COUNCILLOR RESIGNS

Taranaki Daily News, 19 September 1940, Page 4

COUNCILLOR RESIGNS

RESENTMENT AT RULINGS OHURA COUNTY COUNCIL

j Cr. A. Renner resigned his seat on the Ohura County Council at the last meetI ing. The reason he gave for his action in a letter read at the meeting was that he took exception to the rulings of the chairman, Cr. O. C. Pleasants. He had always acted in the best interests of the council, said Cr. Pleasants, and after the resignation of Cr. Renner was received he instructed the county clerk to call applications for the vacancy. Cr. A. Sandilands said he took exception to the reference made by Cr. Renner to the chairman's rulings, and moved that the resignation be accepted. The motion was seconded by Cr. E. J. Anderson and carried. Crs. J. Ryan, L. A. Passau and F. Romayne expressed regret at Cr. Renner's resignation. J Mr. J. M. McKenzie, county solicitor, i wrote stating; that he had joined the j military forces" with the fourth reinforcements and that he had disposed of his interests at Taumarunui. He hoped to resume practice at the termination of the war. The chairman said he regretted very much that Mr. McKenzie was temporarily vacating his position as solicitor to the council, and expressed the wish that he would have a pleasant trip abroad with the forces and return safely to Taumarunui. He understood that Mr. McKenzie had arranged for his business to be carried on in his absence. Mr. McKapzie returned thanks and said that he hoped that when he returned the position he had filled as solicitor would be vacant for him. The chairman assured Mr. McKenzie that the position would be kept open for him on his return after the war. Condition of Land. ,

McKee Brothers, Ongarue, wrote with reference to an untidy piece of land between their premises and the post office and that they were prepared to keep the area in a neat condition once it was attended to by the council. Mr. T. M. Archer, president of the Ongarue Tennis Club, wrote in reference to the same piece of land, and stated -that if the council put the area in a tidy and level condition the club would use every endeavour to keep the part in front of the courts clear of long grass and rubbish. The engineer was instructed to have the land cleared and levelled., Mr. E. Fauchelle, Matiere, wTote thanking the council for carrying out improvements to his road. The letter was received, the chairman remarking that it was pleasing to receive such letters. Messrs. C. J. and R. Carter, Tokirima, wrote asking for permission to erect a manure shed on the roadside between the bridge over • the Ohura River and Roto Road, and stated that other sites on their property near the bridge were subjected to floods. Mr. A. W. T. Hunt, Turoto Road, wrote asking why the council was not doing something towards checking the spread of blackberry on the Ohura River bank and the Turoto Road. The writer stated that he had been informed that the council had been supplied with a weedkiller and no work had been done. He also ! complained about a councillor cutting blackberry and throwing clippings into the river. Mr. Hunt will be advised that the council was doing all it possibly could to eradicate blackberry.

Noxious Weed Menace. The ragwort and barberry menace was referred to by Cr. Passau, who said he thought that instead of supplying settlers with sodium chlorate to spray their properties the council should clear the roads first. He moved that the clerk write to the noxious weed s inspector and request him to take the necessary steps to have noxious weeds agid barberry in the county eradicated.

The following statement of the financial position of the Ohura County Council was presented by the clerk, Mr. N. Wilkie: Receipts to August 31, 1940, £6209 3s 6d; expenditure to August 31. 1940, £11,293 3s 4d, plus debit balance £2555 8s; total, £13,848 11s 4d, less receipts £6209 3s 6d; debit balance, £7639 7s lOd. The traffic inspector, Mr. J. W. Richards, reported as follows for the month of August: I arranged with three extra traffic inspectors to make a check of licenses. A number of drivers who reside in Ohura county were reported to the head office at Wellington for failing to renew their driving licenses and warrants of fitness. Fourteen heavy motor vehi les were weighed and 10 drivers were warned. The ranger, Mr. W. J. Marston, reported that during the month he ranged the various roads in the county and Impounded 11 head of cattle. The engineer, Mr. H. Seerup, stated that at the Paparata saddle on Taumaru-nui-Stratford highway flood damage had been cleared away, and a culvert had been put in and a slip cleared on Ohura Road. Metalling repair work has been carried out on Tokirima hill. On Tokirima rnain highway a mechanical navvy was employed in clearing slips, and r etalling the damaged portion of the road and grading between Tokirima and Maraekowhai. All other county roads received attention during the month and practically all flood damage had now j been repaired.