KAWHIA COUNTY COUNCIL.

King Country Chronicle, Volume VII, Issue 589, 30 July 1913, Page 7

KAWHIA COUNTY COUNCIL.

The ordinary meeting of the Kawhia County Council was held on July 19th, there being present Crs W. J. Shaw (chairman), Norton, Noonar, Kearns, Perham and Babbage. CORRESPONDENCE.

The district engineer, Public Works Department, considered that the heavy expenditure entailed by a deviation of the Kawhia-Aotea road was not granted by the present traffic, and that nothing should be done until the Lands Department decides what roads are required in connection with the opening up of the Moevangi block. The Under-Secretary, Public Works Department, stated that the vote for the Okupata-Pekanui road had been authorised to the district engineer for expenditure, and the latter hoped to have the formation work put in hand in about a fornight.

The Under-Secretary, Public Works Department, stated that the vote for the Taumatatotra West road had been authorised to the district engineer for expenditure, end two parties of men were now engaged on the road. The district engineer stated that he was anxious to have the work of erecting Norton's bridge on the OketePakihi road carried out, but until the exact boundaries of Mr Norton's sections were settled the work could not be put in hand. Mr J. A. Young, M.P., promised to endeavour to obtain as much as possible of the grants applied for by the council.

Mr C. K. Wilson, M.P., also promised to assist in this matter. Mr Wilson also suggested early application for any loans that may be required by the council. Mesras Young and Wilson, M's.P., acknowledged receipt of a petition from the settlers urging the completiion of the Kawhia-Oparau road, and promised to approach the Minist r on the matter.

The Under-Secretary, Lands Department, promised that the matter of Betting a=>ide certain landing reserves on the Aotea harbour would receive the attention of his department.

The Native Minister wired that he had brought the matter of the typhoid outbreak among the Maoris under the notice of the Minister for Public Health. Dr Pomare wired to the same effect.

The Te Awamutu Chamber of Commerce asked for the council's co-opsra-tion in requesting the Prime Minister to take steps to avert the ever-recurr-ing fatalitL-s at railway crossings.—lt was decided to support the application. ENGINEER'S REPORT.

Since making my last report I have prepared duplicate plans for widening 73 chains of Lemon Point-Te Maika road in two contracts. Tenders were j invited for the work and the following have been received :—Contract No. 69: Randall and Devitfc £157 16s 6d, Thompson and Crotty £l5O 1-is Sd, Gray and Co. £lO9 4s 3d (accepted) ; Contract No. 70: Thompson and Crotty £282 Ms 7d, F. Goddard £265 5s lid, Randall and Devitt £262 16s (accepted), Gray and Co. £143 10s 9d (withdrawn). I have also prepared plans in duplicate for widening one mile of Waitetuna to Aotea road, and I have called tenders for the work to close on Wednesday, 23rd inst. Messra Davies and Schreibsr Bros, have completed their metalling contract on the Okupata road excepting the napping of a few large surface stones on portions of the work; about six adn a half miles of this road has now been metalled. Messrs Love and Co. have completed their work on Kaimango road, and the works on Kihi and Kawhia to Marokopa river roads are proceeding satisfactorily. Slow progress is being made by the contractors on Kauri road, but gocd work is being done. Messrs Scott and Forsyth have completed the- erection of the Te Maika launch landing, and are now engaged on the landing and shed at Kiwi Bay, which they expect to complete in two or three days from date. They will then erect the bridges on Wbakapjrau road, and will after buil3 the shed and steps at Awaroa. In regard to the re-erection of the leading beacon on Motu Island, a severe earthquake was experienced shortly after the legs had been erected and before bracing and other timbers had been laid on, and in consequence the totara in the top portion gave way, and the beacon again fell to the ground. 1 have since procured more Oregon pine and it is being again erected, and will be completed in a few days G. S. GOULD, County Engineer. The report was adopted. The estimates of receipts and expenditure for the current year were considered. The ratable value of the County was found to have been considerably increased by the recent valuation. Certain councillors were in favour of striking the lftd rata the same as last year, as additional main tenance would be required in view of the fact that there were now mora formed roads. Other councillors were of opinion that a reduced rate would meet requirements as it would still bring ir more than the 3Jd rate under the old valuation.—-It was finally decided to strike rates as follows in the different ridings:—Kawhia Ud Matakowhai, lid, Oparau 1-Jd, Te Kauri 1 id, Awaroa ljd, Waiharakeke lid, Taharoa lid. Cr Noonan mentioned the matter of the formation of the Ngutunui-Kawa road. This road is in the Waitomo County, but when formed, will be of considerable benefit to the settlers in portion of this county. He thought it might strengthen the hand of the I Waitomo County Council in applying ! for a grant if a ietter were written to that council asking them to apply for such a grant. —It was decided that the letter be sent. The chairman suggested th»t the delegates appointed to wait on the Ministers at the time of the Counties' Conference, should do so before the conference commerced as; the Ministers would not then be so busy with deputations as afterwards. In order to permit of this it would be necessary to hold the next meeting of the council

on August 9th, instead of 16th.--It was decided lo alter the data of the meeting accordingly and that each councillor should forward to the clerk for the information cf the deputation, any particular matter which he wished attended the deputation. It was resolved to bring under the notice of the Public Works Department the urgent need of repairs to the Waiharakeke bridge, two of the piles of which have collapsed. In reply to a question by Cr Noonan, the clerk stated that the cost of administration of the county was slightly under 2 per cent, of the total expenditure.