Whakatane News

Rotorua Morning Post, Volume 2, Issue 439, 25 January 1933, Page 6

Whakatane News

(From Our Own Correspnndent.)

COUNTY COUNCIL A HEAVY ORDER PAPER The meeting of the Whakatane County Council took place yesterday. Those present were, Mr. Walter Reid, (chairman) and Councillors. G. CliffMcCullough, A. Peebles, W. McCracken, ". L. Durnett, R. Fleming, C. Smith, D. Murray and F. Burk. Half Holiday A resolution passed at a special meeting to the effect that the statutory half holiday for the county should be observed on Wednesday of each week was duly eonfirmed. Highway Maintenance The district engineer advised that his department was prepared to subsidise maintenance expenditure on the Whakatane-Gisborne, the WhakataneRotorua and the Whakatane-Tauranga Main Highways, at the rate of £3 to £1 up "to £200 or- each highway. The letter pointed out that this offer only held good for expenditure actually incurred before March 31, 1933. The council was unanimous that the offer should be accepted and that all possible steps should be taken to expedite the work in order to take full advantage of the subsidy before che end of March. It was pointed out that in order to get the work through1 in time it would perhaps be necessary to engage motor trucks from Rotorua and Opotiki, and the engmeer submitted a detailed scheme for the carrying out of the work. This was approved.

Hill Crest Koad The Whakatane Borough Council wrote complaining that the council had not fulfilled its undertaking _ of last April to hasten the completion of the county' s portion of the Hillcrest Road. The county officer pointed out that the undertaking was to the effect that the county council would do their share of the work only when the borough's portion had been completed to the county boundary and approved by the county council. Church Opening It was decided to accept with thanks an invitation to the chairman and councillors to be present at the opening on Sunday next of the new Roman Catholic Church and Convent, at Whakatane. Pukaahu Springs A long letter was received from the Under-Seci-etary for Lands in reply to the council's complaint re vandalism and improper conduct in evidence at the Pukaahu Hot' Springs of late. The department suggested that the council should seek the co-operation of the police in controlling the area. It was pointed out during the discussion that for some years the council had been expending1 an average cf approximately £40 per year, and had had no return. Councillors Smith and Fleming suggested that the council should seek the freehold of the area and then endeavour to improve and properly conduct the property. County Enlarged The Department of Internal Affairs wrote advising that an area had been added to the county. The clerk reported that as a result of this action the Whakatane County was now the largest in the North Island, in which the Counties Act was in operation. Timber Cartage The Clerk reported that the district engineer of the Public Worksi Department, at a conference with the chairman and himself, stated that the iowest royalty the department would accept from Wilson's Timber Mills for the cartage of timber from Te Whaiti to Whakatane was eightpence per 100. feet. For this the department would maintain the twenty-two miles of the road in the Whakatane County. On Councillor McCullough's motion it was decided to ref er the1 whole matter to the Minister of Public Works at Wellington and endeavour to secure better terms from the council's point of view. Railway Traffic In rep'ly to a request that in order to assist the East Coast Main Trunlc Railway line ^traffic, the Railway Department should agree to reduce the freight rate on timber from Edgecumbe to Frankton and thus divert some of the traffic from the Rotorua line, the department replied that they1 could not accede to the request that the rate should be reduced to 4s lOd per 100 feet. Loan Funds A report from a special committee recommended that advantage be taken of Section 22 (2) of "The Local Bodies Loans Act, 1926" Whereby the interest and sinking fund charges on a special loan secured by a special rate over a portion of a district do not exceed £100 per annum may, by special order, and with the authoi'ity of the Audit Department, be made a general fund of the county. The council has five loans — the total annual Charges on which amount to £311 ls id— which fall within this category. It was pointed out that by paying this sum out of' the general fund the council would be able to collect the Government subsidy1 ap'plicable to all general rates. After considerable discussion anent the equity of taking such an action, it was decided to defer the matter until next meeting. Relief Work The engineer reported that th'ere was a possibility of the Public Works Department expending relief money cn unmetalled roads aud that he had submitted full details and estimates of such works awaiting attention in this district. The report also stated that good progress was being made with the metalling of the AwakeriEdgecumbe, Whakatane-Matata, and the Taneatua-Ruatoki Main Highways, some 5000 yards of metal being spread during the month. A long discussion ensued on a complaint re the efficacy of employing relief labour on the roads and the delay .consequent on the stand down week and broken time. It was consequently decided that although councillors fully appreciated the efforts of the unemployed, they felt that the metalling to be done between now and the end of the financial year should be done by engaging truck drivers and leaving it to them to engage their own labour. General The Clerk reported that over seventy-fivQ per cent. of the rate ar-

rears had been paid 'to date and that European rate arrears now amounted to £1126 8s. Accounts totalling £3,155 7s lOd were passed for payment. A recommendation that in' view of the probable rise in the price of benzine, in sympathy with the increased exchange, that the council should purchase now from six to eight months' supply was fully discussed. It. was pointed out that the council's petrol bill was approximately £100 to £il0 per month. It was finally decided to pnrchase eight months' supply.