OTAKI TOWN BOARD.

Otaki Mail, Volume XXVIII, 11 June 1920, Page 3

OTAKI TOWN BOARD.

d ’ MONTHLY MEETING. i- | The usual monthly meeting of th i- j Otaki Town Hoard was held last nigh: i- Present: Commissioners H. Nicolso: . (in tlje chair), K. M. D’Ath, H. H 1 Olliver, J. Meads, and P. iiikihana Apologies for absence on account o: ill-health were received front Corns. J j P. Brandon and W. Noble. Correspondence. Corrcsxtondenoc was read and deall with as follows: Prom W. XI. Field, M.P., enclosing copy of a letter he had forwarded to the Prime Minister on the subject of the attempt being made in Hawke’s Jiay to alter the Government’s determination to establish an agricultural college at AVerarou, and to place it in Hawke’s Bay instead. Mr Field ntldcd that strong eiVorls wore being made to influence the Government in tliis direction, and it, therefore behoved public bodies to secure the college for Weraroa, ■which was, in his opinion, the most suitable place. The letter sent by Mr •Field was as .follows: — “For Hie past, twenty years l have been urging upon Government after Government, inside Parliament and out, the wisdom of establishing an agricultural college at the Wcrarua Experimental Station. I have pointed out times without number, and again repeat, that no better location for an agricultural college is to be found in. the xsorth Island. The farm consists of ! SOO acres of the richest land in Few Zealand, amPis very centrally situated. It is on the .Main Trunk Line and within easy access of all parts of the Taranaki, Hawke's Lay and Wellington provincial districts. Close beside it, towards the coaM, is a large area of sand country, and I have frequently asked that some of tins land be secured and treated experimentally by the Government. There is an enormous area of sand country practically lying waste in JN’ew Zealand, and beyond a number of experiments conducted by Ihc Agriculturel Department in the Boutli Island, and that tittle efforts private owners have put forth, there lias been practically no attempt -to utilise such land for the benefit of the Dominion, though with properly scientific treatment it can be rendered very productive. This valuable State farm is already equipped with all necessary farm buildings, including the finest milking shed in the Dominion, dwelling liou: • orchards, machinery, and appliances, and is in !ir.-t-class working order. There is already accommodation for a number of students, and all that is required is the construction of a school or college to render the farm entirely suitable for the purpose in view. After full deliberation the Minister for Agriculture and his Department have decided to utilise the bequest of tlu; late Mr Josiali Howard iu establishing the college at Levin, and much satisfaction ha.-; In en expressed to me, not only by* the Levin people, but by numbers of farmers and others, both inside and outside the provincial district of Wellington, at the decision arrived at. I notice, however, that a protest lias reached you from Hawke’s Bav. and you are being urged to establish the college in that province. I feel strongly that the Minister and the Department have conic to a wise determination. and that it would be utterly wrong to upset same, no matter what pressure may be exerted- upon the Government. J believe that if the Hawke’s Bay people would carefully inspect the Wereroa Farm for thornselves they would recognise the wisdom of establishing the college upon it. I nut not sure whether you have yourself visited the properly. If not. [ trust that you will take an early opportunity of doing so. and 1 should like to accompany you.” The letter was received. From Mangahao Hydro - electric Dower League, stating on the last occasion of a visit to the. works 120 men were found employed, and as far as could be judged seemed satisfied with the rate of pay. Tents, with fireplaces, had been erected of recent date. The work of metalling the road was proceeding, and other matters given attention. The League hoped that the new Minister would be able to state definitely what, the policy of the Government would be with regard to the distribution of power. The present uncertainty was not in the best interests of local bodies or the Department, and was the means of leading many of the districts concerned to seek for other sources of supply. This would mean greater competition for avilal.de labour, with possible delay for all the works, and increased labour costs. —Received. From Cromwell Borough Council, forwarding the following resolution: — •‘That owing to the high price of leather goods consequent on the Government removing the embargo or. the export of hides, the Council urge on the Government the necessity of re-impos-ing the embargo without delay. ’ ’ In this they asked to be supported by the Town Board and other local bodies. — Received. From Commissioner of Police, relative to corner section purchased by the Board from the Government, stating that owing to deductions for exchange (7s Pd) from phequas received from the Board the full amount of purchase monev had not been paid, and until th: 7s Pd was paid the title could not be issued.-—Amount -to be paid. From District Health Officer, reporting on a ease of diphtheria in Mill road, Otaki. and recommending that the pit at the house he abolished and .filled iu with soil, and a fesb pit dug at least 20 yards from the dwelling.—Attended to. From V. H. Field. M.P.. stating, as . desired by :he Board, he had presented the address to K.ILIL the Prince of Wales. Irt going h- evr.rt-.-sed the •.1,-., p regret of the people of Otaki that it had been found eccer-sary to cut oar preventing residents from extending to preventing esidents from extending to him tee warm and loyal welcome for which full preparation had been sade.

The Prince htul expressed his rc-gr that he was unable to visit the distri —Received. From secretary to 11.1t.11. I’rince "Wales, conveying Ihe letter's than e for the address presented him on lielu of Otaki, and stating his Highness w n 'disappointed at being unable to vi.q the township.—Received. Mr Pole, representing the Ola £ Ratepayers’ Association, waited on li Board and said that members console ed it would be cheaper to inslal acef; lene gas than the Wizard. He a ski that the matter be given attontion.- < The Chairman pointed out that up i the present nothing definite had bee I done re lighting, and that impum 1 were being made as to the* best an cheapest light to instal. He assure (Mr Pole that tlie Associati oi’s reques would receive every consideration. Mr Pole also drew the Board’s alter tion to the fact that the fence of' tie Postal Dept, encroached .18 inches m tho road, and asked that it be set back —Some members considered the matte a trivial one. but it was finally agreoi that tho Department be asked to give the matter attention. Mr Pole also drew attention to Iht slate of the footpath on Beach road and asked that it be improved.— .Members considered that attention should first bo given to the Mill road and Waerenga road footpaths, which were in a worse state. The roadman was instructed to at once give attention to the two footpaths named. The growth of gorsc on Beach road was aIBO referred to, and it was decided ! to write to owners of property interested, and request that it be cleared. Mr D. J. Reardon waited on tlie Board relative to the electric, light question, and asked what the Board intended to do. He was desirous of meeting the Board in the most reasonable , way, but he believed no real effort had bpen made to secure llie loan money. Mr Reardon said ho was prepared to come lo a compromise, and do his best to assist the Board in every way. It was pointed out that Mr Field, M.P., and Mr Bvron .Brown, the late chairman, had endeavoured to sectin the loan and failed. Mr Reardon said this was. a mat ter he could not understand, as several local bodies had of recent date been successful in raising loans for electric lighting purposes. It waa finally agreed io hold a sp. rial meeting on Thursday night next, and endeavour to arrive at some finality. 'the question of riding bicycles on the Mill road footpath was brought forward by Com. Rikihnnn. and it v. agreed to ask the police to keep a lookout for offenders. It was decided to consider estimate/ for the year at the special meeting. It was agreed to ask Mr Field to be present at Thursday night’s meeting, when matters of interest lo the line could be discussed.