OHURA COUNTY COUNCIL.

King Country Chronicle, Volume IV, Issue 204, 1 November 1909, Page 2

OHURA COUNTY COUNCIL.

nor,. William®, O'Brien. sr.'J S:oama - -Corresj.o:r:enco. - A 3eti.eL- from aim Cmmaies AmoeAtion rt-ferrine to affiliation and enclosing rules was received. Saleyard Site: Letters were received froni the Commissioner of Crown Lands intimating that the Land Board had decided not to grant the Council's application for a site. —The Chairman explained that he had inverviewed the Board and had been informed that the Board considered it a matter for private enterprise- Cr Williams said the matter was one of great importance to settlers in general and it was desirable to have public yaris. Count}; Office Site: The Commissioner of Crown Lands wrote stating that the Land Board could not grant the section applied for as a County Office site but wo jld hand over Section 8, Block 5, of Mangaroa township.—The Chairman explained that the section was entirely unsuitable as it was a deep swamp. Any one of sections 4, 5, or 6, Block 7, would be suitable and they were municipal reserves. On the motion of Cr Williams, seconded Cr O'Brien, it was resolved that the section offered by the Land Board for Council Chambers was quite unsuitable, and that the Council approach the Under-Secretary for the Department and request that section 4, 5, or 6, Block 7, be granted. Dog Collars: The tender of Mr Martin for dog collars at 7 l-2d each was accepted. Boundaries: A petition was received from a number of settlers on the Tongaporutu road asking to be included in the Ohura County. The sections affected were 3, 2, and 1, Block 3; 4, 5, 6, Block 6; 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, Block 7, Waro Survey Distirct. —On the motion of Cr Sandison, seconded by Cr Risk, it was decided that the petition be received and the Clifton County be written to expressing the willingness of the Ohura County to take over the portion of the Clifton County referred to.

Unimproved Rating: Cr Stuart presented a petition for the Otangiwai settlers requesting that the system of rating on unimproved values be adopted in the County.—The chairman said that about 40 more signatures were necessary to put in motion the machinery necessary to take a poll. Cr Stuart said the petition was presented to show the feeling of the settlers. There would probably be petitions from other ridings

"Thirds": The Commissioner of Crown Lands wrote stating that the amount of £2286 19s lid was now to the credit of the County from accrued "thirds" up to March 31st, 1909. —On the motion of Cr McKinnon, seconded by Cr Williams it was resolved that the Clerk be instructed to have "thirds" scheduled in the various ridings as indicated by the Councillors for the respective ridings. The Chairman said this wa3 a very important matter which should not be dealt with in a hole and corner manner. Cr McKinnon said as a matter of fact one 'councillor did not know what was happening in another councillor's riding. It was a matter for the councillors and the ratepayers in the different ridings to decide upon how "thirds" were to be treated. The chairman said he thought the treatment of "thirds" was rather a difficult problem. The Council as a body, was responsible for the administration and any scheme adopted by a riding should be placed before the Council. They had to consider the possibility of the "thirds" being handed over to the Public Works Department, but it would be unwise to do anything hastily. The accrusd "thirds" ! of the County amounted to over £2OOO and in Taranaki province the amount totalled over £9OOO. It was unlikely the Government would allow this sum to remain unused. In some parts of the district where it was unlikely that metal would be used Tor a considerable time it might be adivsable to spend "thirds" in earthwork, but as a.niatter of general policy he thought it ; would be wsie to spend the money on ; metal It was likely that a local Gov- ! ernment bill would be introduced to I Parliament this session that would i alter present conditions entirely, and 1 they should not take action until the ! position was defined. It was decided that the motion should remain on the minutes but that no further action should be taken at present.

General Rate: Notice of motion was given by the Chairman of the intention to strike a general rate of id in the £ throughout the County for the year ending March 31st. 1910. An estimate was presented show i::;: the amount collectable on a rare of j: to be £621 4s 3d. the capital value of the property in the County being • follows: —Mangaroa Hiding. .e': : i: Tatu £41,573; Otangiwai, £57.272: Tonligaporutu, £22,001: Kui ;-a-.;, £24,979; Mat-iere, £jy,<j<ju. Dog Tax: It was decided to call tenders for the collection of the dog tax for 1910, tenderers te> stale- amount chargeable per dog or lump sum.

I Reserves: The chairman :r ; oved thai ! the Minister for Lb:vs = b<.- written ! requesting that -'ill .-orvc; tho 1 County, other Aao • ry ion/.;: re•, A/ : ;:r '.7 r- y;:: ■_; 7y tA: (Ji-'iv." : •'• • !V ' ■ the ' 7v-:raiA:: u:Aa iht JAI7A AA7 ■ ' A.-.. I:; = A . ort of t!;-. • 'A 7. A/:..;.0 :;a:7 7 _ had i.e.'. r: ; 7. 7a-7 :7a: it "'a- v.-c.-: i L-I c ■ e::yr< " t 7' ay' a : :7c car-: FT::;- -a 7 A '■ :7 a: ; . ir.vA ■ ar. A:a: A £Mngg|j

that cn his recent visit to main roads. : thai; the nommnt. A: • • • . ... • ; ! ceived for the position of Cherk am" * Engineer. The at nlienei:n.s • • •• : sidered in and Mr 17.I 7 . i Gould was appointed.