MATAMATA COUNTY COUNCIL.

Matamata Record, Volume II, Issue 112, 23 December 1918, Page 2

MATAMATA COUNTY COUNCIL.

Adjourned Meeting. The adjourned monthly meeting of the Matamata County council was held on Wednesday, Cr. J. W. Anderson presiding. Crs. J. Pohlen and E. C. Banks (Matamata), C. A. Stopfovd (Patetere), F. C. Barnett and W. C. Rollett (Putaruru), A. Potts (Taotaoroa) and W. Kirkby (Maungatautiri) were also present PaTETERE ROADS. - - The Advances to Settlers’ office wired that the question of the £SOOO Patetere loan was now before the Minister, and it would be expedited as much as possible. Special orders in connection with the special loan were made. PUTARURU CROSSING. The Genoral Manager of Railways wrote re the council’s representations as to the dangerous state of the Putaruru crossing, that arrangements have been made to have the scrub removed. It was pointed out, however, that the Railway department was under no obligation to do the work, which was one for the local authority in control of the road. TIRAU ROADS. Rose Bros., Ltd., wrote stating that the road in front of their store was in a disgraceful condition, and has been so for some considerable time, making it impossible to cart goods to the main entrance of the store. The firm alleged that the road in its present state was a menace to the public. The matter was left in the chairman’s hands. The latter stated that part of the road was not dedicated. . . THE KAIMAI ROAD.

The Matamata Town board stated that after carefully considering the request that it contribute towards the cost of repairs and upkeep of the Kaimai road it regretted that it could not see its way towards complying with the request. W. O. Gordon, secretary, Lower Kaimai branch of the Farmers’ union, drew attention to work necessary on the road. It was explained that the authority had been given to get the work done, and it would shortly be attended to. DAMAGED FENCE. , *■ W. H. Allen, Tirau, drew the council’s attention to damage which had been caused to his fence through the accumulation of silt washed on to it by storm water during the last seven years. / Left in riding members’ and engineer’s hands. OKAUIA ROAD. J. Ernest Moore, the owner of a property at Okauia, forwarded a cheque for £IOO for work on a road to his property. WAITOA RIVER IMPROVE- ... MENTS. Writing on October 22nd Mr W. R. Johnson, drainage engineer, stated that he had suspended further operations on the Waitoa river until the water recedes sufficiently to ensure a good job being done. He anticipated that this would not bo until after the New Year. ' Cr.-Pohlen stated that the contractor, A. Sulenta-Mazzoney, had since died from the effects of influenza. DAY LABOR. The Minister of Public Works intimated that a bonus of Is per day would be allowed on the department’s standard wage of 11s per day. • DISTRICT ENGINEER. The district engineer intimated that from the Ist December the Matamata county would be included in the Hamilton subdistrict. LICHFIELD ROAD. The Minister of Public Works intimated that he was having inquiries made into the matter of the Lichfield-Atiamuri road deviation.

t UNCOLLECTABLE RATES. ' The clerk submitted a list Bf uncollectable rates which were written off. > PEACE CELEBRATIONS. ! ' The Minister of Internal Affairs intimated that the local bodies • would receive full liberty to make arrangements for peace cele- , brations. It was decided to fully discuss the matter at next meeting. MEIKLE’S CROSSING. A deputation of settlers, pur--11 chasers of parts of Meikle’s sub’f. division at Okoroire, waited on i the council asking it to take | action in getting a public crosI ing installed to their sections, i The chairman stated that the council would not take over any liability in connection with the crossing. The railway department asked for a guarantee of the cost of a sub-way or overhead

bridge if required in the future, and until Meikle guaranteed the probable cost the council could not consent to take over the crossing., Mr P. Gilchrist wrote that there was still' trouble with the registrar regarding Meikle’s road, Okoroire, the registrar requiring that it be a public crossing. _ Mr Gilchrist advised the council to hold the money in the meantime. PUTARURU ROADS. The secretary of the Putaruru branch of the Farmers’ Union wrote as follows : —“ At a meeting held here the question of road and rates came up for discussion. Cr Barnett, gave a very clear outline of the finances, and the work he proposed doing in the district. Members spoke very favorably on the way Cr Barnett had carried out his duties as councillor, and a resolution was carried unanimously that this meeting endorses Cr Barnett’s action in getting the roads in the town area graded and metalled as they are in a very bad state at present, and that the secretary notify the council of its motion. BARTHOLOMEW CO’S LINE. The Commissioner of Crown Lands intimated that the question of fixing the crossing the Bartholomew Company’s line and the South Taranaki Investment Company was one for the companies themselves to decide. The Bartholomew Land and ■ Timber Company asked permission to put down a temporary siding. The engineer said he had given permission, subject to the council’s approval. It was decided to endorse the engineer’s action. INCURABLE PATIENTS. The resolution of the Alexandra Borough Council, urging that the Public Health Department should undertake the control and care of all incurable patients which were now sent to country districts from the town was received. The chairman stated that the patients were not a charge on the local bodies, the Government paying for the class of patients. DAMAGE BY FIRE. G. W. Dickinson, Okoroire, forwarded a claim for damages to his property caused by a fire lit by the county employees. He stated that he would not claim in cash provided the damage was made good in kind, in 14 days. The loss included a whare and its contents.

Cr Anderson said the writer had been present on the day the meeting should have been held. He understood that the fire did start at the council’s camp, and the council was to a certain extent liable. It was decided to leave the matter in- the hands of the engineer. It was stated that the council employee in charge had taken reasonable care, but that the fire had been lit by two Maori workmen. A PUTARURU REQUEST. T. M. Harwood, Putaruru, applied for permission to erect gates across the road between sections 41 and 52, Patetere North. Left in the hands of the riding members and engineer. A HINUERA COMPLAINT. G. W. Taylor, Hinuera, stated that two years ago the road at the front of his farm had been lowered about two feet. The council (was now grading the road again, and unless a culvert is installed he cannot get in to his property. It was decided to reply stating that the crossing, being a private one, the council could not accept any liability in the matter. TIRAU-ROTORUA ROAD. In connection with the council’s letter re this road the Rotorua County council stated that it would support the request to the Lands Department to have the bush fallen a chain wide on the road. The council asked however that the Matamata County would use its best endeavors to keep owners up to the work in regard to the control of noxious weeds. The council is still awaiting a reply from the department with regard to its request. OMAHINE BRIDGE. The district engineer agreed to the substitution of kauri for hardwood in the Omahine stream bridge, the council to find all in excess of £SOO that the bridge may cost. The engineer explained that timber was on the ground and a start would soon be made. A PUKETURUA MATTER. H. G. McLisky, Puketurua, wrote stating that £SO was on the Estimates for expenditure on road work will give him access to his section. He asked when the work would be put in hand.

It was decided to write the Public Works Department asking it to expedite the matter. PUKEATUA RABBITS. John Roigan, Pukeatua, in forwarding rates, stated that nothing had been done to destroy rabbits, for three years, on sections adjoining his. As the rabbits were “ very numerous ” he asked the council to take action in the matter. Referred to the inspector at Te Awamutu. NEXT MEETING. It was decided to hold the next meeting on January 17th. PUTARURU POLICE STATION. On Cr. Barnett’s motion it was decided to urge the Government to expend the £9OO provided on the. Estimates for the erection of a police station at Putaruru. OKOROIRE STOCK PADDOCK. On the motion of Cr. Stopford it was decided to secure permanent water for the stock paddock near Okoroire by next month if possible. It was also decided to erect notice boards to the effect that stock could not be accommodated for more than twentyfour hours. ACCOUNTS. Accounts were passed for payment as follows: — November. —General, £795 15s 9d; loans, grants and interest, £93 Is 2d ; hospital rate, £163 8s 7d ; total, £1052 5s 6d. December. —General, £464 19s Id; loans, grants and interest, £660 8s 4d; total, £1,125 7s sd. TENDERS. Tenders were accepted for various works as follows: Sanding Quinlan’s road, Mangawhero, E. Murphy, 2s 9d per yard ; sanding Turanga-o-moana road, S. McKibbon 3s 8d per yard; sanding Richmond Downs road, S. McKibbon 2s 9d per yard.