Kawhia County Council.

Kawhia Settler and Raglan Advertiser, Volume IV, Issue 354, 20 March 1908, Page 2

Kawhia County Council.

SPECIAL MEETING. ; A specqiil meeting cd the above Wfs held on Saturday, 14tb, when there were present—Ore W. J. Shaw (bhairman), G, G. Jonathan, A. W. Babbage, H. Armstrong, H. Shaw and A. N. Norton. The business was the adoption of tbe annual balance sheet, which was done on the motion of Crs Jonathan and Arm trong. ORDINARY MEETING. CORKEbPONOENCE. From Secretary fo Treasury, etatiug that tbe sum of iCIOuO for widen iug and metailiug the Waitetuua road was now available.—Cr Norton said that he would prefer to leave the work over till next spring, but would like to but off some corners before tbe winter set in.—Tbe Chairman remarked that perhaps themoney had been paid into the bank, and if so tbe interest would

have to be paid.—The Clerk was instructed to wire to the Treasury that as winter was approaching, a sum of £250 would be sufficient for the time being. —By motion Cr Norton was given authority to advertise ana let contracts for the breaking of metal, etc. From Superintendaut of Electrio Lines, in reply co a request that the fee for ringing up the doctor after office hoars be reduced. The charge of Is 6d was in accordance with regulations, and uuieHH tbe telephonists concerned were williug to forego tbe re-opeuing fee of Is for each communication, which was retained by them, it was regretted that noraductiou could be made.—Received.

From Warana, KawLi a, enclosing account for 501 for wheel broken uu Aotea beach, and asking that the da mage be paid for, or the road attended to at once.—No actionFrom Sir J. G. Ward, (hanking Council for their invitation to visit Kawhia, and atatidg that be would as soon ae he could.—lt was agreed that it would be advisable to have a meeting before the Premier’d visit, and arrange a list of what matters were fo be placed before him.—The calling of the meeting was left in Mr Jonathan's hands as soon as the exact date was ascertained. ACCOUNTS. The following accounts were passed for payment A. W. Babbage £l, H. Armstrong 15s, A. N. Norton £1 10a, H. Shaw £l, W. J. Shaw £l, R. Nesbitt 153, Porter and Co. Ils 10J, A. Shea £lO 17f, Wanihi AG 6s, F. W. Newton £1 15s, Survey Department ss, Northern 8.8. Co. £1 Is 9d, Audit Department £8 63 Bd, C. F. E. Barton £lO 4s 2d. FINANCIAL. The'Clerk reported that, the bank balance wu £314 sd. A CLOSKD ROAD. A letter was read from Mrs 8. Coe, Te Ran-a-nios stating that Mr La I’rou had not taken any steps to remove his fence from the road near her section, as complained of some time ago, and asking that the matter bo attended to at once, Or Babbage said that when he was at Te Rau-a-moa recently ha went to the trouble to inspect the road in dispute. Besides the fence a slaughter house would have to be removed, and the road would be of no use to anybody even if it was opened. If the Council had any dircretion in the matter he would say that the rjad be left aa it was. The Chairman : But roads have no right to be cloeed, Cr Jonathan: If the road ie growing ragwort it would be a benefit to have it closed and stock put .on. The Chairman could not see the benefit of opening the road. Ultimately it was decide 1 to hold the matter over for six mouths. MABOKOPA TELIPRONE. Cr Jonathan said that lately he had had a chat with Mr Bose who had asked him what the Council was doing in the matter, and he (the speaker) had explained that the guarantee war not complete. The Chairman: Mr Rose had not the slightest need to ask you that question. Mr. Bose and J, Shaw were appointed to collect the money and guarantees. I told them at a meeting that if £35 was guaranteed the Council would make up the deficiency. J, Shaw has been told that there iis some money to be collected, and he has told Mr Bose, so that he knows the position of the telephone. Cr Jonathan said that Mr Rose appeared to know nothing about the matter, and had stated that he had collected the amount be was supposed to and handed it on to the Council. The Chairman : That is so, £3l 15s has been paid over, bat a lot of the guarantees are not in order. The collectors have been told of this, but nothing further has been done by them, Cr Jonathan : If the £4 3s is all. that is the matter I will personally guarautee that amount The Chairman remarked that that amount was not the reason of the delay. It waa the guarantees not being in order. A number of settlers had paid their fee (£1) hut had not guaranteed anything, Others had guaranteed conditionally—some there is a set-off from the line at soma place or other. The Council could see that such guarantees were absolutely useless. The matter had been left in his hands and the moment the guarantees wore fixed up bo would go on with ft. lie had been accused of hanging the question up, but could say that he had attended a public meeting at Murokopa, which lost him a day, and had waited on Dr Finlay in Wellington—in fact he could not have done any more—yet his actions had got him mt»hot water. Cr Babbage suggested that the guarantees be returned uu I others obtained. The Chairman said that he felt very keenly oa this subject. His position wag quite clear, but instead of getting awsiatauce from the souice it should ooms he had bricks thrown at him,

Cr Jonathan suggested that the Clerk write au official letter to Messrs J. Bhhw and Rose explaining to them what tbe position really was, The Chairman said he had informed his brother that Kiriteberft had done their share, aud as soon as the tftot was fixed up an application would be put iu for the money, The point being raised by some of hie detractors was that tbe line was being hung up for a paltry £4, but such was not the Oise. ae even the monetary position wag more than double that amount. (Hero a specimen of « guarantee was read, which stated that. £4 per year would be guaranteed, provided that a set-off was put in to Te Auga.) Another guarantee tho Chairms.u continued was worded that *’£l for five years would be guaranteed ‘provided* 47 other sotbiers did the same-” In hie position he was not going to take the responsibility of going on with the work on such a basin ai quoted. Councillors -. Quito right. The Chairman: J, bhaw hiuieeu Mr Row

l - 1 ■ M= and explained the pooition ?to him, and it appears to me that Mr; Bose 'misrepresents the matter.—Cr Jonathan Mid that when Str Rose spoke to him he did not appear to know anything of the matter. It was decided to aut in accordance with Crs Babbage’s and Jonathan’s suggestions, OUTSTANDING RATU*: A FORMIDABLE LIST* The Clerk presented 'a statement of outstanding rates, which was as follows:

Total 0 It was decided to aummone for recovery without further notice. No wonder 1 An amount of £2 16s 6d, rates on sections in Native Townships which had been surrendered. was written off.

Kawhia Riding 14 s d. 2 6 Matakowhai Riding 58 2 11 Te Kauri Riding | ... 60 5 4 Awaroa Riding 19 17 4 Wa’horakeke Riding 35 19 10 Tahoroa Riding 6 12 8