OHURA COUNTY COUNCIL.

King Country Chronicle, Volume VI, Issue 460, 27 April 1912, Page 3

OHURA COUNTY COUNCIL.

The monthly meeting of the Ohura County Council was held in the Council Chambers on the 24th inst. There were present —Crs Loveday (chairman), Kelly, Sandison, Risk, Goldfinch, Currie, Lyons and Sowry.

Petitions were received from settlers in Matiera and Otangiwai ridings requesting the council to take the necessary steps to raise a loan to have the Matiere-Miroahuiao road metalled from the Matiere bridge to the junction of the Mangakahikatea road, amount of loan required being £22,500. H. Raitt wrote asking for recompense for accident received by him through council employees leaving the Whenuakura road unsafe.

Earl, Kent and Howarth wrote on behalf of Mr J. A. Bellshaw with reference to his contract to burn papa on the Waikaka-Rima road, pointing out the loss the contractor is under by the council not clearing the pits of the burnt papa, and notifying the council that he intends to hold them responsible for such loss.

The Minister of Public Works wrote with respect to the expenditure of Government grants. Copy of resolution passed by the council was received, protesting against the alleged waste of public grants, and that despite protest to the contrary the department persists in spending money on the railway reserve. He requests the council to supply him with particulars of the waste of money.—So far there is no record cf the council protesting against the formation of the road on the railway reserve, although such protests may have been made to the local officer.

Mairoahuiao - Matiere Road.—The full amount of the vote, £7OO, has been spent, and an additional £3OO has been authorised. The council's application for widening the southern end will be considered in the next Estimates.

The Commissioner of Crown Lands wrote requesting the council to state their reasons for requesting that the metal in the Mangaroa stream be invested in the council when their request will be forwarded to headquarters. A part of the river is bounded by private property and the centre of the river was the boundary, thus only half of the metal could be drawn on, which being Government property it was highly improbable the department could charge the county with royalty. The metal on the private property would have to be arranged fur with the owners. County Boundaries.—The Whangamomona Council wrote suggesting as a boundary the block line of blocks 5 and 6, and suggesting that the settlers interested petition the Whangamomona Council to that effect.

Kakahi Road Bridge.—The Minister is procuring a report on the bridges required, and will reply when considered.

It was resolved that the clerk and Cr Lyons reply to letter from the Minister of Public Works regarding the waste of money on works in the Ohura.

Mr D. Knight wrote requesting that slips on Waitewhena road be removed with the available thirds.—Resolved that the overseer visit the district and arrange for this work with the councillor for the riding. The road has been under construction by the Public Works Department, and the available thirds could now be spent with advantage. Mr E. Mossman wrote offering to purchase stringers on Waikaka road. —'Resolved that the matter be left in the hands of the overseer and councillor for the riding. Waitewhena Thirds. —Cr Risk drew the council's attention to the amount of thirds available from Mr Barnet's section.

The Public Works Department had widened the portions of road originally intended to be widened by the thirds; under these circumstances he would suggest that the Crown Lands Commissioner be approached to have the thirds made available for expenditure on other portions of the road. Waitewhena Metalling. The engineer's estimate was £28,500 for he total area, and the rate would be 6d in the[£ on the improved value, therefore the'subsidy required would be £2 for £1 if the metalling is to be gone on with. —Cr Risk moved that the Government be asked for a £2 for £1 subsidy on the proposed loan. —Carried.

Cr Lyons moved that the Minister be asked for a subsidy of £2 for £1 for the Matiere-Miroahuiao road, as the cost of metalling with burnt papa will be over £2O per chain, and will entail a heavy burden on the ratepayers. Overseer's Report.—The following contracts have been passed:—Bramble and Co., Lander and Co., Doolan and Co. I would request the council to cancel Mr Cribb's contract. Timber is ready to place in position for culverts on the Mokau-Matiere road. Two bridges on the Rima road require replanking immediately. More fascines are required for the slips on the Waikaka road. The work of clearing up the road from the Matiere bridge to the Whenuakura road was urgently required. Plans have been prepared for the work on the Mangaroa-Ton-gaporutu road. Widening was being i proceeded with on the Turoto road.

The notice of motion that the authority to expend ratesin surveying Mangaroa township be rescinded was lost. The voting was: For, Crs Loveday, Sowry, Goldfinch and Currie; against, Crs Sandison, Risk, Lyon and Kelly. It was resolved that the Public Works Department be urged to open up the Ryan road of which only ten chains remain to connect with the Ohura main road. It was decided that the two bridges on the Rima road be replaced and slips on the Waikaka be fascined and that the channelling on the Matiere road be proceeded with. The overseer was instructed to take proceedings against all owners of bullock teams found on the roads after May Ist throughout the county.