COUNTY AFFAIRS

Wairarapa Times-Age, 15 November 1938, Page 7

COUNTY AFFAIRS

MEETING OF MAURICEVILLE COUNCIL. CONTROL OF NOXIOUS WEEDS, The monthly meeting of the Mauriceville County Council was held yesterday. There were present Councillors E. W. Cheetham (chairman), D. Bennett, A. Gray and C. Welch. Councillors R. Judd and A. Forsberg were granted leave of absence. The treasurer reported a credit balance of £5OB 8s 3d and accounts were passed totalling £333 19s 3d. The Clerk (Mr A. W. G. Rollings) was authorised to procure the requisite dog collars for 1939. The chairman was authorised to sign the contract for the construction of McKenzie’s Bridge and Mr C. E. Munro was appointed clerk of works. The State Advances Corporation advised the terms upon which the requisite loan of £3OO would be granted and the Clerk was directed to take the necessary steps to arrange this matter. The District Engineer advised that the tender of Messrs Rose and McPherson could be accepted for McKenzie’s Bridge. The secretary of the Centennial Exhibition requested information regarding any special features required to be exhibited in connection with the county and the Clerk was directed to reply thereto. The Clerk reported that a building permit had been issued for the erection of a dwelling at Hastwell for Mr P. Ngatuere, with the approval of the Inspector of Health and Building. The issue of the permit.was confirmed. The State Forest Service advised allocation of £2 18s 11, which had been allotted in respect of fifths for the quarter ending September 30. 1938. It was decided that this amount be expended upon maintenance of general county roads. The Transport Department requested the opinion of the council regarding a proposal to regulate traffic on side roads by limiting the speed therefrom into main roads to ten miles per hour. The council approved the proposal, which, it was held, would be for the greater safety of the public. The Health Department requested the views of the council in regard to the employment of registered plumbers being made compulsory for sanitary plumbing under the regulations of the Plumbers Registration Act. The council saw no objection to this proposal. provided it was limited to sanitary plumbing. The Main Highways Board advised that no additional mileage of highways could be granted this year and that application might be made in respect thereof for consideration next year.

The State Forest Service requested the co-operation of the council for the purpose of preventing or extinguishing small fires in forest reserves in the county. The Clerk was directed to reply that the Council would instruct its employees to do everything possible in the way of checking the lighting of fires by picnic parties or by campers in dangerous places. The Tauranga County Council requested the support of the council for a resolution: “That the full control of noxious weeds be undertaken by the Government, with provision that in* cases where the owners of land do not effect clearance of noxious weeds, then such clearance be carried out by the Government and the costs thereof become a charge upon the land so serviced.”

The council was of opinion that, in view of the fact that the Government was responsible for a good deal of the noxious weeds, it would be some hardships upon farmers to make such a drastic regulation. The council therefore could not support the form of the ■esolution as submitted. The overseer reported satisfactory crogress of work for the past month md prospective work was considered ind arranged for.