AWAKINO COUNTY COUNCIL.

King Country Chronicle, Volume IX, Issue 746, 17 February 1915, Page 3

AWAKINO COUNTY COUNCIL.

The ordinary monthly u-eeting of the Council was held at Pio Pio on Saturday, the 6th of FebtuaTy. There were present Crs. Boddy (chairman),' Old, Patterson, Thorns and Tweedie. Correspondence was received from— The State Advances Office in connection with the Pomarangei loan, advising that the loan procedure could be taken in respect,of the full amount of the loan, but that the £4OOO required would have to be applied for in two instalments, one in the current year and one next year as the Board had resolved that loans to each local body be, for the present, limited to £2OOO. The clerk advised that he had made application for £2OOO. From the Department of Lands and Survey advising that the thirds due would he available about the end of January.—Received. From the Department of Public Works advising that portion of the Kairimu road, the Waipawa road, and portions of the Kiritehere road had been declared County roads. —Received.

From the Department of Lands and Survey enclosing a proposal from Mr Wouldes aa to how he wished his thirds to be spent —Left to engineer. From the Department of Public Works (1) in connection with an application made for a grant to be spent en the Kiritehere Rocks; (2) in reply to protest from the Council in connection with the building of a bridge over the Mangaohae stream on the Mahoanui-Kawbia ruad in preference to one over that stream on the Pomarangei road. —Received. Frtm the Department of Internal Affairs, asking for a return showing the number of psrsons whose names appear on the District Electors Roll of the County who (a) may exercise ®ne vote; (b) who may exercise two votes; (c) who may exercise three votes on a loan proposal.—Left to clerk to deal with. From Mr Ireriale, offering to defray the cost of covering in the drain in Briscoe street, Awakino. but disclaiming anv responsibiity in connection with Gribbon street. —On the motion of Crs Tweedie and Old it was rssolved that on receipt, of informatoin from the Lands Office as to the ownership of Gribbon street, Awakino, t,he clerk be instructed to obtain from such owner or owners a guarantee that they will indemnify the CounciL against any cost incurred through putting in pipes and covering in drain in that street.

Prom Mr Hally in connection with grant applied for for widening portion of the Mangakokopu ruad. From Messrs Kinnane, Lutd and Hally asking tnat the Council endeavour to get portion of the grant appearing on this year's Estimates for the Poraarangei road spent in widening and clearing Blips on the eastern portion of the road.—The clerk was instructed to make application to the Puhlic Works Department that a portion of the grant bs spent in this way. On the motion of Crs Patterson ana Thoms the clerk was instructed to write to the resident engineer, Stratford, asking him if ne would forward a plan showing how and where he proposes to expend the grant available on the Kiritehere Rocks so that the Council will be abl« to spend what they have available to suit and fit in with his work. On the motion of Crs Thoms and Patterson the clerk was instructed to write to the Minister for Public Works, asking him if hB will guarantee that there shall be paid to the Council next Snancial year the balance of subsidy due on the Waitanguru special loan, as the Council have the loan money in hand and are anxious to have the work completed, the Council being prepared to make provision for the subsidy if the Department will give this guarantee. On the motion of Crs Tweedie and Old the clerk was instructed to write the Minister for Public Works urging the necessity of immediate provision being made to improve the lower Waikawau road for which purpose thß Counil has already made application for a special grant of £IOO. On the motion of Crs Thoms and Old it waß resolved that the amount of the fee for the registration of dogs within the County for the year 1915 be aa folic ws:—For dogs kept solely for the purpose of herding or driving sheep or cattle, 2s 6d; for any other dog, 10s; and that after April 30th double fee shall be charged for cattle and sheep dogs. On the motion of Crs Boddy and Patterson the clerk was instructed to obtain a supply of labels for 1915 to be placed on collars obtained last year.

On the motion of Crs Patterson and Thorns it was left in the chairman's hands to arrange about obtaining furniture and a safe for the new offices. On the motion of Crs Old and Tweedie it was reßolved that a payment of £75 be made to the Waikato Hospital Board on account of the levy due for 1914-15. On the motion of Crs Boddy and Patterson the clerk was instructed to advise the Waitomo County Council that this Council is very willing to co-operate in any way to devise a scheme to facilitate the collection of rates, both Bpecial and general, from native owners of land. On the motion of Crs Patterson and Thorns it was resolved that a notice in accordance wth section 111, Bub-sec-tion Ik of "The Public Works Act, 1908," be seni to Mrs S. C. Wouldes to the effect that the Council intend taking metal for metalling the Kiritehere road f?em her property. On the- -motion of Crs Boddy and Tweedie the clerk was instructed to make application to the State Advances Office for what money will be required for present contracts in connection with the Kiritehere-Man-gakokopu special loan. It was resolved on the motion of Crs Boddy and Old that a special meeting of the Council be held on March 6th to finally determine the by-laws of the County.

Crs Tweedie and Thoma gave notice to move at the next ordinary meet ing of the Council that the motion "That £lO be voted to the Waitomo County Council for work done on the Mangaotaki road" be rescinded and that the money be spent by the engineer on that road provided the Waitomo County Council agree to this being done. Engineer's Report.—l have made plans an i specifications for the remainder of the Mahoenui-Kawhia road ■at Waitanguru, estimate of work herewith; I would suggest allowing for top-dressing the first part of the work with about 4 cubic yards per chain of rubble, if possible, that is Contract No. I.—Re Kiritehere Btock track: As we have not sufficient funds to make this track, I wrote the district engineer suggesting he subsidise the work to the extent of £SO (at ached is his reply). I can see no need for a dray road around here when the only section is served by the Waipawa road, but a stock track would be a convenience to many settlers if completed across the worst places allowing traffic to pass at, say, three-quarter tide. —Mangaotaki Suspension Bridge: I have examined the Mangaotaki suspension bridge and find it in a dangerous condition; temporary repairs have been made to the deck, etc., but the structure needs immediate overhauling urgently (report herewith). — Repairs: Some repair work is being carried out on the Mangaotaki road through the forest reserve. —Waipawa Road: Mr Rothery has commenced his contract on this road. The nest meeting of the Council will be held at Pio Pio on Saturday, March 6th, at 2.30 p.m.