WAITOMO COUNTY COUNCIL.

King Country Chronicle, Volume I, Issue 26, 19 April 1907, Page 3

WAITOMO COUNTY COUNCIL.

. The usual monthly meeting of the nbove Council was held on April 15th in Mr Kerr's commercial room, Te Kuiti. There were present : Major Lusk (Chairman), Crs. N. I. Hunt, McCardle. Hoffman, Scholes, T. Hunt .and McGechie. Previous to the ordinary meeting a special meeting was held, to deal with the placing of ragwort on the list of noxious weeds. The necessary motion was proposed by the Chairman and seconded by Cr McCardle and carried. It will be confirmed at the next Council meeting. CORRESPONDENCE. A letter was received from the Mangaotaki Settlers' Association with reference to the extension of the County boundary, and the inclusion of that district in the Paemako riding. The Clerk stated that the authorities had already been communicated with, and a reply to the effect that the matter would receive consideration, had been received. The Chairman stated that it was the business of the settlers concerned to make the application to the authorities, and the Clerk was instructed to reply to that effect. Mr G. F. Nelson, of Mokauiti, wrote requesting the Council's permission to erect a gate on a public road. —Granted, providing the usual conditions were complied with; the gate to be removed providing any objection was made by those interested. A letter, accompanied by a petition, was received from Mr W. Vicary, of Otorohanga, requesting the signatures of members, and the support of _ the Council-in applying to the Minister of Public Works for the erection of a bridge over the Waipa river at Otorohanga.—Received. DOG REGISTRAR. An application was received from A. Watts for the position of Dog Registrar and Dog Tax Collector. It was decided to appoint Mr Watts to the position subject to the necessary sureties being provided. The Clerk was instructed to take the necessary steps for the registration of the Dog Tax registrar and office. FUNGAREHU ROAD. Messrs Travers and Main waited upon the Council, and requested that the thirds accruing from sections on the Pungarehu road should be scheduled, and expended on widening and improving the road. -It was decided to take the necassary steps to have the request given effect to. OTOROHANGA BRIDGE. The report of the Engineer and the Committee appointed to inspect Messrs Ellis and Burnand's bridge with a view to the Council taking it over, and rendering it fit for traffic, was received. The report stated that some of the piles would have to be replaced, and the bridge widened to make it fit for traffic for any length of time. The cost of the necessary work was estimated at, approximately, £IOO. After considerable discussion, Cr McCardle proposed that Messrs Ellis and Burnand be thanked for their offer in the matter, but seeing that the report of the Engineer and Committee was unfavourable, the offer be declined. The motion was seconded by the Chairman.and carried. Cr N. I. Hunt proposed, and Cr Hoffman seconded a motion to the effect that the Minister- for Railways be approached as to the possibility of converting the present railway bridge into a combined railway and traffic bridge, and in the meantime that the Council take the necessary steps to provide estimates for a new bridge on the lower site recommended by the Engineer and Committee. —Carried. THIRDS FOR EXPENDITURE. A letter was received from the Receiver of Land Revenues, stating that thirds and fourths to the amount of £l4O 18s 3d had been scheduled for expenditure. The amount included £ll 2s 6d for Te Rau-a-moa riding, £9 for Hangatiki riding and £l2O 15s gd for Mairoa riding. —The Chairman said these amounts included only those received up to the end of last year. There was about £l4O accruing in thirds to Waitomo. It was stated that there was an amount in the hands of the assistant engineer, representing unexpended thirds, which had accrued before the Council came into existence. It was proposed by Cr McCardle, and seconded by Cr Hoffman, that application should be made that all unexpended thirds, which had accrued before the Council was elected, should be placed at the disposal of the Council. —Carried. HANGATIKI SCHOOL SITE. With reference to the application made by the Council to the Commissioner of Crown Lands to haye abroad surveyed from Te Kumi to Hangatiki, the Chairman stated that he had interviewed the Commissioner who had stated that, providing the Native owners signed a paper expressing their willingness to have the road surveyed through their land he would have the work done. Cr Scholes stated that Mr Wilson had the matter in hand, and there was every prospect of it being arranged satisfactorily. FENCES ON TE KUITI STREETS. Cr McCardle drew attention to the fact that some of the fences previously complained about had been removed, and some had not. It was also stated that the Railway Department had refused to acknowledge that their fences were encroaching on the streets, and declined to take action in the matter. After considerable discussion, it was resolved on the motion of N. I. Hunt, seconded by Cr Hoffman, that the Chairman and Crs McCardle and Ormsbybe appointed to go thoroughly into the matter of township streets, as far as the same were interfered with by the railway fences and cattle yards, and report to the next meeting of the Council, with a view to further action. —Cr McCardle was granted permission for his fence to remain in its present position on King-street. WAITOMO ROAD WORKS. The Chairman read a letter received from Mr J. Williamson stating that he had hitherto been unable to do the work of estimating the cost of widening and altering- the Waitomo road, but would now be able to undertake it, providing fuller particulars were supplied to him. Cr McCardle said he considered it was time the question of appointing an Engineer for the County was considered. Estimates for work were being continually required, and the matter of the Wai-

tomo road alterations had been hung up, in consequence of not being able to obtain an estimate. The Chairman said the proposal to appoint an Engineer opened up a big question, and was mainly a matter of finance. Cr Hunt agreed with the Chairman, and said he thought the Council was better without a resident Engineer. His experience was that a good practical man as foreman of works, was more suitable for ordinary purposes, and when any special work, or bridge building, rendered an Engineer's services necessary, they could employ a special Engineer. It was resolved on the motion of Cr Hunt, seconded by Cr McGechie, that Cr McCardle be authorised to show Mr Williamson the proposed work, and procure his estimate for the same. CONFERENCE WITH MINISTER OF PUBLIC WORKS. The Chairman drew attention to the fact that the Raglan and Kawhia County Councils had -appointed delegates to join with the Waitomo County in conferring with the Minister, with reference to matters affecting local bodies. It was decided to appoint the Chairman to represent the Waitomo Council at the proposed conference. CONFERRING WITH DISTRICT ROAD ENGINEERS. . Cr McCardle-. requested to be informed if the committee, appointed for ithe purpose, had yet conferred with the District Road Engineers with reference to the money being expended by them on roads. The Chairman stated that it was difficult to get the Committee and Engineers together, as all were busy men, but he had seen both Mr Burd and Mr Julian, and had been given what information he asked for. After several Councillors had expressed the opinion that it was desirable to obtain as much information as possible, for the guidance of the Council, it was resolved on the motion of Cr N. I. Hunt, seconded by Cr Hoffman : That the reply received from the Engineers,, not containing as much information as the Council was lead to expect from the tenor of the Chief Engineer's letter, the Engineers be requested to meet the Council, and confer with regard to the matter. It was suggested that endeavours should be made to get the Engineers to confer with the Council at the next Council meeting in May. TETAHI ROAD. A letter was received stating that the road in question was still in a bad state, and it was resolved that Cr Hoffman be authorised to supervise the expenditure of l£lO on the work necessary.