WAITOMO COUNTY COUNCIL.

King Country Chronicle, Volume V, Issue 339, 22 February 1911, Page 2

WAITOMO COUNTY COUNCIL.

SPECIAL MEETING

The usual monthly meeting of the Waitomo County Council was held on Monday night at the Council Chamber?, Te Kuiti. Present—Cr Scholes (chairman), and Crs Boddie, Smyth, Were, Gregg, Hoffman, Johnston and O'Dwyer. In the absence of Cr Scholes for the special meeting, Cr Boddie took the cln.ir. Special Rate: Waitomo Loan.---It was moved by Crs Johnston and Gregg that a special rate of live-eighths of a penny in the pound be raised to cover interest and other charges on the Waitomo loan of £2OOO for the purpose of widening and metalling the Caves road. Carried. Special Rate: Mairoa Loan. —It was moved by Crs Boddie and Smyth that a special rate of four and onesixteenth of a penny in the pound be raised to cover interest and other charges on the Mairoa loan of £16,800, which is being raised for the purpose of metalling the several roads in the Mairoa riding as per petition. —Carried.

ORDINARY MEETING. Cr Scholes took the chair, and there were present the same Councillors as at the special meeting. Mangaotaki Road. Messrs J. Evans, S. G. Verry and D. Anderson wrote requesting the Council to subsidise a sum of £l5O they understood was in hand, to the extent of £1 for £l. Nearly 300 bales of wool had been hauled along the road this season, and the grant of £l5O would be very inadequate, in view of the amount of widening to be done. They had been settled on their sections nearly nine years and waggons could get no nearer that when they first went there. It was very disheartening and weary work, going on year after year without a road. Cr Boddie said this was one of the most glaring examples of Government neglect that he knew of. He knew that some of the settlers had been there for eight years at least, and they could not get within three miles of their places some of them. If it was possible he would like them to be assisted. The chairman asked the engineer what it would cost to do the road. The engineer said £3OO would make it fit for wheel traffic. Cr Johnston felt they had been hardly treated, but if they were going to establish a precedent, then there were people in his riding and it would be hardly fair to other people. Cr O'Dwyer did not view it in that light. They had a right to take money cut of the general rate wherever there was work of extreme urgency. Cr Hoffman thought the Government should make the extra grant. Cr O'Dwyer said over 300 bales of wool had to be sledged out and without establishing a precedent it was a case of extreme urgency. Cr Johnston said when the general rate was struck he said a heavier rate would b2 wanted in some ridings. His riding paid over one penny. Look at the lower rate paid by the riding they wanted the money for. The chairman said that riding accounts were kept. He was in sympathy with them, but he did not feel they could find the money. Cr Boddie did not think they would be justified in dealing with it out of ordinary revenue, much as he sympathised with it. Crs O'Dwyer and Were moved that the County subsidise the settlers to the extent of £l5O. Cr Boddie and Hoffman moved as an amendment that they be subsidised to the extent of two years' rates recevable from the district served by the road. The amendment was lost by 4 to 3, and the motion was? lost by 5 to 3 votes. Waiteti Road.—Messrs Berry and Innes waited on the Council with reference to this road. Settlers v/ished to have it metalled and noxious weeds attended to, especially the hill first out of town. Where were the "thirds" expended? Culverts were also required. If the Council carted the metal the settlers would be prepared to spread it. The deputation also asked the Council to get the native occupiers on the roll. The discussion showed that the Council were not getting rates for the native land along the road right up to Shannon's. The chairman said they could do nothing in putting the natives on the roll.— It was decided that the clerk obtain information from Mr Berry of all owners not on the roll, and to forward their names to the Valuation Department. The Engineer said timber was already on hand and the culverts would be attended to. The chairman said they could apply for permission to take gravel from the scenic reserve. Crs Boddie and Gregg moved that the request as to the metalling of the hill he granted, subject to the amount not exceeding £3s.—Carried. No. 2 B and Rangitoto-Tuhua. — The Chief Surveyor wrote that it was not usual to issue copies of the Governor's warrant. He had looked over Mr Jordan's plan, and this road did not seem to pass through any other blocks than these. The examination of the plan would show whether the five per cent, limit may have been exceeded. — Received.

Pirongia Bridge. The Commissioner appointed to take evidence as to which local authority could most conveniently construct the Pirongia bridge and what proportions of cost should be borne by each local authority, notified that the enquiry would be ' held at Te Awamutu Courthouse on Thursday, 24th February, 1011, at 10.30 a.m., and requested the Council to be represented. The County solicitor attended with reference to this bridge and representation at the commission of enquiry, which he purposed being present at in the interests of the County. Cr Hoffman would also be present,

Mangaotaki Road.—Crs O'Dwyer and Were moved that the Council urge upon the Government the necessity of granting a sufficient sum of money, to wit, £6OO, for the purpose of widening one mile of road at Mangaotaki, so as to make it available for wheel traffic—Carried. Working Road Grader.—Messrs J. and D. Ormshy wrote offering to provide four horses and a driver at £2 2s a day and teams of two horses and driver to work plough at 24s a dry.--Received. Mr F. M. Hattaway also offered his services.—Received. Carting Metal on Roads. —Mr Henry Rothery wrote offering to quarry, cart and nap limestone on roads* at Ss 3d per cubic yard or less according to distance. He _ could arrange terms.—Cr Boddie said the offer was one they should be in apposition to accept. It would be of advantage to the whole district if these roads were done. The money should be available within three months. He had pleasure in moving that Mr Rothery's offer be accepted and that the matter be left in the hands of the member for the riding and the engineer to deal with. Cr Were seconded. —Carried. Honikiwi and Pukearuhe Loans.— The Advances Board wired that the loans of £4OOO and £IOOO respectively had been finally approved and the debentures posted for completion.— Received. It was resolved on the motion of Crs Johnston and Hoffman that the chairman be authorised to sign the debentures. Putake Private Telephone.—Mr D. D. Vickerman wrote that the majority of the settlers in that district were desirous of being linked by telephone and had all arrangements forward and asked permission to erect lines on the Waitomo, Hutuwai, Tapawai, Hauturu and Mahce roads.—Cr Hoffman said they were all interested in the telephone. He mentioned one wire hanging down and not safe.—The County Clerk had already written stating that permission was granted, subject to the engineer's approval.— The action of the chairman in instructing this letter was approved. Amendments to Noxious Weeds Act.—The secretary to the Department of Agriculture wrote that a copy of every special order to noxious weeds required to be forwarded to the Minister of Agriculture within one month of it being made and duly Gazetted. Ragwort was now a noxious weed throughout the Dominion, and it was no longer necessary for local authorities to declare it a weed by special order.—Received. £2OO Due to Borough from Council.—The County Clerk explained that no provision existed in the Act under which the money could be handed over.

j Cr Boddie moved that a joint reI quest be made by the County and the I Borough Council for the money to be | handed over. Cr Johnston seconded. ! —Carried. ! Access from Road.—The Chief Surveyor wrote respecting giving access to Mr Moorhouse, that at first glance it looked as though by intersecting a very small section of land it might inflict a very great hardship on the piece in question. However, on receipt of the plans from Auckland, the matter would be gone into.— Received. Puketarafa No. 2 Road.—Mr Win. Hudson, secretary of the New Zealand Farmers' Union Kio Kio branch, drew attention to this road, as likely to be bad in winter and asked that any "thirds" available might be applied as soon as possible.—Moved by Crs Gregg and Were that the matter be left in the hands of the engineer to deal with.—Carried. Kie Kie Road.—Mr A. Mcllolm wrote on behalf of settlers asking that the culverts might be put in as soon as possible. Last year's experience led them to think that if left till the weather broke, every new culvert would be a bog hole.—Received. Quarry Site.—The Minister in Charge of Scenery Preservation wrote that every scenic reserve was inalienable, and thit to get permission to take stone for metalling purposes it would be probably necessary to get special legislation. Before the ap> plication was finally dealt with he I would get a full report on the sub- ! ject. —Receivd. j™ Metal Reserves.—Crs Johnston ami ■ Gregg moved that the clerk make •■ application to the Commissioner of Crown Lands for sections 7 and S, ! block 11, Orahiri district, to be vested ; in the County for the purpose of a roadman's whare and a quarry reserve.— ', Carried. Caves Road. —Cr Johnston asked whether it could be arranged for the chairman and himself to open : the tenders so as to save time before ; next meeting. Crs Boddie and Were i moved in these terms. —Carried. ■ PioPio-Mairoa Road.--Crs O'Dwyer I and Smyth moved that the engineer : take steps to expend the "thirds" available" on the Pio Pio-Mairoa road, . in putting in culverts or other neces- ; sary work a3 the settlers interested j may require.--Carried. ' ilargreaves' Bridge.—Crs Scholes : and Gregg moved that this matter be left in the hands of Cr Hoffman. : —Carried. Slips in Watertable.—Cr Hoffman I and Smyth moved that slips and I watertables from the junction on the ! Tapawai road to Mr Budden's be : cleared.—Carried, i Mangaotaki-Pio Pio Road. Crs i O'Dwyer and Smyth moved that if the ! settlers living in the immediate ! vicinity of the Mangaotaki-Pio Pio j road are willing to allow their rates i for the next two years, or until rej paid, to go towards paying the sub- ! sidy of £l5O that this Council subI sidise same. Cr O'Dwyer contended '■■ that if the Council passed the resolution it would show willingness to do something for the settlers, but on being put the resolution was lost by ! four to three votes. ! Waitom-j - Otorohanga Road.—Crs Gregg and Johnston moved that two day-men be put on to fill up the worst holes on this road.—Carried.