COUNTY BOUNDARIES.

King Country Chronicle, Volume VIII, Issue 661, 18 April 1914, Page 7

COUNTY BOUNDARIES.

WAITOMO DEPUTATION TO WAIPA COUNTY COUNCIL.

At the last meeting of the Waipa County Council at Ohaupo, Mr John Fisher presiding, a deputation, consisting of Messi'3 John Oliver and F. ML Dodd, was received in support of the following petition, which was signed by 15 settlers:—"We. being ratepayers of the Waitcmo County, respectfully request that steps be taken immeditely to have included in the Waipa County that area of land at present situated within the Waitomo County, bounded as follows: Commensing at the junction of the Puniu and Waipa rivers, thence south, following the Waipa river to the junction of the Mangawhero stream, thence south-east by the said stream to the northern boundary of Kakepuku, No. 9 B 5; thence to the south-western corner of section 3, Block 9, Puniu Survey District; thence along the southern boundaries of sections 3.4,5 and C, Block 9, Puniu Survey District, to the western boundary of the West Tsupo County to the commencing point." Mr Oliver said a meeting had been held a few nights previously in favour of this small "peninsula" being taken from the Waitomo County. Their whole interests lay for all time in Te Awamutu, and they therefore petitioned to be incorporated in Waipa. With regard to the other portion, from Waitomo boundary, to Puriu, he understood from the Bettlers that they were also willing, providing the Waipa Council were, to be incorporated in the Waipa County. They—the petitioners—had really no connection to the south of the boundary. In reply to questions, Mr Oliver further 'stated that there was metal there for all time, a good asset, which would supply the whale of the Waikato. The country proposed to be taken in was easy, and would be no tax on the county.

Mr Dodd said the area referred to was practical y all under European occupation at present. There were small sections oi native land, but the land owned by natives was nearly ali leased to Europeans, who were paying rates. In a short time, he thought, there would be no native held land at all.

In reply to Cr McGhie, Mr Oliver said the settlers were unanimous, and, answering Cr Bryant, he said there was no serious need for bridges or culverts on uny road within the area.

Cr Alexander said the position was that all the settlers used the Waipa roads, and practically none of them used the Waitomo roads. There were no bridges to speaK of. The settlers would like to be in a position to help themselves, by rating themselves Until they were in that position they would have to struggle throught he best way they could.

Cr Teasdale said there was no doubt that their communication lay towards Te Awamutu. When they got the bridge built across the Puniu, Te Awamutu subscriaed one-third. Without the norticn of West Taupo, they had nothing before) them, as they could not ba made a riding without that portion of West Taupo being included. It was a. large question. Waipa was now a very large county, and it was a question whether it would be wise to go into it. The district was getting to be fairly well populated, and it was time something was, done. The Government were making a re-valuation of the whole of West Taupo County, and it would be wrong for the council to agitate for that portion coming into Waipa at the present moment. A valuation had not been taken for eight years, and the difference shown would be surprising. The Chairman: Is it not the case that some f»f the West Taupo settlers were averse to their county being broken up ? Cr Teasdale: Yes.

Cr Alexander moved that the matter be further considered at next meeting, when the petition from the West Taupo County would be before tbem. He thought the district "would make a valuable riding. The settlers did not want to depend on doles and grants the same as the rest of Waitomo. They paid no rates in West Taupo, but they did in Waitomo. Cr Ryburn seconded. This, he thought, was a matter no council could lightly discuss. Tbey had an enormous ratable value, as well as a big population. The chairman said he believed that ultimately, if some such proposal was agreed upon, they might influence the Government to give them a slice of West Taupo. They had never been rated except for hospital rates, and some cf them did not like the idea of being' rated. Cr Teasdale: We are getting on very well with the Government Laughter. The motion was then unanimously agreed to, the deputationists undertaking to furnish information with regard to valuation, and plans of the riding proposed to be taken in, in time for next meeting.