OHURA COUNTY COUNCIL

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

OHURA COUNTY COUNCIL

A special meeting of the. Ohura County Council was held on the 14th to receive the annual balance sheet. Resolved, on the motion of Cr Sandison, seconded by (Jr Stuart, that the balance sheet be received'and confirmed. The balance of * the County Fund showed a credit of £IOO 6s 3d. Present: Crs Stevenson (Chairman) Williams, Stuart, O'Brien, Sandisan. Resolved, that in cases of companies and corporations or other public bodies, any person who is appointed by resolution of said companies or corporations shall have power to exercise any vote or votes said bodies are entitled to Correspondence was received from : Cr McKinnon, re Kururau "thirds." Clifton County Council, notifying that the plans of proposed alterations of County boundary will be forwarded during week. Applications were received from Messrs Meldrum, Mair and Howie to have the name of E. W. Howie placed on valuation roll. 4 Cr Rusk, apologising for absence. Public Works Department, asking for information re Waiora road grant —whether Council wll expend the vote. —Resolved, that the Council undertake the expending. John Kenny, applying to have his name placed on valuation roll as a holder of a miner's right. Secretary of Farmers' Union, requesting that a vote be taken on the question of forming a Rabbit Board at next Council election.

Mr E. Mossman, applying to purchase old timber from old bridges on Waikaka road. — Resolved that the Council cannot deal privately with the timber. Stratford County Council, requesting that the Council pass a resolution in favour of having the rate on timber imported hardwood reduced. —Agreed. Secretary of Farmers' Union, requesting the assistance in having the name of the town of Mangaroa changed to Ohura. Receiver of Land Revenues, advising that "thirds" to the value of £36 18s had been placed to the credit of the Council. Valuation Department, notifying that revaluation was not necessary on account of the change of the system of rating, as unimproved value is shown separately on rolls. Department of Lands, re expenditure of "thirds": "In reply to your j letter of 15th inat., re expenditure of 'thirds' on the Kururau road, in which you ask that the Taranaki Land Board may be instructed to approve of the expenditure of certain "thirds" derived from sections in the Otunui Block, and which front on to the Otunui road, being expended on the Kururau road, I havs made very careful enquiry into the matter, and find that the Waitangata roaj has either been formed or is in course of formation to its junction with the Otunui road, by way of the Ararimu road. I also find that it is absolutely necessary in the interests of the settlers that the Otunui road should be formed, as when formed it will give through connection with Niho Niho. It seems to me, after looking into the whole matter very carefully, that the Taranaki Land Board is quite right in its contention, for section 145 of the Land Act, 1908, provides that 'thirds' handed over to a local authority shall be expended by such local authority for roading, etc., as approved by tha Land Board of the district, and such moneys must be expended for the benefit of the selectors from whose lands the said 'thirds' have been derived. It is therefore perfectly clear that the intention of the Legislature in this case was to place in the hands of the Land Board the power of deciding on what road works 'thirds'should be expended. Without the sanction of the Land Board no 'thirds' can be legally expended by any local authority. Neither the Minister of Lands nor the Under-Secretary for Lands has any power to interfere in this matter. The Board has absolutely power to decide all questions of this kind, and in my opinion the Board's decision is perfectly right in this case. If your Council wishes to obtain moneys for the formation of the Kururau road, it appear* to me that the only way out of the difficulty will be for you to ask the Hon. Minister for Public Works to specially appropriate a sum for the work in question during the coming session." Public Works Department, re Waikaka Stream bridge, stating that through the recent changes in the control of the northern part of the Taranaki Public Works district, the matter has remained in abeyance of late, but instructions have now been given to push on with the preparation of plans, and it is hoped to have the work commenced early. Public Works Department, requesting the Council to send a lisi of works for the ensuing year, which they wish submitted to the Minister for his approval. Township's Name.—Resolved, that the - Commissioner of Crown Lands be written to to have the name of Mangaroa changed to Ohura. Engineer's Report. —The cross sections on Mangakara road have been completed and forwarded to District Engineer for approval. Burnt papa contract at Niho Niho: The time of maintenance for this contract has expired, and as the contractor has not done the work it is advisable to give instructions to have the work done at the contractor's expense. Heavy Traffic. —The Engineer explained that summonses were being issued to all offenders.—Decided that all cases be taken to Magistrate's .Court, Taumarunui, at the first sitting. Miscellaneous. —D. Knight wrote re impassable state of Waituwhenu road on both sides of his section. —Advised to apply to Public Works Department, as road was under their control. Resolved, that agreement between Clifton and Ohura County Council be sealed and signed by the Chairman. . The Clerk was instructed to prepare plan of sections to be transferred to the Waitomo County.