OHURA COUNTY COUNCIL

King Country Chronicle, Volume IV, Issue 291, 3 September 1910, Page 4

OHURA COUNTY COUNCIL

The ordinary meeting of the Ohura County Council was held in the Council cchambers on the 24th August. Present Crs Stevenson (chairman), Williams, McKinnon, Stewart, Sandison, Risk and O'Brien. Hamilton Hospital.—'Letter received from Mr Boddie notifying that by sending wire to the secretary of hospital the ambulance will meet patients at Frankton Junction. Waiora Road. —Notice to council that Waiora has been transferred to county and is a county road by ordinary course of law. Whenuakura Road. —A grant to put this road in thorough repair was received, and the work is now in hand. Ongarue Bridge.—Notice was received from the Minister that this work is under consideration by the Government. Waikaka Road. —From the Minister of Public Works that instructions have been issued to have an estimate of work required to place it in repair. Subsidy on Rates. Voucher received for the amount of £252 2s lOd for year 1909-1910. Waiora Road.—The Minister was informed that the Waiora road has not been formed 12 feet and is not in repair and the council is not prepared to bear the expense of widening and repairing of same. Pigs on County Roads.—lnstructions were given to county engineer to prosecute all settlers who allow pigs to stray on roads. Ohura Rond. —The following report on slips on Main road was received from the engineer:—-I estimate to remove the present slips and put the road in good order, replace the lost metal, drain the back of slips, and erect a rough timber retaining wall to cost roughly £IBO to £2OO. If a stone wall is erected the extra cost will be about £6O. Ido not recommend the stone wall as I am doubtful if any wall can be erected at a reasonable cost which will be effective. —After considerable discussion the following motion was passed:—That the Minister of Public Works be informed that the council is of the opinion that the Government should always maintain the Ohura road through the county. Contracts in Matiere and Otangiwai Ridings.—Resolved that plans and specifications be deposited at the post office, Matiere. Traffic Inspection.—Mr McPherson, county engineer, was appointed inspector of traffic, with authority to carry out all necessary proceedings in making effective the county by laws. Breach of By-laws.—lt was decided that information be laid for each individual breach; that the county solicitors be instructed to take procHedings as soon as possible after the information is given.

Engineer's Report. —Since last meeting I have been over the following ridings laying out "thirds" arid Government grants: Matiere, Otangiwai, Tatu, and part of Tongaporutu. The following contracts have been inspected: No. 8, P. Dons, Mangakara road, completed; No. 9, Wakefield and Cameron, Hukatahi road, completed; N». 11, J. Symonds, MokauMatiere road, making fa'r progress; No. 12, McLean and Parker, MokauMatiere road, making fair progress; No. 13, J. Hanlcy, Tokirimu road, about finished; No. 14, J. Murphy, Tokirmu road, making fair progress. During the month (20th August) Contract No. 15 was let to Ryan and party, price £337. An extra grant for the Whenuakura road with tho authority has come to hand during the month, this is for repairs, and completion of formation. Re Harvey road tunnel, I prepared a plan and outlined a specification for tho approval of the resident engineer. His reply is before you. Re the work in the Tatu riding, Mr Dcnison has j been employed to do this work as instructed by the council. With the exception of the work on the Kaikora road, to Mr Roach's property, this work I have laid out and find a deviation is not required, the work has been laid out on the surveyed road. Re contract No. 2, burning papa at Niho Nino, this contract cannot be found : and the resident engineer adviseH that a fresh specification should be prepared, but no specified sum is men- : tioned for this contract. Harvey Road Tunnel.--Decided that, if county engineer's plans are rejected ! the grant be returned to the department for expenditure. Overdue Rates. —Messrs Broadfoot and Finlay, county solicitors, wrote | that they were proceeding against dei faultcrs. Hapurua Road.—The resident engineer wrote authorising payment for the contract done by the late Roads Department, but not paid for on Hapurua road. Mr Murray, resident road engineer, J wrote that 10,475 feet of timber waa I available for work on Waitewhnna and j Waikaka roads, part of which has been j delivered and part is at Matiere, j Timber for the Kakahi bridge was j partly at Waiora junction and partly lat Matiere, Timber for Opotea and Millstream bridges is in rafts, which have been hauled out of river at and above Matiere. A quantity of timber is stacked where the Tokirimu-Kaikara road first strikes the Ohura road. No timber was sold at at Maitere. Notice of motion was given re controlling the navigation of the Ohura river, at next meeting. Messrs G. and F. Kelly applied for renewal of slaughterhouse license.— Granted. Re furniture for county buildings, tho engineer was requested to obtain prices for tables and report at next meeting. After the meeting a number of settlers met in the council hall and the toast of success to tho new county was drunk with enthusiasm. During the evening Cr Stuart gave a selection on the bagpipes, and songs and recitations helped to pass a very enjoyable evening.