Kawhia County Council.

Kawhia Settler and Raglan Advertiser, Volume IV, Issue 369, 17 July 1908, Page 2

Kawhia County Council.

SPECIAL MEETING, A special meeting of tbe above was held in the Council Chambers on Saturday last, when there were present —Crs. W. J. Shaw (chairman), H. Shaw, G. G. Jonathat.-, A. N. N irton, A, W. Babbage and H. Armstrong Tbe special order relative to tbe wharf loan was confirmed on the motion of Crs H- Shaw and Babbage. A letter was read from the Undersecretary, stating that special order ro alteration of boundaries would hive to be rescinded by the making of another special order. The Chairman remarked that it was a peculiar position, us although the alterations had not been gazetted, yet a special order was necessary so that the boundaries could remain as heretofore.—The order was made on the motion of Crs H. Shaw and Norton.

ORDINARY MEETING,

the harbour lights . A letter was read was A. E. Langley, Kawhia agent for the Northern B.S. Co.#, asking that the beacons be lit every night in tbe interests of the public, the port and the shipping. The company had three steamers trading regularly to the part and sometimes tbe Rimu, and it was not always possible to get word to have tbe lights shown, more so in the cases of the Rimu and Rothesay. Or Norton asked what it cost to light the beacons, and was informed that it was 4s 6J. He said that it was a serious thing the beacons not being lit. Tbe Chairman stated that the item was a big nue, as the expense would be great. If the berthages were increased tbe expenditure might be met. Cr Jonathan agreed that Mr Langley’s request was a good one as vessels might get in distress at any time. The Chairman : Yes. But will tbe finances run it.

Cr Jonathan said that the matter resolved itself into one of ways and means. When shipping demanded it no doubt the Board would agree to it. There might be a chance of the Marine Department assisting. The Chairman: Especially as we save it £6O a year. The following motion was carried on the motion of Ors Jonathan and H Shaw:—“That the clerk communicate with the Marine Department relative to the harbour lights, urging the great necessity of same being lit eyery night ; also to point out that the Council had saved the Department approximately £6O a year, and asking assistance in the matter.” FINANCIAL The Clerk reported that the various accounts stood as follows :

ACCOUNTS. The following accounts were passed for payment:—W. J. Shaw, £l, H. Shaw £l, A. N. Norton £1 10s, H. Armstrong 15s, A. W. Babbage £l, M. A. Going £2 5s 9d, F. Hosking, £1 6; 61, D. Galvan £1 H. H. Pettit £4 103 6d, Raglan Printing Co. 4s, Hardie Bros 14s, N.Z. Drag Co. Is 6d, W. M. Morgan 6i, E. Jones £3O, J- his her £2 83, A. G. Hartmann, £2 Bs, J. Harpe- £1 Is, J. Hustler £1 Is, O. Sparling £1 Is, E. Le Proa £1 Bs, VV. Morgan £5 12s 6d, J. D. Sutton £l6s, F. Hosking £1 15s 4d, J. C. Berg 12s, H. Terry £6 83, Mana £4 6j 6d. NEIGHBOURS VIFFERENCKB. Mrs S. Coe, Te Rau-a-moa, wrote as follows: —“As there have been no steps taken to enable me to get into the eastern portion of my section I have to give you notice that I now demand from your Council the sum of £l5 as damages for being unable to give possession of a piece of land which I have had an offer to lease lor the last twelve months.. 1 have been unable to lease it owing to your not having the obstruction removed from the public road. If this amount is not paid, and the obstruction retnov ed, by the 80th June I shall have to give my solicitor instructions to take further proceedings.” The letter was simply received. KILLING WILLOW TREES.

i A communication was read from Albert S. Board, Hangatiki, re destroying willow trees :—“I have been ring barking them in the month of January and February—tsat is stripping the b irk about four or five feet from the ground; but you mua*; pull the bark to tbe ground and let it lay. Don’t break it off or they will ghoot again. I find this the best way to destroy them.” The Clerk was instructed to write and thank Mr Board for his information. MAROKOPA TELEPHONE. A letter was read from tbe Superin- ' tendant of Electric Lines forwarding bond for completion.—Mr P. C. Ross, sec et ry Kiritehere Settlers’ Association, also write, stating that £B6, together with the guarantees (all in order, tramped, signed and witnessed) hwd heen banded to tbe clerk, and askin? that the matter be taken in band with i xpedition. If any Kiuob iku sub-cri tiers wanted their money back tbe Council could return it, as no Marckopa or Kiritebure settlers wished to pee any re-ident of Kawhia South dm gooned into joining the tele phone subsidy. The thanks of tbe subscribers at that end were offered fur the interest shown and help given towards that important work. A brief discussion took place as to what fund tbe balance of the money necessary should be paid out of, Crs Norton and Babbage maintaining that their ridings did not benefit. The Chairman thought it should be paid from the Harbour acc amt, as any benefit that would accrue would be in connection with shipping. It was decided to maka the payment out of tbe harbour account, and that

the seal of the Council be affixed 4o the bond in the presence of the Chairman and Or Jonathan. APPLICATIONS TO LEASE. At the previous meeting an application was read from Messrs Ward and Hunter for a site on the land adjacent to the Settler office for the erection of a butter factory. This was referred to a committee, which recommended chat a 10 ycirs* lease be granted, with right of renewal at ra-valuation, aod also that the survey of the mud flat ba gone on with.

Mr Heywood Armstrong also ap pti.d for x acre 5 chains of tbe mod flat opposite Mr Jonathan's house, at a rental of £2 a year. This area was required for a timber yard. It was not intended to re-clnim, but to drive piles The Chairman said that since the committee met it was found out tha: the leases bad to be put up by public auction. Tbe land bad to bi first surveyed and he did not think that tbe lease could be granted to Messrs Ward and Hunter under six m mth«, which would be too late, as the factory was to start on October Ist. Cr Jonathan : Would tbe Conned go on with the survey ? The Chairman : Y»s. The be t thing is to verbally report to Messrs Ward and Hunter as to the pisidon

Cr Armstrong : Have the survey made at once. It is not balin'ss L r people who want a site to have to wai six months before they can get, ?b they might get full up aod clear oa : The Ch»irmau eaid that the Goouc; wanted to help the establishment of the dairying industry, and would be propared to give every concession, bait would be far better to state that a title could not bo given in the time. Toe following motion was on tbe motion of Crs Armstrong and B ibbage That Mesara Ward and Hunter be tnfoim d that there is u > prospect of the Council being able to deal with the land in question io time for them to erect their factory by October ; also, that the survey of the mud flats (to opposite where Te Puru sections start) be proceeded with st Once.”

HOSPITAL CONTRIBUTION, The Secretary of the Waikato Hospital Board iutimatid that no doubi representation of the Council on tbe Bjard would be fixed by tbe Depart meat. After a short discission, Cr Jonathan moved and Or Babbage seconded: —“ That the position re the Charitable Aid contribution be placed before a solicitor, and tbe question be a«ked if the amount coaid be fixed witboat the Council beiug represented.”—Carried.

THB NEW RATE. The Chairman said that last year tbe rate was Id iu the £, but this year he suggested that it be Ifd, which would mean that the rating was increased £lOB, tbe sum named, together with the subsidy, being aaffioient to pay the Hospital contribution. An estimate of receipts and expenditure had been made and it was found that after all expenses had been met there would be over £750 to expend on roads and bridges. The rate was low, but the ratepayers were being Btndied. The Council had so far been able to keep the roads open and if they were blocked it was the fault of the ratepayers. If councillors did not think tbe rate was sufficient a higher one could be struck, bat he thought a I|d rate would be sufficient, A rate of Ifd in the £ was then struck. GENERAL. The Clerk was authorised to procure a basket sling for tbe use of tbe launches. The repairing of the Aotea-Kawhia road was left iu tbe hands of Cr Jonathan. It was decided to call tenders for widening 60 chains of the WaitetuuaAotea road, tenders to close on August 22nd.

Trust Account, Cr £42 10 0 Harbour Account, Cr .. k £104 5 4 County Fund Account, Cr 1 £378 9 2 Wai to tuna-Ao tea Rd. Loan, Cr £963 14 0