Kawhia County Council.

Kawhia Settler and Raglan Advertiser, Volume IV, Issue 250, 23 March 1906, Page 2

Kawhia County Council.

ORDINARY MEETING. The usual meeting ot tbs above held on Sa’urday last, when were present—Cre W. W. M'Cacfll (chairman), H. Armstrong, H. G. G. Jonathan. The minutes of the lust meeaM were read and confirmed.

correspondence. From W. Lirenz, Te Rm-a-moa, " stating that he did not own a property for which he was rated, as he hid sold it to Mr La Prou.— Attended to. From Harold Kendrick, Hauturu, stating that he did not understand rating notice as he had been informed the rating was on unimproved value. Ar the period was from July, 1905, to March, 1906. there w mid be only a proportionate amount due, for eight months. a& otherwise it would eppear as if the Council was levying for a period when it was not in existence. Tt Boomed strange thxt one shniill be a-ked to pay taxes on the Governments value on the prooorty in addition to one’s own.—The Clerk remarked that he had replied to the eff cfc that the unimproved value would apply to the next rating period. —Cr Babbage ’said that there was a little confusion amongst r&A>payers owing to the rate demands bsing sent out so late. The council struck a rate of so much in the £ for the financial year, not for 12 months, the present rate thus being for only eight months. —Received.. From L. Kearns, dog tax collector, informing council that the Maoris declined | fc o pay the tax, and asking if he con Id summons for recovery.— Cr Armstrong stated that some of the natives had paid their taxes to the Maori Council, but now they would ( have to pay the taxes to the Kawhia - County-. The best way to settle the matter was to issue a summons or two. —Received. From Secretary Kawbia Harbour Lawn Tennis Club, asking that improvements be made to the track to the courts at Te Puru.—Motion. From J. Davies and Sons, Oparau, asking council to take immediate steps to stop cattle grazing on the roads, as the District Roads Engineer had stated that he would not spend another shilling on their road as the work would be destroyed by wandering cattle. A fence that had been erected asross the road required removing. They also wanted the thirds due to their and Mr Dickson’s section spent on permanent work east of the Omanawa bridge.—Cr Armstrong understood that Mr Davies, senr., intended to wait on the council in person, and suggested leaving the matter over to enable him to do so.—Agreed to. From John W. Stewart, solicitor, Auckland, forwarding tracing of roads on Lemon Point, and stating that if the roads were formed to the satisfaction of the council he would have them dedicated.—The Chairmen said that the grade of the road along the coast was an easy one, whilst it was the main road to other roods at Kinohaku. The road through the section could not be taken over owing to the grade being too steep.—Ur W. Shaw : When the beach road is formed we will take it over.—The Chairman: As it will be a benefit to settlers we might take it over at once.—Cr H. Shaw : It is the only road to deep water, and is of greater benefit to the settlers than it is to Mr Wright.—Cr W. Shaw queried whether the fact of the council taking it over would hinder the Government ■ spending money on it. Crs Babbage and Armstrong favoured getting Mr Wright to form it before it was taken over.—Cr W. Shaw: The Government are making a road towards Kinohaku which will be useless unless we get a connection with Lemon Point, which will eventually be our outlet I believe the Government would construct this road.—Motion.

From Postal Department, stating that ab present the revenue received from the offices was uot sufficient to warrant a tri-weekly mail service between Kawhia and Pirongia, the pre sent service being run at a loss. When tenders for the general mail contracts for the next triennium were being invited (about next July) the question would be again considered.—Received. From Department of Roads, Wallington, stating there was no public road along the foreshore between Kawhia and Karewa, it being simply a native track.—-Motion.

From Same, relative to information as to what steps should be taken to acquire land along the foreshore, stating that if the land was held under title fr-m the Crown it would have to be ta en under the “ Public Works Act, 1905,” and if under a native title it would then have to be taken as set forth in section 89 of the same Act. In either case it would be necessary to obtain a plan in duplicate of the road, certified to as correct by the chief surveyor of the district.—The Chairman remarked that the roads could be acquired under section 245 of the “ Counties Act.” He had brought these matters before the Commissioner recently.—Motion. From Marine Department, Wellington, as follows :—Adverting to your letter of the 15th August last, in which you ask that your council m»y be invested with the powers of a Harbour Board in respect ot Kawbia Harbour, I have the honor, by direction of tho Minister of Marine, to state that in the case of harbours where there are ‘Harbour Boards, those bodies have to control and maintain the wharves, lights and other works in connection with the harbours, and if your council is willing to exercise and perform similar powers and duties in respect of Kawhia Harbour and wharf, the Governor-in Council will be advised to declare that it shall have the powers of a Harbour Board for the harbour referred to. I shall therefore be glad if you will Ist me know whe-

ther the council is willing to have s ich poners cmferrrd upon it upon these conditions.—The Clerk stated MMhNtei replied that the council harbour over if it • : tmH|gjwfc-the . ; 'harj -jr mj-I .wine:-:.— ' MWJ shit it would bof the settlers to did nM the " clerk write and £fWjsF*the offer uncondi tionally. From A. Armstrong, Oparau, foe warding plans and specifications for contracts at Oparau.—Received* ACCOUNTS. The following accounts were passed for payment .—A. E. Ward £l, H. H. Pettit 161 9d, Devoe*tfnd Mattin £2 2-*, Travelling Expenses £l2 la, Clerk’s Salary £4 Ils Bd, Imperial Paper Co. 5 j 6d, M. A. Going £2 Ils. MOTIONS. Jonathan, Armstrong—That a sum not exceeding 40 < bs spent on Jervoi street for convenience of pedestrians to Te Puru. Norton, H. Shaw—That the On varnment be written to and their attention drawn to the bad slate of the Papatspu bridge, near Mr Buckeridge’> property on the main road from Ka wbia to Raglan, at present it is un safe for man or beas f . M’Cardle, W. Shiw—That tbi“ council, by virtue of the powers vosten in them by the “ Counties Act, 1886,” and amendments, clause 245, declared that portion of lani fenced and used as a road, starting from Leithart street to its junction with Wai were street, giving entrance to the nitive township of Karewa a public road, anH , that notices be f irwarded to the land transfer office, and aho (o the Sur Office. M'Cardle, W. Sh tw —Th it thi conncil, by virtue of the powers vested in them and in aco irdance wi h clause 249 *of the “ Counties Act,” declare the foreshore of the Kawhia Harbour a public road, that the said road shall start from the Kawbia town and ex tend to the mouth of the harbour, the the road to be bounded on the shore side by private property, and on the other 100,links from the said boundary, notice to be given to the Land Trans far Office and also to the SurveyorGeneral.

W. Shaw, M'Cirdle—That this council take over the road along the foreshore joining Mr J. Wright’s pro party, and declare the same to be a public road. Armstrong, Norton—That tenders be called for contracts No 1 and 2, at Oparau, be accepted by the chairmao and Cr Armstrong, and that tenders close on Saturdiy, March 81st, at the council chambers.

Babbage, Shaw—That this cmucil request Mr A. Armstrong to furnish conditions of conract at £2 2s.

Babbage, M’Cardle— That the council urge the Government to complete the Kiamanga raad to the Awaroa road, and aho the Awaroa-Mahoe road ae far as Mr Reynold’s section, 30 that the settlers can supply a creamery at Awaroa.

W. Shaw, Babbage—That each councillor have power to spend a sum not exceeding £5 on urgent maintainance works.

Jonathan, M’Cardle —That in view of the £75 vote being totally inadequate for making Jarvuis street to the wharf, the Geverameut be asked to increase the amount of the vote io a total of £3OO, this being the least possible sum the work could be completed for.

Armstrong, Babbage That the “ Noxious Weed Act ” ba purchased. Jonathan, Armstrong That the Govarnment be urged to deal with the following blocks of native land as soon as possible, as the fact that these lands are unoccupied proves very detrimental to the progress of the district, the greater portion of the blocks being of good quality and very adapted for dairying, viz., tha Matakowh&i, Taumstatotara and Mahoe.

Armstrong, Norton—That workmen be paid 8s per day.