Kawhia County Council.

Kawhia Settler and Raglan Advertiser, Volume IV, Issue 388, 27 November 1908, Page 2

Kawhia County Council.

BTATUTABY MEETING. Tbe statutory meeting of the above body was held m the Council Chambers on Wednesday last, when there were present—Ore W. J. Sbaw, J. E. Noonan, A W. Babbsg l , G- G. Jona than, A. W Elliott, R. T Davies and J P. Wrighi. The C r. ili tbe eh aud called for Domi ‘ ‘ ** fry ‘be- jhiMHon chairu ■ ■ ■ I ’ i.i; ! • Or N'oni»n p^■: a Cr W J Sh&w be re elecied Chak’uan, ib - .nn. lion being eeconded by Or Joo.-v and carried.

The Chairman - Elect thanked his colleagues heartily for the honour oon ferred upon him. The position was not all beer and skittles, but while be . ecu pied thp position be would do his very best, not for one riding only, but for the County as a whole, for be had the welfare of tbe County at heart. Hp had received in the past every assi«t-.-.nee from bis colleagues and felt tba’ ho would continue to do so. He con -ravilared the new councillors upon -looted, end welcomed Or Jom- •. mi hack to the C >unoil. To-y a l would, he felt sure, endeavour <,c» .York tn harmony and guard the inte<eats of the County as a whole. Cr Jonathan said he felt pleased '-> find himself enjoying tbe c nfidence f the ratepayers. He took a minute in terest in every part of the 0 »unty au-i in ths administration of its affairs, an i hoped his efforts would continue to give satisfaction. Before tbe Chairman was appoin ted the representative oa the Hospital Board, Cr Davies was informed by the Clerk that it would be no expense to the County as the Board paid the travelling expenses.

SPECIAL MEETING. The above was held for the purpose of passing a special order in connection with the Kawhia-Mahoenui road loan, which was done on tba motion of Orc Babbage and Jonathan, ORDINARY MEETING. cobbkspondenoe. The outward Oorre-pmden*?e having been taken as read, the principal inwards was dealt with as f Hows : From D. Galvan, Kiwhia, stating that be had paid 2s lOd for wharfage on goods for Mr Bathe, Government Road Inspector, who refused to pay it, claiming that the Government got its goods free, and asking for a refund.— Amount to be refunded. *

From Secretary to Treaeur”, advising that the procedure adopted to procure a loan of £2500 to widen and metal the Mahoenui-Kawbia road appeared to be satisfactory, and that as soon as the •'peeial order was legally madd and g z -ttod there seemed to be no re*- ti t> «lothat the monpy would bT’hiAV iiv i| I•.

From'"SWe/ kfrsf a fre h plan for the Anaroa M*hne road te prepared, so as to enable sections men tioned in the special order to be checked.—To be attended to. From Cornille Bros., Te Mata, asking that nodoe be given to a contractor near their section to be careful with fire as they had a lot of bush just fallen.—Request to be acceeded to. From A. Swarbrick, solicitor, Hamilton, demanding £lOO for breach of contraot for breaking metal, alleged to have been made betweeu a client (E. Jcmeef and ex-Cr. Norton.—Cr Elliott wav informed (in answer to a query) that if tbe action was lost it would p-'mu o”t of tbe loan money.—Cr Davies: It is a wrong way of d 4ng business. At the present time there are men breaking stone at Te Mata.— The Chairman : Or Norton had no su thority to let this work, therefore we recognise no liability.—Crs Babbage and Wright did not believe in ore councillor letting work.—Or Ellio‘t: About these men et Te Mi f a. The engineer say.i he knows nothing of them, the Council aaye n« authority, can we knock them offP—The Chairman : Yea. Or Norton bad no right to do aa he has done.—Or Davies : Someone is to blame. Cr Noonan : You can’t blame the Council. —Cr Davies : Then I must blame the councillor. I am satisfied with the explanation.—On the motion of Crs Elliott and Jonathan it was resolved : “ That the Council recogniseti no contract, but is willing to pay Jones for the amount of stone actually broken, at 4 s per yard, on the certificate of the engineer." accounts. Tbe fullawing acc untv were pagoed for paymentA. W. B hh«ure £l, G. Hartman £6, J. Kearns €2 16?, H. T. Gillies £8 Bs, H. Wade £9 16s 6d, J. Barrett £2 Bs. FINANCIAL. Tbe Clerk reported that tbe various accounts stood as follows :

T4AVELLIXG EXPENSE**. ETC. Before ths accounts were pissed Cr Babbage said he would put iu a voucher for bis travelling expenses (£1). Cr Wright: I will leave mine stand over.

Cr Davins : Can you claim them if they are I fr over ? Cr B thhaee ; Y>•■«. Our traveling expenvi' b * q . nuid. Or Wright remarked that he wnu-1 like to hear tbe minute referring tn this question read. The Clerk read the minute, which was to the effect that travelling expenses were to be allowed, not to exceed Is per mile. Cr Wright i In some cases the Is per mile is being exceeded Cr Noonan : Other people may have a different opinion. Tbe Chairman : The matter of travelling expenses is fixed by Act. 0” Elliott thought that a councillor otoHii only racaiya bto mUmA ex-

oen ->eg. The Chairman : You cannot fix a hard and fast rule. One mooting may ne wice as expensive as another. Cr W ight said be believed in the council!jrs receiving their travelling expenses. Cr Babbage : The expenses are paid out of the riding fund, pot out of the general fund, therefore it is a matter between the representative and the ratepayers. A man n .ed not draw the ■ xpenses. Cr Wright: Tbe matter is then 'ally in the bands of the individual • unci Hors. Or Noonao believvd in cnuucill 8 bene mid their exp-msee. He ib tight he K »uri ratepayers would agree to it ind trust him to charge what whs correct. He would put in bis account at next meeting, as then he would know what tbe expenses were. Cr Wright said 'bat s >mn of the ex pauses were excessive, and there were a good number of ratepayers who wp'-i--not gatisfisd. He thought c mid be IeBB. They should cu; d w *8 low as povsibl as the Coun yha a very small rev tine. Or EIH tt ariced how ibe amount w -s arrived a'.

Cr Jonath-.n : By mileage. C- EUio't : If I charged 16< would t’r- Council ba in favour of paying me? T is Ohairmdn remarked that if the rnN’p.iyars thought the charges exces«iv? tbe pers-jo would be brought to b • k, h>H it was noc the other ooun »re hti-iuesv. As for himself, be nsuvl’y drew £1 per meeting, but sometimes not that. He was chair man (a position he was pleased to oc copy) and visited Kawhia on an average once a fortnight, thus making double the trips the other councillorhad. On one occasion be wav voted £5O, but all he bad out of that sum was £3 odd, which was all that be ever drew apart from the £1 per meeting, and be considered he was very much out of pocket. He claimed that £1 was not excessive. It wa? usual to vote a bonus to the chairman to pay for the numerous little expenses that could not be itemised, otherwise the person occupying the position would be very much nut of p >oket at the end of the year. The Act provides that the chairman can be paid up to £lOO per annum, apart from any other payment. Upon one occasion he went to Wellington to ths C mutiea Conference and to interview Minister?, and all he drew was £l2. Cr Wright said that speaking from a ratepayer’? point of view be thought it would be better if the chairman’s exnenm? were passed every month. Or B ibbage : It would be better for the chairman as he would get them all then. I don't think he would object to that.

Cr Davie? asked ah mt the £5O. Tbe Chairman said chat when the Premier arranged to visit Kawhia a public meeting was called to discuss how he was to be entertained, but no one would undertak* thaciterin g. It was recognised that o i-Ktegy sh uld ba extended to Sir' Jovcpb, and a? it was fait that if there w<w anv benefit the ratepayers woald reap it it was thought that the Council c houl I entertain him at the exponae <>f the C mnty. Accordingly a sum of £5O was voted to him. Of that amiuut ha drew £2O, the expenses came to £l7, and the £BO w»3 still in the hands of the County. Crs Davies and Elliott remarked that it was understood in their district that the whole £5O had been lifted.

Tba Chairman : Even had I drawn the £5O it would not have represented thn work I have done. The Bay of I»hnds delpga e to the conference had £25 voted for expenses. Cr Davies: Bit that is a wealthy county.

Tbn Chairman asked that because K - whia wig not a wealthy county if it sh mid fall to tbe chairman’s lot to be out of pocket. He was aware there had heon a lot of criticism, but he Guild asmre them that be did not want to mike money out of tbe Council. Ce Babbage : Tbe critioi-m was uncalled for. The £5O vote was the best investment the County ever made, as it was through the Premier coming here that we got such a substantial vote for our roads.

Cr Davies: Can ths £3O still be paid ? The Chairman replied that it oould if he liked to claim it, but if be had intended to claim it he would have done so before. All be had was £3. Cr Noonan said there had been a lot of talk, and he was pleased to hear the explanation, as it would enlighten those who had been in error. The Chairman said that when he took the £2O that was all he intended to take, and had told that fo everybody who bad discussed the matter with him. He objected to going to public print to explain his position. Cr Noonan : If a chairman has got to answer all tbe pickings it considerably lowers the position. Ct Davies said tha*. council! »• should give tbeir time bit should re oeive out of picket expenses. Tbe Chairman remarked that the cbairunn of a county bad double tbe work and worry. Ho often had to make a trip to K iwbia. Or Wright suggested that an ac count of the expenses should be kept and put in at the n-’Xt mating. If the chairman comas to Kiwhia he should have his expends.

The Chairman : Am I to be tied to any particular rule ? I may think it necessary to visit Kiwhia but tbe Council may not agree with ms. I* is lowering the dignity of the porition to put in a li«t of actual expenses. I would not do iri A sum can be voted if tbe Council think tft. Or Babbage: If we can’t trust our chairman put him out and put someone else m his place. Or Wright said that evidently b’ moaning had been misunderstood. , The chairman should not be out ot ' pnnfrflfr an& be it be

better if tbe expenses were paid every month.

Tbe Chairman said it was a nsnal thing to vote a sum to cover all expenses, and if th* sum wan in rxeesa of wbat was required it need not be drawn. If a chairman in elected he should be trusted. It was bameaning the position to have to supply in detail wbat tbe expenses were Cr Noonan thought so too. It would look far better to vote a lamp sum.

The Chairman said that if any one of importance came along it was the duty of the chairman to enter>*u» b«ni Cr Noonan ‘ The position of ebrirraan is apparently not to h- rear ed, bat ite dignity most be npbr’d, Cr Wright : The detailed account wan'd be m»re tci'i-hto'ory to the rat- p<i}ere, who feel very sore on tbe ma if r. Cr Babbage: That o* rate-pay«-r sh old no' l«- recog’ iacd. 1 ne di cussiun then fiztled oat, but is 'tn at ►u’-e o be br ughi up at the nex% mte if g. LASi-ING FOR TE K4U’ 1. Cr Nojuhb -aid • h-»t -electing the lauding sites the K <nri Riv< r bad been uyerlooked. 1 here should be a landing near the bridge.

The Chairman f-aid that they co «ld not take any m ;ney oat of the loan for Te K-turi, as Awaroa, Oparau and Kiir h -ku were the places sp3eifi«d.

Or N<>onau : Wo are rated and should have a shed.

Cr Bibbige suggested that prelimisteps be tak<- u to ercurea rite, as when the Hat boar Endowments were dealt with ■» bhed could be elected out of public revenue. O i Cr Njonau’fl resultriut] it we decided to apply for a land,’ g sit, a i the Kiuri River, near toe bridge. GENERAL. Iu reply to aa enquiry, the Cbiirmaa said that the Council w»h t> «, going oa with the wharf loan. Tbe Goytrument had found no fault with the proposal, bat it was over two months before the special order was gazetted. Ou <ue morion of Crs Jonathan and Babbage it was decided that as boob as <he loan money for Kawhia is available tendtra be immediately advertised and the work proceeded w>th at oner. Cr Elliott mentioned the matter of taking some of the snagH n U t o f tbe Ouaren River, and be and Cr Davies -were authorised to speud £5 iu tbe direction named.

It was decided to call tender* for tbe 12 momba ending December 31* , 1902, for lighting the beacons aud also for collecting tbe d->g tax.

Cr Noonan euq ired whether rates on native land could be collected now. —The Chairman said that tbe land was rateable bat the difficulty was io cuiiao iQg the amounts das. Other counties had eudeayoured to recover the amoauta. bat had to eventually wipe the "cm- off he books. In reply «o Cr D vies, the Chairman said that nothing fresh bad been heard a boat the P:r>ugia West road loan. -The Okapata loan, he though?, would have to be gone over again. When H. Wade’s account was read out, Cr Davies said that ha desired to enter a strong protest against money being apaut ou such work, and as long aa ho occupied a seat at the C »anci! table he would ohjoec to it. It was tra*by work. Ra es and thirds should be spent on permanent w *rk. He regretted having to'sn<*sk iu this strain and trusted be would not have i-ocaaion io do so again.

Ir. was decided to aak Mr Bathe to notify the councillor for each ndmg what amount of thirds are being spent on maintenance.

It will be remembered thtt < meeting or two ago the Maesru Van Houtte, of Te Mata, complained that certain work had not been done, and then received the promise that the matter would be attended to. They again attended about the same question, as the work had not been dona. They also asked that a small contract, which was pegged oat, sboald be proceeded with.—The Chairman advised that in future the ridiog members should be written to. He had no doubt but that tbe Matakowhai repreaentarives would visit tbe locality. [Cre Davies and Elliott visited the Te Mita end of their riding the day after ’he meeting). Balance of report held over.

County Fund, cr . £514 » 9 Ln i Account, cr . £614 16 6 Harbour Account, or .. . £117 15 7