WAITOMO COUNTY COUNCIL.

King Country Chronicle, Volume VII, Issue 561, 23 April 1913, Page 5

WAITOMO COUNTY COUNCIL.

'-- The usual monthly meeting of the Waitomo County Council was held at Te Kuiti on Monday evening. There were present—Crs Scholes (chairman), Johnston, Gregg, Were, Berry, Smyth and Hoffman. Qkupata-Pekanui Junction. The Public Works Department wrote seating that an offer had now been made to the council for the expenditure of the grant of £647 2s 3d.—The engineeristated as an urgent reply was re quired he had replied that the council was unable to undertake the expenditure. He suggested the Kawhia County was more favourably situated to carry out the work. Assessment Court.—Mr W. Vicary, of Otorobanga, was appointed to represent the council at the forthcoming Assessment Court. Workman's Wageß. The Department of Labour wrote stating that a workman named Wilkes had informed the department there was an amount of £3 19s 7d owing to him for work aone on a contract for Mr Powell. Information concerning the matter was requested.—The clerk was instructed to reply disclaiming liability and explaining that the contract had been cancelled. i

Quarry Reserve. The Commissioner of Crown Lands wrote in respect to an application of the council for a quarry reserve on section 11. block 3, Orahiri, stating an area of 1 aure 1 rood and 35 perches had been set aside for quarry purposes and empowering the council to take possession thereoff or metal —Received.

Kio Kio East Roads.—W. Hudson, secretary of the Kio Kio Farmers' U nicn. wrote suggesting that river metal be used in preference to limestone.—Received.

Telephone Service. —Mr A. Williams wrote requesting permission to erect telephones wires along Kohua road, Owen road, and the road leading to Paeniako from Wairere. —On the motion of Crs O'Dwyer and Smyth the request was granted subject to the engineer's approval. Auckland Exhibition. The secretary of the Waikato, Thames Valley, and King Country court proposed to be held at the Auckland Exhibition, wrote requesting the council to be represented at the meeting of the Temporary Committee to be held at Hamilton on May Ist.—lt was resolved that the matter be l9 f t over till next meeting, i Otorohanga Pound Site.—The clerk of the • Otorohanga Town Council wrote requesting the chairman to visit Otorohanga and inspect a proposed pound site.—Resolved that the chairman and Cr Gregg meet the Otorohanga Town Council with a view to arranging the matter. Motor Traffic. Woodville, wrote enclosing the following resolution passed by the Woodville Borough Council and requesting f the council's support for the same: That in the opinion of this council the Government should impose a moderate tax on motor cars and motor cycles; that the proceeds of such tax be handed over to and expended by the local bodiies in maintaining and improving the roads affected by motor traffic a special board being set up to allocate the distribution of the proceeds of such tax a higher tax being imposed on cars plying for hire. — Resolved that the council takes no action in the matter at present. Te Kuiti Mokau Road.—C. J. Reed wrote drawing attention to a danger ous swamp near the eleven-mile peg on the road, and suggesting that the place be fenced —The clerk was instructed to reply stating the portion of the road in question was under the jurisdiction of the Public Works Department. Survey Fees. —H. M McAdam applied for a refund of balance of the survey fees for the survey of a road to R T 7113. The clerk was authorised to refund balance.

Fencing a Road. —W. B. McAdam and others wrote requesting the council to prevent Mr J. Clements from fencing across a road at Kopuru. The writers stated the fence would block their only outlet.—Received.

Mokau River.—The acting-clerk of the Awakino County wrote asking for the council's support of the following resolution : —"That thiß council urges its emphatic and unanimous opinion that the erection of an oil punt as a means of crossing over the Mokau river is not in the best interests of the district, and that the acceptance of tenders be deferred until the settlers have the opportunity "of expressing an opinion on the question. Received.

The Battleship Visit.—The . Mayor of Auckland wrote requesting the council to contribute towards the reception of H.M.S. New Zealand at Auckland. —Received.

Mangaotaki Road.—J. Lindßay wrote urging the necessity of work being done on the road.—The engineer said the matter was being attended to, and contracts for metalling were called. Mangarapa Loan.—The Public Trust Office forwarded resolutions and documents necessary in connection with the loan. The resolutions were passed. Honikiwi Contract. —Messrs Cameron and Brooking wrote.urging their claim for extras in connection with their contract. On the motion of the 2hairman and Cr Gregg it was resolved to reply that the council cannot entertain any claim for extras. Kie Kie-Kumara Loan. —A number of settlers wrote stating that as the engineer's report was against the original scheme they wished to withdraw their names from the petition. The clerk said he had instructions to go on and had taken the prelimi nary step*. Tin proper course for the objectors would be to lodge their objection in the usual way and have a magistrate's ruling on the matter. Cr Smyth said he Would strongly object to the council doing anything to meet the people who were complaining. The fact was they had done a good action at first and were now repenting of it. Let their objections be heard in the usual way.

Surfacemen.—Cr Johnston drew attention'lto the fact that the metalling on the Waitomo Caves road. He understood the Tourist Department would pay rjortion of the cost. Undoubtedly the road would require a surfaceman as the road was already showing signs of wear. .Personally he would like to see a married man employed. Action should be taken now. He suggested a man should be put on now and [later he could be paid out of the riding fund. The chairman said he understood the Tourist Department would be willing to pay half the cost of the maintenance of the road, and he would suggest the clerk should write and get the department's affirmation.—The clerk was instructed accordingly. Accounts to the amount of £5462 6s 6d were passed for payment.

ENGINEER'S REPORT

Owing to the recent spell of fine weather, a considerable amount of work has been done since your last meeting, on all contracts under the cbarge of the council, and I beg to report briefly as follows: Potaka. —Mr Lewis has now metalled about 33 chains on this road. Most of the metal used so far is river shingle, but the contractor has now a crushing plant in position, and will in a few days commence crushing and laying limestone. Totoro. —Messrs H'ckson and West have now metalled on this road a distance in patches, of about one and threequarter miles. Most of the metal has been laid on the longest lead from the quarry. Given fair weather conditions the contractors anticipate completing their contract this season. Mairoa.—The metalling and formation contract on this road, south of the Mairoa township, has, with the exception of a little trimming up, been completed. The same may be said of that portion north of the township. The total distance metalled on this road is 5 miles 30 chains.

Arapae Road.—Mr Innea has now nearly completed his first metalling contract on this road, and has his second well in hand. Mr Ormsby has now about one and a quarter miles metalled in his contract and should finish at an early date. Mr Rothery made a start with the metalling contract recently let to him on this road, and has com pleted about a mile. Good metal is being obtained. A start has been made by Messrs Scott and Forsyth with their bridge construction contract on this '■oad. I hope to have this road bridged and metalled throughout within the next two months, if the weather is favourable.

Hangatiki to Waitomo. Messrs Tarry and Cartwright continue to make good progress with their metalling contract on tßis road, and have now completed about 3 miles 10 chains. Mr Lawson is making fair progress with his contract, and should reach Waitomo with the metalling in the course of a few days. Caves Road. —Mr Ryan is now carrying on the uncompleted portion of Powell's contract, and has metalled about 23 chains. Waitomo Road.—Plans of a formation and metalling contract have been prepared on this road and submitted to the Public Works Department for approval. Pungarehu Road. —A contract has been arranged with Mr Rothery for completion of the gap in the dray road formation on this road. An attempt was made to get this work done by the settlers concerned, but the progress was unsatisfactory. Te RaumauKu Road. Messrs Phillips and Naylor have now completed their metalled contracts on this road. A total distance of 90J chains has been metalled. Wiwhakaata Road. Tenders were

invited for forming a distance of 57 chains on this road. The successful tenderer was Mr Ormbsy. Owaikura. —Plans and specifications were prepared and tenderß invited for A chains of formation on this road. Pukearuhe. —Plans and specifica-

tions were also prepared for widening and metalling a distance of 40 chains on the east end of this road. Te Kuiti-Awakino. Specifications have been prepared and tenders called for carting apawls to repair the portion of this road between the one and five mile pegs. A further 4 miles, of this road has been gazetted and handed over to this county.

Mangaotaki. Specifications have been prepared and tenders invited for metalling some of the worst places on this road. Maire Road. —A small contract was laid off and let on this road to extend the present formation as far as Mr Lawrie's section.

General —As instructed I interviewed the Borough Council's engineer concerning the metal being taken from the Te Kumi quarry for use on the streets in the borough, and came to a satisfactory arrangement.—Various works in connection with repairs have been taken in hand on several roads in different parts of the county, to put them in decent order for the coming winter. E. R. GOULD, County Engineer.