agreed to contribute £SO. The chairman said that the Council had.no authority to spend £250. The borough would not share tho wharf. Or. Butler suggested that the council adhere to the £SO. The clerk was instructed to reply giving the position. The Valuation* Department, Gisborne, wrote stating that two areas in tho Waimana district should be on tho Opotiki roll. The rates had previously been paid in the AVhakatane County, lb was decided to investigate the position . Mr. A. G. Hultquist, M.P., forwarded a,letter from the Minister of Public Works re a grant to Ml*. McDonald’s access. It was stated that £2S vas still available. It was decided to apply for the amount. Mr. H. L. Twistleton wrote enclosing a letter, a copy of which was forwarded to the Hospital Board. The letter brought to the notice of the board that seven Motu residents became ill. The patients were refused) admission to the Opotiki hospital and the patients had to he nursed by the writer’s wife. The chairman said that it was a matter for the Hospital Board. Air. Meiry said that the isolation ward should have been made available, but of course there may have been other circumstances. Mr. Maxwell said thcie was an explanation of the matter. Mr. Hultquist forwarded a letter from tho Minister of Public Works, stating that the information supplied by him at a previous meeting re the ltuatuna road was not correct. He hoped Ins explanation would clear up the matter.

The Public Works Department wrote re the deviation at Kukmnoa in connection with land! proposed to be taken at Mr. Dunlop’s property. The deviation provided for the straighten-, ing of the road from the Kukmnoa hill onwards. The council agreed to the deviation. An application for a slaughterhouse at Motu was approved of, subject to the Health Department’s approval. The Borough Council wrote enclosing a letter appealing for funds for the Crippled Children; s Home.—Received. The chairman said that the lease of the Kutarcre wharf was up, andl it was

decided to close the wharf if of no further use. The sale of the wharf was also discussed. ( ' Mrs. Keenlyside wrote asking for assistance in ragwort work. The council decided to reply stating that it had no labour available.. ■The ’council .discussed'’a clipping from "The Opdtilii * concerning the building of a maternity hospital in_ Upotiki. Cr. Maxwell said that the position was that the board had been informed that the building, had to bo gone on with. If the board did not do it the Department could put up tho building and stop all subsidies to tho hoard until the building was. paid for.. That would mean a. double levy on tho county. Or. Hadley said there was a point at which the ratepayers could not afford! to pay rates. Cr. Maxwell asked for the percentage of Maori rates levied last year and collected and also the percentage over three years. L, The engineer’s report was read and approved. * . It was decided to apply to the Department lor a further £2OO for ragwort destruction. Cr. Pinr.ke. said that- panics on a bridge had been broken. CV. Clark drew attention to a bad corner at Paerata ami! asked that the corner be eased oil. Lett to. the engineer. Or. Butler asked for gravel on tho Reserve Bond. Or. Burke requested repairs to the road to the Kutarcrc Harbour. The date for the next meeting was fixed for Wednesday, 20th. December. No meeting will be held in January.