WAITOMO COUNTY COUNCIL.

King Country Chronicle, Volume III, Issue 155, 13 May 1909, Page 5

WAITOMO COUNTY COUNCIL.

A Hatting of the Wtitonso County Council w«» told at Te Kuiti en Menday last. There were present t Couacif tors Oris »by .chairman, float, Gregg. Wert and Hyde. —Correspondence. - Letters were received from the Commissi* ner of Crown Lands stating tbat a disclaimer was required on the part of the Te Kuiti Dairy Factory Company for improvements en Section 17, Te Kuiti 'Village, before the section could be dealt with; from the Lands Department stating that the sunt of was available for felting and grassing 40 acres Stock reserve, section 7 j it. Block 4. Mangamangero; from the] Koada Department stating that the re-1 quest for a bridge over the Waipa i river on the Kawa road would be con-

aidered: from the Roads Department statin that the request for improve- « merits on the Uauturu road to give access to the datry factory woutd receive consideration when the Estimates were being framed.

—Pirongia- -Kawfeia Road. A letter was received from the Roads Department stating that the District Engineer reported that metalling was now being carried out, bot if wet weather set in the work would have to be held over titt next season. —Ohura Riding.—

The Under-Secretary for Internal Affairs wroti requesting official information as to the name of the riding in which the portion cut off from th« Clifton County had been incorporated. - The Clerk was instructed to complete the necessary formalities. --Mairoa Loan.— The Secretary to the Treasury wrote forwarding the forms required to be fitted in if the loan was to be proceeded with. Cr Were said he thought the settlers intended applying for a nsw loan, and it was left for them to take action. —Appointment of Assessor. -

A letter wa» received from the Valuation Department stating that a member of the Council was not eligible to represent the Council at the Assessment Court. The chairman said he had arranged with Mr H J. Mossen tt> represent the Council and this action was confirmed. —Otofobanga Pound.— An application was received from the Otorohanga Branch of the Farmers* Union with regard to a Public Pound and the licensing of the stock.—On the motion of Cr Gregg, seconded by Cr Were, it was decided that the request be given effect. —Slaughtering License. • The application of Hugh Robertson for a slaughtering license on Section Block I#, Orahtri, was recommended. —Half Holiday.

*>n the motion of the chairman, seconded by Cr Hyde. it was resolved that the application of the Tobacconists and Hairdressers with reference to closing hours be recommended.

-Altering a Road.

Messrs J. B. Sharpies, solicitor, and R. C. Jordan* surveyor, waited or* the Council with reference to altering a road on th# property recently cut up by Messrs Green and Colebrook. Ltd. A plan was submitted shewing the proposed alteration. Mr Sharpies said the owners would give an undertaking that Section 46, access to which was extremely bad,would only be sold along with an adjoining section. In any ra-*e the Council would not be affected prejudically.—On the motion of th* chairman, seconded by Cr Wr.tr, it was resolved that provided the undertaking from Mr Jordan and Messrs Green and Colebrook be carried out as requested by the Council, the dedication of roads be accepted.

Tetahi Road. Mr Hall wrote winh reference to some necessary work on Tetahi road. On the motion of Cr Hyde, seconded by Cr fciregg. it was resolved to inspect the voad and. if necessary, expend a sum not exceeding £2O in the direction indicated by Mr Half m his letter. - Mangaotaki Road.

Mr J. Evans, on behalf of the Mangaotaki Settlers' Association, wrote with reference to the expenditure of*'tbirds"on the road, expressing dissatisfaction and requesting to be cut off from the County.—Received.

—-Gleadow's Road— An application was received from Mr Gleadow asking for the expenditure of the "thirds" accruing on the sections affected. Cr Hunt said the Engineer ghoutd be supplied with a. list of the thirds-' available and should inspect the toad in company with Mr Gleadow. with a view to spending the money at once and to the best advantage. —The Engineer was instructed accordingly. —Marroa Loan. - A petition was received from Mr R. Livingstone, on behalf of a number of settlers, with reference to putting lota** culverts on the Mairoa road. Cr Hunt a t«.'ttes fVcru Mr l>ivIngstone complaining about the work that had been done. The Engineer explained that the work done in the way of cleaning out the water tables was necessary before eutverting wonld be of any use. Cr Hunt said he always liked to meet the requests of settlers and would be glad to arrange a day to go over the road with the Engineer and meet the settlers interested. - On the motion o! Cr Were, seconded by the chairman, the matter was left with Cr Hunt and the Engineer to deal with.

—Application for Ktw Koad. - application was received, asjeing fIM Couiicif to recommend tbe issue of » warrant to Mr R. C. Jordan to survey a read to give access to the property of H. T. Anderson.—On the motion of Cr Hunt. seconded by Cr Were, tt was reaotved to authorise the chairman to recommend the application of H. T. Anderson for a road, tbe applicant to <MExay the scat of ' —A Piopto Requirement.— Cr Bunt drew attention to the fact It** Mr Asplin wished to do certain work at the approach to his blackworth's shop at Piopio. —Cr Hunt was authorised to deal with the matter. —County Boundaries. — A tetter from Mr D. Finnigan with reference to the boundaries between the Waitomo County and the newly formed Obora County. Tbe chairman said the matter had been held over from

tart meeting in enter to have it discus* act) when Cr Loveday was present. It »m nndmtMdi that an adjustment of the boundary w©utd have to be made on the firt«# supevalcd by Mr Finnigan. Tk Cfrtk was instructed to reply to the cfcct that no i(r|« could be taken at bot when the new County was brought into operation the matter woukl be adjgMpd. --mile Returns.

The Secretary to the Treasury wrote enclosing a statement showing the rate returns to be £327 IPs 3d. Subsidy at IDs in the £. £1(53 19s Id. Contribution to Valuation Department, £l7 2s IV. - Papa Burning. - A circular letter was received fron* the Weber County Council with reference to the taking of timber for the purpose of papa burning for rwd I metalling. The support of the Council | was asked for in requesting that provi- ! sion should be made in the Public i Works Act. whereby power would be j given to County Councils and other lo- 1 I cat bodies concerned to take on pay- [ merit of a fair compensation, any timber other than totara and mats', for the purpose of burning papa.for metalling and maintaining public works. The circular pointed out that papa burning was unheard of when the Act was passed, and recent developments in certain districts bad changed the conditions entirely. Unless authority in the direction indicated was given local foodies would be at the mercy of property owners.—After a general discussion. on the motion of Cr Were, seconded by Cr Hunt, it wa« I resolved that the Council is not prepared to make any recommendation at present. —Te Kuiti Loan. The chairman reported that the Te Kuiti loan money was about expended. There were several matters still to complete, and he would like to have the content of th» Council to apply for the ten per cent, in excess of the loan which was possible to obtain.—Con- , sent granted. - Nightsoit Contract.--The chairman stated he bad let a contract for the removal of mghtsoil at Te Kutti for the ensuing twelve months, to the previous contractor. - The chairman's action was confirmed, and any two members of the Council were authorised to sigrt contracts. - Otorohanga Requirement-*.—

Mr Gregg drew attention to the fact that certain works in Maniapoto and Tohoro streets were necessary.—Cr Gregg and the Engineer were authorised to carry out the necessary works in the riding. —Notice of Motion. — Cr Were gave notice of motion as follows: "That at the next meeting of the Waitomo County Council the present agreement between the Council and the County Clerk be terminated, and the Council take tntoconsideration the advisabtenes* of appointing a Clerk to devote the whole of hid time to the business of the County/*

Counties Conference.

The chairman drew attention to the circular issirtd by the Raglan Council inviting the various counties of tile province to confer the quest ion otf collecting rates from Native owtwrs. Thv Councillors present expressed thoir views as to the importance of the matter and on the motion of Cr Were, seconded by Gr Gregg, it was decided that the chairman should be appointed to represent the Council at the Conference.

Tfec Chairman said be would be glad to attend the Conference and thoroughly rntliwd the importance of the question. lie would like the Council to give htm some idea as to their at* titudc in respect to the circular. Personalty fie considered the circular only dealt with one side of the question, and he was afraid if the members of the Conference simply adopted the attitude indicated by the circular they would not get much further ahead. There was no question as to the necessity of having ail lands made liable for rates, but to do so and keep the Natives restricted as they were at present would be wrong. There were other issues at stake in opening up the question. and he trusted the matter would be threshed out by the members of the Conference on broad tines. The other Councillors agreed with the chairman's remarks.