MATAMATA COUNTY COUNCIL

Matamata Record, Volume II, Issue 102, 17 October 1918, Page 3

MATAMATA COUNTY COUNCIL

October Meeting. There were present at Friday’s meeting Crs Anderson, chairman, and C. A. Stopford (Patbtere), F. C. Barnett and W. C. Rollett (Putaruru), A. Potts (Taotaoroa), J. Pollen (Matamata). Leave of absence was granted Crs E. C. Banks and R. Kirby. TE POI METALLING. The State Advances Department intimated that £IOOO had been remitted to the County council on account of the Oma-hine-Te Poi loan of £2,500. PUTARURU CROSSING. The District engineer, N.Z. Railways gave permission to the council to remove the trees growing on the . railway line at Putaruru. The Minister of Railways, notified that the crossings at Taumangi and Putaruru would receive attention in accordance with the council’s representation LICHFIELD DEVIATION. The District Road engineer wrote re the Lichfield-Atiamuri deviation that the Minister .did not consider the matter of sufficient urgency to warrant the expenditure until after the war is over. Cr. Rollett suggested that the Minister be asked to put the old road in order and render it less dangerous to the travelling public. All the pressure possible should be brought to bear on the Minister, for the road is the main one from the Waikato to Napier. The washouts caused a danger to life and limb, and the Minister’s old excuse, “ the war was on,'’ was not justified in this case. The chairman thought the council's energies should be directed towards getting the new deviation made. It was decided to write a strong letter to the Minister. TIRAU-ROTORUA ROAD. The Under-secretary of Lands and Survey department, notified that the Commissioner of Crown Lands is arranging for another inspection of the Tirau-Rotorua road, and when the report is presented he would again communicate with the council. The Rotorua' Chamber of Commerce intimated that it had decided’ to support the council’s ' efforts and effect improvements to the Tirau-Rotorua road. FORFEITED SECTIONS. The Land board intimated that the forfeiture of the following sections: Section 6 Clifford settlement 311 acres 3 roods, 34 perches leased by Mr John Ross and section 6 Tepapa settlement 98 acres held by Mr John William Lindsay. HYDRO-ELECTRIC SCHEME. The Piako County council asked the council to send representatives to a meeting to be held at Te Aroba in connection with the hydro-electric scheme. No action taken. MOTOR LORRIES. The N.Z.D.A. wrote asking if an application for permission to continue the use of the heavy motor lorries until the lighter ones came to hand had been before the last meeting. The clerk said he had received no application. The engineer said he had received the application. It was generally agreed that under no circumstances would the heavy lorries be allowed on the road. TE WHETU ROAD. The South Taranaki Building and Investment company requested the council to proceed with the formation of the road at Te Whetu as speedily as possible, as the company was handicapped in its Ngatira undertaking. They were prepared, by the loan of employees and otherwise to push *tbe matter along. It was agreed that the engineer’s services be loaned to the company. PUBLIC WORKS. The county clerk, Thames, • wrote as follows“ I have been directed by the council to communicate with all local bodies with reference to the recent Public Works circular. It is needless to point out the delay that now frequently takes place when plans and specifications are forwarded to the Public Works department for approval. If in addition to this the council has to submit the tender price for approval it will certainly mean further delay and a possibility of the contractor withdrawing his tender. With reference to the maximum of 11s, including the war bonus being paid to general laborers, this is a matter which affects individual councils. In this district, except adjacent to the town, the ruling rates are 12s to 14s, including bonus, and it is often difficult to get suitable labor even at these prices-. All contracts are submitted to public tender, and the council must, if

, the work is to be proceeded with, pay the ruling rates now existing as the result of abnormal conditions. If therefore your council is affected by the terms or conditions laid down in the circular it is hoped that you will protest against and ask for its withdrawal. The letter was received. OKOROIRE CROSSING. The matter of accepting responsibility for the proposed Okoroire crossing at Meikle’s property, Okoroire, was again considered by the council, but it was decided to refer it back to Meikle’s solicitor, stating that the council could not see its way to accepting the conditions imposed by the Railway department —to pay the cost of subway or overhead bridge if these were ever deemed necessary. MOORE’S ROAD. Cr. Pohlen reported that Cr. Banks and himself had visited Moore’s property and Okauia, and an arrangement had been come to. The matter was referred to in the engineer’s report, and he suggested that it be adopted, and the work put in hand straight away. The suggestion was adopted, and the action of the riding members endorsed. WAHAROA DRAIN. James C. Smith, Waharoa, drew attention to the state of the road in front of part of his section, and asked the council to assist him in having the drain cleaned out. Cr. Pohlen said the drain was on the Waharoa - Turanga -o - moana road. He would move that the matter be left in the hands of the riding members and engineer with power to act. THE OMAHINE METAL. When the accounts were submitted a discussion took place I regarding one for £lO2 for i damage, metal, etc., from C. C. 1 Neal, Omahine. Councillors were in a dilemma as to the manner in which a settlement might be arrived at, disputing some of the items, it ' being ultimately decided to leave the matter in the hands of the riding member (Cr Stopford) and the engineer. j MILITARY SERVICE. \ Cr. Barnett raised the question of appealing for time for a council employee, Mr Harwood, who had been drawn in the ballot. In speaking to the motion Cr. Bar.n.ett said the Putaruru riding contemplated metalling adjacent to the township, and at present the man was essential. He felt it his duty to the county to bring the matter forward. Cr. Rollett said it was late in the day to commence appealing - for employees. ( Cr. Barnett said the man had appealed on the grounds of being j essential as a farmer, but had explained that half his time was spent in working on the roads. ‘ The appeal had been dismissed. 1 In view of the latter circum- < stances no action was taken. PATETERE ROADS. i The clerk was instructed to make application to the Govern- ; ment for».a loan of £5,000 for metalling work in the Patetere ] riding. TENDERS. ] Only one tender was received , for metalling work at Maunga- , tautiri, and this the engineer con- J sidered absurd. It was decided , to again advertise the work. < WAR BONUS. j Towards the close of the meet- < ing the chairman referred to the j increased cost of living, andmoved . that an increase of 15 per cent, j be made to the clerk’s and en- ] gineer’s salaries. It was also ] decided that the engineer’s car j be run by., the county. The motion was carried unanimously, i ACCOUNTS. j Accounts were passed for pay- ‘ ment as follows: —General, £345 4s scl; loans and grants, etc., £331 ( 8s ; interest account, £330 11s lOd; total, £IOO7 4s 3d.