HAWERA COUNTY COUNCIL.

Hawera Star, Volume XLVIII, 11 October 1924, Page 7

HAWERA COUNTY COUNCIL.

MONTHLY MEETING. At the ordinary meeting, held today, there were present: Crs J. B. Murdoch (chair), A. Larcom, G. Williams, B. 'C. Lysaght and E. A. Washer. The clerk (Mr J. W. Harding) was also present. An apology was received from Cr Douglas on account of illness. The executors of Tonks Estate wrote agreeing to the terms re continuation of Den by road, and asked the council to proceed as early as possible. The estate is contributing £IOO towards the cost. —It was agreed to go ahead with the construction.

The secretary of the Amateur Athletic Club asked, permission to use the county roads for a cycle race on Labour Day.—A permit was granted as requested. The Under-Secretary for Internal Affairs wrote in regard to Hawera boundaries, advising that one month was allowed in which to receive objections. The South Taranaki Automobile Association wrote asking, if the council would erect signs—danger, steady and dangerous corner —if the association supplied them.—The chairman said that it would be necessary- to meet them and find out how many would be required. He agreed that the suggestion was valuable. They could then determine what the council would do. The Highward Councl, No. 7, forwarded circular asking .for particulars of main highways, giving nature of work proposed and rates proposed, number of men employed, and any other information required.—The chairman referred to the difficulty of making such estimates because of unexpected difficulty on' the tar-sealed roads, and said they would have to make an estimate of the probable amount required for maintenance. Patea County Council wrote offering 60 tons of bitumen, and: the Welling! ton Gas Company asked if the council would be prepared to purchase up to 20,000 gallons for the coming season.—lt was resolved to reply to Patea that supplies were not required, and o?w)L elhn S ton that an offer to stipplv 20,000 gallons for delivery in January should he accented at the best price possible. n GENERAL. Mr J. R. Corrigan, M.P., wrote stating that lie brought up the question of timber royalties when the Forestrv Ticport was being considered.' amt the matter wculd be dealt with again at a later date. The Minister of Lands and the Premier also advised the matter wonld be given further consideration. The matter of dealing with the request for roading work, made bv a settler in the country behind Eltliam was left, in the hands of Cr Lysaght, The Taranaki Local Bodies’ Association advised that., resolutions were passed dealing with licensing of drivers and schedule of fees, and that the ■Valuer-General had been asked to make a revaluation of the Eltliam, Waimate West, Ilawera,, Stratford and 1 Egmont Counties, and that a deputation be sent to Wellington in the matter of the Motor Vehicles Bill.

The chairman stated that two delegates had gone with a deputation to Wellington, and every clause of- the Motor Vehicles Bill had been gone through seriatim. Suggestions were 1 made .which he believed'would'be incorporated in the Bill. • '

Referring-to the claims made bv the Nonnanby'Town Board, on the assumption that the Council had to contribute largely fer roads, the chairman stated that they stood on an old agreement made many years ago. He was sure the Highways Board would not agree tany old out. of date methods, and’ would probably take the work out cf the Board’s hands and that no claim such as made by the Board would be upheld. Cr Washer brqught up the matter of improving the dangerous corner at the junction of Hastings and Normanby roads. He said* the owner would agree to allow the required amount- of land.— It was resolved to instruct the foreman to go ahead and carry out the work. In regard to closed roads it was. reported that seme applications .had come in. . The clerk stated that rents were coming in satisfactorily. VALUATIONS. The matter of valuations was briefly in view of the inequitable nature of the present conditions, where an owner was allowed to secure a special revaluation. The chairman stated that the.- position was unfair to ratepayers. In reply to special requests for revaluations, the Prime Minister and the Valuer-General stated that no revaluation was possible for at least a year. The cleric mentioned one case of a small farm, where the owner received an allowance of £SOO. It was resolved that a letter be sent to the Prime Minister giving- a concrete case of inequality, and urging him to again give the matter earlv coiisideration. ROADS AND GRANTS. The Superintendent of State Advances stated that applications for loans on Nowell Road £2OO, Arthur Street £6OO, and Mason Road £4OO, would be submitted in due course to the Board. He added that the loan for Ngawhine Read (£1500) had been remitted to the bank as instructed.— The chairman stated that this last loan had been approved twelve months ago. In reference to road grants, the Public Works Engineer, Stratford, advised that in order to save time on road work, the Minister ]ia s agreed to engineers informing local bodies, after draft estimates had been approved, that authority to proceed would be given. Local bodies would thus bo able to map out programmes and avail themselves of (lie summer season to carry out work. He asked for the Council’s proposals as early as possible. Public Works’ estimates were as follows: Austin Road £SOO (£1 for £J.) and £4OO (free). Fraser Road £SOO (£1 for £1), and Ngawhine Road £ISS() (£1 for £1). The chairman said that- it would be a better scheme to state a date on which money voufii be available, and then councils would know where'they stood. NATIVE RATES. Regarding native rates, the Minister for Native Affairs wrote stating that legislation was being drafted dealing with certain exemptions and recourse on rents ,and would, he hoped, be passed into law this session. ! The chairman said that it would be advisable to have native pas exempted, for in some cases Hi ere would be three hundred owners, and it was impossible to got rates from them. This would make the natives more amenable to reason and aid in getting rates on individual properties. HOSPITAL BOARD. The Hawera Hospital Board asked tlie Council to appoint a representative in lieu of Cr B. C. Lysaght, resigned. The chairman said it was essential to have a representative conversant with county affairs, and he had pleasure in stating that Cr Larcom had agreed to act. Cr Larcom was therefore appointed.