Kawhia County Council.

Kawhia Settler and Raglan Advertiser, Volume IV, Issue 326, 16 August 1907, Page 2

Kawhia County Council.

SPECIAL MEETING. A special meeting of the above was held on Monday, 12tb, when there were present—Messrs W. J. Shaw (chairman), G. G. Jonathan, H. Shaw and H. Armstrong. The business was the passing of tho special order in the Kirtbffirica Special Rating District, and tbe confirming of the notice to strike a rate, which were done by resolution.

ORDINARY MEETING. EXPENDITURE OF THIRDS. The Lands and Survey Office, Auckland, forwarded a copy of a complaint from B. Van Route, Te Mata, as to tbe manner in which his thirds had baen expended. Cr Norton wrote stating that the thirds had been expended m accordance with Mr Van Houte’s wishes. The Clerk stated that he had replied to that effect. MAROKOPA TELEPHONE. Mr H. J. Gresnslade, M.H.R., forwarded the terms upon which tele phone lines are erected.. If the Council guaranteed £46 per annujn for five years tbe work of erecting the tele phone line between Kinohaku and Marokopa would be proceeded wiuh.

The Chairman said that when the deputation waited upon the Hon. Mr Findlay recently, tbe Kinohaku Marokopa telephone line was mentioned, and it was then stated that the line would cost £6OO, whilst the revenue would be small Dr Findlay said that he did not think the Premier would entertain the matter at all. He (the speaker) then enquired it the Government would consider a scheme if the settlers put one forward, and the answer was in the affirmative. He supposed that tbe proposal before them was the outcome of the interview. He thought it would be advisable for him io call a meeting of the settlers interested, find out what they were prepared to do, and place the result before the next meeting of tbe Council. Perhaps it would be necessary to get a guarantee from each settler in the Awakino County who would be benefitted.

Cr Jonathan: That is another rea son why that portion of this district should have been included in the Kawbia County. * The Chairman thought that the Northern 8.8. Co. would guarantee some amouii*.

Cr Jonathan thought that the guarantee must come from tbe settiers. The people who would be benefitted most wore not in the County, and to guarantee the amount would .be unfair to the rest Of the ratepayers. The Chairman : The guarantee would have to be given by only two of the ridings. Cr Jonathan : If the people who are to feel tbe benefit were in the Kawhia County I should strongly support giving the guarantee. '-Jt was eventually decide 1 tb it the mattei\ba left in ths hands of the Chairman,- who announced that he would cal! a ■meeting of those interei ted. THE M/IN CO AW.. ROAD. The following letter tactrtead from Mr Hurrfliouse, Engineer id z *hie( : —1 am directed by the Iflh. the Acting Minister for Public W<»es to acknowledge receipt of your liter of the sth inst., requesting that a iim of money be provided for the purrose of metalling the main coach iroad, la reply I have to state that il view

of the many more urgent oases to be provided for, where people have practically no roads, it is is with regret that the Hon. Minister instructs me to say that, provision cannot be made this year to meet your request.” A petition, signed by about 50 Te R iu-a-moa settlers, was read as follows: - -“We the undersigned, settlers of Te Ran a-moa aud on tins Kawhia Pirongia main coach road, humbly pc:i tj-.n that the Council urge upon tie G ivernment the necessity for continuing the metalling of the Kawhia-Pi r ngia mai’i road, being that portion from the end of the metalled road at T.i Rau-a inoa on towards Oparau f ry. If the ■“worst pjrtiona of tbe. the road wore metalled it would cause tl e whole of tbe trade from thia dis tr’ct to psss through Ka«h : a haibonr which is 10 miles, distant from Te Ria-a-moaaa against 25 miles to a railway, thereby ensuring a saving of freights to settlers. Apart from this fact it is the conuec iug link with the Main Trunk Railway aud the hir boar. It would also be of great hhbih taacqrtothe dairying industry. Several settlers residing on this read are debarred from supplying milk, and those supplying can only do so for a few mouths in th-: summer as the ro id is not fir, for carting at the begin *ing an i close of the dairying n” Cr Jonathan complimented the settlers on their action, and on his sug gestion it was decided to forward MJ2 petition to Mr Greenslade, M.H.R.. and a-k him to ng-iin bring the matter befor.i the au h >ride j . ACCOUNTS.

Tbe following account-* were passed for payment:—H. Woo’ly £1 12 •, IT. Yearbury £5 Is, A. Yearbury £4 16 11. Shaw £l, W. J. Shaw £l, H. Armstrong 15s. BKIDGING THE WAiPA. A letter was read from the Clerk of the B-iglan County Council relative to a proposed bridge over the Waipa. The Karamu aud Pirongia settlers were raising a loan for this work, and intended asking the Government to grant a £ for £ subsidy. When the Moerangi bl ck was settled the bridge would be of great benefit to some ratepayers. He hoped the Council would support the proposal and receive a de putatnn which would attend the next meeting of the Council. Discussion of the matter was held over until next meeting.

ENGINEERS REPORT. The Engineer (Mr A. Armstrong) reported as follows:—“ The plans and specifications for contract Nor 5, AoteaWaitotuna riding, have been completed. I understand from Councillor Norton that the proprietor from whose land it is proposed to get the stone for the metal is desirous of taking up 'he contract for quarrying. If this be arranged it would be a good thing if he would also take up the contract for breaking, provided prices could be satisfac-’or’ily agreed on. This fa work that could be started at once. Tbe quantity of metal to be got out is 1000 cubic yds. No time should be lost io getting th ; t portion of the work started, so that the metal will be ready for the foi mat ion when completed, as this work will probably take lougQr than the formation.

I have taken the levels and completed the plans and specifications showing the proposed improvement of several of ithe streets in Kawhia. The work has been divided into two contracts Ni i. 6 and 7. No 6 is for gi> ling Tainut St., ra far ai Charlton St. and Fairchild St. Owing to the great wid b of the street (I| chains) the money available wad’uot auffioient to make the road the full width. Again to avoid running into heavy catting the roa 1 bt.» been kept along the south side of the street from Jer v.'is St. to the old chemist’s shop, and for the same lot on from about that point it is carried along the north aide of the street past Howe’s buildings. The arrangement is not quite satisfactory, but it is the only thing to do under the circumstances. The steepest grade ; j one in 16, which ex,ends from Jervois St. to a little past Mr Turret’s shop. The other is one in seventy aid part level. The grades are worked on' so that the Buildings will come right with the crown of the road without alteration.

Contract No. 7 includes the grad ing of Pouewe St. for 9 chains, aud constructing a road from that point t> Te Paru town. The grade to whtoh will one in 13| for 11 chains, Iho rest of .the distance, one in 26. Contracts should be called fur works as soon as the money is available. gen er; L. Cr M‘Cardie wired for leave of ab sence, which was granted. It was decided to write to the Acclimatisation Societies at Auckland and New Plymouth for trout ova to stock tbe various streams and lakes in tbe County. The question of tbe alteration of the day of meeting was held over for a full attendance of councillors.