OPOTIKI COUNTY COUNCIL

Opotiki News, Volume II, Issue 168, 12 April 1939, Page 4

OPOTIKI COUNTY COUNCIL

MONTHLY MEETING * WORK AT NEW; CEMETERY Tiie monthly meeting of the Opotiki County Council was held .on Thursday last. Present: Mr. W. A. Gault (chairman), Councillors G. J. Neilson, W. A. Butler, T. Burke, Q. W. Fairweather, 'R. A. Hediey, M ! ;>Kwell, J. T.-Clark, O. Black, J. McDonnell, G. S. Moody, Mr. J. T. Merry (county clerk) and Mr. W. W> Upton (county engineer). 3 •• The minutes of the previous meet-, ing were confirmed and: outward respondence read and approved. Inward Correspondence. The town clerk, Mr. W. H. Briggs, wrote re the provision ' of further areas for burial, giving- the costs of various methods of fencing,and asking the council to share in the cost of same. The cost of- eleven "chains would be about £G9 and drainage and levelling £57. Councillors criticised the costs and the length of time taken on work already done. The'-council decided to offer £SO for the improve-

pi|oy,idingv.ttiie materials mentioned are'used. '3l?.' Moody thanked the council on behalf of the borough. The Department of Health wrote stating council already had

power to administer the Motu cemetery. A motiqn Avas passed appointing the council as trustees. •

The Minister of Public Works Avfote re Reeve’s road. He said that, in view of the fact that the council had not taken steps, for legalisation of land, he could- make no grant for the road. The chairman .said that before the council could start it would have to buy the road line from Mr. Reeve. The jirice asked Avas considered too high. Seventy chains would! also require fencing. It Avas decided to- approach Mr. Reeve on the matter and a .committee was appointed.

- "Mr.. Clayton made application for a slaughterhouse license and the council offered npi objection and decided, to forward the application to the Department of Agriculture.

-Mr. H. A. R.uff asked that the access road be put through as early as possible. The clerk said that the council’s request had not been complied with. It Avas decided! to point out the council’s position in the matter; i-

The-' Hon. R. Semple, Minister of Public Works, wrote re council’s complaint concerning the main highways, stating he would go into the matter. Minister also stated that he Avould go into the matter of bitumenising the road to the aerodrome.

The Department of Labour, Tauranga, wrote stating that the council had given the men a holiday on AnniversaVy Day and the men had not been paid. Mr. that the men had not turned up and had 1 not

been given a holiday. The matter was left in the hands of the engineer. Mr. O. N. Campbell, in charge of Native Affairs, Avrote re rates on Native land.s, stating that rates could not be paid Avhile thq farms Avere not revenue producing. The council considered the reply an unsatisfactory one. Cr. Maxwell said that .pakehas have to pay rates Avhether the farms are productive or not. The chairman said that the council should investigate the matter. The clerk said that the previous owner of the base farm took, it up in a very rough state and Avas able to pay rates. Pakehas were being rated! to supply natives Avitli roads. Or. Maxwell said the council should take a- firm stand. He suggested that pakehas on State farms could pro A-e that their farms Avere not in as good a position to pay rates. It was decided to take the matter up Avith the Minister and to make a strong protest at the attitude taken up by the Department. Mr. F. Appleton asked that the western bank of the Huntress creek be fenced by the council. It Avas decided toi approach the Public Works engineer, iiointing out that .spoil from the slip hadi 'been pushed into the drain, narrowing it.

The Minister of Transport wrote in reply to the council’s request for speed limits on the Hospital. Hill and Beach roads, stating lie would go into the matter.

The chairman of the Main HigliAvays Board wrote stating that the council’s complaints re the bad state of highways Avould be looked into. Mr. W. Walker, ' Waihau Bay, Avrote on behalf of Mrs. Green, and requested that fences be erected Avhere the road line Avas cut through the property in 1933.—The matter Avas left with the engineer to. refer to the Public Works Department,

The district engineer; Avrote and enclosed! plans, asking 'the council to give its approA'al for a corner at Kutarerc being proclaimed a roacl and for tAvo other portions being closed. The council- offered nonobjections.

Several sub-divisions of land Avere approved. The health inspector’s report Avas approved. The engineer’s report Avas read and approved. The council considered that portion of the co.st of the access road to Mr. Miller’s property should be contributed by the oAvner. It Avas decided to Avrite and ask how much the OAvner was prepared to contribute. The chairman reported on an inspection of the Duke Street drain Avhich Avas in a bad state. Mr. Wilson had refused to do any work on the drain. It Avas decided that the committee meet and; decide on the course -of action. j\ Accounts.—Accounts totalling £l,b■- , 631 16s Id were passed for payment.

Finance Committee’s Report. Tile finance committee reported as follows in respect .of '’the General Account : j That the nett overdraft at the Bank of New Zealand, Opotiki, in the County Fund Account on the Ist. day of April, 3939, amounted to £5483 Is, plus outstanding cheques £45 9s Bd. Total £5528 10s Bd. -[ ! ■ Tjjiat the nett indebtedness is made

£7169 6 10 ! * Summary of Rates Collected from 1/4/38 to 31/3/39.

up as follows :— t. Oliiwa Riding ....1' 475 10 1 Waiotahi Riding .... 1428 S 4 Waioeka Riding .. j;. ..1963 13 10 Otara. Riding 1. 790 17 11 Coast Riding |. 10d4 13 5 Landl Fund :. 45 2 9 'i : £5764 1 4 Less credit balance in the following accounts: — . ' ■' Contractors’ Deposits £90 16 3 Upper Waioeka Riding r £144 14 4 1 £23-5,10 7 £5523 10 9 That the Council’s liabilities in this account are as follows Overdraft at B.N.Z. 5528 10 9 Plus o/.s cheques Accounts due and X>ayable . 1631 16 1

Ohiwa Riding .... 19 11 Waiotahi Riding >... 22b 9 0 Waioeka Riding .... 4386 11 11 Upper Waioeka Riding 287 5 4 Otara Riding .. .... 1628 2 6 Coast Riding .. 1129 G 8 £10730 15 4 Expenditure on RidSng Roads Ohiwa 269 16 1 Waibtani 90o 17 6 Waioeka ..... 635 8 7.

Upper Waioeka .. 127 .0, k Otara 911 11’iS Coast 38 15 4 £2888 8 8