COUNTY AFFAIRS

Wairarapa Times-Age, 10 April 1940, Page 7

COUNTY AFFAIRS

MEETING OF MASTERTON COUNTY ERADICATION OF MILK THISTLE DECLARATION AS NOXIOUS WEED PROPOSED. The monthly meeting of the Masterton County Council was held in the county chambers yesterday afternoon. The chairman, Mr. R. E. Gordon Lee, presided. There were also present Councillors J. W. Colquhoun, W. 1. Armstrong. P. R. Welch. J. Donald and G. Moore. An apology for absence was received from Councillor H. H. Mawley. Accounts for £3988 16s 9d were passed. It was decided that a letter of thanks be sent to the staff for the effort it haci made in the Centennial Celebrations procession. Mr. Lee referred to the splendid show put on by the men and congratulated them and Mr. Mackley. along with all others concerned, on the wonderful display. The work put in by Mr. F. Price was also referred to and it was decided that a letter of thanks be sent to Mr. Price and to the Wellington Education Board for allowing his services to be available. A letter was received from Mr. R. F. R. Beetham requesting that the council take steps to legalise the area taken for the purpose of road improvement adjacent to the Kcrearea Stream Bridge on the Masterton-Stronvar Main Highway. It was decided to accede to the request. Mr. W. L. D. McDonald, of the Department of Agriculture, and Councillor E. C. "White, a member of the Castlepoint County Council, waited on the council in connection with the eradication of milk thistle from the district. Mr. McDonald described the habitat of the plant which he considered to be a nuisance.

Councillor Colquhoun stated that he had been endeavouring to eradicate a patch of the thistle on his farm for five or six years. Other councillors referred to the danger of the thistle spreading and considered it advisable to stamp it out while it was in its young stage. It was decided that al the next meeting of the council a resolution be passed declaring the milk thistle a noxious vzeed in the Masterton county. Councillor Welch stated that a local farmer had lost several head of stock' through hemlock, and inquired if it were a noxious weed. Mr. Mackley pointed out that hemlock, which was extremely poisonous, had been declared a noxious weed in 1927. The usual resolution was passed authorising the County Clerk in determining that owing to weather conditions any specified roads, road or part of a road would be unfit for heavy traffic during the months May to September. 1940. Mr. Mackley reported that arising out of an interview he and Councillor Armstrong had had with Mr. A. C. Williams, .an area of about 1J acres would be available on the MastertonStronvar Main Highway at approximately 10 miles, as a holding paddock. Mr. Williams had made this area available at a nominal rental of 2s 6d per year. It was decided to send Mr. Williams a letter of thanks. The treasurer of the National Art Gallery and Dominion Museum wrote thanking the council for its contribution of £l5 to the board’s funds for the year ended March 31, 1940. The Post and Telegraph Department wrote directing the attention of the council to the overhanging trees on its reserve along the Upper PlainKaituna Road, which were considered as being likely to interfere with the telephone lines. —The letter was received. In acknowledging receipt of the council’s letter reminding him of a promise made by the Minister of Public Works that it was his intention to visit the Bideford district to discuss the question of bridging and metalling in the district, Mr. J. Robertson, M.P.. stated that he was having the matter brought before the notice of the Minister at the earliest possible moment. The Engineer-in-Chief. Public Works Department, advised that all rod schedules and bending diagrams woula be required for all work in connection with bridge construction carrying a Govenment subsidy. Nineteen notices of sale of property within the county had been received during the past month. The ranger reported that he had impounded 116 head of stock during the month. Mr. B. L. Larson, county overseer, reported that the usual maintenance work had been attended to by the surfacemen during the month in the various ridings and that grading had been carried out when required. Messrs. Seaton, Sladden and Pavitt submitted a comprehensive report covering engineering activities during the month.