Province and Suburb

Sun (Auckland), Volume I, Issue 252, 14 January 1928, Page 10

Province and Suburb

(From THI SDN'S Corr««i>ona»nt».> ...

WHANGAREI ROADS HIGHWAYS DEFINED In view of the allocation of the petrol tax the Whangarei County Council has decided to ask for 90 miles of roads to be declared main roads by the Main Highways Board. The roads are as follow: Whangarei Borough boundary to Tamaterau, 8 miles; borough boundary to Whareora, 2 h miles; Opouteke Road from main road to post office box, 31 miles; Kamo to Hikurangi Bridge, Wairua Riding, 185 miles; borcugh Station to Tauraroa, 10 miles. Road to Matapouri turn-off, 8 miles; Kara-Maungatapere Road, 5 miles: from Long’s Corner at Puwera to Maungakaramea, 55 miles; Waikiekie Station to Tauraroa, 10 miles. Waipu-Cove Road, 5 miles; Whakapara Junction to Mathieson’s Creek, 6 miles; Otonga boundary to junction of Kaikanui Road, 6 miles. OPOTIKI DAIRYING LARGELY INCREASED OUTPUT Despite the hot dry spell which has been experienced in the Auckland Province for some time, the country around Opotiki is looking very well, and there appears to be ample grass on all hands. According to Mr. Hogg, chairman of directors of the Opotiki Dairy Association, production at the Opotiki butter factory has not been affected. Figures show that the output at the present time is 38 per cent, greater than for the same period last year. Many big bush fires have been burning between Opotiki and Gisborne as a result of the favourable weather, and the air has been very hot and smoky this week. country is reported to be in good condition, as ample rain has fallen in the back country during the last few weeks. Crops are looking well and should not suffer unless the dry spell continues for another week or so. Some very fine hay crops are being taken off the flats and hay-mak-ing is in full swing on all hands. PAPAKURA CATHOLICS PROVIDING FOR PRIEST A kitchen and linen evening was held in the Parish Hall, Papakura, on Thursday evening for the Rev. Father Joseph Duffy, who is expected to take up his residence in Papakura early next week. The great progress made in the Roman Catholic community of Manurewa, Takanini and Papakura has made it expedient to place a resident priest in charge. The parish was formerly under Father Skinner, of Otahuhu. A very enjoyable social evening was spent in playing euchre, interspersed with musical items kindly given by Mr. and Miss Pope, of Takanini. “A very large number of gifts were received of a useful nature. The attendance was also good. The Rev. Father Duffy, who will be the first parish priest of Papakura, comes rom Taumarunui. The first women’s prize was won by Mrs. P. Guillard, and the consolation prize by Miss M. Smith. The first men’s prize was won by Mr. Turner and the consolation prize by Master H. McEntee.

BATHS FOR TE AROHA CONSTRUCTION AUTHORISED Mr. C. E. MacMillan, M.P., has forwarded a letter to the Te Aron a Borough Council stating that an amount of £7OO has been placed on the estimates for building hot mineral swimming baths in the Domain, and the council decided to expedite the work of construction. A POPULAR GRADER • MR. THORNTON APPRECIATED Appreciation of the services rendered by Mr. A. A. Thornton, late chief dairy produce grader at Auckland, was expressed by the Cambridge Co-operativey Dairy Company yesterday. Members expressed their indebtedness to Mr. Thornton for his consistent impartiality in grading dairy produce, and for the help and encouragement he had at all times given to factory managers and assistants. RAILWAY EMPLOYEES ON TRANSFER TO OTAHUHU Another party of employees of the Railway Department, who are at present stationed at Petone, and who are to be transferred to the Otahuhu workshops when completed, visited Otahuhu yesterday morning to select sections on which the department will erect residences for them under the new scheme. It is reported that this is the fourth contingent to make the trip, and up to the present just on 40 sections have been disposed of in the borough area. A number of transactions have also been carried out in the Mangere Riding of the Manukau County Council, and inquiries are being made of the possibility of sections being acquired in the Papatoetoe district. TIMELY HELP ELECTRICITY FOR CAMBRIDGE At yesterday’s meeting oi the Cambridge Electric-Power Board it was reported that the Cambridge Co-op-erative Dairy Company, Ltd. had run its steam plant at Hautapu, generating k.v.a. to tide over breaks caused through the trouble at Horahora. The directors of the company had offered to place their plant at the disposal of the board at any future period should there be any further trouble, only asking in return that cost of fuel and oil be met. The power board members considered the dairy company had acted most generously in the matter, and it was resolved to write thanking the directors for their kindly and timely help, and for their liberal offer, which was much appreciated. Several members said the dairy company's plant had saved an awkward situation on several occasions, and had not only benefited Cambridge Company suppliers, but those who were supplying rival factories, 1 MATAMATA COUNTY SHARE OF PETROL TAX Cr. J. W. Anderson presided over the January meeting of the Matamata County Council, there being a full attendance of members. It was decided to request the Government to proclaim the top of Maungatautari Mountain, which has recently been taken over by the council, as a climatic reserve, a sanctuary for native birds. A lengthy discussion followed the receipt of a letter from the Main Highways Board with reference to the allocation of the petrol, tax. Led by Crs. Cox and Judd there was a considerable body of opinion which thought too great a percentage was allocated to boroughs. Cr. Cox maintained Parliament should always remember it was in the position of a board of directors, and that as 97 per' cent, of the national income was derived from land, such tapes should be allocated accordingly. Too much money was now being spent on tourist roads as against roads which would open up and develop the country. The chairman pointed out that “larger centres” mean all boroughs with a population of over 6,000, and that the word “adjacent” meant within a radius of .100 miles. This, together with the engineer's statement that the Highways Board had power to modify the percentages, mollified members somewhat, and no motion was passed. Cr. Darby pointed out that as a result of the fire on Sunday last, which was caused through the carelessness of a visitor, a fence had now been erected at Arapuni by the Public Works Department which blocked access to the falls. He considered these falls one of the finest sights in the district, and asked that the engineer make a report with a view to forming a new track from the low-level bridge. This would obviate goings near the “step-up*’ station and would be much appreciated by visitors. The council decided to obtain a report from the engineer. HUNTLY RATEPAYERS MEETING OF ASSOCIATION The usual meeting of the Citizens’ and Ratepayers’ Association was held on Thursday evening. Mr. W. Parkes presided in the unavoidable absence of Mr. Thomas Hall. The secretary of the Central Power Board wrote that the board had not yet decided whether it would build its own offices, and that its interests would be best conserved by being in Hamilton. The total number of consumers was 2,852, and the approximate number controlled from Huntly 500. The revenue of the board from April 1 to November 30 last year was £25,180, HuAtly’s quota being £3,281. The burning question of maintenance of the Main South Road through Huntly w'ill probably be advanced a stage next week, when a public-meet-ing will be held, and it is understood the business people •are prepared to be rated separately to advance a section of this work. An early start to shift the library to its permanent home in the town hall is contemplated. Members were favourably inclined toward a suggestion to take one or two shares in the proposed syndicate to acquire the section next the town hall and the piece behind to serve as a parking reserve. Ten guarantors are required at £IOO and five have already been obtained. Strong expressions of opinion were voiced regarding the present high charges levied on ordinary patients at

the Huntly Hospital, and an emphatic protest is to be forwarded to the hospital board with a request for a subsidy on the same lines as that granted to Te Kuiti. A member complained of the alleged injustice to permanent taxi drivers by men employed in other capacities doing this work in their spare time, and competing seriously with the regular men at a cheaper rate. It was pointed out that so long as the police report was satisfactory and the men were of good character, no action could be taken, but it might be possible to limit the number on the present stand and relegate the balance to another site. FESCUE MENACE BURNING ON HAURAKI PLAINS The Hauraki Plains have been enveloped in smoke all this week from the grass and bush fires in the neighbourhood. Much of the smoke is coming from the swamp fires about Tahlina, but there are swamp fires in the Awaiti, bush fires on the hills west, of the plains, and the soldier settlers of Orongo are burning off the tall fescue on the hundreds of acres of Crown lands north of the settlement. Their idea is to burn the fescue under control, so that- should it become ignited later on it will not spread t:> farm lands or destroy any of the houses on the abandoned soldier farms. Another reason is that the fescue is now thoroughly ergo;infected, and the growth that will take its place will not be so bad. By regularly burning off the rank growth during the autumn the soldier settlers remaining on the block hope to have a growth of young tall fescue available for winter for tlieir cows. Tall fescue is very poor feed at the best, but the soldier settlers cannot afford to pay for grazing, and the nature of the soil on their holdings is such that it is imperative that no stock .be carried during the winter months. CUTTING THE CORNER PROBLEM AT MANUREWA Much controversy is at present proceeding in Manurew’a regarding the necessity for cutting off the corner of the Great South Road and Station Road on the proposed erection of a block of shops by Mr. E. Pegler. After much argument it was agreed that it was necessary for the safety of traffic that the corner should be added to the roadway to give a better vision of traffic. The next question was compensation to the owner, and after a lot mora arguing and threatening a conference was called, attended by Mr. Hammond, Director of Town-planning, two representatives of the board, the owner and his solicitor, and a very amiable agreement was thought to have been reached, whereby the board would pay over £125 for the land taken. Congratulations were passed round that the question had been settled after 12 months’ discussion. A special meeting of the board was called to allow the delegates to report progress, and when this was done another obstacle presented itself by the board refusing to abide by the decision of the conference, and objecting to bear any cost whatever. Negotiations are at present proceeding, and it is certain that still more will be heard of this very vexed question. PAPATOETOE WATER SUPPLY TEST SHAFT STARTED Since the reticulation of Papatoetoe Town Board district with a permanent water supply was mooted some two years ago, there has been much discussion as to the ways and means to provide the best for the growing population. For the welfare of the

district, a water supply is essential. It is hard to induce residents of districts who are used to this convenience to take up their abode where the household tanks are the only means of supply. Another aspect of the case, and a very important one, is the need of sanitation in the near future. Some eight months ago the district was visited by an epidemic of fires, and all that could be accomplished by the willing helpers was, perhaps, to save a few sticks of furniture, and then stand by and allow the flames to work their havoc, or to form a bucket brigade and save the adjoining premises. The chief topic of conversation in those days was, when will we get that water supply? Inquiries were made in those districts fortunately endowed with a supply, and purchase from Otahuhu or Papakura was seriously considered. Then came the Taupo scheme, and hope blossomed strongly, only to be quashed by the commission. Since then the chairman of the board, Mr. A. W. Hall, lias spared no effort to secure a supply adequate to cope with the growth of the district. Water-diviners, after a comprehensive search, selected McLaughlin’s Hill at Puhinui as showing the best signs. The culmination of many months’ hard work was reached yesterday, when a start was made on the sinking of a shaft at the selected site. Experienced miners are employed on the work, and from present indications good progress should be maintained. If a supply is struck, continuous pumping will take place from four to seven days to test the supply. k WAIHOU BRIDGE CHARGES A DIVIDED COUNCIL The Te Aroha Borough Council met last evening on a requisition from Crs. Carroll Bruce, Hamilton and Smith, to consider a notice of motion by Cr. Carroll, “That the council dissociate itself entirely from the statements made by the engineer of the new triffic bridge, Mr. Stanley Jones, with regard to the clerk of works, Mr. T. J. James.” This motion arose out of a prolonged discussion held by the council at its last meeting concerning a mistake made in connection with the construction of the new bridge when the engineer made certain aUcgations against the clerk of works. When the town clerk read the requisition Cr. McMahon rose to a point of order, pointing out that in the reiuisition the place of the meeting had not been stated. The Mayor, Mr. R. Coulter, said he anticipated the point being raised, and had consulted the borough solicitors, who advised that the Municipal Corporations Act made it plain that the requisition must state the business, time and place of meeting. The Mayor upheld the point, at the same time quoting a parallel case in Thompson V. Stevenson, Dunedin, 1916, X.Z. Law Reports, Volume 35, page 963. The Mayor then promptly closed the meeting. Most of the councillors were dumbfounded and attempted to ask questions. Cr. Bruce questioned the Mayor’s action and said if the requisition was irregular why did the clerk accept it and issue notices of the meeting. The Mayor ordered the ouescioner to resume his seat but Cr. Bruce again questioned the Mayor’s right to order him to sit down when the meeting was irregular and closed. The Mayor then promptly vacated the chair. Another notice of motion was then lodged for next week and the Mayoi returned and hotly stated that if councillors had first consulted him about the meeting a great deal of trouble would have been obviated. PALMERSTON-WELLINGTON ROAD RACE .Nearly all the cyclists taking part in tms strenuous event used Q-Tol as a massage to keep their muscles supple. Mr O’Sullivan, secretary A.A.A. had ocular proof of this.—3.