WAITOMO COUNTY COUNCIL.

King Country Chronicle, Volume VIII, Issue 644, 18 February 1914, Page 5

WAITOMO COUNTY COUNCIL.

The ordinary meeting of the Waitomo County Council v/aa neld at Te Kuiti on Monday evening. There were present Crs Scholes (chairman). Johnston, Gregg, Were, Smyth, O'Dwyer, and Potty Loans Granted.—The Advances Department wrote intimating that the loan of £6OO t.i build the Mungapu bridge hud been finally granted. A similar communication was received with respect to the loon, of £330 to complete the metalling of portions of the Totoro and Potaka roads. The same department wrote intimating that the extra 10 per cent, of £7O on thn Otorohanga-Pirongia road and the Pur.garehu loan of £2OOO were granted, and directing the Council's attention to section 63 of the Local Bodies Loans Act. 1913, which requires that every loan granted under that part of the Act shall be paid over to t e local authority within twelve months after the date of granting the ] oan _ In connection with the last mentioned letter the clerk said there was a possibility of an awkward poaition arising. It might be held that the department need not pay out the loan for twelve months.— The chairman said the matter would have to be further gone into otherwise the Council would be confronted with a very awkward position. Hauturu-Otorohanga Road. The Under-Secretary for Public Works wrute enclosing a gazette notice declaring the Otorohanga-Hauturu road to be a county road. N Kell's Road.— S. J- Lithgow wrote asking for relief in respect to access to his section at Kio Kio. The native track which ho used had been fenced off and the gate locked. He had broken through the gate and was threatened with court proceedings.— The clerk said he had replied to the effect that the Council was making arrangements to have a road surveyed giving access to the section affected, and a bond was being prepared by Messrs Broadfoot and Finlay. County solicitors, which the settlers would be required to sign. Aa soon as the bond was signed application would be made to the chief surveyor for authority to make the survey.—Cr Gregg said the warrant to survey the road was to have been applied for some months ago.—The engineer said the matter was delayed for a time because it was desired to lay down a scheme of roading which would serve the district generally. The warrant would be applied for as soon as possible when the bond was signed. Excessive Valuation.—J. J. Walker wrote intimating that a mistake had been made in respect to the area of Rangitoto-Tuhua section 29C No. 2G, there being only 264 acres in the last survey, and the valuation was about £2OOO too much.—The clerk said the error had been rectified.

Straying Stock. —J. A. Menzie wroto complaining of a'oek straying on the road at Mapiu.—The clerk a.iid ho had nntified Mr Guinan, the owner of the cattle, and had received a reply stating the section was being fenced and the stock would be kept within bounds.

Statutory Holiday.—The clerk of the Otorohanga Town Council wrote r?q'iesting information as to the day fixe;) by the county for the statutory half-holiday —The clerk said he had written intimating that the County Council had not discussed the quesiton for the past two years The Council had no power to fix different days for different portions of the county and as Saturday was the day fixed it remained the same. He suggested the Town Cowncil should endeavour to get legislation passed empowering Native Town Councils to deal with the holiday question apart from the county.—The chairman of the Ofcorohanga Town Council wrote requesting that the Council should have Saturday gazetted ns the half-holiday. He enclosed a petition signed by eight persona requesting that Wednesday should be fixed as the day and a counter petition bearing fifteen signatures requesting that Saturday should be the holiday. Otorohanga - Pirongia Road. A petition signed by E. S. Fettit and several others was received requesting that thirteen chains of metalling should be done on the road while the metal carts were handy. —Left in tho hands of the engineer. Kawa Swam)) Roar'. —A. W. Blennerhasaett wrote requesting the Council to bear portion of the cost of a drain on the road. —On the motion of Cra Greii'g and Potts it was resolved that the amount of £25 be voted towards the cost of drains.

Oparurn Waitomo Track. —Davis Bros, wrote regarding the completion of the track between Oparure and Waitomo —L.eft in the hands of the engineer".

Gates on Road.—R. H. McKenzie wrote asking permission to erect gates on the Kiekie road, Aria, as it was impossible to fence at present owing to the slippery nature of the country. —Granted subject to tho usual conditions.

Slaughtering License. —G. Andrews applied for the Council's assent to the issue of a license for him to slaughter.—Approved. Engineer's Report.—The engineer's report, as read was adopted, and appears on page 2 of this issue.