KAWHIA COUNTY COUNCIL.

King Country Chronicle, Volume VII, Issue 538, 1 February 1913, Page 3

KAWHIA COUNTY COUNCIL.

The ordinary meeting of the Kawhia County Council was held on Saturday, January 25th, when the following councillors were present: — Crs Shaw (chairman), Noonan, Kearns, Perham, Davies and Babbage. In reply to the council's letter in support of the Whakatane County Council's request that the cost of supervision of works undertaken with grant money should be allowed jto be paid out of the grant, the assistant Under - Secretary, Public Works Department, regretted that the council's application could not be entertained, as the Government is of opinion that where money is granted to local bodies to aid them in carrying out their functions in regard to road works, it is not unreasonable to expect them to at least provide the necessary administrative expenses.—Cr Noon an considered that as both the members of Parliament representing the district belonged to the Reform Party, the desirability of reform in this matter might well be brought under their notice, and he moved accordingly. The chairman objected to the wording of the motion, and moved as an amendment, "That this council express its regret at receiving such a reply from the Minister, and trusts that he will see his way to re-consider his decision, seeing that money is voted on the Estimates each year for supervision." Cr Perham supported the amendment, which was lost, and the motion carried.

Mr C. K. Wilson, M.P., forwarded a letter he bad received from the Minister for Public Works re votes for the Te Maika and Lemon Point-Te Maika roads, stating that if the council would forward its proposals for the expenditure of the unexpended balance of the votes, the same should be submitted to Cabinet to decide whether the money would be entrusted to the Council for expenditure.—lt was decided to ask Mr Wilson to ascertain why the department requires the plans, etc., before deciding to hand over the vote.

The clerk of the Waitomo County Council stated that his council had had no communication from the Public Works Department offering the grant for the Okupata-Pekanui road for expenditure.—lt was decided to communicate with the department again on the matter.

Engineer's Report. Since last meeting I have prepared plans and specifications in duplicate for widening one mile of Awaroa to Mahoe road and submitted the plans in three contracts to the district engineer for approval. I have also called tenders for the work to close at noon this day. I have also prepared plans for widening to 12ft, 14.50 chains of Taumatatotara East road, and one mile fifteen chains of Kaimango road. lam now engaged in preparing duplicate plans of Kaimango, and expect to forward them to the district engineer for approval at an early date. Duplicate plans of Taumatatotara East road were forwarded some days ago. My assistant is engaged in laying off further work on the Kaimango road, and will in a few days be doing similar work on Kihi road. Mr H. Swanson has completed his formation contract on Waitetuna to Aotea road, and very satisfactory work has been done. The widening and metalling work on the Kinohaku to Waiharakeke road has been completed, and about twelve chains of metaling Contract No 56, Kawhia to Marakopa river road. In J regard to this latter contract, it was found that by countersinking six inches into the rubble coating as speci-. fied, it practically cut through the rubble, originally twelve inches deep, and left the new metal with but a clay foundation, this not being advisable, I have arranged to have the metal laid without countersinking, and instead of the new metal being blinded with the rubble obtained by countersinking new binding will be obtained at half expense each to the contractor and the council. Messrs Murray and Love will shortly complete their formation contract on Okupata road, thus completing the whole of the formation work to be done on this road. Owing to the holiday's and the bad weather experienced at about New Year, very Blow progress waß made with the metalling work un Okupata road, but better progress is anticipated this month. Mr F. G. Stokes has ten teams now employed on the work and several more engaged to start at an early date. Messrs Davies and Schreiber Bros, now have sufficient men and teams employed to ensure the work being completed this summer. In regard to the latter, I have deemed it advisable to suspend the work of crushing the metal until better jaws for the crusher have been obtained or a screen provided. Of the jawß now in use three sets have been worn out in crushing less than 1000 cubic yards, and only the first 100 cubic yards crushed by each set could be classed satisfactory. If the new jaws now being obtained do not prove more satisfactory, the providing of a screen will be insisted on. Mr H. Swanson is now making better progress with his metalling'contract on Kawhia to Marokopa river road, and now bas nearly sufficient metal quarried, and has completed about ten chains. In regard to the road grader I have made further enquiries in refarence to the case and crate of plough parts lying in Wellington, and feel sure it is the grader. The amount of storage —£3 14s 6d —is not as much as was expected. I would advise that the ouncil take delivery of the machine before the amount of storage is increased An effort to have at least portion of the storage refunded by the manufacturers could be made later.— G. S. Gould, County Engineer. The report was adopted. The matter of the grader was left with the engineer to deal with. Mr C. C. Bagnall notified the council that he was not prepared to pay for the cost of the survey of a deviation iiri the road to his property.

Backblocks Local Bodies Association that the meeting of delegates would be held at Ohura on 29th inst. —The delegates appointed by the ruuncil regretted their inability to attend the conference owing to pressure of private business, it having been anticipated that the meeting would have been held earlier in the month. Cr Perham drew attention to the spread of noxious weeds in his riding. Cr Noonan said the ragwort was increasing at Te Rau-a-Moa. It was dc cided to draw the attention of the inspector to these localities. Cr Noonan moved that the engineer confer with the Public Works Department re improvements to the H auturu road and repairs to the PirongiaKawhia road. Cr Noonan mentioned the necessity for the completion of the road from Kawhia to Oparau ferry including the construction of a bridge over the Puti stream. —This matter is to be again brought before the Government. A suggestion by the chairman as to the purchase of an oil launch for use of the engineer did not meet with the support of the majority of the council.