KAWHIA COUNTY COUNCIL.

King Country Chronicle, Volume V, Issue 372, 24 June 1911, Page 5

KAWHIA COUNTY COUNCIL.

.— —-♦ An ordinary meeting of the above body was held at the Council offices, Kawhia, on Saturday, 10 th inst. Present: Crs W. J. Shaw (Chairman), J. E. S. Noonon, A. W. Elliott and J. Kearns. Piripiri and T.a Anga Bridges: The Minister for Public Works, replying to thy Council, wired that he would ascertain the position of matters relating to the erection of these bridges. —Received. Mangapohue Road.— the Public Works Department stated that £IOO had been handed over to the District Engineer, Stratford, for : maintenance work on this road. —On the motion of Cr Elliott, it was decided to.write the District Engineer, Stratford, drawing his attention to the impassable state of the road. Applications for Grants.- A circular was received from the Pubiic Works Department, asking the Council to prepare and forward applications for roads and bridge construction works, such applications to be [ arranged in the order of urgency. The Minister expressed his desire that the expenditure should be carried out by local bodies,and would assume that the Council was prepared to undertake the administration of such grants.— The Chairman considered that the matter of applications should be left to the discretion of the Engineer. He was conversant with the most urgent works, and he (the speaker) felt sure that the Engineer would be only too glad to receive suggestions from the various Councillors. He would move accordingly..—Cr Elliott, in seconding t(ie motion, thought the Engineer was quite capable of determining which roads required the most immediate attention, and it wouid save considerable time and argument around the Council table. —The motion .vas carried. Taumatatotara West Road.—A petition was received from Bettlers on the Taumatatotara West <road in which they asked the Minister for Public Works to expend the sum of £3OO voted for this road. Nothing had been spent for two years. They desired the Council's support. The Chairman and Cr Kearns proposed that the Council accord the petitioners every assistance. —Carried. Stock Road.—G. H. Mackenize enclosed a reply from the Lands Department re stock road at Oparau, and asked the Council to have a road pegged out from Oparau to the saleyards. —Cr Elliott stated that the site of the saleyards had not yet been decided upoTJ.- —The letter was received. Accident Insurance — The Raglan Cou.\ty Council wrote suggesting a system of mutual accident insurance amongst local bodies,, and asking for details and the opinion of "'this body on the, matter. —On the motion of the Chairman it was decided to hold the matter over until further ihformatio.i was available.

After adjournment, Crs Jonathan and Babbage took their seats. Special Order.—On the motion of the Chairman and Cr Elliott, the Special Order relating to re-adjust-ment of riding boundaries was confirmed. Wade's Buildings.—Cr Elliott reported that there was a possibility of trouble regarding the site of the proposed building— discussed ; at last meeting of the Council—and he suggested awaiting the Engineer's report before doing anything. — Agreed to Kawhia as a Seaport.—Cr Noonon referred to the action of Mr Jennings irt appropriating the arguments,and figures which had been collected in favour of Kawhia's claims as a seaport and applying the same to New Plymouth. He also referred to what might be done in improving the attractions of Kawhia as a tourist resort, suggesting that some action might be taken in the matter of the hot springs on the beach, and mentioning that the Rev. Mason might be asked to come and investigate the locality with a view of determining whether the supply of hot water could be tapped above high water mark.— Cr Jonathan endorsed these remarks. If there was expert opinion that there was a large quantity of water it would be an additional lever in promoting the district. He felt that Mr Jennings had not acted fairly to Kawhia —he should have used statistics as equally applicable to Kawhia as to New Plymouth in advocating a steamer service.—The Chairman suggested that the matter was more within the province of th 6 Kawhia Chamber of Commerce.—This was agreed to by Cr Noonan, and the matter was referred to that body. Kawhia Drainage.—The .Chairman stated that he had no time to bring the matter before the Hospital Board, but as Drs Makigll and Valintine would both be here and would be accompanied by the Chairmafi of the Hospital Board, the matter would be gone into. j