OHURA COUNTY COUNCIL.

King Country Chronicle, Volume IV, Issue 211, 29 November 1909, Page 5

OHURA COUNTY COUNCIL.

The innu.i! meeting of the Ohura 1 »;y Council wad held at Mangaroa Cm Wednesday last. There were prea--t.; i 'rs Stevenson, chairman; Sandi<on, McKinnon, Williams, Stuart and O'Hrien. Election of Chairman. — Cr G. C. Stevenson was elected i hairman for the ensuing year oncpposed. —Correspondence. — Thirds: A letter was received from the Commissioner of Crown Lands, New Plymouth, conveying information regarding thirds and forwarding application forms for tbe thirds. A letter from Mt McCutcheon Ho the Clerk fgiving valuable information as to proceedure with regard to thirds was also read, and it was decided to reply thanking Mr McCtttcheon for his letter. The Secretary of the Counties Association forwarded a circular dealing wi th the proposed financial legislation of the Government at affecting local boi l iea, and requesting the active asStance of the Council in opposing the proposals, and asking that tbe old scheme with the sinking fund should bp continued.—Cr McKinnon said he thought a resolution on lines suggested by the circular should be carried. It Appeared to him that a difference of one per cent, was important, and tbe country bodies were suffering in comparison with town bodies. Cr Sandison said he thought such a resolution would be useless. There was little doubt that the new Bill would pass, and it provided much more freedom for obtaining money for developing backblock districts. The Chairman pointed out that tbe demands on the Government as regards sinking fund were going beyond bounds. The only weakness he could see in the Bill was that the rate of interest was not fixed. Already they received a subsidy on rates and road grants which could be set against a sinking fund. Cr McKinnon's motion, on being pot to the meeting, was defeated. On tbe motion of Cr Sandison seconded by Cr Williams it was resolved to take no action in regard to the circular letter from the Association and that Mr Jennings M.P. be requested to support the new Bill now before Parliament. —Rate Adjustment.—

On the motion of Cr Williams seconded by Cr McKinnon it was resolved that the Waitomo County Council be again written to, and asked to forward a list of all persons who are in arrear being ratepayers in Ohura County. —County Clerk.— It was decided that Mr McClenaghan should be kept on as Clerk until further notice.and that the Chairman, Crs Williams and Sandison be appointed to fill in the necessary fidelity guarantee. —General Rate. — The striking of a general rate of |d in the £ was confirmed. —Ongarue River Bridge.— A letter was received from the Puplic Works Department with reference to the proposed bridge over th* Ongarue river, stating that at present funds were not available, and suggesting that if the Government should assist by placing a punt on the river the Council shoutd manage the ferry service. The Chairman said he bad instructed the Clerk to reply requesting further information on several points inch as: Whether the Council could make a charge; whether the Taumarunui Town Council had been approached on the matter, and asking for an estimate of a bridge and approaches. It was decided to hold over the matter till next meeting.

Working Methods It was proposed by the Chairman and seconded by Cr Sandison, that in the matter of loans for metalling it be an instruction to the Engineer in making estimates for preparing roads for metalling, and laying the same; that all new culverts, or old ones to be laid shall be in pipes or concrete; that batters shall be taken down half in one where the Engineer deems it advisable, and generally that provision shall be made for the most substantial work agreeable with a reasonable cf/St.—The Chairman said the underlying principle of the motion was that as it wad possible to borrow only once for the real formation of a road all work should be of the most permanent nature. The roads bad to be maintained by the County for all time, and the cost of maintenance should be made as light as possible. Cr Risk said he thought such a motion unnecessary. Mangaroa was 30 miles from the railway and freights on culvert material would probably be too heavy. Timber culverts 12 x 12 woutd cost about 2a tid a foot and wootd last up to fifteen years. To lay down a bard and fast role without leaving the matter open for subsequent consideration was wrong. Cr Williams said prices of obtaining pipes for culverts had been obtained previously, and he understood the price had been found probibi tive. On being pot to the meeting the motion was carried. —Working Estimates. - It was decided to instruct the Engineer to prepare estimates for fßftalling the following roads: The main road at Tata and Tokirimo, Rote and Harvey roads, Tata Riding; Main load from Huatahi flat to Soot hem boundary of Mr G. Dennison's section at Mahorahora, Mangaroa Riding; Mokao -Matiere road from the junction of Ohura road to boundary of riding, the Waikaka road from the junction of the Whenuakura road to its junction with the Ohura road, the Rima road,and the Niho Niho improved farm settlement road, Matiere Riding; the Mangaro*— Tongaporuto and Mangakara roads, Tongaporotu riding. —Metal Reserves.—

On the motion of Cr Sandison. seconded by Cr Bisk, it was resolved that the Engineer be instructed to ascertain the existence of metal and sandstone deposits so as to enable the Council to have the same reserved for and on behalf of the Council. - -Council Chambers. — [f, was decided on tbe motion of Cr Williams seconded by Cr O'Brien ihat County offices be erected at Manga rpa, arc! a further motion fctopcaed oy Cr McKinnon seconded by Cr to the effect that Mr Craven be asked to submit plaws for $ boildioff ww *»o carried. Bating Native Lands.— Cr Stmrt drew attention to tbe matter of r»tin« Native Lands, and suggested that the Council should pass a resolution urging tbe member for the

district to watch and endeavour to secure the rating of Native Lands. —The motion was seconded by Cr McKinnon and carried unanimously.