Kawhia County Council.

Kawhia Settler and Raglan Advertiser, Volume IV, Issue 319, 5 July 1907, Page 2

Kawhia County Council.

SPECIAL MEETING. A special meeting oi the above was held on Thursday, itb, when there were present —Messrs W. J. Shaw (chairman), G. G. Jonathan, H. Shaw and H. Armstrong. The business was the passing of the special orders in connection with i.be Kinohaku loan, which was done on tbe mot’on of Ora H. Shaw and Arm St’OUg. ORDINARY MEETING. THE IMPENDING OVERDRAFT. The Manager of tbe Bank of New Z ala id, Te Awamutu, wrote for a copy of the balance sheet, so that tbe legal overdraft could be estimated.— Attended to. WELLINGTON DEPUTATION. Communications were read from tbe Chairman of the Waitomo County C iunc : ’, intimating that the depute lion to Wellington relative to main roads, etc., left Onehunga on Satur day.—Tbe Chairman said that he w ild not bo able to be in Auckland on 8 iturday, but would proceed to Wellington early next week. TE iiAU-A-MOA ROAD. Cr Jonathan brought forward tbe matter of the state of the road between tbo Oparau Ferry and Te Rau-a-moa It was, he said, thought by tbe people of Te Rau-a-moa that the Council was not taking an interest in tbe agitati m for ge ting it metalled. Wh?n at that place recently he had had a chat with some of the residents, who realised that the Kawhia Harbour was there outlet. Any move made would bi heartily supported by tbe people of that place. They also recognised that it wis an arterial road, and that tbe work of metalling it was beyond tbe Council, the only body that could do it was the Government. It was nob proposed to aik for a metalled road right through to Pirongia, as it was recognised that it only a short pi?ce was asked for there would be a better result.. He bad promised to bring tbe matter before the Council. He would suggest that a copy of the resolution be forwarded to Te Rau amoa, which could be used as a beading to a petition, which be knew every resilent there would sign, as the settlets there were very keen on it. They were also disappointed that their butter could not be shipped through Kawhia, as besides the bad road there was no suitable shed accommodation The Chairman stated that when he was last at Te Rau-a-moa he was approached in reference to a re-adjust-ment of the boundaries of the Kawhia and Waitomo counties, the residents being strongly in favour of coming into the Kawhia County. Cr Jonathan : Their greatest trouble is the state of ths main road. Tbe Chairman : The main road is in three counties —Kawhia, Waitomo and Raglan. Cr Jonathan : The road should be made by the Government. Cr H. Shaw : Yes; considering it is the only connection between here and the railway. The Clerk remarked that tbe Town Board wrote over the same matter, and in reply the Government stated tbe work would cost £lO,OOO, and asked what portion of that sum the Board was prepared to contribute. The Chairman said tbe Council was powerless, as there was no rateable property an which to raise a loan. The rood had been made over 20 years. When spoken to of loans residents in other parte of the district said, “ Lit the Government metal the roads," but judging by this road except loans were raised they would all be dead and buried before the roads are made. Cr Jonathan : As this is the main road to the railway the whole county might be rated. Or H. Shaw remarked that tbe ratepayers in his riding would not be taxed Cr Armstrong: Oparau people do not recognise it as their main road. A toll gate could be erected. It was resolved, on the motion of Crs Jonathan and W. J. Shaw : “That the Government ba urged upon to metal the coach road between Oparau Ferry and I’e Rau-a-moa, this being the only outlet Kawhia has ; it should also be pointed out that the settiers of Te Rau-a-moa late very anxious to be in a position to utilise the Kawhia Harbour, it being their natural outlet for all departments of trade.*’ A QUESTION OF REPORTING. Or Armstrong said he had a matter to bring forward which he had in tended to let drop, and that was the report of the last meeting in the Settler, in which it was stated that the Council objected to tbe Town Boaid using tbe Council offices and that him self and Cr Norton had shown bitterness. He thought the report was entirely wrong, as he did not show any bitterness whatever. If the report had said that the Council as a whole had objected he would not have oared, but felt annoyed at dirty water being stirred up. He had blamed Or Jonathan for giving tbe information (the reporter not being there), but now believed that Mr Pettit had guessed it. Or Jonathan remarked that tho previous speaker had opened up a question which was worthy of consideration. Any member that divulged questions discussed in committee would be guilty if a breach of confidence. He understood that Or Armstrong bad said that be (tbe speaker) had given information to the press of a matter that was discussed in committee. The report had appeared before there was any mention of it by either himself or Mr Pattit. If the reporter had been present he would have bseu justified in naming Crs Armstrong and Norton, for if the other councillors (as stated by Cr Armstrong) were against it they did not show it. There was no laeed to stir up bitterness between the two local bodies, as it was against tbe mterepts of both. He would ask Mr

Pettit to state whether he gave the informat ; on, and if be said no, be thought it would be wise to ask Cr Armstrong to retract. Mr Pettit stated that Cr Jonathon had not him the info mation. Cr Armstrong denied that he had accused Or Jonathan of talking cf matters in committee.

Cr Jr nr.'.ban . If Cr Armstrong d : d not make tbe statement let him deny it. If he d’d ‘et him admit that he was in the wrong. Cr Armstrong ca’.d that he bad asked all who we r a pres uk at the meeting (excapt Cr Jonuthan) if they had g'ven the informat'on. 113 bad publicly aocuced Cr Jonathan, for which be was now very eorry. He did not consider be had shown any as are? since the movement was starred be had fovght ag« : nst it, not with any idea of bitterne*?, but as he bad thought it against tbe interests of tbe town. If Mr Palzt c-nnot »tate where he received bis information a vote of censure thould be passed, Cr Jonathan was EaL?fied ulthXlr Armstrong’s explanation, and trusted that in future more care *-hoj!d be exerci ed before erroneou-£ remarks were made

Mr rett'tsaid th: t, he reported tbe incident by a k.iowbdge of previous remark*. Cr Arms'.rung hid before stated that when the Council bad I heir own officer be would take ca r e tb.it tbe Town Board did not use them. Cr A'in->.-rong arked ibecbairmtn shoo'd say that this matter had been dealt with ■ 1 committee. He had i 1 tended to suggest it before the discussion commenced. The Ch 'rtnan did not see that he could Mr Pettit.- No. Thorj is too much taken in commit.ee. The subject then dropped.