EKETAHUNA

Wairarapa Times-Age, 7 December 1940, Page 9

EKETAHUNA

BOY SCOUTS ELECTION OF OFFICERS. (“Times-Age” Special.) On Wednesday evening the annual meeting of the Eketahuna Boy Scouts Group was held in the Odd Fellows Hall. There was an excellent attendance of parents and friends including visitors from Pahiatua. The first part of the meeting was taken up with a demonstration by the Cubs under the guidance of the Cubmaser, Mr. H. Smith, to whom much credit is due for the manner in which the boys carried out their drill, work, and play. After this display the annual meeting was held. The chairman of the committee, Mr. R. Payne, presided, and read the report, covering the activities of the group for the past two years. Mr. M. W. Priest, treasurer, presented the balance sheet, which disclosed that the finances were in a sound position. Several speakers referred to the keen interest which Mr. Payne took in the Scouts. He had been mainly responsible in arranging the purchase of the Scouts Den. The motion for the adoption of the report was carried. Hearty votes of thanks to the Cubmaster (Mr. Smith) and Scoutmasters (Messrs A. H. Gray and J. Tolley) for their continued interest in the boys were carried by acclamation, and suitably acknowledged. A presentation was made to Mr. Payne by Cub Brown on behalf of the Cubs, in appreciation of his interest in their activities.

The reports of the Cubmaster and Scoutmaster were read and adopted. The election of officers resulted as follows: Chairman, Mr. M. W. Priest (Mr. Payne declined nomination); Secretary, Mr. J. Tolley; Treasurer, Mr. W. N. Richardson; Committee, Messrs. H. E. Rogers, A. B. Fordyce, A. Golder, L. Brown, Mesdames R. Gallagher and O. Walton; Auditor, Mr. O. Walton. Patrol-leader J. Curry was presented with a King’s Scout badge by Mr Payne, who heartily congratulated hirh on" achieving such an honour for his troop. Scoutmaster Gray referred to the valuable services which Patrol-Leader Curry’s continued interest had rendered in connection with the Scout Movement. It was proposed soon to raise him to the position of assistant scout master. The Scouts then gave a demonstration of first aid, signalling,, etc., which was keenly appreciated. Scout Davie, of Pahiatua, gave a sketching exhibition, his work being much admired. Supper was provided by a ladies’ committee, and was ihuch appreciated. The proceedings were brought to a conclusion with the singing of the National Anthem.

COUNTY COUNCIL

MONTHLY MEETING YESTERDAY The monthly meeting of the Eketahuna County Council was held yesterday, Mr J. B. Carruthers presiding, there being also present Crs C. T. Richardson, P. Davies, F. M. Goggin, C. Davie, G. Bailey, R. W. Kebbell, H. N. Kebbell and A. J. Perry. Leave of absence was granted to Cr J. J. Dougherty. It was decided that a grant of £6 be made towards the upkeep of the Borough Council’s reading room.

The chairman referred to the recent death of an ex-councillor, the late Mr A. E. Brittain. The late Mr Brittain, he said, took a keen interest in county matters and had represented the East Riding faithfully and well while a member of the council. A motion of sympathy to the family was passed. A progress report was made by the chairman in connection with the Heart-to-Heart Appeal. To date £lO4B had been paid into the County Office and there were still three districts still to report. He estimated that the appeal

wouia oring in mis was a wonderful response and was a credit to the responsible district committees. The traffic inspector, Mr W. G. Milne, reported that he had paid visits to various dairy factories during the month. At Hamua one vehicle was found operating without a heavy traffic licence and also one at Rongokokako. He also drew attention to the fact that of the horse-drawn vehicles seen delivering milk not one complied with the requirements of by-law No. 10 of the Wairarapa Joint Counties’ Bylaws, 1927, in the matter of width of tyres. Under the by-law quoted no horse-drawn vehicle, which together with its load is under 35cwt, shall have tyres which are less than 2Jin. in width. Four-wheeled vehicles of a gross weight of less than 50cwt are allowed tyres of not less than 2Jin. in width. The inspector stated that at Hamua a two-horse brake was seen, the tyres of which were only 2in. in width. It carried' 20 cans of milk—approximately 4,1001b5, and the weight of the cans was approximately 6001bs. He estimated the gross weight of the vehicle to be well over the 21 tons, and in that case the width of the' tires should not have been less than .31 inches. At the Rongokokako factory two similar vehicles were seen, though not loaded to the same extent as in the Hamua case. The gross weight of these must have been over 2 tons, and the 2in. tires, in his opinion, must have a damaging effect on the county’s roads. The inspector stated that seven tests were conducted during the month and of these 5 were new licences, while 2 were for extensions to existing licences. On the whole the

conduct of traffic on the county roads was satisfactory during the period.— The report was received. The Wairarapa Hospital Board forwarded a schedule of fees, amounting to £6500, to be written off by the board. At the conclusion of the business the chairman extended to the councillors the compliments of the season, which were reciprocated by the members. The clerk, Mr W. N. Richardson, re- , ported: The balances of the several

accounts at the bank are as follows? Eketahuna County Bund Account, dr. £2671 15s 3d, less Imprest Account, cr. £354 16s lOd; nett debit balance, £2316 18s sd; Bridge Fund Account, cr. £263; Bridges Loan £BOOO Account, cr. £1572 4s 2d; Workers’ Dwelling Loan £lOOO Account, cr. £4O 13s; Workers’ Dwelling Loan £1550 Account, cr. £42 Ils 6d. The balance at the end of October, 1940, in the County Fund Account was a debit of £1723 8s Bd. During the month the audit inspectors were engaged in the annual inspection of the council’s accounts. This is now completed, and the balance sheet is now awaiting the report of Audit Office thereon.

The engineer, Mr W. C. Duffill, reported: East Riding, Makakahi South: The bridge near the top end, which has been in need of attention for some time, was dismantled and rebuilt in timber. The road was graded throughout. Other than ordinary surface maintenance, no work of a special nature was carried out during this month. The approach road to the Blue Pit was graded and two cattlestops dismantled and renewed. West Riding, bridge maintenance: A washout occurred on the upstream side of the eastern approach to the bridge during the Labour.Day flood. Work of preventing further erosion was put in hand as soon as was practicable and the work is now finished. The bank at this point has been fascined with trees, the same being securely anchored and tied back to a long wire cable. Metalling: During this month the metalling programme from Blewitt’s Pit was completed for this financial year. During the season some 2810 cubic yds of metal have been crushed at an appreciably lower average cost than for the previous season. Of this total 2355 cubic yds have been placed on West Riding roads adjacent within economic carting range of the pit. Hare’s Road: Following representations from various settlers the work of improving Cooper’s Hill has been commenced. Alfredton Riding, Puketoi Road; The grading and general trimming up of, the clay section was completed and the road is now in good condition. Mangatakato Road: This I was tyned and graded following the recent metalling. Barton’s Line: This road was also tyned and shaped throughout the metalled length. Flat Bush: The work of metalling was pushed forward and some 2 miles have been covered. This is all that it will be possible to do during this financial year. Saunders Road: The weakest section between the properties of Messrs Clarkson and Algie was metalled for a distance of approximately I', miles. • Lewis Road: The road leading into Mr Lewis’s was graded and given a light coat of new metal.

S.M. Court. At the S.M. Court on Wednesday, Herbert's Motorts, Ltd., claimed from Alexander McCOwan. police constable the sum of £2l 18s. for repairs to defendant’s car the defence was that the work had not been done in a satisfactory manner, and after a long ■ hearing in which expert evidence was heard, the Magistrate, Mr. H. P. Lawry, found for the defendant, with costs.