HOKIANGA COUNTY COUNCIL.

New Zealand Herald, Volume XXXI, Issue 9528, 4 June 1894, Page 6

HOKIANGA COUNTY COUNCIL.

An ordinary meeting of the Council was held at Rawene on Friday, May 25. There were present, the chairman (Mr. Burr), and Messrs. P. Blundell, H. C. Blundell, and Holt. Messrs. Galloway, Harrison, . and Page arrived soon after the business began. Tenders.—Mr. P. Blundell moved "To suspend the standing orders, and open tenders in order to enable some men, who were waiting to learn the result and get away." Agreed to. Tenders for work on

Ru.kau-Tapu Road: Gray and Co., £17 11." (accepted); Clendou, £19 15s ; Glasson, lis Ferguson, £31 12s. It was arranged that any balance from the vote for this road should be expended by the clerk. Repairs at Kohukohu : Ferguson, £20 Is 8d ; Chapman, £24 16s ; Gray, £26 17s. Agreed, " 1 hat Ferguson's tender be accepted, subject to an understanding to be come to with the contractor by the clerk, there not being sufficient money available from the vote to cover the amount of tender." Correspondence.The outward correspondence was read and approved. Letters and telegrams received were read and dealt with. l'he following were the principal:— From Mr. right, complaining that Messrs. Lester Brothers were obstructing a public road by erecting a store on it. The question of the roads in this township has occupied the attention of the Council for some time, and an endeavour is being made to have them placed on a proper footing. Mr. Blundell moved to reply that the matter is under consideration. (The clerk had already warned Mrs. Lester that they ran some risk of having to remove any building they might erect.) From Mr. Wilson, applying for slaughtering license. Replied to, that the Council had not yet thought it expedient to issue such licenses. From Mr. Houston, M.H R., asking for information as to Government grants received by the Council. The clerk was instructed to give Mr. Houston all information required. From the Kauri Timber Company, disputing the valuation of property. Left with the cleric to deal with. From treasury, notifying payment of £50 and £100, on account of votes. From Chief Surveyor, Auckland, on proposed deviation of Oma-naia-Omapere Road, stating that at present nothing could be done, but that if a route were explored he would endeavour to put a surveyor on to survey it. From Mr. P. Blundell, resigning his position on the committee of the Council. Consideration postponed. Letters from Messrs. Burke, Jarvis, Deverill, and Manning, and others referring to routine matters were dealt with by the Clerk. Mr. Letts, Waimamaku, wrote suggesting that certain road work proposed to be done there should be put off until the spring. Mr. Page agreed with the suggestion, which was adopted. from the Commissioner of Crown Lands, advising the Council that moneys derived from the land revenue could not be used on the main roads against the wishes of the contributing settlers. _ From Mr. Chapman, Mangataraire, objecting to the division of the deferred payment thirds to repairs of main road, and from Mr. Gower on tne same subject. This matter had already been dealt with, anil works scheduled as required. From the Chief Surveyor- Auckland, stating that the plan of Utakirra Bridge made by the late county clerk (Mr. Irvine) had not been approved by him. From Mr. Andrews, asking the Council to take over a road leading through native land to Captain Jones' pro- I perty. Resolved, " That the Council is not anxious to increase its responsibilities, and must decline." Applications were received from Mr. Andrews and from Mr. Seon, asking for the auctioning of the Kohukohu and Rawene wharf rights. Mr. Burr moved, " That the wharf rights be sold at Rawene by Mr. Seon on June 30." Seconded by Mr. Page, and carried. From Mackechnie and Nicholson re Mr. Calcutt'3 rates. From Mr. Harrison, Utakura, stating that he and his neighbours wished to see a report of the Council meetings in the Auckland Weekly Nkws, as that paper was read by all of _ them, and had, in tact, become a necessity to them. He suggested that the clerk should send a copy of the minutes for publication. The councillors present pointed out that a very fair report of the proceedings usually found its way to the Auckland Weekly News, and the clerk was requested to reply to this effect. From Mr. Yarborough, urging the Council to press the Government to effect the completion of the Rakau-Tapu Road; also asking that notices of the Council meetings should be publicly posted. Mr. P. Blundell moved, "That the Council agree with Mr. Yarborough as to the energy shown by those interested in the road at Kohukohu and suggest that care should be taken regarding the same in fear of any claims for compensation as are now before the Council for roads already constructed." Mr. Holt moved, "That Mr. Yarborough'a letter be acknowledged, and that he be informed the Council is doubtful of the wisdom of pressing the road in question, but will not lose sight of the interest of Kohukohu iu the matter of communication." Seconded by Mr. Page, and carried. Councillors undertook to make known the dates of meetings in their districts.

Rates.—Mr. Holt moved, "That at next meeting a rate of Id in the £1 be struck, payable Ist September." Carried. Mr. Holt also moved, "That a rate of l-12d in the £1 be struck under clause 29, et seq. of the Hospitals and Charitable Institutions Act, in order to relieve the ordinary rate from part of the burden of the Charitable Aid contribution." Motion lost. Contractors' Time.—Minutes of committee meetings of April 27 and May 5 were read. Mr. Page moved, " That the action of the committee be approved, with the exception of' a resolution affirming that in no instance would any extension of time be granted to contractors." Seconded by Mr. Holt. The matter was well threshed out and the motion lost.

I Urgent Repairs.A difference of opinion between Messrs. Galloway and Blundell, respecting the calling for certain tenders for urgent repairs, in which Mr. Galloway thought the committee had exceeded its instructions, was adjusted, and the powers of committee somewhat enlarged. Mr. Holt reported that he had authorised the cutting of about four chains of ditching in his riding, at a cost of about 25s or 30s. Approved. Northern Counties Conference.—Mr. Holt gave a verbal report of the proceedings of the Northern Counties Conference, and moved, "That a vote of thanks be given to the Whangarei County Council for the facilities afforded for holding the Conference, and for the hospitality extended to the delegates." Carried unanimously. A vote ot thanks to Mr. Holt for representing the Council, was-moved by Mr. H. C. Bluniell, and seconded by the chairman, and carried. Local Courts. —Some discussion took place on a motion by Mr. Holt, " That it is desirable to retain counsel to represent the Council in the local Courts," but no definite steps were taken. Wharf Rent.—Mr. Page moved, "That be made for the arrears of the Rawene Wharf rent." Seconded by Mr. Holt, and carried. Kohcjkohct-Tautahihi Road. — Mr. P. Blundell moved, " That Government be asked to place a vote on the Estimates of £200 for the Kohukohu-Tautahihi Road," and Mr. Holt moved to press for a vote of £500 to be expended on the road between Taheke Bridge and the Opanake Road. Carried. A Foreshore Road.—Considerable time was taken up discussing the steps to be taken to secure the dedication to the County of a road from Kohukohu along the foreshore to connect Kohukohu with the maiu road, and to give residents a proper outlet. Ultimately Mr. P. Blundell agreed to obtain further information to lay before the next meeting. Accounts.—Accounts amounting to £287 6s 10(1, chiefly payments on contracts out of Government votes, were passed for payment, and the Council adjourned about 1.30 a.m.— [Own Correspondent.]