WAITOMO COUNTY COUNCIL.

King Country Chronicle, Volume VII, Issue 527, 18 December 1912, Page 5

WAITOMO COUNTY COUNCIL.

The monthly meeting of the Waitomo County Council was held on Monday evening last, when there were present Crs Scholes (chairman), Johnson, Gregg, Were, O'Dwyer, Smythe and Berry. Inward correspondence wa3 dealt with as follows:

From the Post and Telegraph Department re telephone line along Arapae road, stating that the department would give this matter immediate attention.

From the acting district engineer re subsidies in connection with the Honikiwi loan, and asking for further information in connection with same. From the Paymaster-General, informing the council that the following sums had been paid to th« council's credit at the bank:—Widening Arapae road £427 10b, widening Te Kuiti-Te Kumi road £lO4 8s 6d, rs-forming Te Kuiti-Te Kumi road £269 0s Bd, widening Toturo road £149, widening Potaka road £l6O 15s, supplying and placing culvert pipes Arapae widening £lO5, forming and draining Kumara road £63 9s, widening Kaeaea road £9B 9s 3d, widening Make road £97, widening Pukearuhe road £62 18s 6d, formation Pagarehu road £7O 17s 6d, widening Tumutumu to Waitomo road £SO, widening Kie Kie' road £3O, grading and re-forming the Awakino road, ten miles Te Kuiti to Mukau east of Mangaotaki £l7l 13s 9d. From Mr Wm. Hudson, secretary Kio Kio branch of New Zealand Farmers' Union re level crossing at Kio Kio and asking whether the council would bear the cost of making same. —Resolved that the clerk obtain an estimate of cost of this crossing from railway engineer. From Mr W. Buck, re rates on section 68H, Rangitoto Tuhua, and also re road.—Received. Mr Alex. Mac Lean wrote re stray horses and cattle wandering in the Ahuroa road. Mr Mac Lean stated that he had referred the matter to the poundkeeper who had told him that he had no authority to deal with stray animals on this road.—After discussion the councillors agreed that this matter must be dealt with throughout the county before long. Mr F. D. Curboy wrote stating that he had no road to his section and asked the council to do something in the matter.—Received. Mr Geo. Petrie, of Aria, wrote to the council stating that if the council wished to use metal from his property, he asked for a royalty of 3d per yard, only surface metal to be used, the council to be responsible for all damage done by blasting.—The clerk mentioned that Mr Petrie had been informed that the metal in question was tieing take unfer the Public Works Act. A*. Gruickshank and Son, Otewa, wrote re account received from the council for rates, which they deemed unfair as they had no roads and considered that without, county roads rates should not be due.—Received. Messrs Transon and others wrote re charges made for dog tax suggesting that certain alterations should be made.—Received. The directors of the Waitunaura Dairy Co. asked the council to spend the grant for the Pungarehu road immediately, as they wished to cart their machinery for the factory.—Crs Were and O'Dwyer proposed that the £6B grant from the Pungarehu road be spent in widening from Jones' to Waitunguru township together with thirds available. —Carried. C' Major Lusk requested the council to form the Waipapa road as far as his property, the writer stated that this work could be done for £SO, some 70 chains.—This matter was left in the hands of the engineer to deal with. The county balance-sheet was received back from the Controller and Auditor-General, certified to. i Mr W. McAdam, on behalf of settlers of the Kakapuku district waited upon the council re roaj into their district. They asked for a surveyed road, as at present their access was constantly being changed from place to place. Mr McAdam stated that from eight to ten settlers were affected.—On the motion of Crs Gregg and Johnson it was resolved that a Governor's warrant ba obtained, the settlers interested giving the usual undertaking as to cost of survey.

The action of the chairman in accepting tenders for the Waitomo ruad was approved. Cr Berry moved that a bonus of £2O be voted to the clerk. Cr Berry stated that his reason for proposing this was that the clerk had worked lately without assistance, and had consequently had very long hours. Seconded by Cr Smyth and carried. Tenders as follows were received for widening the Arapae road:—H. Rothery £326 19s, H. Carr £330 Bs, Summerfield and Co. £384 9s, John Smith £391 7s 2d.—Matter left in hands of engineer. Cr Gregg brought up the matter of work required on the OtorohangaPirongia road. —Resolved that money available be spent on this road, the clerk to raise 10 per cent, on the loan. / Backblocks Association.—Proposed by Crs Were and Gregg that the chairman and Cr Berry be appointed delegates to attend the next meeting of the association to represent the council. Accounts amounting to £2037 17s 9d were passed for payment. ENGINEER'S REPORT.

Te Kuiti to Te Kumi.—A fresh start haa been made with the metalling of this road. The greater portion of this road, as you are aware, runs through wet and swampy country with virtually no foundation for metal. We decided, therefore, to pave the worst places with limestone spawls, ai.d lay nine inches of metal and screenings on when the road bed is formed. These portions are now being done while the weather js fine, in order to add to the efficiency of the work, and

tract on this road. Mr Donaldson, Government road engineer, and myself inspected the work a few days ago, and it was decided to revert, to a certain extent, to the original specification, that is, to put down ten inches of limestone metal and top dress it with two inches cf fine crushings rubble or shingle, tenders to close today have been invited for forming the gap in the dray road formation on the road.

Mairoa. The formation contract let to Mr Rothery on this road is now nearly completed, and a good- job is being made of the work. Pungarehu. —A start by Mr Rothery has also been made with that portion of his metalling contract which is on this road, and a distance of about 20 chains has been completed. Te Kuiti to Molsau.—The contract in hand by Mr McGrath for metalling a portion of this road near the 17-mile peg has been started. The pit has been stripped and all arrangements made for carting and spreading the metal.

Totoro Road.—Messrs Hickson and West have made a start with their metalling contract on this road. About 100 cubic yards of stone has been spawled, and a portion of the road formed ready for metalling which it is proposed to commence immediately after the holidays. Paerkoko. About 20 chains of 6ft formation has now been completed by Mr Keighley on his contract on this road.

Hangatiki to Waitomo. —Since last meeting Contract No. 2 for metalling two and three-quarter miles on this road has been let to Mr J. Lawson, who will start immediately after the holidays. The contractors for No. 1 contract have their crushing plant in position and all necessary arrangements made to start metalling this week.

Hautur-u-Otorohanga.—l inspected, in company with Mr Worthington, Public Works overseer, the metalling contracts in hand on, this road. Mr Rothery, who expects to complete his contract before the holidays, is makine a good job of the work, both in the quantity and quality of metal put on road. Mr Cameron has made a fresh start with his contract. He appears to be putting on the auantity required, but there is room for improvement in the quality supplied. However, now that the river is going down better metal will be obtainable. Caves Road. —Mr Powell is going along steadily with his metalling contract on this road. He intends shifting his crusher to a more convenient position during the holidays, after which he expects to make better progress. Kio Kio.—l have had the grader on this road, and on the road giving access to Mr Kells' section during the last fortnight. Although a distance of two miles has been widened and improved Kawa Bridge. I have amended the specification for the construction as instructed by the Public Works Department, to make, the contract as between the County Council and the contractor. Have also invited tenders and arranged for the plans and specifications to be exhibited at the Public Works office in Auckland and Wellington. General.—l should like the council to give a ruling or affirm as a principle, "That all maintenance or construction works should he carried out either directly or indirectly under the supervisions of the engineer," otherwise it will be a difficult matter to administer the council's affairs justly and effectively.