MATAMATA COUNTY COUNCIL.

Putaruru Press, Volume II, Issue 48, 18 September 1924, Page 3

MATAMATA COUNTY COUNCIL.

SEPTEMBER MEETING. This month’s meeting of the Matamata County Council was held in the county chambers, Tirau, on Fiiday. There were present: Crs. J. W. Andersen (Tirau riding, chairman), W. H. Allen (Okoroire), H. Rollett (Peria), J. Fchlen (Matamata), S. H. Judd (Maungatautari), J. P- Keeley (Karapiro) and E. J. Darby (Putaruru). Leave of absence was granted to Crs. C. A. Stopford (Te Poi) and K. S. Cox (Tokoroa). SCHERER’S ROAD. Commenting on this road the engineer read a report which stated that the two large property owners on the road had done considerable heavy carting in bad weather, which had been to its detriment. A forked tree commonly known as a “ bob-sleigh ” had then been used and this had destroyed any crown there was. Under the circumstances the foreman had not deemed it advisable to touch the road until the weather improved. Cr. Rollett said Mr. Scherer had approached him regarding really bad holes, and he (the speaker) had authorised two days’ work on these. Cr. Rollett’s actioh was endorsed. TELEGRAPH POXES. Several times during the past year the council has raised objections to the P. and T. Department’s alignment in the erection of telegraph poles on various roads. A further letter was ■written recently and this drew a reply stating that telegraph poles were erected at a minimum of 6ft from the fence line. Where footpaths were in existence the minimum was 9ft. All pole lines constructed by the Department- were erected with the view to giving no interference with traffic. The council was of the opinion that the county engineer should be consulted by the Department before any alterations were made or new lines erected, and the maximum and not the minimum distance of the poles should be six feet from the fence where there was no footpaths. It was resolved to reply to this effect. AN OKOROIRE REQUEST. Mr, H. Bayly, Okoroire, waited on the council with a request that a road on his property be dedicated and then closed. Mr. Bayly produced plans and stated that what was at present shown as a road was useless. It was not at present really a road, hut he would be prepared to provide an alternative. The present road was really owned by the Bank of New Zealand, but the latter did not know it. The procedure suggested was that the bank apply for dedication of the road and the council then take steps to close it, he to open an alternative road and form it when necessary. Or the motion of Cr. Pohlen the council decided to offer no objection to the request, and to assist Mr. Bayly in the matter, providing the council would be put to no expense. Mr. Bayly further stated that the new road had been surveyed and had been inspected by the former engineer and the chairman. Work had already been done on it, and it was fenced. The property was in the Te Poi riding. RATES SUBSIDY.

The sum of £1938 9s was received from the Government as subsidy at the rate of 5s in the £ on rates collected by the council during the past financial year. The amount was allocated as follows among the nine ridings:—Matamata, £353 12s 7d; Peria, y/F £267 14s sd; Okoroire, £167 Os 8d; Putaruru, £2OO 8s 9d; Tokoroa, £2lO 18s Id; Karapiro, £154 11s 4d; MaungatauLk/iT£l3l 12s lOd. A sum of £244 2s 6d, as the fourth progress payment on the Putaruru-Arapuni road metalling contract (first 22 miles) was also received from the Government. In answer to Cr. Darby the clerk said there was a limit to the rates subsidy to the extent of £2500. Possibly the council’s revenue had suffered to the extent of £SOO through the whole of the rates not being paid, but the amount received was more than the council had received previously, although times were not as good as they had been. STATE ADVANCES MONEY. A debenture for the Hinuera ten per cent loan of £450 was received from the State Advances office and signed and sealed. The clerk said this ■vvas the first amount to be received towards the council’s linMt of £SOOO loan money from the Advances Office this financial year. The engineer added that it was the smallest amount on the list submitted to the office. (Laughter). PARAPARA ROAD CONTINUAIn reply to question, the chair- ' ; an said he had discussed with Mr. on several occasions the matW&, ter of continuing the Parapara road, W-\- but Mr. Batley still maintained his objection and so the matter stood deI ferred.

TIMBER ROYALTIES.

The council’s support was accorded a circular proposal from the Taumarunui County Council that immediate pressure be brought to bear on the Government to obtain legislation this session, providing that half the timber royalties from Crown lands be paid to the local bodies.

The chairman said the council had previously made unsuccessful requests for a share of timber royalties, especially those paid by the Selwyn Timber Co.

ENLARGEMENT OP TOKOROA RIDING.

The Public Works engineer at Tauranga, Mr. F. S. Dyson, wrote in regard to the movement to transfer a small portion of the Taupo county towards Atiamuri to the Matamata county. He stated that provision was being made on the Estimates for reforming the roads which would be taken over, and asked that the council therefore forward a resolution that it would take over the area on the roads being reformed. The matter was deferred until Cr. Cox was present, he being the riding member concerned.

PUTARURU-TA PAPA. Better culveit provision at certain points on the Putaruru-Ta Papa road was asked by Mr. G. W. Edmeades, who also protested against the dumping of rubbish on the side of the road. The matter of the culverts was referred to the engineer and Cr. Allen. The chairman said a deviation of the road hatl made the rubbish visible. It had apparently been dumped some time ago. Councillors agreed that if dumping was being continued it should be stopped. RATES ON SOLDIERS’ FARMS. In acknowledging receipt of a demand from the clerk for special loan rates on a discharged soldiers’ property in the Maungatautari riding, the Commissioner of Crown Lands asked for details as to the dates on which the loan rates were struck and added that the Crown was unable to accept liability for special rates levied prior to the acquisition of the property for settlement purposes. It was decided to reply stating that unless the Crown stands security for special rates on Crown farms the other ratepayers would be unfairly penalised. A TIRAU CULVERT. An application from Mr.~S. H. Hamlin that a conference be held on the ground regarding' the outlet for the culvert against the road on his property, Tirau, was referred to the chairman and the engineer. PUKETURUA-WAOTU. Messrs. H. Bathe, B. G. Goebel, H. Truss, W. King and P. F. Karl, Putaruru riding, wrote that the carting of timber along the road fronting their farms to Arapuni had very detrimentally affected the road and they thought the Public Works Department should be asked to have the road repaired. Cr. Darby said it appeared that the only permanent improvement for this road would be to deviate it to Jiigher ground. A length of road between Mr. W. H. Barnett’s property and Messrs. Rathe’s was in the same position. He had arranged with the Minister for Public Works JJiat on the completion of the Arapuni carting the Minister would have an inspection made of the various roads which had been used and consider what offer he could make toward the cost of repairing them. It was resolved Cr. Darby and the engineer meet. Messrs. Bathe, Goebel, Truss, King and Karl and discuss with them the question of improving the road about which they had written. FREIGHT ON BITUMEN. The Morrinsville Borough Council asked for support for a resolution:— “ That the Minister for Railways be asked to revise the present excessive freight charges on bitumen and grant a considerable reduction on consignments to local bodies for roadmaking purposes.” Opinion was divided as to whether this was advisable, and the matter was deferred pending further information as to freight rates and customs duty on bitumen. WAOTU SOUTH ROADS. Cr. Darby announced that he had received a letter from Mr. W. G. Barnett, Waotu, detailing an arrangement to allow the dedication of the Waotu South roads to proceed. The chairman ruled that the arrangement should be put before the council in writing before it be dealt with. Cr. Darby agreed and stated that he would forward Mr. Barnett’s letter to the clerk. AMORE’S ROAD. A request for improvements to Amore’s road, Mamaku, was referred to Cr. Allen and the engineer. RANGER’S REPORT. The county ranger, Mr. E. W. Jordan, reported on his inspections during the month, stating that he had visited Putaruru six times, Matamatafour times, Hinuera twice, and Waharoa, Te Poi, Tapapa, Waiomo, Overdale, Waotu, Horahora, Hinuera Valley, Turanga-o-moana and Peria once

each. The stock impounded were a bull from Putaruru, cow and horse from Okoroire Springs, two horses from Pairere, one cow from Peria and a cow from Turanga-o-moana. The report was adopted. GENERAL. A certificate for the transfer of a slaughterhouse license at Waharoa To Mr. L. Bethel was received from the Agricultural Department. A special levy of £37 by the Waikato Hospital Board on account of capital expenditure was received. An account from Mr. Leslie, Tokoroa, for £1 for improvement work on the road into his property was disallowed, the work not having been authorised beforehand by the council. The chairman reported that he had been informed -by Mr. Allen, of Messrs. Allen and Goodfellow, that work was to be resumed very shortly in cleaning the drain about which Mr. Watson, Okoroire, was complaining. The clerk’s action in granting an application by Mr. B. L. Walker, of Tokoroa, for permission to lay a water pipe across the road was approved. Advice was received from the Minister for Internal Affairs, the Hon. R. F. Bollard, through Mr. F. Lye, M.P., that the draft clause from the council for insertion in the Washingup Bill this session was being considered with a view to its insertion, the clause being in regard to technicalities concerning the council’s main roads loan proposal. TURANGA-O-MOANA ROADING. A contract was signed by Benjamin and Company for the supply of metal from the Gordon quarry for metalling at Turanga-o-moana and Waharoa. The engineer stated that the work of metalling the Waharoa-Turanga-o-moana road would be gone on with almost immediately. ACCOUNTS. Accounts were passed for payment as follow:—General, £1756 14s lid; loans and grants, £1906 16s.