Community Garden News 

Well summer is now here and with it comes zucchinis growing into marrows, heaps of tomatoes, finally turning red, cucumbers, peppers and delicious beans. As requested in our survey, we have planted chillies, which are just forming and aubergine…also forming, so not too far away. The corn is about to be harvested and at last our kumaras are looking hopeful. 

We have had a good supply of lettuce, but unfortunately with gardeners on holiday etc. we lost a few of our last rotation…they really do need frequent and deep watering, and somehow we just slipped up at the crucial moment. However, fear not…we have another planter full going in this week! We have had good secondary growth from our broccoli: not large heads, but nice little bunches, ideal for salalds. … Continue Reading

Councillor comments

Happy new year to you all

The beginning of a new decade, a new council a new Mayor and a lot of new challenges ahead of us, water being only one of the many. It’s going to be full on for the next few years. Councillors and the Mayor have been busy settling into their new roles, with induction courses on what is expected of us as councillors under the Local Government Act. Though very time consuming they are necessary not only for our own development but to help us to be more effective councillors. 

We are now into our second year of the new committee structure. These committee meeting are open to the public and it is disappointing that we don’t have more ratepayers attending; after all it was adopted so the ratepayer could be more informed on the many issues that we face. 

Needless to say they are working as intended, with a bit more fine tuning we will be onto a better way of governance. As the outgoing chair of the Finance, Audit and Risk committee I’m pleased that the new committee has acted on my suggestion to appoint an independent member onto this committee. Once again this gives you the ratepayer confidence that all is as it should be. … Continue Reading

FIRE BRIGADE REPORT 

This month already the Brigade has responded to a call every second day on average. The PROHIBITED Fire season is in place affecting both Rural and Urban properties (visit : www.checkitsalright.nz before lighting any outdoor fire) most fire are NOT Allowed.

THE FIRE RISK IS : VERY HIGH  … Continue Reading

First railway, first fatality

The opening of the first intercity railway between Liverpool and Manchester in 1830 also recorded the first railway death. The former President of the Board of Trade William Huskisson was carelessly standing on the tracks chatting to the Duke of Wellington when Stephenson’s Rocket came hurtling along turning the world’s first trainspotter into the world’s first railway casualty.

Despite this slight PR setback railway mania soon gripped the country and by 1843 there were two thousand miles of track linking industrial centres.