ROTORUA NEWS

Sun (Auckland), Volume 1, Issue 115, 5 August 1927, Page 14

ROTORUA NEWS

MEETING OF THE COUNCIL The Kotorua Borough Council met on Wednesday evening, the Mayor, Mr. T. McDowell, presiding. A large volume of business was transacted, the sitting lasting four hours. The ladies’ rest-room in Arawa Street, a. substantial and attractive structure in concrete adjoining the council chambers, has been supplied with furniture and will be ready for the official opening within a few days. The exterior of the building will be beautified, perhaps with trellis work and creepers. A letter was received from the Public Works Department saying that a deviation is being constructed over the bad portion of the Mamaku Road, the deviation to be metalled during the summer. The attention of the council was drawn to a public notice issued by the Main Highways Board absolutely prohibiting the transit of motor lorries over the section of the road commencing at Tapapa and terminating at the eastern boundary of the Matamata County at the Mamaku Bush. The prohibition went into effect on August 1, and concerns vehicles of two tons or over. A councillor suggested that the board be thanked for its timely intervention, the suggestion eliciting a satirical rejoinder from Cr. McLean, who wanted to know what the board had to be thanked for. If after an expenditure of £35,000 the road was still impassable, he saw no reason to go into transports of joy. “If they are to be thanked now,” continued Cr. McLean, they are also to be blamed for years of inaction.” A letter was read from the Rotorua Chamber of Commerce urging a better lighting system in the main streets of Rotorua. Sympathetic reference was made to

unemployment, and every effort will be made to assist men in need, such asI sistance not to be given indiscrimin- ! ately. but mainly to Rotorua residents who have encountered misfortune, j A suggested new approach to the i High School now nearing completion i disclosed the interesting fact that 300 1 pupils will attend the school, involving an annual outlay* in salaries and upkeep out £ 3,000. The frequent recurrence of chimney* fires prompted a letter of complaint from the Fire Brigade superintendent. The council will press for the infliction of heavier penalties in future. A special committee reported in favour of the project to secure a loan for the construction of a new municipal building, the building to incorporate offices, a library and theatre. A lengthy discussion followed. The council by* a vote of five to four finally decided that at the present juncture it would be unwise to further the scheme.