COUNTY COUNCIL

Rotorua Morning Post, Volume 2, Issue 473, 6 March 1933, Page 6

COUNTY COUNCIL

QUESTION OF UNPAID RATES ON OPAPE SECTION REVIVED. GENERAL BUSINESS.

The following were present at the monthly meeting of the Opotiki County Council held on Friday: Messrs. J. H. Reid (chairman), G. Powell, W. Butler, W. Gault, R. Hedley, G. O. Donovan, A. Martin, V. Wilson, C. Black. An apology for absence was received from Mr. J. Butler, Sen. Mr. A. W. Ruff, carrier, of Nukuhou, wrote requesting the council to take steps to have overnapging boughs of trees at certain points on the main road and Gabriel's Gully Road removed. It was decided to request the settlers concerned on the main road to remedy the matter and the engineer was instructed to present a list of unelassified roads to the council at its next meeting, with a view to- their being classified, as it was suggested that Gabriel's Gully Road was not suitable for heavy traffic. Constable's Cow. The constable at Motu wrote advising tnat the council's poundkeeper had charged him the sum of 10s for allowing his cow to be on the road. The constable explained that just as he was taking the cow from one paddock to the other he was called to the telephone. On his return to the- road, he found the poundkeeper had taken the cow in charge. He suggested that ne had been charged 9s too much. It was decided to advise the constable that the poundkeeper was quite within his rights according to the ruling of the Chief Justice; that the charge to be made was 1s per mile from the point where the animal was taken in charge to the nearest pound. Unpaid Rates. In connection with the possibility of the colleetion of unpaid rates on a section near Opape which had. been taken over by the Native Lands Department, the registrar of Native Lands advised that the Audit Department had ruled that these rates were not collectable. It was decided to refer the whole matter to the Prme Mnister once more and to send copies of the correspondence to Mr. K. S. Williams, M.P. The ranger reported as follows: — "I beg to reporfc that for the month ending February 28, 1933, I impounded 12 cattle and 3 horses. Three prosecutions were instituted and in each case convictions and fines were recorded. There is one prosecution pending. I am constantly engaged in ranging worlc in Waiotahi, Kutarere, Otara, Opape, Waiawa, Paerata and Tablelands districts."