WAITOMO COUNTY COUNCIL.

King Country Chronicle, Volume V, Issue 379, 19 July 1911, Page 5

WAITOMO COUNTY COUNCIL.

MONTHLY MEETING. The usual monthly meeting of the Waitomo County Council waa held last Monday evening in the Council Cha-n----bera. Present: Cr A. Scholes (Chairman), and Crs Boddie, Smyth, Gregg. O'Dwyer, Hoffman, Johnston, and Were.

Ngutunui-Kawa Road. —The Public Works Department wrote that £221 17s 3d in Government grants was available for this road, and the work would be put in hand as early as possible. —Received.

Tapuae Road.—A petition f''om Messrs John Reid. A. W. Renall, A . Wiske, F. McLean, K. McLean and S. C. Reid urged the expenditure of iSIOO in improving this road at the Hutiwai branch. —It was moved by Crs Johnston and Gregg that the Clerk reply saying a £IOO grant had been applied for, and would, if received, be spent on the road—Carried.

Mirioahonia-Mangaotaki Road. —Mr R. E. Burron wrote that Messrs Skine and Kilmartin had told him they had taken a contract for widening this road. He wished to know what the County would do about the fence section and held the County responsible for any damage.—Received. Grading Awakino Road.—Mr R. M. C. Carlisle wrote on behalf of settlers asking for the older portion of this road to be graded.—The matter was left in the hands of the Engineer to attend to. Formation of New Roads. —Messrs Wynyard and Skelton wrote asking the Council to explain the requirements in the formation of new roads. —The Chairman explained the position, saying he had seen Messrs Wynyard and Skelton personally. "Thirds."—The Receiver of Land Revenue wrote that £1354 19s 4d of "thirds" had been paid into the Bank on the County's account. Special Rating Area. —Mr C. J. Riddle wrote asking for the petition re a special rating area to be sent to him.—Replied that it would be sent as soon as possible. Alteration of Boundary.—The Clerk to Ohura County wrote that the outlet from sections 1 and 2, Block VIII., Aria S.D., was through Ohura County, and his Council would not agree to the sections being included in Waitomo County. Received. Nightsoil Depot. —Cr Hoffman raised a protest against land being taken by Te Kuiti Borough in Waitomo County, and if the Borough could not show what they were going to do, he was going to object. Cr Boddie explained the position fully, saying it was land acquired by the Borough on the distinct recommendation of Dr Makgill, the District Health Officer. Cr Hoffman moved that the Council objcet to Te Kuiti Borough Council taking the section propoed for a nightsoil depot, and advise their Solicitor to lodge an objection.—Cr O'Dwyer seconded, pro forma. The motion was lost on the voices.

Government Subsidies for County Roads. —Cr Boddie raised a discussion on the question of applying for a subsidy on the special loans raised for the Arapate, Mairoaand Ngapaenga roads. He said that the Arapae road ran through seven mlies of native land and the ratepayers had had to restrict their area to carry the vote for at loan. They had one of the heaviest traes ever raised in a special rating area, amounting to 4 5-16 d in the £. The ratepayers were benefiting the whole district by getting the main road made. —The Chairman pointed out that when subsidies were promised by the Minister they had put the position before the settlers, who would not sign except for raising the loans apart from subsidies. Subsidies were described as "too much in the air." — Crs Boddie and Hoffman moved that in view of the chairman's visit to Wellington, he be asked to use his best influence to get a subsidy for the Mairoa and Waitomo loans.—Carried.

Engineer's Report.—The contracts for widening Sainsbury, Parakoko and Miroahuiao roads have been finished and passed. The contact for widening a portion of the Otorohanga to Hangatiki-Waitomo road will be finished this week. Repairs on he Hangatiki-Waitomo road have been made to the amount of £SO, but it was only possible to let the water off and fill in some of the worst ruts. I have ordered timber for some culverts on the Kio Kio road, and arranged for some draining to be done. On the Kawa road I have made the engineering survey for widening a portion of the road, but as it is all filling it will be better to wait till the dry weather before calling for tenders. Specifications for the expenditure of the Honikiwi loan and subsidies have been forwarded to the Public Works Department for approval, and as soon as they are returned I propose calling tenders. I have inspected the contract for metalling on the Otorohanga-Pironiga road, but it was not completed according to the specifications, and I refused to pass it. I examined a section at Otorohanga, which was submitted to me for a depot, and it has also been inspected by Councillor Gregg. We are both of opinion it is suitable and the price reasonable. I have also been offered an acre of ground for a depot at Te Miroahuiao, but I would not accept the offer till I had seen the member for the riding.—Crs O'Dwyer and Johnston moved that the Engineer's report be adopted,. and as regards the Otorohanga and Miroahuiao sections that these be acquired by the Council.—Carried. Striking Rate.—Crs Were and Hoffman moved that the striking of a rate be postponed another month. —Carried.