COUNTY AFFAIRS

Wairarapa Times-Age, 15 October 1940, Page 7

COUNTY AFFAIRS

MEETING OF MAURICEVILLE COUNCIL DONATION TO LONDON RELIEF FUND. KOPUARANGA STREAM BRIDGE. (“Times-Age” Special.) The monthly meeting of the Mauriceville County Council was held yesterday afternoon. The chairman, Mr E. W. Cheetham. presided, there also being present Councillors A. Forsberg. D. Bennett. A. Gray, J. H. McDonald and Owen Welch. Prior to the commencement of business those present stood in silence as a mark of respect to the late Mr A. E. Jull, M.P. for Waipawa. Reference was' made by the chairman to Mr Jull’s services in connection with the New Zealand Counties' Association. A welcome was extended by the chairman to Councillor Owen Welch, on taking his place on the council for the first time, and he was congratulated on his election. The treasurer’s report was adopted, the report showing a credit balance of £1237 4s 4d. Accounts for £685 16s were passed. An application was received from a resident concerning the leasing of a reserve at Kaiparoro. The county clerk. Mr A. W. G. Hollings, was instructed to reply that the present lease had not terminated and that when it had the reserve would be put up for lease by public tender. The Lands Department wrote suggesting that a small railway reserve adjacent to the town railway crossing, which it was stated had never been used by the council, might be cancelled and re-vested in the Crown. It was decided to agree to the suggestion, it being presumed by the council that the land was required for building a ramp over the railway line.

The chairman was nominated as a member of the committee of the Home Guard organisation in response to a letter received from the secretary of the Masterton district committee. Mr Cheetham reported on a meeting held in Masterton and stated that in view of the position outlined by Major-General Young there was an urgent need for an immediate start to be made on the enrolment of members. The matter of arranging for a recruiting office to be established in Mauriceville was left in the hands of the chairman. A circular was received from the New' Zealand Counties’ Association concerning an appeal by the association for the London "Distress Fund. A donation of £lO was sought. Members of the council agreed that most of the appeals were more for individual donation but considered that the funds in this instance were for such a worthy cause that a grant should be made. The chairman pointed out that it would have been more equitable had the Counties’ Association based the levy with due regard to the size of the councils. He pointed out that the' Mauriceville County would be donating the same amount as the larger counties. It was agreed to make the donation requested. The chairman reported on the dangerous state of Brooke’s Bridge and after discussion it was decided that the chairman be empowered to make representations to the Government for a grant to have the bridge rebuilt and to confer with the engineers in the matter. The overseer's report was received. A special meeting of the council was also held to pass a resolution making a special order to raise a loan of £865 for the Kopuaranga Stream Bridge.