OPOTIKI COUNTY COUNCIL

Opotiki News, Volume II, Issue 179, 8 May 1939, Page 3

OPOTIKI COUNTY COUNCIL

MONTHLY MEETING NATIVE RATES The monthly meeting of the Ope tiki County Council was held! in the County .Unambers on Friday. Present: Air. AY. A. Gault (chairman), Councillors AA 7 , Butler, T. Burke, C. AY. Fairweatlier, A. E. Blake, b. Aiaxwell, J. McDonnell, G. S. Moody, J.' lY Clark, G. J. Neiison, C". Black, and Air. J. T. Merry, (clerk), and Mr. AV. W. Upton (county. engineer). The minutes of the. previous monthly meeting were confirmed and outward correspondence was approved. The Opotiki Borough Council wrote thanking the council for the £SO contribution toward cemetery improvements.

Air. G. Stewart wrote asking for an access road to a recently acquired farm on the Waiotalii Valley road.— It was decided to ask the engineer to submit a report. The Opotiki Hospital Board wrote enclosing estimates for the coining year, the total levy being £2147 17s lid. this representing an increase of £••512 lbs bd over the previous year, an increase of 25.25 per cent.

A deputation of Wainui settlers, Messrs. Clements and AlcClusky, waited on the council and asked for further metal on AlcClusky’s road.—The matter was left to the engineer to deal with. The Department of Health wrote on the subject of the Alctu cemetery, stating that the trusteeship could be in name only, or somebody could be delegated to act.—lt was decided to have the trusteeship vested in the County Council. A letter from Air. A. G. Hultquist, stated that lie would approach the A 1 mister of Public AYorks for a free grant of £3OOO for sealing of the aerodrome road. The Alinister. of Transport wrote ro the licensing of farm vehicles, stating that the matter was being gone into. —Deceived. Air. Hultquist wrote re improvements to the State Highway in Opociki, stating that he had forwarded the letter to the Minister. The Alinister also wrote stating that the Public Works Engineer would be visiting Opotiki shortly.

Air. Ronayne, district engineer, wrote advising that the Raukckore River bridge would be open at the end of April. The A 1 blister of Internal Affairs wrote advising that the Waioeka River Board would shortly be abolished by legislation.—-The council decided to oiler no objection. Air. Fogarty, district health inspector, wrote stating that the district is live from disease. Airs. Baty wrote enquiring re thccoimcil’s decision concerning access to certain properties at Ruatuna. —'Hie chairman stated that the total rates collected from properties the- road would serve would be £l2 Cs 9d and the road would prove an expensive item. Councillors expressed the opinion that the cost of forming the road would be beyond the council’s means, unless a grant coidd be obtained. Tho council decided to do its best to obtain a grant. The chairman advised the council that the annual meeting will be held on Wednesday, 24th. Alay. A circular stated that- the dates fixed tor the annual Counties’ Conference is Wednesday, 26th. July.— Cr. -Maxwell suggested that- a delegate be sent, and also a remit be submitted advocating the rating of Native lands. Cr. Ncilson supported Cr. .Maxwell. Or. Faifweather suggested 'that those in charge of the Native scheme! should be made responsible tor collecting the rates. Other councillors saiul that the Native problem was keeping the county poor. Jt was h'Jt to the clerk to frame remits along the lines suggested. The chairman and secretary were authorised to sitcom! tv - conference and submit the renKCo. The engineer’s report was read and approved. The council did not consider that the expenditure on the side road near the AYaioeka Pali was warranted. The attention required! to AlcGiven’s road was left to the engineer. Cr. Black offered to meet half the c-o.st of the road near the Otnrsi School.-—The council decided to accept the offer. Or. Ncilson mentioned the bad state of the road at the bottom end of Duke Street, near the Otara river.— Left to the engineer. Cr. Clark stated that . Air. Dunlop had asked that a new floodgate be

put in at Huntress Creek. Councillors expressed the opinion that- the council should do the work but the cost should be borne by the property owners. Accounts amounting to £967 14s 3d were passed for payment, making the overdraft more than £7009.