HAWERA COUNTY.

Taranaki Daily News, 7 November 1921, Page 7

HAWERA COUNTY.

MEETING OF THE COUNCIL. PAST MONTH’S WORK. The monthly meeting of the Hawera County Council was held on Saturday. Present: Crs. J. B. Murdoch (chairman), J. Dunlop, R. JLynn, E. Washer and A. Larcom. Apologies for absence were received from Crs. B. C. Lysaght, Cecil Hawken and R. Douglas. FOREMAN’S REPORT. The foreman’s report was as follows: Whareroa Road.—A fresh start has been made with the refacing of this road, and this is going on satisfactorily. The metal is very thin in places, and it will take about 2000 yards to do from the factory to the Putlld Pah. Austin Road.—The metal is now on this road, and has been rolled and blinded. Lysaght Road.—As instructed, the pits have been examined in the vicinity, and the one on Mr. Patterson’s property is the best. There is only seven feet of a face, and the stripping of the quantity required will make it fairly expensive. There are forty-five chains to do, and it will take 1000 yards of metal at a cost of eight shillings a yard. Owing to the very wet month all carting was at a standstill and very little crushing was done. This has been a very serious matter, for the work that we have in hand, and it will be a hard job to catch up with it. There is no shingle up at Waikino for tarring, and this cannot be proceeded with until the stone there has been crushed. The crusher would have been ready to shift there now if the weather had been fine. The chairman said that regarding Mr. Patterson’s deputation, it was estimated that it tyould cost £4OO to repair and put the Lysaght Road in -good order. The report, with the exception of the matter of Lysaght Road, which was left over until next month, was adopted. Cr. Washer moved that in repairing Hawke'a Hill the foreman should be instructed to have about 10 feet of the centre of the road tarred, and that he should report regarding the cost of making an extension to the culvert at the foot of the hill.—Carried. GENERAL. The Manawatu County Council wrote asking tor support in asking the Railway Department to reduce the tariff on benzine, as, owing to the high freight on this commodity, motor lorries had entered into competition with the railways throughout New Zealand, to the detriment of the roads. “I don’t see that there is any chance of getting a reduction on any commodity," said the chairman. The letter was received. The Rangitikel County Council asked for support in introducing as speedily as possible the necessary legislation into the House to give effect to the following remit which was adopted at the last conference of the New Zealahd Counties’ Association: "That county councils be exempt from the operation of all Arbitration Court awards.” —It was decided to support the remit.

It was decided to donate £5 5s to the Hawera Fire Brigade’s Demonstration Committee to aid the demonstration which will be held in Hawera on February 15, 1922. A draft of the new Bill restricting the power of the local bodies to raise loans was received from Mr. E'. Dixon, M.P. The chairman opposed the Bill, and said that there were alreadj’ sufficient regulations to prevent local bodies from borrowing too much. They might as well cut out local bodies altogether as impose such restrictions. He moved that the member be asked to support the council's resolution objecting to the scope of the Bill’s restrictions.—Carried. The Hawera Borough Council wrote expressing regret that nothing had been done to the Walhl Road, and asking when work will be effected.—Received. The Waimate’ West County Council wrote asking if two members anjl the engineer of the Hawera Council could meet the Waimate chairman and engineer on the Lower Palmer Road at an early date, for the purpose of arranging between them what steps should be taken to put this road in order. Crs. Murdoch and Washer were appointed a committee to deal with the question. A letter from the Prime Minister, asking that the King’s request for the cessation of all work on' Armistice Day, November 11, should be observed in the Hawera County, was received. A deputation, headed by Mr. Standage, waited on the council to request the metalling of about 14 chains of the Paora Road. The chairman said that at present the cost of totalling 14 chains would be about £250. The council would go into the question.