WAITOMO COUNTY COUNCIL.

King Country Chronicle, Volume VIII, Issue 670, 20 May 1914, Page 5

WAITOMO COUNTY COUNCIL.

The usual monthly meeting of the Waitomo County Council wai held on Monday evening. There were present Crs Scholes, chairman, Johnston, Gregg, Were, Berry, Sraytb.O'Dwyer, and Potts.

Kumara Road. —The Resident Engineer wrote asking the Council's intention regarding a loan for metalling.— The clerk said be had written explaining the position.

Kotokutuku Road. —The Resident Engineer wrote asking the Council's intentions regarding tho expenditure of £l5O grant on this road—The clerk said he had written stating the Council would submit proposals for the expenditure in tha course of five or six weeks. If the matter was urgent arid the Department could put the work in hand before tho date specified, it Would be advisable to do so.

Third's Expenditure. —Mr P. Rhodes, Mangapehi, wrote enclosing a letter from the Under-Secretary of Lands, concerning the expenditure of thirds on Block X, Mapara survey district, and asking that work shuuld be done. The settlers would be willing to provide the labour if the £2B 15a of thirds in hand was devoted to the work.—The engineer said he was doing what he could in the matter and was visiting the locality as soon as possible. Farm Workers' Homes. Major Lusk, president of the Auckland Provincial Farmers' Union, wrote regarding an application by Messrs Eriksson and Mac Donald and othera in the Waitomo County for the Government to nrovide small sections and dwellings for farm workers, and asking what communication the County had with the Minister of Lands in the matter, and if any result had been achieved. The writer stated the Union, which had originated the proposal, had heard nothing. —The clerk was instructed to reply that the matter had not been dealt J with by the Council.

Mapiu Reads.—A. V/. King wrote with repsect to the cutting up of the roads by straying cattle. Mr P. Clark, secretary of the Tansitu Settlers' Association, wrote on the same subject.—Left in the hands of the Engineer.

West Taupo County. —Mr W. Irvine, secretary of the Taringamutu Settlers' Association, wrote asking for information concerning the Waitomo County in view of the Hettlera Slaving to consider the advisability of ihe district becoming incorporated with an adjoining County.—The clerk said he had replied giving the required information.

Gates on Road.—Mr W. E. Fullerton wrote objecting to th 9 erection of gates on the Tapuae road. —Received. Kakepuku 9 B 3 A. —Messrs Cox and Luxford wrote requesting to know if the Council contemplated making a road across portion of the section mentioned and if the land was being taken under section 101 of the Public Works Act.—Received. Msneaoronpia Road.—The secretary of the Education Board wrote enclosing a letter from the Mangaoronga branch of the Farmer}' Union asking that steps be taken to have the road formed from the Maihiihi road to the Rangiatea school. —The clerk was instructed to reply that the roadß in that district were still under the jurisdiction of the Public Works Department. Indemnity for Accident.—Messrs Mackay and Jonea wtote with respect to insuring against accident through bad roads.—Received. Manga-itaki Thirds. —Mr J. R. Daly wrote with reßpact to balance of thirds on the Mangaotaki road.— The matter was left over till next meeting. Heavy Traffic.—Mr Earl wrote requesting particulars regarding the regulations.—The dark was instructed to reply. Road to Te Kopua.—Cr Potts said in respect to the taking of the roaS it was desired to know in the case of native land which had been freeholded whether compensation was to be paid.—The chairman *aid the fact of the land being freehold made no difference. It as on the same footing as ordinary native land. Kawa Bridge Approaches.—The engineer said he had sent in plans and specifications for the construction of the approaches to the bridge, but bad received no reply, though he had written requesting the same from the Department. He suggested that the Council should call for tenders for the work. The approaches had to be done in order to make the bridge of any use and if the Government did not do the work the Council would have to take it in hand. It was decided to endeavour to get an early repiv from the Department. Pungarehu Road. —Two tenders received for the metalling coontract on the Pungarehu road were considered too high, and neither was accepted.— It vsas decided to leave the matter in ] the hands of the chairman and the engineer. Aria Metal Reserve.—The engineer poinced out that in his investigations for the purpose of securing the metal outcrop on Mr Veitch's section on the Aria-Ohura road it was discovered that the metal had been reserved to the natives in consequence of it having been used as a burial ground. He said the obtaining of portion of the reserve was of very great importance and urged that an effort should be made to acquire a portion of the reserve. —On the motion of Crs Smyth and Berry it was decided to approach the Native Department with a view to acquiring a portion of the reserve.