Kawhia County Council.

Kawhia Settler and Raglan Advertiser, Volume IV, Issue 309, 26 April 1907, Page 2

Kawhia County Council.

SPECIAL MEETING. A special meeting of the above was held on Tuesday, 22nd., when there were present—Messrs W. J. Shaw (chairman), G. G. Jonathan, H. Shaw, H. Armstrong and A. Norton. The business was in connection with the by laws. After the reading of the draft prepared by Mr Gillies, the County’s solicitor, Cr Norton moved, and Or H. Shaw seconded, “ Thai; the Council hereby make a Consolidated By-Law, under ‘ The Counties Act, 1886,’ and its amendments, ‘ The Public Works Act, 1905/ and all other Acts and powers whatever enabling it in that behalf.”

ORDINARY MEETING.

From Inspector of Stock, Kihikihi, enquiring if Council had Issued a slaughtering license to Mr G. Jecklin, Kawhia.—-The Clerk stated Khat he had replied in the affirmative. From General Post Office, Wellington, asking Council to pay to Dr Jenkins tbe sum ot £l2, the cost ot con. necting bis residence by telephone, and that he forward it, together with the maintenance fee of £2 for the first year.—Held over. From V. E. Jefferies, Raurimu, asking for information re work in the district.—-Attended to. From Linds and Survey Department, Auckland, notifying having paid in £B5 6s 7d, thirds due to March 28th, 1907.—1 n reply to a question tbe Clerk said be thought the amount was for the Matakowhia Riding.—The Chairman said that the Commissioner had promised to pay over all the thirds.—Or H. Shaw: We have not had any thirds in my district yet.— Resolved that the Clerk apply for all thirds due to the County. From Mowatt Bros., Te Rau-a-moa, notifying that they had leased their section to Messrs Noonan Bros.—Be ceived. From Commissioner of Crown Lands, Auckland, stating that she question of paying over the thirds due came before the last meeting of the Land Board, and it was resolved to approve same subject to Council supplying the apportionment of the £5OOO loan cn each of tbe different roads, and iC this was supplied the funds would be duly passed.—Received. From H. J. Greenslade. M.H.R., acknowledging receipt of petitions, which had been forwarded to the different departments.—Received.

ACCOUNTS. The following accounts were passed for payment:—J. J. Woolly £Blos, H. Armstrong 15’, Schriebor Bros. £5B 15s, H. Shaw £l, W. J. Shaw £l, K. Newton £4 8s lid, H. Woolly £l2 12s, A. N. Norton £1 10a, Ockleston and Co. £22 7b lid ; A. Armstrong £2B 4s lid, labour employed by engineer £4 IGs, H. H. Pettit £4 2s 6d, J. E. Scoll £4 17s Bd, Devore and Martin £1 Us 6d, W- Larsen £7 16s, W. Morgan 7s 3d, M. A. Going £1 12s, H. Goodwin £l6, B Aitken £2O 19s 6d, Hua £5, A. Shea £4 9s, Ngaruhoe £8 13, Whatia £4 4s, Tamate and Te Bate £l2 12s, H. Larsen £B, H. Wade £1 12s, J. Scott, jr., £9 4s. engineer's beport. The Engineer (Mr A. Armstrong) reported as follows:—” In accordance with arrangements I went to the Waitetuna-Aotea road and took the necessary measurements and levels of that portion of the road it is proposed to improve. I have completed the plans of this work, but have yet to take out the quantities add prepare the •pacifications. This work will be compitted by the end of the week. The contractor for contracts Nos. 1 and 2 hah completed tbe work with the exception of owtaiin small matters that want <o .on contract No 8, -this being done the balance due can be paid to-him. Since last meeting contract No. 3, Pirongia West roads, has been let. The men started operations last week.

Tbe following petition was read from Messrs Clarson, C. Bell, Sobye, Dnyies (4), Trooghton (2), and Mac kenzie“ Owing to the failure of our representative on the Council to attend a meeting of ratepayers at Oparau or to lay the views uf the last meeting before tbe Council, we, tbe undersigned ratepayers in the Okupata Riad Special Area, beg to oJI yoar attention to the fact that preparations appear to be made for spending some of oar loan money for which it was not borrowed, viz , forming tbe road through tbe native land oatside the rateable area. Part of the formation outside tbe area appears to as to be in itself a mistake, independently of the cost being borne by the loan, as it is over a piece of road which may soon be useless, a deviation at this point being extreraely desirable, and as it is through native land more practicable than on the part of the road which buns through European settlement. We, therefore, request that yon will •top the formation at the boundary of the native land, or at least at the point where tho dev’stion is a future poßsibility.” In reply lo a question as io the re quest of the petitioners, the Engineer said that if a road was taken where it was asked there would be a filling of not less than 25ft., and when the work could be undertaken was very problematical. The piece that was naked to be left could be well improved for £l2 or £l5. He could not give an estimate of the cost. The cutting would be about six chains, and would gradua y run from 25ft. out to no thing. Tho deviation would be an improvement, but it wouil t.mply be a question of ojst. - Cr Armstrong thought that the deviation would cost more than ; f the 1 old road was metalled. From the de- | manda of the Oparau settlers it looked

as if they wanted £15,000 instead of £l5OO. The Engineer : If it is intended to spend tbe money judiciously it is best io keep to the old road. There are plenty of works more urgent than the one asked for. Or Armstrong said the v ark wag not absolutely necessary and he cov’d not see the reason of it. The Chairmao said that in view of the engineer's report ihe Council Gould not take any action. The matter was le*’t in the hands of the engineer. ThE LO/NS. The Secretary to the Treasury wrote as follows : “ In reply to your wiia of the 26tb March, relative to several sections being ha 1 f-rated for the loans ot £1750 to widen i d metal Pirongia West road, £5OOO for Mabocnui-Kaw hia road, and £l5OO for Okupata ro-d, I regret to bave to inform you, tha such half rating is illegal, as one uniform rate must be struck over al* ins landj tu be rated for the loans, : u con sequence of which it will be necessary for your Council to take all steps afresh to obtain the above-mentioned loans, as the steps already taken are c insiderod ultra vires iu the matter of the balfrating. Herewith*! enclose fresh forms and a printed memorandum ind : cating ihe primary steps to be taken to obtain ihe loans.” The Chairman said that the loans could be raised under sub section 4 of section 14, which would do away with a lot of advertising and save time. They would only be raising the loan under another section.

Cr Armstrong stated that the Oparau ratepayers intended raising thei loans under the section qu >ted. The Chairman said there would bave to be a special moating to make tha special order. It was ready a short cut to getting tha 1 >an, savin? tbe taking of a poll, h-iviog mee'.ingo, etc They could nit d ) anything until next meeting. He though h . the loans should be passed in about five weeks time. It was decided io h .11 a spee d meeting on Monday, May 6tb, topas? the special orders. GENERAL. Cr Armstrong applied for perm ssion to spend £lO rn clearing slip". —The Chairman : Is tbe work vgeui? We will have to economise.—Cr Armstrong : The work is very urgent. Mr Perham’s gig was capsized at thia place and it was badly damaged,— Permission granted. The Chairman said that several of the loans having fallen thr ugh they coaid not pay an engineer, and Mr Armstrong had agreed to take a holiday until the eud of May. If the loans were carried he would resume from the beginning of June, and if not other arrangements would have to be made.

Tha“question of furn'to , '3 for the new office was d'sci ssed, and it w 3 decided to get a large tab’s, 10 chai'3 and a stove. Mr D. Galvan attended relative lo an account for wc k done a Kawhia Riding, but the matter was held over till next meei : ug. Cr Armstrong reported havi- g let contract No. 2, P: rough West road, to Mr W. Doyle.

HARBOUR BOARD. The Council afterwards sat as a Earbour Board. Mr F. W. La-g, M.H.R., wroto re the endowment?.—The Chairman : I think the matter will be settled very •hortly now. The Wharfinger reported that the premium of bis fidelity bond was due. The wharf trustees formerly paid the amount. —Resolved that the Board pay the premium. Tha. authority of the Treasury for raping a loan of £5OO for increasing thp Wbarf shed was received.—The Chairman said the loan was provisionally granted, and a poll would now have to ba taken. The question was that of the rating area.—Cr Armstrong "suggested the whole County.— Cr Norton ; Leave out my district. The settlers there don't receive benefit from the Kawhia wharf.—Tbe Chairman : The rate will be struck, bat it will never be collected. If we are to cut out Or Norton’s district others will claim the same thing, such as tbe settlers on the Marokopa River. —Or Norton : Personally 1 agree with the loan, but we have no guarantee that the rate struck will not be collected.—The following resolution was carried, Cr Norton voting against it: ” That a rate over the whole County be cover the loan of £5OO raised by the Kawhia Harb.iur Board for tbe erection of je&ties round the harbour and the extension of the Kawhia wharf and shed” The following accounts were passed for payment: Imperial Paper Co. 7s 6d, G. G. Jonathan 8i BJ, G. H. Chase 5s 31, W. Morgan £4 5s 6d, Wharfinger £5, Victoria Insurance Co. £1 2s 65.