KAWHIA COUNTY COUNCIL.

King Country Chronicle, Volume IV, Issue 232, 9 February 1910, Page 5

KAWHIA COUNTY COUNCIL.

. —— A meeting ot the Kawhia County Council was held on Saturday, 29th January, when there were present: Crs W. J. Shaw (Chairman), A. W. Elliott, E. T. Davies, J. E. Noonan, A. W. Babbage, and Jas. Kearns. A notification was received from the fiPublic Works Department to the effect that the unexpended balances of certain votes for road works, amounting in all to £2922 2s Bd, would, on plans and specifications being submitted by the Council and approved by the Department, be placed in the hands of the Council for expenditure. _ It was decided to draw the attention of the Member for the district to the small amount shown on the schedule supplied granted for this county. Councillors expressed themselves very strongly regarding the delay of the Government in supplying the information as to its intentions in reference to these grants, some considering it a ruse to enable the Government to mark time and prevent the money being spent during this financial year. It was finally resolved that, in view of the proposals of the Government being received too late in the season to enable the conditions of the grants to be complied with in order to have the work put in hand before winter, it be suggested that the Government continue on the present system for this year and expend the moneys available as soon as possible. The Department stated in another letter that a balance of about £250 on the current year's vote was available for expenditure on the Marokopa Valley Road, and that the matter of entrusting the Council with the spending of a share of thi-5 money would be considered on the submission of plans, etc.

It was resolved that this matter be referred back to the Department with a request that the money be spent by the Department without delay. The same Department also notified the Council that it had handed over control of the Pirongia West road and so much of the Kawhia-Pirongia road as lies within the Kawhia County,, and intimated that an application for a small grant in aid of necessary works on these roads would receive "favourable consideration." With regard to the first-mentioned road it was decided to have a report and estimate prepared by the Engineer as to the sum necessary to put this road in order and to forward it to the Minister with an application for the necessary amount. With regard to the Kawhia-Pirongia road, the Council entered a strong protest against being called upon to take over this road, as the greater part of it runs throush unrateable land, and a considerable portion consists of mud-flats, and two bridges are required. The Minister is to be again communicated with in regard to the construction of the bridge over the Awaite stream on the Awaroa-Mahoe road, as the temporary bridge is being fenced off by the natives, and settiers have difficulty in getting tbeir'wool out. The Council placed on record its appreciation of the services of the Hon. W. W. McCardle, M.L.C., in urging the Government to complete the survey of the railway to Kawhia. A vote of sympathy with the relatives of the late Mr W. M. Bankart and with the Raglan County Council, at his untimely decease, was recorded.