MATAMATA COUNTY COUNCIL.

Matamata Record, Volume II, Issue 98, 19 September 1918, Page 2

MATAMATA COUNTY COUNCIL.

September l Meeting. There were present on Friday, Crs. J. W. Anderson, chairman (Patetere), J. Pohlen and E. C. Banks (Matamata), C. A. Stopford (Patetere), F. C. Barnett and W. Carr-Rollett., (Putaruru), W. Kirkby (Maungatautiri) and A. Potts (Taotaoroa). CONTRACTS. The Minister of Public Works, in a circular letter, drew attention to the fact that some local bodies are in the habit of paying rates to contractors much in excess of what the Department is paying for similar work. He said in future all tenders before acceptance will have to be submitted to the Public Works engineer. The chairman said the Department had taken up the attitude for twelve months, and it might just as well have condensed the circular, stating that it wished local bodies to employ cheap, worthless men. The Department would only pay lis a day, and the work it did was a fair sample of cheap labor. The county could not get good men at the price.— The letter was received. SUBSIDY ON RATES.

The Valuation Department remitted the Government subsidy on rates collected by the county for the past year. The amount of £968 Is 8d was apportioned as follows:—Matamata riding £274 9s 2d, Pat3tere £304 3s Bd, Putaruru £l9B 2s Id, Taotaoroa £lO7 19s 2d, Maungatautiri £B3 6s lOd. The clerk stated that the subsidy was £93 less than the previous year. DRAINAGE LOANS. The State Advances office notified that it had lodged £2OOO to the council's credit, £IOOO each for the Waharoa and Hora Hora special drainage works. TIRAU-ROTORUA ROAD. Referring further to the council's letter re the Tirau-Rotorua road, the Under Secretary Department of Lan<fc stated that an inspection had been made and the report received stated that the bush road, where it cuts through the timbered land, is felled wide, and it is not considered that it would improve enough to warrant the expenditure of felling the bush one chain on each side of the road. Cr. Rollett was of the opinion that the council should take further action. It was decided to approach the Rotorua Qounty council, and Chamber of Commerce, asking them also to approach the Department, to get it to cut the trees on the north side. RAILWAY MATTERS. The Auckland Railways League forwarded a request for the council's assistance in the demand " that the next Minister for Works must be a North Islander, and preferably, an Auckland Provincial District M.P." The circular stated that the utter indifference of the present minister to do anything to push on roads, railways and settlement, should arouse a vigorous protest from every public body and Chamber of Commerce in the provincial district. The chairman said it appeared that the Government was well satisfied with the Minister. It stated that it had little money, and he was just the man to conserve it. Cr. Banks said that it appeared that the trouble was the scarcity of labor, not money. Cr. Rollett said if railway works were conducted with pick and shovel then the time was not opportune to go ahead ; up-to-date methods were decidedly necessary in New Zealand. It was generally thought that the request was too local to support, and the letter was " received." HYDRO-ELECTRIC SCHEME. In response to a request by the Auckland Provincial Industrial Association, Mr E. C. Banks was nominated as a member of the executive. MOTOR HAULAGE. The N.Z.D.A., re motor haulage, said one phrase of the question had not been touched upon in the i recent interview —that the company's motor vehicles operating in the Matamata district were also travelling over or 3 miles of Piako county roads. The letter suggested that the license fee should be divided between both county councils. The chairman said the arrangements seemed to be quite alright whilst Mr Pacey was away. Directly he came back quibbling started again. The bargain had been made and should be stuck to. A resolution in accordance with the chairman's latter remark was carried. CULVERT AT TURANGA-O-MOANA. The council agreed to the request of the Hungahunga drain-1

age board, that it pay half cost of removing bridge and installing a concrete pipe culvert on the Turanga-o-moana road. A WHITEHALL MATTER. Two petitions from residents of the Taotaoroa riding were before council, the first containing eleven signatures and asking for a special loan to be raised for a road from Karopiro to Cowling's property, and the second nine signatures (several of which were on the other also) asking that the proposal be not gone on with. The clerk said the position was that by the signatures it appeared it was useless going on with the proposal, for a loan could not be carried. Cr. Potts said the settlers were enthusiastic at first, only one being against it. They had made a complete turn-about. ROAD WANTED. Colin Muirhead, on behalf of Peter Muirhead, wrote asking the council for attention to a road partly formed, which was to give him access to his property, at Whitehall, but which is at present practically useless. Cr. Potts said a lot of money had been spent on the road. It was decided to leave the matter in the hands of the riding member and engineer. OKAUIA ROAD. J. Ernest Moore, in connection with his request for access to his property at Okauia, wrote stating that it appeared the proportion of the cost of the road required from him by the council was very high, in view of the fact that the whole 23 chains would give frontage to the next block. The engineer said the figures were only approximate ; the cost depended on the amount of stone to be removed. The portion giving access to Graveson's had been formed to an extent, but had been stopped when the stoney ground was reached. Cr. Pohlen suggested an alternative scheme, which would give Moore access and also serve Graveson, by improving a cutting on the old road. He said Graveson was in a very difficult position, being unable to bring out his produce. He suggested arranging an interview with Moore. Mr Graveson waited on the council, asking for help. He said there was no possible chance of the female members of his family getting over the creek in floodtimes since the bridge was condemned. He suggested the council might provide a ford, until the bridge is finished. He had been without access for six months. It was decided that the riding members and engineer meet the interested parties on the ground, with power to act. LICHFIELD-ATIAMURI ROAD. Hill, Atkinson and Co. approached the council asking if it is possible to get the amount voted in the estimates for the LichfieldAtiamuri road spent this summer. They complained that the road in its present state was very bad, especially at Kopei creek. It was decided to urge the Government to spend the grant. A WAHAROA REQUEST. In view of the increased valuation, the ratepayers interested in the Waharoa special drainage scheme approached the council asking that a re-classification of their properties be made. The position of the settters was explained by Cr. Pohlen, who moved that the request be granted. Mr W. R. Johnson was appointed classifier. FINGER-POSTS. The N.Z. Farmers' Union resolution, "That the various county councils be urged to erect finger-posts at all junctions of main roads and by roads with main roads, for the guidance of the travelling public " was before the council. The chairman stated that the Matamata County was well supplied with sign posts. TAUMANGI STATION. The Putaruru branch of the N.Z. Farmers' Union drew the council's attention to a dangerous crossing on the Overdale road, near Tauraangi station, and asked that action be taken regarding it. It was decided to draw the notice of the Railway Department to this and the Putaruru town crossing. PUTARURU ROADS. It was decided to carry out repair and sanding work in the Putaruru township. ROADING GENERALLY. General discussion on roading works arose from the engineer's report. The chairman said now that an understanding had been come to regarding the division of the ridings, he intended going ahead with loan proposals for the Tirau-Cambridge road. Cr. Stopford spoke against sanding, but Cr. Pohlen said that, failing a proper metalling scheme, he would advocate sand; the latter certainly gave relief. Cr. Banks advocated metalling the Mangawhero cutting, and sug- :

gested the riding members meet the Mangawhero settlers. A motion to this effect was carried. WAHAROA ROAD. G. W. Ogden, J. Pickup, Ryan Bros., and A. L. Forsman petitioned the council to carry out a promise made last year and repair the road fronting their properties at Waharoa. They asked that it be graded and sanded early in the summer to allow it to consolidate before next winter. Dealt with in Engineer's report. ACCOUNTS. Accounts passed for payment totalled £765 15s 2d, made up as follows: General £570 12s Id. grants interest and loans £195 3s Id.