Kawhia County Council.

Kawhia Settler and Raglan Advertiser, Volume IV, Issue 277, 21 September 1906, Page 2

Kawhia County Council.

ORDINARY MEETING.

The usual meeting of the above was held on Monday last, when there were present—Crs W. W. M'Oardle (chairman), H. Armstrong, G. G. Jonathan. W. J. Shaw, A. N. Norton and A. W Babbage. The minutes of the last meeting were read and confirmed. corbespondenue. From H. .1. Greernlade, M.H.R., forwarding copy nf. firop v-cd Ack for ths batter dfstribuiion of subsides, which set out the following scale:— On »|d rate 8s in He£, |» 3 • 61, -Jd 4h 64, Id ss. I}l 5? 6d, Ifd 6l Ciunci’lors against the Ac\ it being the opinion that tbe proposed alteration would be of no banefii to counties in back distrio's.—Motion. From Same, stating that the Minister of Justice had told him th t some J’s P. would be elected in tbe Kawhia district as soon as the Hon e rose.— Cr Shaw said that there was a J.P. unpointed in Raglan ’.hat the Government made and one the time before, but Kawbix was skill left out. The Kiwhia district was being ignored.—Received. From Same, forwarding cipy of Havelock Harb iur B >ard Act as requested.—Received. From Same, forwarding com mini cation re the Harbour Board, which ho had received from Minister u( Marine. —Received.

From Same, enclosing letter received in reply to peti.io > re sn igging rive-s (which has already bsen pub fished). —Received* From Marine Department, acknowledging receip of norms suggest-d as wharf krnsteea in ca«o the harbour was not vested in tbe Council, but a« such had been done it would now not be necessary to appoint them.—Received. From Same, notifying that Council had been vested with the po°wers of a Harbour Board, and forwarding copy of Order-in Council and plan.—ln reply to Cr Babbage, the Chairman said that the trustees had money in hand. They would no doubt have the books audited and hand the amount oyer. There were one or two claims which had not been met yst, whils 1 ; a sum of money owing by two people had not been paid.—Later on in the meeting, on the suggestion of the Chairman, it was decided that the Clerk obtain a copy of the Harbour Board Act and request the Government to hand over tbe harbour endowments. From Raglan County Council, asking for a definite answer relative to share of maintenance of Raglan-Aotea and Raglan-Waipa roads.—To be lefc over to ascertain Council’s responsibility in the matter. From Piako County Council, asking co-operation in an endeavour to get a member chosen by the local bodies of the Waikato put on the Auckland Harbour Board.—To be supported. From Department of Roads, notifying that the application for a grant for metalling the Kawhia-Pirongia road would receive consideration when the Estimates were being prepared.—Received.

From Department of Land.?, Auckland, stating that it was not thought advisable to throw open section 8, block VIII, Kawhia North (scenic reserve) as requested by Council. —Received. From Same, with regard to the erection of shed on the road at Awaroa, asking if a site could not be found an the Quarry Reserve ? Tbe building of shed? on roadi was a mailer for the Counci’, as if they were not now vested they would be .some day.—Received. From Native Minister, stating that the alterations in the Native Rating Act suggested by the Council had been noted and would receive consideration. —Received. From Valuation Department, notifying that £BO of the amount due to the Department for valuation expenses had been deducted from the subsidy, and as this was the Council’s first year tbe balance of the claim (£l5) could stand over till next year.—Received. From South British lnsurance Co., forwarding accident policy for £lOO, on which the premium was £1 18.—Received.

From Heywood Armstrong, apply iug for an auctioneer’s license.— Granted. It was decided to have the County gazetted as a special district, which entitles the Council to issne licenses at a lower fee than at present. From Raglan County Council, stating that that body hadjwritien to the Minister for Lands drawing his attention to the unsatisfactory way in which the Noxious Weeds Act is being administered. The Council thought that the Stock Department and inspectors were doing good work with the means at their disposal, and asked support in an endeavour to improve it by tbe appointment of moro inspector? and tbe voting of more money. It was also stated in the letter that it was absolutely unjust to enforce the Act on private and afiow native and Crown Lands to reiniin unattended tn.—To be supported. From Valuation Deparimiut forwarding voucher for £143 16s lid, subsidy duo for year 1906, on rates collected to March 81st, £287 18? lid The sum of £BO had been deducted tor valuation expenses.—Received.

From Alex, Armstrong, Oparau, re grekting that he would be unable to as returning officer for the Oxupata road loan poll.—Received, From Mrs M'Oarthy, Sydney, in re ference to a demand by tbe Council to abate nuisance existing on her section in Kawbia township, asking for further inf ormation so as to be in a better position io judge as to what could be dona.-—Clerk to attend.

From H. H. Pettit, hon. sec. K» wbia Harbour Railway League, asking permission to use council chambers tree of rsnk for mealfog* of tbe Le ag ueG ran tad,

From Department of Justice, stating that tbe request tor the appointment of additional J’a.P. in the district would receive consideration, From H. H. Pattit, offering to lease a small section in Kawhia township. —Not entertained, the Council having no power.

Fr >m Colonial Secretary, forwarding copy of petition signed by settlers in Awakino County, in which they objects! to the present boundary of their county being altered in any way, as it was quite small enough now.—The Clerk was instructed to write to the Kirituhere settlers (who want to coms into Kawhia County) to take steps in the matter. From G. Jecklir, applying for a slaughtering license for premises situated at Kawbia.—Granted. ACCOUNTS. The following accounts were passed for payment:—Jonathan Ltd. 10s 6d, E. F ;rbes £8 Bs, R. Sireombe £4 16?, A. B fobage £l,* W. Bhaw £l, A. N. Norton £1 10*, Hinton and Hustler 9i 61, 11. H. Pettit £7 4s 64, J. K. New ton £1 Ils 7J, Stamps £l, Hillyer Fund £5. KAWHIA C’METXRY. Dr C. Campbell Jenkin* and Rev R. Mitchell attended as a deputation to ask he Coua'il for a grant of £25 to be spent in fencing and preliminary expenses, and also that the cemetery b? taken over by the Council.

Dr Jenkin? aaid that the reques'e were the wish of the trustees. Th£2s was tbe least that cou’d be manas gel with, and that wa? in lop ndent uf some revenue that they hoped to receive. The fencing would cost £2O and the o her expenses £7 or £B. Ths surveyor had .-.greed to leave his account over till th* next year. The trustees were appointed before tbe Council was in operation, it being understood that tbe duties were to be handed over to the Council, and they would like to know when tbe Council would take thair duties over. Rev. R. Mitchell remarked that probably Mr Scott, one of the trustees, would be leaving Kawhia. It would bo wall to take it over at once, or ap point a trustee from their number. Cr Babbage said that according to the Cemeteries Act the ‘rusteea had power to raise money. £25 would be a big amount for tbe Council to pay out, whereas the difficulty could be met by borrowing £5O, ths interest on which amount *oultl be paid out of re venue. That would get over the difficulty. As a country member he thought it would be far better if local people could administer the cemetery. Dr Jenkins : Tbe cost of raising the loan would be great. Tbe Chairman thought the ground would have to b« dealt with, thus giving some sort of security, before a loan could be raised. Tbe bank might ad vance the sum, but ihe trustees would have to be personally responsible. Dr Jenkins : The trustees expect to get £75 from th* Council during the next 5 years to plant tree?, clear the ground, construct path?, etc. Cr Shaw : £25 is a large sum for the Council to meet at present. We want to fix the matter up in a way that will be the least strain on the Council. The Chairman: It would be as well to write to the bank and ask the manager what interest he will charge if the interest is guaranteed by tbe Council. In reply to Cr Jonathan Dr Jenkins sajd their revenue would be about £ll for next year. Cr Jonathan : It would be well to write to our bank and see if it would advance the £25 at tbe same interest as the Council is charged. Dr Jenkins agreed Iu do this and the matter was left over till next meetingA CASE OK CHARILY. Rev. R. Mitchell said that the funds iu hand for the Hillyer Fund were not sufficient to last till tbe end of tbe mouth and something would have to be done. Dr Jenkins said that Mr Hillyer aould not earn his own living. The boy who bad his leg broken was now going to school, but another of tbe Children was laid up with bronchitis. The Chairman said that when iu Auckland recently bo had made enquiries as to getting Mr Hillyer into the Cosdey Home and had been informed that tbe Council would have to guarantee 10s per week. He believed that the Little Sisters of tbe P /or Hom* would take him in free of cost.

Dr Jenkins : What is going to happen to ihe children ? There are five, ranging from 2 to 18 years. The mother could not urn sufficient to keep them all. Tbe Chairman admitted that tbe Council bad some responsibility in tbe matter, and would require to do something. Thtre was no Charitable Aid rate, but it was witbin their powers to vote * gum uf money.

On the motion of Ch Shaw and B ibbage a ,um of £5 was voted. THE NEW RATE. The Clerk drew attention to ibefno t -at tbe new rate would have !o ba Struck. Lsst year a £d in the £ rate realised £409 Is 94. The unimproved value was £94,401. A l£d rate on unimproved value would realise £427, and a Id rate £894 17s. C- 8.-bbAge said they did not want a h »avy rate. Cr Jonathan remarked that he w >nld like a higher rate iu tbe Kawhia Riding, so as to get at the abcenteas. The Chairman said he had received a telegram that the Town Board would ba formed, upon hearing which Cr J maiban withdrew bis request. THIRDS The Chairman thought that tbe Council ought to get the thirds due and place them in the bank, as the amount would be just as well iu the bauds of the council. Cr Babbage : Would it be euffioient for th* Clerk to apply ? Tho Chairman : Yes. It could be stated that they were to be used foz

paying interest on loane.—The Clerk was instructed to apply. Oj? Babbage : There are some thirds in the Te Kauri riding that ar* not being used for loan*. A schedule will have to be mads out fur them. The Chairman : Leave that over till the next meeting so that I can find out what the settlers want.

Cr Armstrong said that ths Oparau settlers had decided to expend their third* in metalling from the Okupata stream to the junction of tbe Pirongia West and Okupata roads, a distance of about 1} miles. The work was urgent and plana and specifications would have to be got out, a* tbe road needed widening. He had an offer io do that and supervise the work for 5 per cent. The Chairman said that it was only fair to tender for tbe work, to which Cr Armstrong agreed, aud it was de cided io do so (as advertised in this issue). MISCELLANEOUS. Ic was decided that the Clerk make enquiries as to the cost of a certain building, with the idea of acquiring it as a County office. Cr Babbage suggested that the Council procure a couple of bushels of pole »ned grain to assist in checking the small birds pest.—Mo‘i .n. It was decided to hold the next mseting nn Monday, October 8 b, at 1.80 p.m. Tbe bad state -if the road to tfie Aotea beach w.»s manti ned by Cr Jonathan, and it was resolved to have the worst plac. s «t eod?d to. It was resolved that tbe Okupata road and Kawbia riding poll* be tak m oq Friday, 28 b inst. The by-laws wore road, but before adopting them in was th .ught advis--1 able to refer them to tbe C moty so’i ! ci tor. MOTIONS.

Armstrong, Shaw—That applies lion* be called for the supervising and drawing out of specifications fur form ing and metalling from tbe junction of the Okupata and Pirongia West roads to the Okupata stream at Oparau, tenders to close at the next sitting of the Council. Babbage, Shaw —That Cr Armstrong be given authority to spend up to £5 on repairs to tbe footbridge over the Okupata stream at Oparau. Babbage, Armstrong That the Clerk be instructed to procure two bushels of poisoned grain for distribution amongst the ratepayers. Shaw, Armstrong—That a strong ! protest be forwarded to Mr Greenslade against the Local Authorities Subsidies Bill being passed as at present framed, as the subsidies that are set out therein are con-idered quite insufficent, and places the Council in a -worse position then under the present Act.

Armstrong, Norton—That the Land B >ard be written to re tbe balance of £145 10s 7d from Thirds due to Oparau, it being tbe wish of the settlers that the sum be used for metalling from tbe Junction of the Okupata and Pirongia West roads to tbe Okupata river, a distance of about mile*. Armstrong, Babbage—That the attention of the Government be drawn to ths great need of a bridge over the Okupata stream at Oparau, the temporary footbridge erected by the settlers having been washed out at one end and in a dangerous condition. Armstrong, Babbage—That Cr Norton have authority to spend £l5 of thirds on tbe Waitetuna Aotea road. Shaw, Armstrong—That the Post-master-General be written to re the erection of the telephone, pointing out that with the exception of the piece from Oparau to Te Rau a-moa the whole of the line is around the her buur and all the poles must be taken to their places by water, and urge him io have this work put in hand at once. Babbage, Armstrong—That Mr H. T. Oillies be appointed solicitor to ihe Council. Notice of motion by Cr Shaw—Thai notice be given that it is ihe intention of ihe Couucil at its next meeting io strike a rate of Id in the £ on the unimproved value of all rateable property in th* County. The meeting then adjourned.