WAITOMO COUNTY COUNCIL.

King Country Chronicle, Volume III, Issue 193, 23 September 1909, Page 2

WAITOMO COUNTY COUNCIL.

The usual monthly meeting of theWaitomo County Council wa~ held at Te Kuiti on Monday last. There were present Councillors Scheie?, Chairman, Hunt, Hoffman, Johnson, Gregg, Were and Boddie. —Correspondence. Mangati Ford: A letter was received from the Kawhia County Council requesting the Waitomo Council to join in applying to the Government for a bridge over the Mangati Stream on the Wawhia-Pirongia road. Cr. Hoffman stated that position was that the ford was in Waitomo County but was largely used by Kawhia people. The idea was to have a bridge suitable for sheep erected and the cost of such a structure would not be great. He thought the best plan would be for the Wawhia and Waitomo Counties to join in the erection of the bridge. On the motion of Cr. Hoffman seconded by Cr. Hunt the request was acceded to. Okopatu-Pekenui Road: H. L. Jackson wrote on behalf of Mr. Boggiss and himself requesting that the thirds on their sections be expended on bridges, road widening and maintainance. Cr. Hoffman said the matter had cropped up over the stoppage of the Government works, which left the road in an unfinished state. . On the motion of Cr. Hoffman seconded by Cr. Boddie the request was acceded to, the members for the riding to arrange for the work.

Otorohanga Domain: Mr W. Vicary, £bairman of the Otorohanga Domain, wrote requesting the Council to have a culvert put in at the Eastern corner of the Domain. On the motion Cr. Gregg seconded by Cr. Were the matter was left to the Cr. for the Riding and the Engineer to attend to. Mangapu River Bridge: Mr Wilson of Hangatiki wrote requesting assistance in placing a bridge over the Mangupu at Hangatiki, also requesting that thirds from sections 7 A and 8 A Orahiri, be spent on the road as particularised. On the motion of the Chairman seconded by Cr. Boddie it was decided to contribute £4 16s to the bridge and have the thirds spent as requested. Section 17 Te Kuiti Village: The Commissioner of Crown Lands, Auckland, wrote stating that the Department did not see its way to set apart Section 17 Te Kuiti Village for Municipial porposes. Cr. authorised to interview the Commissioner on the matter.

County Office: H. S. Short UnderSecretary for the Public Works Department wrot: with reference to the Council's application for rooms in the Government Buildings Te Kuiti stating that the Minister was having a report made by the District Road Engineer. Cr. Boddie was authorised to interview the Engineer on the matter. Closing a Road: The application of Rihi Rauparaha for an unused read was left to Cr. Hoffman to report upon. Counties Conference: A letter was received from the Counties Association with reference to the holding of a Conference at Wellington during the coming session of Parliament. The Chairman was appointed to represent the Council providing the Conference was held.

Health Subsidy: With reference to the letter read at last meeting from Dr. Purdy of the Health Depatrtment requesting an increase of the contribution paid by the Council to the Department, it was pointed out that the townships of Te Kuiti and Otorohanga were outside the jurisdiction of the County. It was decided to reply stating the Council could not agree to an increase.

A Deputation: Doctor Zobel and H. A. Ellison waited on the Council with regard to the state of the culverts on roads in the Te Kuiti Viliage. The deputation pointed out that the culverts on the road to Messrs Green and Colebrooks Sections and to Mr Forsyth's respectively were inadequate and requested that new culverts should be put in. It was also pointed out that when the roads were formed large holes had been dug on the sides of the road and the frontages of some of the sections had been destroyed. The Engineer estimated the work of putting in the culverts at £l2 and stated the "borrow" pits which bad been made when the road was formed had destroyed the approaches to certain sections. On the motion of Cr. Boddie seconded by Cr. Hoffman it was decided that the Engineer should be instructed to proceed without delay with the work of enlarging and renewing the culverts. Cr Hunt referred to the necessity of getting a supply of materia] and proposed that prices be obtained from Auckland merchants and manufacturers so that the material would be got at any time. —Cr Johnson seconded the motion, which was carried. County Solicitor: Attention was called to the position occupied by Mr Hine with reference to the County Solicitorship*—lt was pointed out that Mr Swarbrick, of Hamiton, was still I Solicitor to the County, and the opinion was expressed by several of the Councillors that a local man should be appointed.—lt was decided to .inform Mr Hine that while the Council does not consider him their special solicitor, that fact does not prevent the Council from employing him when necessary. Metal Reserves: Cr Johnston drew attention to the advisableness of acquiring metal reserves on various roads. —It was pointed our that the payment of a royalty would prebamy be less expensive than paymg compensation for certu;;: areas. Te Kuiti Village- Lean. On the motion e/ Cr n': i;o need by <_"r IlcCmam it was decide.. to' apply to ihv Valuation Department i'er a re-valuation of To Kuiti Village ami the s'-ctions out en r.y Messrs Green and (./'.liearced. . The mover ennlained that such a proceeding v.-as necessary in com.'.otien with tho propose:: Special Loan. ■ Curried. "i he application of Y. S. Ilattaway to erect a signboard in Sheridan Street was granted. County Unices. Cr I/oddie in referring to the necessity of acquiring a ounces saic: it had bt'.n understood tnat the late chairman had practically made arrangements to acquire a section in Taupiri Street, 1.-uc the section referred to was now being put up for sale by the Maori Land Board. He sug- ;

gested the Council should endeavour to secure the section at the upset rental and failing that should bid for the site when it v.-as put up for sale and afterwards take steps to acquire the freehold. Cr Johnston said he was on the comn: it tee appointed to acquire a site. He understood the iato chairman had arranged to acquire the site at the unset price. He sunrorted Cr Ecddio's suggestion. Cr Boddie said he felt the matter was of such importance that it justified a special trip to Auckland, and he would undertake to -toe the President of the Board on the matter. —It was decided that in case the section went up to auction the Chairman and Cr Boddie be authorised to act on cehaif of the Council. Ohura Riding. Cr Hunt referred to that portion of the County which was left unrepresented owing to the format::n of the Ohura County and urged that steps he taken to have the vacancy filled. —It •was pointed cut that Crs rlyfe and Loveday still represented the riding referred to and the Chairman was authorised to request Crs<. Hyde and Loveday to forma'dy resign. price to steps being taken to nil the vacancy. Mangacrino Read. The chairman in reply to Cr Boddie said that tenders had re: been caked for the metallir.g of Manga crino road. The Eningeer reported that good metal was obtainable at the top of the hill, on Murphy's section. A road would require to ue made for ah cut ten chains to get to the quarry., and he. considered it would be advisable to have this done. The work could then be going on at both ends as the carting would be down hii! and the saving in this respect would counter balance the cost of the ten chain road. Cr Boddie urged that the work Ice proceeded with as seen as possible- in order to have it ccmpletod during the coming summer. Tin; ratepayers interested in the lean wished the work to be done, as far as the w.~r.ey •vtuld go, from Te Kuiti outwards, vbrhcut a break. He presented a neciticn ro that effect signed by :he whole cf the ratepayers. The Chairman said he c'cjected en principle to the work being dene in the manner Requested, but if the ravepayers were unanimous he could say nothing. The loan money would not do half the road and a bad piece wculd be left near Cullen's section. Cr Boddie said he differed entirely from the Chairman. Whatever rr.ethcd was adopted the metai would eutend past his—Cr Eoddie's —place, and b.e was in a position to take an unbiassed view of the matter. It -wculd be a mistake to do the work in patches. Moveover, the Government was doing a good deal of work on the read, and it was almost a certainty the place referred to by the Chairman would be metalled by the Government. General Rate. The general rate struck at iast meeting was, on the motion of the chair- > man, seconded by Cr Bcddie, confirmed. Special Meeting. After the conclusion of the ordinary meeting a special meeting was held in accordance with advertisement relating to the Mataparu loan. Cr Boddie wished to know if the provisional consent of the Treasury had been obtained and pointed cut that unless such action was taker., delay and inconvenience might ensue. The Clerk said he had net obtained the provisional consent. Ike was pursuing the same course as had. been dellowed with respect to previous loans. On the motion of toe Chairman seconded by Cr. Gregg the special rate of ljd was adopted. Engineers Ren; re. The cniy works that have been acre - since last rr.eetr.g are a few repairs to rof.ds in Te Kuiti riding and a little draining on the Kio Kio road .netween the railwav static:: and the creamery. The contractors for the entieankment across Kawa swamp had to stop; worrt last month on account of t.oe stare of the read. He v.-11! complete as seen as possible. I have prepared estimates for Mairta, "Vaitomo, Te Kuiti and Otorohanga ridings as attached:— Mair ja. Metalling 10 feet wide and 12 inches deep:— Arapae £5300 Ngapaenga £6600 Pungarehu £6200 Mairoa £3520 Metalling 10 ieet wide and 9 inches deep:— Arapae £4OCO Ngapaenga £SOOO Pungarehu £4700 Mairoa £2630 Metalling 9 feet wide and 12 inches deep: Arapae £3600 r Ngapaenga £4500 f Pungarehu £4200 Mairoa £2350 Metalling 9 feet wide and 9 inches deep:— Arapae £3600 Ngapaenga £4500 Pungarehu £4200 Mairoa £2350 Te Kuiti. Forming and metalling Tawa road 16 feet wide and metalling 12 feet wide and 12 inches trick from _Mr Jordan's fence to Man.gacrino road : £3d7 10s, Waiccmo. Kctullmg Cave; read from bridge to Tat uae junction 'J feet wdde and 12 incnes thick: front Tapuae junction to Kauturu jure .ion b feet wide anu b inches thick ant; wironing and trimming ; Bridge to lapuae £dc'o Tapuae to Hauturu sliCvv Widening and trimming £ll uc ! £36 00 Otorohanga. Metalling Ranfuriy Street from the railway crossing to Idantpoto Street: Mar.iapoto Street to the end of the metal near the bridge, and Tuhcro Street from Eaikvay gate to Kali IS feet wdde and 9 inches thick and metalling footpaths :ner.es tnic.k. detailing Kanawa and Mair Streets 12 feet wdde and 9 inches thick from the railway crossing to the bridge. Ah other streets to be formed 42 feet wide on the fiat, and other places 15 feet wide. Metalling and formation £IOOO.