WAITARA.

Taranaki Daily News, 7 October 1921, Page 7

WAITARA.

CHAMBER OF COMMERCE. (From Our Own Correspondent.) October 5. The Chamber of Commerce held its first monthly meeting on Tuesday evening, Mr. H. Vaughan presiding. the president reported having forwarded a letter to the Minister of Public Works, asking for an engineer’s report upon the Waitara River as a source of hydro-electric power. It was decided that if it is ascertained sufficient power can be harnessed, Messrs. Summerson and Sons, the English firm (who conte'nplate treating the iron Sands of New Zealand) be notified to that effect. Recommendations are to be forwarded to the Minister of Justice, pointing out the infrequent sittings of the Magistrate’s Court, and suggesting the division of the district, so as to expedite the work of the Magistrate. The chamber is also to petition the Minister for a resident clerk of the court. HIGHWAYS BILL. The following is a resume of the discussion on the above Bill, as presented by the executive of the Chamber of Commerce:— The executive have gone into the matter of the Highways Bill, and note with some regret that the Counties Conference, recently held in Wellington, were adverse to the measure as out’ined by the Minister of Public Works,. The reason of the hostility of the eonfe -ensc was objection to dual control, and in some cases where railways serve the countryside, and where well settled land pays heavy rates, it can be readily understood that any new proposals likely to saddle landowners with taxes and leading to expenditure over which ratepayers have no direct control is unlikely to be favored. But the circumstances are entirely different under such conditions as are thrust upon the county of Clifton. In the first place, it has no railway, and the main road has to carry all the traffic, that is, its own and practically every other county’s in the North Island, for it is essentially a main artery, and it is a striking fact that the more Clifton County does to improve this road out of its own funds, the •greater does the call become for some change in the methods of obtaining the money necessary for maintenance. This is said in view and in recognition of the contributions made, viz., through the toll-gate, but it must be remembered that from Waihi outwards from Clifton boundary, or vice versa, there is no tollgate, hence the revenue on a mileage basis from tolls is very small indeed. Clifton County is in an invidious position to a large extent by Native land paying little or no rates, and we tljink another aim of this chamber should be to press on the Government the logical outcome of’ over 80 years of settlement, viz., the placing of Native lands in the same position as European in respect to rating. The recommendations of this chamber in respect to the highways are that main arterial roads should certainly be defined and assisted with assured finance, and that some authority beyond political control should allocate such sums annually as will produce steady, progressive results. If such a policy is pursued, metalling of the present lengths between Uruti and Mokau will surely be carried out within measurable time, and the bridging of the Mokau will also become practicable. It was also resolved to write to the Clifton. County Council, expressing these views, and asking for the council’s opinion on the Highways Bill.

SCHOOL COMMITTE.. The monthly meeting of the above committee was held on Monday evening, Mr. T. R. Ford presiding. The acting headmaster reported that on the resumption of school the staffing had been arranged similarly to that iollowed during Mr. Wylie’s absence in July. The attendance for the quarter had averaged 297.5, as compared with 298.7 last quarter, out of u total roll number of 328. An appeal for membership of the Navy League had only prodnc 190 subscribers, as against 163. It looked as if many of the children were not actuated by any high ideals of patriotism, the Prince’s photograph last year being more of an attraction than the exercise book offered this year. Correspondence had been received re a visit of the Ponsorrby Boys’ Band at Christmas, but the matter seemed one more for the municipal authorities to take up than the school committee. Cricket material was required for the boys. It was resloved to purchase two cricket bats. No action was taken in regard to the band. The chairman reported that a start had been made with training the children for the annual concert, and it is hoped with assistance to put on a cantata. Reference was made to necessary requirements for the headmaster’s house. The Education Board’s attention is to bo called to them. < A vote of sympathy was passed with Mrs. Wylie in the loss of her husband. PERSONAL. Mr. R. Gribbon, who was in business here for many years, and left for a trip to the land of his birth, is living in Manchester, having engaged a small house there. In a letter’ to a friend he mentions that the cost of living in England is enormous. Mr. Frank Proctor, son of Mr. W. Proctor, of Waitara, writes home relating his experiences in. connection with being shipwrecked off Fiji. “Frank” has been following his vocation as a printer in Sydney, but, desiring to reach America, shipped before the mast on the Cardinia. The marriage of Mr. Robert William, only son of Mr. and Mrs. 11. Mackenzie, and Mona Ruth, the second daughter of Mr. and Mrs.. F. Hoskin, was celebrated at St. John’s Church on Tuesday. On Wednesday morning last a few prominent citizens could be seen gazing into the heavens, and at first it seemed that they were studying the weather, or having an argument as to what way the wind was blowing, but the reason for their curiosity was soon apparent. A seaplane could be seen hugging the coastline. The details have already been reported in your paper.

GENERAL. As in most other places, butter has been reduced to 2/3 per lb eash. This, of course, will be appreciated by the town dwellers, hut the reduction will have a prejudicial effect upon the dis-

triet, which is supported by the dairying industry. Mr. E. C. Jones, the local builder, who purchased a concrete mixer, has written to the makers suggestions for an improvement in the machine. His letter was not put into the waste-paper basket, as the idea has been recognised by the makers, who are going carefully Into the proposed improvement.