COUNTY AFFAIRS

Wairarapa Times-Age, 15 June 1938, Page 9

COUNTY AFFAIRS

MEETING OF MASTERTON COUNCIL.

CENTENNIAL MEMORIAL PROPOSAL.

The chairman, Mr Gordon Lee, presided at the monthly meeting of the Masterton County Council, held yesterday. Others present were: —Councillors H. H. Mawley, W. I. Armstrong, P. R. Welch, J. W. Colquhoun, J. Donald and G. Moore.

The chairman was appointed to represent the council at a meeting of the Centennial Exhibition Committee in Wellington next week. On the suggestion of Councillor Armstrong, the chairman was instructed to support the principle of constructing a Church of England Cathedral in Wellington to mark the centennial of the Wellington province. Councillor Armstrong said there could be no finer memorial than the proposed cathedral and he urged that every possible support should be given to the scheme.

It was decided to make a grant of £2 2s to the Royal Humane Society of New Zealand.

Messrs Seaton, Sladden and Pavitt reported that the proposals for the Taueru deviation have been approved by the Public Works Department and that the Main Highways Board was agreeable to the council carrying out the work provided the excavation costs did not exceed 2s 6d per cubic yard.

The District Engineer, Public Works Department, advised that the road giving access to the properties on the western side of the railway line at Opaki was still a main highway, but when it was revoked and the new section declared a highway, it would be the responsibility of the council to maintain the access road. The tender of Mr C. N. Cole for painting the county office was accepted.

The council decided to make a threeday inspection of the whole county, commencing on Monday, June 27. A resolution was passed expressing appreciation of the assistance and ad-' vice of the Government audit inspector, Mr A. W. Clulee, who is leaving the district, and congratulating him on his well-deserved promotion.

The Masterton Borough Council wrote stating that the detailed estimates submitted by the county for the maintenance of boundary roads for the year 1938-39 were satisfactory. The Inspector of Stocmk wrote directing attention to the broom and gorse growing on the strip of land from the intake at the Ruamahanga River to the Opaki Road and stating that if the Water Supply Committee Was responsible for the clearing of the noxious weeds the work should be done immediately.

The treasurer reported a debit bank balance of £6536 7s lOd. Receipts since last meeting amounted to £llOO 15s Id. Main Highways claims unpaid at date amounted to £1842 5s lid. Accounts passed amounted to £5591 2s 6d. The Clerk reported on the proposed reorganisation of the staff at the workshops at Te Ore Ore and after consideration the council approved of the proposals.

The ranger reported having dealt with 30 head of cattle and one horse during the month. Fees collected for the month amounted to £3, making the total to date £4 12sh. The Masterton Motor Cycle Sports Club wrote thanking the council for permitting the club to use a portion of the main' highway at Te Whiti for a reliability trial. The Town Clerk, Masterton Borough Council, advises that the council would co-operate with the county in obtaining the necessary additional subsidy on completion of the work of extending the Colombo Road bridge.

Mr B. Roberts, M.P., forwarded a copy of a letter from the Minister of Public Works (the Hon R. Semple), in reply to the further representations made by the council in connection with the damage which recently occurred to two bridges in the county and stating that he would go into this matter again and advise of his decision later. Mr Semple’s reason for declining to give a flood grant for the reconstruction of the Kaiwhata Stream bridge at Ngahape was that the structure was built only about 7 years ago with the assistance of a substantial grant from the Government. The Homewood bridge, however, had been in use for 40 years or more, and the council would have been fully entitled to apply on the estimates for a grant for the purpose of reconstructing it even if the flood damage had not been sustained.

Councillor Armstrong disagreed with the opinion given by Mr Semple and it was decided that the chairman and the clerk, Mr J. C. D. Mackley, be instructed to discuss the matter of a subsidy on the Kaiwhata bridge with the Minister.