KAWHIA COUNTY COUNCIL.

King Country Chronicle, Volume VII, Issue 571, 28 May 1913, Page 5

KAWHIA COUNTY COUNCIL.

The ordinary meeting of the Kawhia County Council waa held on the 17th inst., when the chairman, Mr W. J.Shaw, presided over a full attendance. Mr J. A. Young M.P., attended this meeting for the purpose of conferring with the Council prior to the opening of Parliament as to the requirements of the district.

Inward Correspondence.—The Customs Department stated that the question of placing machinery for the use of local bodies on the free list would be considered by the Minister. Information was received from the Marine Department to the effect that a complete survey of the harbour would probably cost £SOO but a survey to afford information regarding a suiable railway terminus might be had for £2OO. This matter was referred to Mr Young. The Minister of Public Works regretted that he would be unable to visit Kawhia for the purpose of opening th* Oparau Ferry Bridge. The Public Works Department stated that on the District Engineer's report he must adhere to his decision to widen the Mangapohue road to 12ft only in place of 14ft. The Department telegraphed that on the representation of Mr Wilson, M.P., he would authorise a further grant of £250 for the Awaroa-Mahoe road on the understanding that this sum would complete the road. It was decided to point out to the Minsiter that the £250 would complete only the portion already laid off by the council. As the outcome of an application for the provision of road accesß to a block of native land, it was resolved to circularise the county councils interested with a view to obtaining concerted action to bring about a change in the existing law regarding the roading of native lands, and to protest against the action of Native Land Courts and Maori and Boards in permitting transfers of native property without legal access. Mr C. K. Wilson, M.P., forwarded a list of votes on the Estimates for the Kawhia County with the amounts expended. The County Engineer having also prepared a statement it was decided to publish both, that the public might compare them. The Council's grievances in connection with the administration of these votes by the Department were laid before Mr Young, who promised to place them before the Minister at the first opportunity. Noxious Weeds on Native Lands. —As no notice appears to be taken by the inspectior of the spread of noxious weeds from native lands, the Council decided to place the matter before the Minister.

Qkupata-Pekanui road. The Government is to be asked to expedite the expenditure of the grant for the Okupapa-Pekanui *oad. Landing Reserves, Aot«a Harbour. —The matter of providing suitable landing reserves at various points on the Aoeta'Harbour is to be brought before the Government, in view of the opening of the Moerangi Block. Engineer's Report—Since marking my last import plans and specifications of contracts No. 44 and 67, Kihi road, and o. 8, Kuri road, have been approved by the District Engineer. Proposals for expendiure of all available Government grants have now been approved, and the whole of the works have been put in hand. The fol lowing tenders for road works were received during the period:—Contract No. 24, Kawhia to Marokopa river road, F, Eshelby, £2BO 19a 6d; J. A. Thompson, £227 17s; F. Goddard, £221 7s Bd, accepted. Contract No. 68, Kauri road: Murray and Langley, £64 4s 4d; P. McDonagh, £52 ISs; L. M. Carnachan, £49 19s; H. D. Salvation, £45 18s. accepted. Good progress has been made on all wor.;s. Contract No. 64, Tamatatara East road, has been completed, and also No. 55, Kauri branch road, and No. 67, Kihi road. The 73 chains of widening and metalling on Awaroa to Mahoe road is nearly completed, and good work has been done Of the two contracts on Kaimango road one has been completed, and work on the other is well advanced. Contract No. 24 on Kawhia to Marokopa road has been commenced, and fair progress is being made with the work. The metalling of the Okupata road has been proceeding satisfactorily. Mr F.G. Stokes has completed his contract No. 35, and a portion of No. 36, a total distance of three miles 34.50 chains. Messrs Davies and Schreiber Bros, have not maintained their usual progress this month, and still some 50 chains of their contract to complete. About six miles of this road has now been metalled. Plans and specifications of contract No. 26, in continuation of No. 24, Kawhia to Marokopa road, were approved by the District Engineer some time ago, but there wa* no free grant available for the work. Recently monetary authority for £B7 6s 6d (£ for £) has been issued, it I being necessary for the Council to provide a similar sum to carry out the work. 1 require instructions before proceeding with the contract. In regard to the Public Works Department re expenditure of proposed grant for Waitetuna to Aotae road, 1 have been advised, in reply to my intima tion that the Council were willing to expend the whole or any portion of the grant, that when formal offer is made the grant may be expended under the usual conditions. Formal I offer has not yet been made, but my assistant is now making an engineering survey of the road preparatory to preparing plans, etc., of the work. Now that the Oparau stream bridge has been completed, Messrs Scott and Forsyth propose to proceed with the building of the launch landings and sheds aboout the harbour. The moorings, buoys, and anchor chains have been procured for buoying the Kinohaku Channel, and will be placed in position oy Messrs Scott and Forsyth while on their way to erect the Kiwi Bay landing. Sixty head of cattle were shipped from Lemon Point Wharf laßt month, and shipping facilities at the wharf proved very satisfactory, except that the crush at the end of raee would not accommodate large bullocks, only a slight alteration

is neceflßary, which will bo effected by th e contractors. The accommodation in the new yards was Sufficient for more than 60 head, which is about equal to a lull consignment. In regard to my recommendation in December last in reference to thesurvey and improvement of the Kiwhi-Aoaei road, 1 beg to mention that nothing further|has been heardjffrom the Minister since his promise to have a report furnished on the matter. I would strongly recommend further effoits being made to have this matter at tended to, as an alteration in places of the present line of road will soon i be necessary, and it is desirable that 1 all moneys in future be spent on a permanent line. The Waiteika crossing has become so bad as to be almoßt impassable to vehicualr traffic, and most dangerous to all traffic, and the only effective means of improvement would be to construct a road along the foreshore, and this would not be advisable until the permanent line of road was established, so that any moneys for this road in future cuuld be spent on ermpanent work. The work of removing the crane at Awaroa landing has been completed, and also the clearing of all willows overhanging the river from the road reserve. The stops for the lower landing are now being prepared to be placed in position when the Bhed is being built. The access road to Oparau landing shed has been metalled, and repairs have been made on Kawhia to Aotea an other roads. Since your last meeting a county launch haß been obtaioned, and has been used extensively in the work of the council, and given every satisfaction.