HORSES ON ROADS

Taupo Times, Volume IV, Issue 176, 10 June 1955, Page 6

HORSES ON ROADS

The County Commissioner, Mr A. H. O'Keefe, accompanied by Mr G. S. Lafferty, County Treasurer, attended the Borough Gouncil's meeting on Wednesday, June 1, in order to discuss with the Mayor and Council a number of matters of common interest, prominent among which was the problem of wandering stock, particularly horses, on the County and Borough Roads. The Commissioner and the Mayor had previously had informal discussions on the matter, and the Commissioner had suggested the appointment of a ranger or stock inspector, for both County and Borough, for a limited period at a good salary, to make a special effort to get rid of wandering stock. Mr O'Keefe said that by offering a good salary he thought a good type of applicant might be secured. He felt that as well as getting rid of the stock they must try to interest the owners in the problem of keeping them off the roads. The part of the County affected was mainly between Taupo and Turangi, on the State highway, and the Nukuhau-Acacia Bay area, and perhaps a short distance on the Napier highway. Cr. Morris^ said the trouble was that nobody owned the horses — that was, when they were involved in an accident. Cr. Stanley said some owners owned 20 horses, which mainly wandered on the roads. Mr O'Keefe said that the new Impounding Act would probably not become law until next year. It would make the matter of dealing with the problem mucli easier. But the danger to traflic was serious, and if a bus-load of people were killed or injured next week by collision with an animal he could not well say he had been waiting for the new Act. Cr. Young said that frankly he felt the problem was the County's. The problem in the Borough was 90 per cent. from stock that come in from Nukuhau and Waitahanui and if the County cleaned them up the Borough would not have a problem. Mr O'Keefe said that on that point he didn't know just what the position was. But whatever the Borough did he would have to do something. Or. Barton said that they would not find (who owned the animals until they got them in the- pound- The Mayor said he had no faith in stock owners co-operating. Last year an injured horse- had lain for two days on a Borough road, ploughing up the ground in its struggles and the owner had done nothing to destroy it. They would have to be tough from the start. Cr. Currie said that the menace was present in the Borougli irrespective of where the horses earne from, and if there was no County they would sfill have the problem. He visualised the Borough paying say one-third and the County say twothirds of the cost of a ranger. They couldn't tell how it would work out until they had say thrce months' trial. Cr. Young said his point was that the County office had been set up to administer the County. Mr O'Keefe said it boiled down to wliether the Council was willing to try the scheme, sharing expenses. He was willing to pay over half, the main point was to clean up the dange.r area, namely, the Tokaanu Road, Acacia Bay area and Napier Road. The Mayor, Mr J. E. Story, said he thought they should have a three months' trial, keeping a record of expenses and then go into the matter of apportioning them. After further discussion it was decicled that this should be done, the County Commissioner to advertise for a man, and together with the Mayor to interview applicants. It was also decided that the Council's pound would be used for the present. Later, when the County set up its depot, a new joint pound would be set np on the County depot and the present Borough pound closecl.

On Saturday last tlie uippy Taupo High School team were nqf affected by the wet conditions, and in their garne against Huka erowded their opponents so effectively that B. Dench and M. lones had their work cut out to get the ball to T. Rakei, who, however, held lier end up by shooting eight of Huka's 13 goals. iS. George found lierself hard pressed in the centre against the formidable High School trio, K. Reid, R. Baggs and C. Pitiroi, but was helped considerably by P. Livesey. E. Darlington and S. Rameka for High School goaled unerringly with the final result Taupo H.S. 19, Huka 13. The young Tokaanu High School team found the wet heavy ball difficult to handle and coif&equently lost both their matches, against Taupo H.S. 29 — 1, E. Dallington goaling 20 of the winning team's points ; and against Mokai, 7 — 2. The Spa-Waipahilii match was brightened by brilliant saves in the defence area by P. Wall (Waipahihi), and accurate goaling by D. Harding (Spa), formerly a defence player. Spa won 7 — 0. Tokaanu Women played Oollege Old Girls at Tauranga-Taupo and lost 9 — 23. The dr*w for to-morrow, Saturday, June 11, is as i'ollows: At Taupo, Spa v. Taupo H.S., 2.30 p-m-, referee B. Reid. At Tokaanu, Tokaanu Women v. Tokaanu H.S. At Taurangataupo, C.O. Girls v. Stuarts. At Mokai, Huka v. Mokai. Waipahihi a bye. The following players have been selected for the representative trials to be played at the Taupo School courts on Saturday, June 18 : Forwards : Polly Maniapoto, Ria Erskine, Marion' Jones, Elalne Darlington, Haromi Moreliu, Barbara Dench, .S'ally Rameka, Tunisia Rakei. Centres : Joyce Habib, Shona George. Maadi Hough, Keren Reid, Bonnie Bramley, Mihi Tupara, Francis Harris, Evelyn Banks. Defence : Lucy Packer, Jan Walford, Zelda Tawera, Susan Haj', Lila Andrews, Margaret Rawhiti, Sylvia , Booth, Perehuia Wall. Any players unable to go to Christchurch should notify the selectors without d#lay.