WAITOMO COUNTY COUNCIL.

King Country Chronicle, Volume VI, Issue 431, 17 January 1912, Page 5

WAITOMO COUNTY COUNCIL.

The Waitomo County Council met on Monday evening, when there were present Crs Scholes (chairman), Johnston, Gregg, Were, Berry, Smyth, O'Dwyer and Hoffman. M J. N. Boddie requested the Council to attend to the road leading to his place at Oparure. —Resolved that the engineer be instructed to attend to the matter. Mr Wm. Hudson wrote reopen crossing to Kio Kio station. • On the motion of Crs Gregg and Hoffman it was resolved that the engineer should meet Mr Hudson on the ground and report to the next meeting of the Council.

Mr J. C. Innes wrote re quarries on Arapae road. —deceived.

Mr R. H. Cameron waited upon the Council and stated that as he had had to cart shingle on his contract instead of metal from the quarry, which was closer, no considered he was entitled to remuneration for same. rseolved that the Council adhere tc the specifications and that Messrs Cameron and Brooking be notified to that effect.

A petition was received from a number of settlers in the Mangaotaki district re Mr Burrows' fence on the Mangaotaki road and other matters.— On the motion of Crs O'Dwyer and Hoffman it was resolved that the letter be received and that it be an instruction to the engineer to in future instruct all employees of the Council not to do any damage to ratepayers' property. Mr Gooseman, of Kawa, asked for permission to fence and cultivato a piece of waste land fronting his property which the writer stated was an eye sore. —It was resolved that the request be granted during the pleasure of the Council. The Minister of Public Works wired that £2832 pounds was available for expenditure on Te Kuiti - Awakino road.

Mr James Boddie waited upon the Council and asked that the Council should take a road about 1J chains long to give access to Te Kuiti Cooperative Dairy Factory, under the Public Works Act. Mr Boddie explained that this piece of road would be through land owned by about eleven or twevle natives, and they were will ing that the road should be taken. The company were prepared to pay all costs in connection with the matter. — It was resolved that the request be acceeded to provided that the Dairy Company paid all expenses.

Messrs Ellwood and Sincock waited upon the Council in connection with matters affecting the metalling of the Pio Pio road, and asked the Council to proceed with the work as expeditiously as possible. In reply the chairman stated that the plans and specifications for this work had been forwarded to the Engineer in Chief, and that as. soon as they were returned tenders would be called for the work. From the Commissioner of Crown Lands, Auckland, the following was received: —"Referring to your letter of the 27th November, a complete list of all stock and metal reserves within the county will be compiled as soon as possible with a view to seeing what further action is necessary in the direction desired by your Council." Mr G. Elliott, Mapiu, wrote stating that Maoris had been taking heavy loads over a bridge erected by himself on the road leading to his property, and that they had seriously damaged same. He asked the Council to assist with repairs. The Council decided that as the road in question was not a public one the Council could not expend any money on same. On the motion of Crs Berry and Were, a vote of thanks was passed to the chairman and clerk for the trouble taken when in Wellington re loan monies and other county matters.

It was resolved that the chairman and treasurer sign the debentures in connection with the OtorohangaPirongia loan and aitix the seal of the Council thereto. Resolved that tenders be called for metalling the Pirongia-Te Rau-mauka and Waitomo river road (Tawanui loan). Resolved that all surveyed roads in the county which are not legalised be dedicated and that this Council represent same to the chief surveyors of Auckland and Taranaki. The chairman outlined a scheme whereby counties similar to the Waitomo County should combine to deal with road grants.—lt was resolved that the chairman's idea be approved and that suggestions on the lines laid down be forwarded to the Ministe«- of Public Works.

On the motion of Cr Berry it was resolved that steps be taken to open up a road under the Waiteti viaduct in order to open up a metal pit, and also a scenic reserve. The engineer was instructed to report on same. It was resolved that Mr McLean's request to widen the Mangapohui road be left in the hands of Cr Johnston and the engineer to attend to, the sum to be expended not to exceed £SO.

The dog tax was fixed at 2s 6d for sheep and cattle dogs, and 5a for sporting and other dogs. The matter of the supply of collars was left in the hands of the clerk. Accounts amounting to £839 (is 7d were passed for payment. Engineer's Report.—Specifications have been forwarded to the Public Works Department for approval for widening Waitomo, Mokauiti, Pungarehu, Te Kumi and Arapae roads, and for metalling Te Kumi and Te Kuiti-Mokau- roads. The following have been returned approved:—

Widening Mokauiti, Pungarehu and Totoro, and for metalling Arapae, Pungarehu, Mairoa and Ngapaenga roads. Tenders have been called for the works on the Kiekie, Kaeaea, Kumara, Potaka and Totoro roads and with the exception of the Totoro road, which was above my estimate, the lowest tender in each case has been accepted. Tenders are now being called for metalling the Arapae, Pungarehu, Mairoa, and Ngapaenga

I Mr Rothery has made good progress I with his contract on the Hauturu- | Otorohanga road and Mr Cameron has four teams at work on his contract on the same road. The contractor for metalling on the Arapae roar] his made a start and will short'y have his crushing; plant on the ground. Green and Beattie should complete (heir contract during the week. The clearing out aid deepening the drains on the read near the racecourse will he finished this week. Two men are still employed repairing the Waiteti road. The grader, which had to stop work before Christinas on account of the wet weather has again been started on the Puketarata road.