Kawhia County Council.

Kawhia Settler and Raglan Advertiser, Volume IV, Issue 302, 22 March 1907, Page 2

Kawhia County Council.

SPECIAL MEETING. A special meeting of tbe above was held on Monday last, when there were present Ors W. J. Shaw (chairman), G. G. Jonathan, H. Shaw and H. Armstrong. Tbe minutes of tbe last meeting were read and confirmed. The business was the passing of last year's balance sheet, which was dons on the motion of the Chairman and Or Armstrong.

ORDINARY MEETING.

UOBBESP3NDENCE. From W. Covert, WaitetGna, asking that the bridge over the Koere stream on the road leading to his section be repaired, as it was in a very dangerous Condition.— Held over for Cr Norton’s atfendanc?. From H. T. Gillies, Hamilton, slating that two more plans wore necessary before Leithardt street could be gazetted as a public street. The Chairman remarked that Mr M'Oardle had promised to secure all the plans in connection with the matter.—Clerk to write Mr M'Cardle. From Chief Postmaster, notifying that the Council would be charged £2 10a for six months f r the Council’s office to remain on post office section. —Received. From Postmaster General, Welling ton, in reply to application that the residence of Dr C. Campbell Jenkins ba connected by telephone at night with the Kawhia Post Office. The de sired connection would be made provided the C Miacil or the doctor paid the cost (£l4) and an annual maintenance fee ef £2.—Dr Jenkins (who was pre ent) said he had received a similar lette. The sum of £l6 was a big item when there were only 51 members in the Medical Club, but if the Council could guarantee that the number would ba increased to 100 he was will, ing to pay the amount.—The Chairman said that this was a matter of very great importance. If the doctor’s room was connected and was called to Kiaohaku he could bo there in two or tnree hours, whereas if a launch had to come {over it might be 110 hours. They would not know the value of the connection until a serious case occurred. Only recently a valuable life at Kiupbaku was almost lost through the telephone office there not being opened, a man having to ride to Te Maika to send a wire. He thought the Council should bear the expense.—-Dr Jenkins agreed to pay the yearly maintenance. —Motion.

From Minister (or Public Works, stating that votes for tbe Whakapirau, Te Kauri and Awaroa-Mahoe roads were ia tbe hands of the District Road Engineer for expenditure, and that that officer had been instructed to put the work in hand at once.—Motion. From A. Hammond, Opakino, askfor particulars re metalling contracts to be let, as he was prepared to bring in a good sized plant, comprising horses, metal drays, waggons, scoops, ploughs, etc.—Replied to. From L. H. Lost, chairman of the Waitomo County Council as follows : —“ The Waitomo County Council, having foand that the Minister for Public Wotks declines to admit any responsibility on tbe part of the Guv ernment tor the making of Main Trank or arterial roads through tbe country, and he also having lately declined to assist the Council with a loan of money which they desired to borrow under the “Loans to Local Bodies Act,” for the purpose of forming roads most urgently required, have decided to seek the co-operation and assistance of yonr Council and others similarly situated in endeavonring to obtain more liberal treatment in the matter of subsidies aud'grants for road and bridge making. The Council are of opinion that much more help should be given to tbe outlying districts than is at present afforded, and, farther, that funds should be allocated year by year on a fixed scaie and not doled out as at present to the moat favoured or persistent beggar. It is understood that the Minister for Public Works intends to visit Waikato and the King Country shortly, and it is tbe intention of our Council to endeavour to interview him in c .mpany with the Members repre seating *our districts in Parliament with a view to urge some improvements upon the present system of deal iug with the road requirements of outlying districts. As our only hope cf success lies in concerted action, I am deputed to ask your Caanoil to join aa and unite in pressing for greater and more systematic monetary assistance towards tbe reading of the back blocks. I would ask for your early reply so that arrangements can bo made for a meeting of the various deputies at some suitable place with the Members of Parliament before interviewing the Minister.”—The Chairman thought the idea a good one. it was time ths "persistent beggar” business was stopped, and he believed ig to be true It would be well for the C lunuil to send a delegate.—Or Jonathan suggested replying that the movement had the Oouaoil's sympathy.—lt was eventually resolved to support Hie Waitomo Council, and to send a delegate to tho contereuoe. From J Davies, forwarding account for 12s for clearing slips on Okupata Road.—Ur Armstrong knew nothing of tbe account. Mr Davies had no right to do lhe work.—The Chairman remarked it was hard lines if the road had to remain blocked. Tbe slip had to be cleared sooner or later.—Cr Jonathan: The matter should have boon put before the member when the i work was done.—Cr Armstrong said be had seen members of tbe Davies I family, but they had not mentioned l lhe matter to him.—Held over. ACCOUNTS. The following account* were parsed fur piymeo. : —J. J. \V> >lly £3B-. (J. Babbage £1 12j, tJcbriebur Bros. £5O, I

H, Shaw £l, W. J. Bhaw £l, J K Newton £4 Ils Bd, H. Woolly £4 4s, Hami Grern £5 ss, Tami Rangi £3 Bs, Tawbi £4 18s, M. A. Going £3 16s H. H. Pettit £4 19s 6d, H. Pelham £6 12s, A. Armstrong £8 ss.

THE OPARAU ROADS. Mr T. B. Scott waited on the Conn cil in reference to tbe Oparau roads, be and Mr Davies having been appointed to state the views of tbe Opirau set ters. Mr D ivies w&’ unable >£ attend, but wired as follows *• Mee.ing ratepayers on Okupata roed held Saturday to discus matter of how they wished loan money spent, I wag asked to convey their wishes to Council. They respectfully wish t> suggest to Council that road be formed 14ft. wide, commencing western boon dary Mackenzie’s sec‘i >n. extending eastward to Pirongia West road, balance, if any, spent ia metalling worst places. Deviation left to di creiion of engineer. Contracts in loag'h to invite outside contractors, alio give local contractors a chance. My absence unavoidable.—R. T. Davies.” Mr Scott Skid chat oontraC; No 1 .was to be paid out of thirds, bit the settlers would like it paid out nf loan money, and use th l - thirds in repairing the road through tho native la id. Tbe Chairman said that the c ntract wis let on tbe unde/stmding that it was paid out of third l . Thore was co loan money yet and tbe C moci! might not have i> for month l . Tuey might pay it out o? thirds now an I ru f i d ? : later on. Unless that was d -ne 'here i would be no injn?y co pay the c ;n- j traotor with.

When tbe matter c nne up fjr discussion later > n ia tbe meeting, Cr Armstrong suggest'd letting the settlers have their way, so that the money would go as fir as possible. In reply to tbe Chairman, tha Engi neer said that his idaa nf the wid.h of of a road depended entirely on thamount of money availably but it should be not less than 14ft, as if it did tbe cost of repairs exceeded what it would cost to do the extra 2ft., and it would be found before long that the work would have to be done over again. He had prepared plans for 16ft. roads and would haye to do them again. The saving would not be very considerable on tbe Okupata road. Cr Armstrong: The present contracts could be left at 16ft. and make tbe others 14ft. Tbe Chairman believed that tbe Government ware now making tbe roads 15fe.

Or Jonathan remarked that it may be false economy. They might get a longer road but not such a good one. The Engineer : There will have to be some heavy work on the Pirongia West road later on. The river is en croaohing badly and breast walls will have to be erected. The matter was dealt with by motion. KAWHIA CEMETERY. Dr Jenkins attended in reference to the above. Last year, he said, a sum of £25 was granted of which amount £2l was expended. About £25 would be year. Tbe Council was not likely to be approached again, so be would ask for a loan of tbe amount stated.

The OlerK: Tbe Couioil has no power to tend. Dr Jenkins : Then I ask for a grant which the Council has power to vote. Tbe Chairman expressed himself in sympathy with tbe request, but funds were so low that it would be impossible to vote the money. Dr Jenkins: The work has been done and we want this msney to pay for it. Cr Jonathan remarked that he thought the previous application was the first and last claim.

Dr Jenkins : No ; tbe £25 was (or last year. The Chairman suggested h dding the matter over till next meeting, which was agreed to. GENERAL. The building committee reported having let the contract for alterations to the new offices to Mr J. G. Howes for £6B 15s 3d. It was decided that each councillor point out to tbe engines? the place? to expend the loans ; that the contracts be not too large and run continuously. Cr H. Shaw mentioned the vote of £lOO for the Wbakapirau road, the sum being totally inadequate. There wag no road whatever to“ 16 sections.— Motion. The method of contracting came up for discussion, and it was decided to in future ask contractors to tender (or a lump sum and lodge a deposit of 5 per cent. MOTIONS.

W. Shaw, Jonathan—That this Council bear the expanse of connecting Dr Jenkins’ residence with tbe post office by telephone, to the extent of £l2, the balance of £2 and cost of further maintenance to be borne by Dr Jenkins. Armstrong, Jonathan That in compliance with the wishes of the settlers the r“adg at Oparau ba widened to 14ft. where passible, to be left te ths discretion of the engineer. W. Shaw, Joßitban —That Cr Armstrong’s action is letting contract No. Messrs Scbriabar Bros, be confirmed. Id. Bhaw, Jonathan That tbe Minister of Public Works bo written to pointing out that the grant of £lOO is far from sufficient to give acoass to the holdings on tha Wbakapirau road. Armstrong, Jonathan—-That Messrs Schrieber Bros, tender for contract No. 4 ba accepted {(£l43 9i 21). and R. Carnahan’s tender for contract No. 2 (£yB 194 sd). Jonathan, (I. Shaw That tbe 0 »uncil taka immediate steps to trail s fer the Council's aojount from the National Bank of Naw Zealand, Auckland, to the Bank of New Zealand, Te Awamutu.