WAITEMATA COUNTY COUNCIL

Kaipara and Waitemata Echo, 15 April 1920, Page 3

WAITEMATA COUNTY COUNCIL

MONTHLY MEETING

A large amount of business was transacted at the March meeting of the above Council, at which Mr. H. Aitkenhead presided. Following are some of the minutes :

Treasurer's Report

On the motion of the Chairman, the Treasurer's report was adopted. Rates amounting to £2368 15s lOd were collected for the month of February-

County Office Site.—The Treasurer reported that Section 150 of the Counties Act, 1908, provides that the Council may by special order authorise the sale of land purchased for public purposes where, in the opinion of the Council, it is no longer required for the purposes of the county. The Council has the office site at the top of Shortland Street on its hands, and can dispose of it un•der.this statutory authority. He submitted a cash offer of" £1800 for the site, which cost the Council £1600. The Government valuation is £1500. Cr. Oliphant moved, and Cr. Hatfield seconded, that a special order be passed authorising, the sale by the Council of part allotment 13 of section 5 of the town of Auckland. The motion was carried, Crs. Hart and Laing dissenting. Valuation Rolls The Clerk reported on the delay and difficulty in getting the valuation rolls for the new financial year from the Valuation Department, which was said to be un-der-staffed, and pointed out that such delay prohibited statutory obligations being fulfilled by the Council. He recommended that the Minister- in charge be approached in the matter, and that lie be empowered also to write him urging the seriousness of the position. Report adopted; Cr. Theet moved, and Cr. Hatfield seconded. Accounts The usual monthly accounts as submitted were passed for payment ; the Chairman moved, and Cr. Oliphant seconded. It was also resolved to pay Mr. E. McQuoid £100 in respect of contract No. 533 when the balance of the Titirangi loan of £2000 comes to Hand from the State Advances Department. Rates for Ensuing Year The Clerk pointed out the necessity of fixing the rates for the ensuing year, and recommended that as the valuations for the ridings of Wainui, Waitakcre, Pukeatua and Waipareira were not being revised, it would be well to deal with those ridings now. The Council accordingly fixed the rates for these ridings as follows: —Waipareira Riding: general rate l-.UI, loan rate §d ; Wainui Riding : general rate lid; Pukeatua Riding, general rate l|d, loan rate j]d ; Waitakere Riding : general rate Id, loan rate

Regarding the balance of the ridings, the Clerk suggested that as it would be impossible to obtain the new valuations for some time, that the Council, having regard to the state of each respective riding balance, resolve now what amount of gener:.l rate will be required to carry <.i the affairs of each riding plus per cent, for administration and other charges, and when the valuations come to hand he could merely fix the rates to produce the respective amounts which the Council required.

It was then accordingly resolved that the general rates produce be fixed as follows :—Titirangi £770, Birkenhead £1490, Kaukapakapa £630, Kumou £1830, Mairetahi £1920, Waikumete £2200.

The question of the amount required to, carry on the affairs of the Takapuna Riding was deferred till Fricjay next.

The levy of the above rates was formally moved by the Chairman and seconded by Cr. Hatfield and confirmed.

The Treasurer reported that the sum of £700, the.balance of the Wainui-Kaukapakapa special road loan, had been brought to credit, a debenture for same having been issued to the State Advances Office.—Adopted, on the motion of the Chairman.

The Clerk reported that committee meetings of the Council had been held respectively at Kaukapakapa on the Bth March instant, when the quarries there were inspected, and on the 9th March instant, at the Sandspit, when the Auckland Shingle Company's dredge and shingle were inspected.—Adopted ; the Chairman moved, and Cr. Laing seconded.

The Clerk reported that the Waitemata Licensing Committee for the ensuing year *had been elected without opposition ass fol-

lows :—Messrs, Alex. Alison, R. H. Duder, J. Edson, E. E. Grimwade, and J. McPhail. As the Council is the controlling authority, the report was formally adopted; the Chairman moved and Cr. Hatfield seconded. Tenders Tenders were dealt with as follows :— Contract No. 500, Whangapa-raoa-Tiri Tiri Road: Engineer's estimate £52 6s. No tenders were received, and the matter was left in the hands of the riding member and engineer. Contract No. 555, Lonely Track Road, Oteha Block: Engineer's estimate, £309 15s—J. F. Sands £327 Is, Bawden Bros, and Cross £321 4s-Bd. Lowest tender accepted ; Cr. Foley moved and Cr. Broady seconded. Albany-Brown's Bay Road, contract No. 556: Engineer's estimate £186 17s—W. Ing-lis £238 15s 4d, J. F. Sands £185 6s, W. W. Winter £177 3s. Lowest tender accepted. Contract No. 557, McEwan's culvert filling: Engineer's estimate £12— T. E. Davison £10 10s. Tender accepted. Overhanging Trees Reporting on the matter of overhanging trees and growth on roads, the Engineer stated that as a result of orders given to abate the nuisance no satisfaction was obtained. He recommended that in future it be a standing instruction that in all cases where orders have not been complied with within the two months allowed that the required work be done and the cost be acquired from the defaulters. I Wright's Quarry The Engineer reported that Cr. Dye and himself had not yet conferred with the Inspector of Quarries regarding the strippingof the above quarry, and that he had received no instructions from the Council contingent on their visit of inspection to the quarry on the Bth March instant. He wished to point out that when considering the matter that by the terms of the present contract with C. W. Smith the contractor had practically taken over the quarry for a. time, and any action must be taken in conjunction with the contractor. On the motion of the Chairman, seconded by Cr. Hatfield, consideration of the matter was deferred sine die. Shelly Beach Road Mr. James McLeod attended regarding the dedication of the road to Shelly Beach Wharf and the native reserve to which lie had obtained a title, and wished the Council to assist him in getting the Marine Department to allow him to make a charge on certain days for the use of the Domain. Consideration of the matter deferred for one week. It was resolved, on the motion of the Chairman, seconded by Cr. Harrison, to take the road to the wharf under the provisions of the Public Works Act. On the motion of the Chairman, seconded by Cr. Dye, it was further resolved that as a precedent act to the foregoing resolution, a deed of transfer to the Crown of the park be prepared at once, and tendered to Mr. McLeod for signature.