OHURA COUNTY COUNCIL.

King Country Chronicle, Volume IV, Issue 264, 1 June 1910, Page 5

OHURA COUNTY COUNCIL.

Special Meeting. A special meeting of the Ohura County Council was held on the 25th May, to receive and confirm the balance-sheet. Present—Crs Stevenson (chairman); Risk, O'Brien, Williams, Sandison and Stuart. -Resolved that the Council enter on minutes its great sorrow at the of our beloved sovereign, the late King Edward VII. The Council stood as the resolution was read. Balance-sheet.—Exception was taken to two items in the balance-sheet, "expenses of delegate in forming the County, and expenses of chairman to Wellington re Ongarue bridge."—The chairman explained that it was usual to take exception to travelling expenses of delegates. Still, by the Counties Act, they were justified in incurring them. His visit to Wellington had been to forward the metalling of tha main Ohura road. Incidentally the Ongarue bridge question had been considered, which also was certainly the business of the County. —Crs Risk and Sandison suggested that it was the business of the Councillors to confine the expenses of delegates to matters entirely under their control, which was in the interests of the ratepayers. — Resolved that payment to delegates of £24 18s 3d, being expenses incurred in formation of County, was made in good faith by virtue of the power conferred by section 112, clause 2, of the "Counties Act," and the payment to the chairman of £9 13s, for travelling expenses, was made by virtue of section 84 of the "Counties Act."

Ordinary Meeting. At the ordinary meeting, the same Councillors being present, correspondence was received from Valuation Department re rating section No. 4, Ohura South Block, K No. I—Lessee1 —Lessee liable for local rates from time of occupation. Telephone Tokirima. —Mr Roche wrote that contractor had failed to deliver poles, and asked the Council to assist the settlers in hastening the erection of the line. —Resolved that the clerk write to the Minister of Post and Telegraphs urging the necessity of the work. Ongarue Bridge.—The Taumarunui Council wrote that the Minister for Public Works has been invited to Taumarunui with a view to getting the Government to build the bridge, and in the meantime the Council would take no further action. —Resolved that in the absence of Councillor McKinnon the letter stand over until next meeting. County Boundaries. The Clifton County Council wrote that it had been resolved to let the matter stand over for twelve months so as to get sufficient information to fix on satisfactory boundaries. —Received. Roads.- —Notice was received from the Minister of Public Works that enquiries would be made re work on the Mangakara, Kopua and MatiereMairoahuiao roads. Tokirima-Wanganui Road. —Mr C. MeKenzie, resident engineer, wrote approving plans for this road. —The chairman explained that on receiving approval tenders had been called for the work and the tender of J. Murphy was accepted at £B2 16s. Reserves. The Department of Lands and Survey wrote pointing out that several sections asked for were unavailable. —The clerk was instructed to reply pointing out that the wrong numbers had been sent. Kakahi Bridge.—Mr K. Willie wrote on behalf of settlers pointing out the dangerous nature of the crossing, and suggesting that a temporary track be made. —The engineer explained that tenders had been called for carting timber for this bridge, and only one was received, which was considered too high. A tender had been received to raft the timber and he recommended that it be accepted, as the work could be done during the winter and there was no hope that it could be done at a lower rate. —Resolved that the tender for rafting be accepted, and that a temporary crossing be made, to be paid out of thirds when available. King Country Conference. —Resolved that Cr McKinnon be appointed delegate to attend the conference at Taumarunui.

New names on Valuation Roll. — Messrs Williams and Bruce wrote to have the names of W. S. Woof, R. E. Hollow and H. E. Aves placed on the new Valuatioon Roll.—The clerk ex- * plained that he had arranged to meet Mr Hyde, valuation officer, to arrange the Native land leases when the new roll was complete. He submitted the valuation up-to-date showing an increase of £sl 0s Od on the previous valuation. Rima Road.—Notice was received from the Public Works Department that the Rima road had been Gazetted a county roacf—Resolved that the County will take over the Rima road provided it is placed in good order and repair. The sum required as estimated by the county engineer is £129

7s * Hospital Rate.—The secretary of the Waikato Hospital Board wrote requesting payment of the sum of £129 7s, being the allocation payable by the County for the year ending 31st March, 1911.—Resolved that the Board be informed that at present, owing to being a newly-formed County and no provision having been made to meet the liability, it was unable to pay until it received the Government subsidy on the collected rates. Death of King Edward Vll.—The chairman tabled telegrams from Sir J. G. Ward, notifying the death of the late King and the proclamation of King George V. Spending of Road Grants. —A reply wa3 sent to the Ministers' memo, of the 29th March, stating that little or 1 no money has been spent in the County since the abolition of the Roads Department, but lately more is being made available. County Engineer. —Mr McPherson was expected to reach the Ohura during the* week to take up his duties. — Resolved that a cordial vote of thanks be awarded to the outgoing engineer, and be recorded on the minutes, for the efficient and courteous manner in P Which he had fulfilled his duties. The in moving the resolution exthe feeling of the Councillors in wishing Mr Gould success m few

future career, and thanked him, on behalf of the Council, for the satisfactory manner in which works entrusted to him had been done.

. Cost of Administrating Road Grants. —After discussing the question the following notice of motion was made by the chairman :—While the Council is willing at all times to co-operate with the Minister of Public Works in the construction of roads and bridges, yet it cannot administrate the grants for such works under the present conditions. The Council has found the regulations necessitating plans and specifications for each grant, whether small or large, to make costly administration charges, and the arrangements for supervision between the Council and the Department to be harrassing and of great loss of time. Tha County could not continue administrating Government grants without being permitted to deduct per cent, for administration from each grant, such amount deducted to be paid into the County Fund. Future Works. —Resolved that the engineer_prepare a list of requirements of each road in the Ohura County, this list to be presented at the next County meeting for approval. Accounts passed for payment amounted to £369 3s.

The following is -the engineer's report for the month ending May 25th, 1910: "The weather has been unfavourable for road making, except in the early part, when good progress was made with the works in hand. The Mahorahora road contract has been completed in a very satisfactory manner. The Mangakara road is also well advanced. The greater part of the timber for the bridge has been squared, and the first few feet of the water tunnel driven. The recent wet weather has prevented the completion of the Waitewhena road contract, but very little remains to be done. Owing to having to cart the material a.fairly long distance over newly-forrtied bank it was found impossible to complete under the present weather conditions. The portion most desired has been finished. The temporary bridge at the six-mile four chain peg has been replaced by a large culvert and embankment and the whole portion of the road from seven mile 28 chain to seven mile 42 chain, opposite old Government whare has been completed, as it is not necessary to complete the unfinished porti'n until the gap between it and the old widening done twelve months ago, has been widened. I reported the matter in full to the district engineer and advised that payment be made in full for the portion of the work done, and the contract cancelled. The unfinished portion is to be left to complete when the widening is being continued to connect with it. Contracts on the .Huhatahi and Tokirima roads have been let during the month, and plans and specifications have been prepared for forming the deviation at seven mile 40 chains Turoto road, and will be forwarded to the district engineer for approval as soon as duplicates have been prepared. Tenders were also called for delivering Kalcahi bridge material to bridge site, but owing to the by-laws preventing heavy carting on the roads during the winter and the tenders being considered too high, it was thought advisable to postpone the work until the coming summer. No reply has been received in regard to the plans and specifications for widening the MiroahuiaoMatiere road, which were forwarded to the district engineer for approval on April 9th, so I am writing to enquire if they were received. An engineering survey of the work to be done on the Kururau road has been made and is now in hand on the Mangapapa extension to the three mile on the three mile end. As this is the last meeting at which I will appear as engineer to your Council, I desire to take this opportunity of thanking you all for honouring me with the position of first engineer appointed to your Count}, and to make it understood that it is not through any fault of the administration of the Council that I did not apply for the position under the revised regulations." Valuation of Ohura County showing increase of £51,000 on previous valuation.—Waitewhena riding, 1909, £41,848, 1910y £44,158; Tatu, £41,573 £42,971; Kurauru, £2'4,979 —£46,397; Otangiwai, £57,272 -j tiere, £49,670 —£60,814; Tongaporutu, £22,001 —£24,848; Mangaroa, £60,549—£61,469.