HAWERA COUNTY COUNCIL.

Taranaki Daily News, 5 November 1917, Page 3

HAWERA COUNTY COUNCIL.

MONTHLY MEETING,

The Ifawera Countv Council met on Saturday. Present: Crs. J. B. Murdoch (chairman), !!. J. ]_i un> 'j'. a. Winks, C. Hawker, J. Dunlop.

CORRESPONDENCE. Tlie Valuer-General notified that the valuation of the council's property in Princes Street was on capital value of £ll4O (increase £120), and unimproved value £240 (increase £l2o).—Received. The Minister of Internal Affairs enclosed amendment of motor regulations re identification marks.—Received. The chairman remarked that he thought they should insist, on the numbers being at the rear of motor-cycles, as in front they were liable to be shaken or knocked off,.and were more difficult to decipher. A motion to this effect was carried. Taranaki Education Board notified they bad submitted .plans to the Department for the new building which it is proposed to erect at Normanby to replace the present scliool, and that the chairman intended waiting on the Education Department, to hasten the grantReceived. This correspondence was in reference to the diphtheria eases in Normanby reported at last meeting, when the county decided to write the* Education Board regarding the condition of the school.

Eltham County Council notified that at a conference of councils held at Hawera on October 27 it was resolved that the maximum wages of surfacemen be 12s per day, and that future applications by surfacemen be not considered until after a further conference of councils. —Received.

The Public Health Department notified that five cases of diphtheria, and one of scarlet fever had occurred in Hawera during October, and one case of diphtheria was reported from Normanby.— Received.

A. V. Sturtevant, Deputy Commissioner of Stamps, requested" the names in connection with the amusement tax.— of places of entertainment in the county The clerk to forward information. Waimate West County Council notified that the quantity of crushed metal from Main South Road to top of hill would •be from 250 to 400 yards. Also, they could not guarantee the grading of the south end of the road this season, but will do it if it is possible.—Received. The Marine Department notified that the department could not take any action re removing shingle from the mouth of the Waingongoro until the Hawera Borough Council and the County Council came to an agreement on the matter.—The chairman remarked that the department, evidently believed the borough and county were at variance over the matter, but this was not so. The county merply desired authority to remove shingle from the beach.

PATEA ELECTORATE. The Government forwarded particulars of the new boundaries of the Patea electorate.

The chairman suggested they should endeavor not to allow matters to stand as suggested. At present it was suggested that those on the northern side of Hawera, just outside the borough, were also out of the electorate. The electorate was running too far south, pearly to Wanganui, and there was no continuity of interest. He thought a public meeting should be held. Cr. Dunlop moved that the Chamber of Commerce be requested to convene a meeting of electors to consider the new boundaries.—Carried.

MORE WAGES. Thirty-three employees of the council petitioned that they be granted an increase of Is per day from November 1, 1917. The chairman believed it advisable to meet the request. An employee getting well paid would give better work, and if treated fairly would stand by his employers. Prior to tho war they were paying 10s a day, and it had since gone to 12s, and some workers in special places were getting 13s. Head draymen were getting -lSs, quarrymen 14s and 12s, but the majority were getting lis.

After some discussion it was decided to grant the request. FOREMAN'S REPORT, The county foreman, Mr. A, Mugg'eridge, reported that a start liad been made with the metalling of the Ohangai road. The decking of the Kapuni bridge was nearly completed. This wns a long job, mainly caused by the considerable number of new stringers in the bridge and the necessity to keep the bridge open for traffic. Crushing and breaking of stone had been held up in George and Princes Streets. With the chairman's instructions he' had visited Auckland and purchased a crusher for £275, which will be delivered shortly. The scarifying of Hastings Road is proceeding satisfactorily where there is a supply of metal. Fifteen chains in front of Mr. Brown's property will have to be left, as it wants re-facing. A bridle track had been made and is open for wheel traffic up to Mr. Robertson's property, Meremere. With one or two corners taken off it will be in fair condition. A culvert on the Ahaipaipa road, opposite Mr. McDonough's property, is in bad condition and will have to be replaced as soon as the water is down a bit. The chairman stated it would cost a lot to get the old crusher'into a thorough state of repair. With the new crusher they would be able to get on with the work, and should they be able to get the old crusher in working order they will be well set up in plant. . The report was adopted.

.METAL FROM THE BEAOH. At tlie last meeting of the Council Mr. (Bennett, Manaia, protested on behalf of Mr. Ramie, of the Council's employees, removing shingle from the heath abore the high water mark. The chairman then remarked that high water meant to the cliffs, which had slipped in places. Since that meeting the chairman, Cr. Linn, and the foreman had visited the place and found that in some portions the sea washed against the cliffs and naturally it came down. The foreman's report also dealt with the visit to the slin complained.of by Mr. 'Raihie, and lie had come to the conclusion that it was water accumulating behind that had caused it, as there were several sHps coming from the banks where the slip occurred. Two other slips occurred further away where no stone had been removed. ' GENERAL. The Electric Light Company's offer to erect four lights at a cost of £l7 was accepted, the question of securing a settler to attend, to the. switching on and on' of tig-lit being held over. Mr. Mußiltz, Matangara, requested that the road be out in order, to allow him

and two or three others to get to the Taiporohenui factory. Metalling about 12 chains would be of great assistance.— Left to engineer. VALEDICTORY.

The chairman remarked that, this was the last meeting of the council, and he thanked members for the courtesy and consideration shown him during his term las chairman, fie 'hoped to see the old councillors back to the table for it further term, although ho understood Cr. Winks was likely to go to the front. Cr. Winks reciprocated the chairman's remarks. He was going up for medical examination, and if he got through would be pleased to do his duty at the front. If turned down he would be prepared to continue bis work as a councillor.

The chairman-said he would like Cr. Winks to allow himself to be nominated. It would be March at the earliest before he went into camp, and those months would be valuable to the council, and under the circumstances Cr. Winks should allow himself to be nominated.

Cr. Winks said he was quite prepared [to abide by the wishes of the council. ■He was well aware that there was a good deal of work ahead. The chairman said he was satisfied that if the ratepayers knew the position they would be .prepared to back Cr. Winks up and- return him to the council table. The council then adjourned.