Rodney County Council.

Rodney and Otamatea Times, Waitemata and Kaipara Gazette, 18 September 1903, Page 3

Rodney County Council.

The usual monthly meeting of the Rodney County Council was held on Saturday, September 12th. Present :— The chairman, (Mr.N. Wilson sen.) Crs. Shannon, Becroft, Dudding, Thomson, Buckton, Scholium, Brown, Philips.

MINUTES.

The minutes of the previous meeting were read and confirmed.

SPECIAL MEETING,

The resolution passed on August Bth merging the Mainene Road Board into the County, was confirmed to take effect from present date, on the motion of Cr. Shannon, seconded by Cr. Dudding. Carried. Proposed by Cr. Thomson, seconded by Cr. Buckton, That the resolution passed at last special meeting of the Rodney County Council on August Bth, merging the Upper Mahurangi Road Board district be confirmed, and that this resolution take eifect from present date. Carried.

INTERVIEW.

Mr Hudson interviewed the Board, re the petition to merge. He gave an emphatic denial to the statement that B. Shepherd had signed petition before it was written, Mr Hudson declared that he could bring further witnesses if necessary. Cr. Thomson also expressed surprise at the statement made, as he had inquired into the matter. Mr Hood was willing to swear to the signing of the petition. Mr Hudson thanked the Board and retired, expressing his intention of bringing an action for libel.

finance committee.

The committee reported that they had examined the accounts and found theni correct, and had passed new aecoutjts for payment amounting to £130 7s ILd. BALANCE SHEET. The treasurer read the balance sheet for the five weeks from August sth to September 12th. Moved by Cr. Becroft, seconded by Cr. Dudding, That the balance sheet be passed as presented. Carried.

OMAHA ROAD i BOA»"Dfe w

The late chairman: of the above Board wrote on the subject of merging of the above Board and said he had been taken somewhat by surprise, Cr. Brown said he had been asked to hurry matters up. Cr. Brown pointed out that the motive had appeared in due form in the Rodney and Otamatea Tim^s. But as the writer of the letter had jbeen away this might be the cause of his not seeing it. The writer of the letter stated that the R. and 0. Times did hot circulate in his district. Cr. Brown said he considered that it should circulate everywhere. [In point of fact the Times does circulate in Omaha, though the circulation mightbe increased. --Ed.] ■•■■..--

GRADUATED SUBSIDIES.

Mr W. F. Massey wrote acknowledging the Council's letter, and stated he would do his best, and if a local Bill; comes before the house-in- all probability a section would be inserted providing for graduated subsidies. increased rating power. The Hon, the Premier wrote acknowledging the Council's letter, and stated it was satisfactory to know that he had the support of the Council for increased rating powers for local bodies and that the opinion of the Council with reference to rating on a sliding scale receive attention.

signing rate book

On the motion of Cr. Becroft, seconded by Cr. Dudding, it was resolved That the chairman and Riding member sign the rate book for striking separate rate in tho Omaha • Outlying District.

fencing,

Messrs Russell and Campbell wrote pointing out that the Council was liable to contribute to cost of fencing. Cr Thomson moved, seconded by Cr. Shannon, That Cr. Dudding be authorised 'to arrange with Mr T. A. Gubb re tho fencing of section 145, Albertland South. Carried.

CEMETERY RESERVE,

Cr. Thomson brought before the Council the advisability of getting the Crown Lands Board to grant a reserve for a cemetery at Kaipara Flats pointing out that the position was a most suitable one, being central. The. reserve was ■16 acres in extent and had two good quarries on it. The property should be vested in the Council. The Chairman advised Cr. Thomson to present a petition, as this would strengthen the hands of the Council.

reports

The clerk reported that since Mr J. Wilson's application re defining the road! boundary in Main-street, Warkworth, the matter had taken a new pha^e. Cr. Thomson moved, seconded by Cr. Buckton, That Crs. Shannon and jßecroft be a committee to interview- Mr J. Wilson re the boundary near Warkworth bridge and report to Council next meeting. Carried. "

separate rate.

Moved.by Cr Becroft, seconded by Cr Dudding, That a separate rate of £d in the £be levied on the rateable property of the outlying district of Maihene in accordance with the RatingAct, etc. Carried.

TIMBER CARTING,

Cr. Shannon enquired if the Council could compel the signing of a bond for carting timber or not. The Chairman said the Act was clear, they had to enter into a bond or carters would be mulcted into a fine £10 a day. Cr. Shannon said it was contended that cases had been brought by the Council in Canterbury and as the carters had

won every time there, this council could do nothing. Cr Becroft thought Cr. Shannon should go ahead and take the necessary steps in the matter, and the Council would back him up, The Chairman thought a case should be defended, and as he felt the ratepayers help the carters to break the laws he thought the Council would be perfectly justified in making the ratepayers pay expenses. Cr Thomson thought the present time not opportune, and intimated that an honest few had paid attention to the law to their detriment. He thought the Council should look the laws over and try to improve them. The chairman should enforce the law himself. The Chairman: I will not act as a policeman, The matter will have to be reported to the Department. Cr. Becroft, rose to a point of order, and said, they were discussing extraordinary traffic not the ordinary by-laws. »

DAMAGE TO ROADS,

Mr E. Perkins, Komokoriki Road Board, wrote re Slater of Remuera paying for damage done to roads by carting. Cr Buckton said he would see to the enforcing of the bye-law.

WATER SUPPLY,

Mr J. Wilson wrote're laying of waterpipes in Main-st. Mr Thomson thought Mr Wilson's proposal a step in the right direction and he agreed to the request with pleasure. Cr Becroft hoped Mr Wilson did not want a monoply, and moved that re Mr Wilson's application the nature of the work proposed be fully defined by a plan to the Council. Cr. Shannon seconded, and the motion was carried.

CHARITABLE AID,

On the motion of Cr Becroft, seconded by Cr Shannon, it was resolved That the Council recommend that rations to the value of 10s per week be continued for six months to Mrs Matherson of Wellsford.

HOSPITAL DUES,

The Department of Health forwarded accounts in connection with C. Palmer (£l2 3s) and James E. Webster (£l9 5s 6d). The Council agreed to send in the accounts to these parties as soon as they came forward, and left the matter in the hands of the member for the Riding to attend to. This letter is the first notification the Council has received introducing the new system of collection from patients under the Infectious Diseases Act, through the local bodies, and pointing out that in the case of a patient being unable to pay the Council was liable.

LUCE UNTO PHAROAH,

A letter was received from Mr R. A. Prior, Ahuroa, dealing with faults of councillors, which caused considerable amusement. In one part he referred to Councillors Thomson as being like unto Pharoah with the children of Israel. It was surmised by the Council that the reference was due to the fact that 3ttr Thomson before he was a councillor opposed the transfer of a portion of the Upper Mahurangi Road District to Ahuroa Road District, and the correspondent's inference was that the portion was too valuable to part with, and Cr. Thomson's subsequent action towards merging the Upper Mahurangi Road District likened him to Pharoah, (he would not let the people go.)

ROAD MACHINERY,

Booth, Macdonald and Co. of Christchurch, wrote forwarding catalogues.

deputations,

Messrs Sainsbury and Hood waited on the Council to see what the Council intended to do with regard to the proposed new road at Kaipara Flats. Mr Sainsbury produced the R. and 0. Times and read the resolution of the Upper Mahurangi Road Board. The speaker said the Hon. Hall Jones had promised to do all he could in the way of procuring a grant. In answer to a question he said he had no idea of the compensation required. Mr Hood said there was not a dissenting voice in Kaipara Flats with regard to the road. He gave a sketch of the road, showing it to be much shorter and being level, a great advantage. He said Messrs Thomson and Taylor would not be difficult to deal with as regarded compensation, the former would be the largest, perhaps £50. Mr Sainsbury said that he felt. sure two bridges of not over 15ft span would be all that was necessary, in fact, it was possible.a. culvert might do one. The drainage of the road was good. Cr Thomson pointed out the difficulty of the Council would : be: in having to pay, compensation. ,Mr Hood thought £100 would covef this. In fact, the people were so anxious to get the road that he believed the compensation would be much lower. The district would be no good till it got the road. Cr. .Shannon pointed out that the compensation would have to be paid «ut of the district funds. Cr. Thomson said neither the Council nor the Government could pay it, The district wotild have to pay, and this would cause a howl. The position was an awkw»rd one and he would want time to consider it. Cr. Shannon thought Cr. Thomson should call a meeting and get the opinion of the ratepayers. This course would not bo pledging their! money without considering them. In answer to Mr Sainsbury, Cr Thomson said ho was quite willing- to call a meeting of ratepayers in his district. The chairman favoured this course.

by-laws,

Messrs Hood, Sainsbury, Warm, Harrison, and Barton waited on the Council Avith regard to the hardships borne by them through the by-law in being unable to use more than two horses in carting. They gave, respectively, graphic descriptions of the stat j of the roads and the hardships choy and settlers endured, and advocated

the rescinding of the by-law. After the deputation had retiied, the Council gave the matter full consideration and deemed it unwise to alter the traffic by-law at present,

Petition,

The Chairman moved, nild Or Buckton seconded, That the Council grant the request of Mr Phillips and others to be made a ward of the Warkworth district, to which the Warkworth district consents by petition. Oil the ground that the petitions are in accordance with law and therefore should be granted, that so granting will not interfere with the division of the County into ridings as will be seen on reference to clause 12 of " The Counties Act, 1886." Clause 4 and 16 of "The Road Boards Act, 1886," has been complied with. And ckuse 20 of " The Road Boards Act, 1882, and clause 128 of "The Counties Act, 1886," frame conclusively the Council has no legal right to reject the petition. The chairman, Crs. Buckton and Philips voted in favour of the resolution, and the remaining councillors (6) against.

IN CHARGE,

On the motion of Cr. Becroft, seconded by Cr Dudding, the following resolution was carried, That the Outlying- District of Mahurangi be in charge of Cr. Thomson. "

NEXT MEETING,

Cr. Becroft moved and Cr. Brown seconded, That the next meeting of the Council be held on the 4th day of November next.