WHANGAMOMONA COUNTY COUNCIL.

Stratford Evening Post, Volume XXXII, Issue 79, 29 March 1912, Page 8

WHANGAMOMONA COUNTY COUNCIL.

MONTHLY MEETING. The monthly meeting of tho Whangamomona County Council was held on Wednesday, tho 27tli instant. The members present were Crs A. Meredith (chairman), A. W. McCutchan, Bacon, Cleland, Roberton, Jury Coyne and Diggens. The minutes of tlic previous meeting were read and confirmed. The engineer’s report was read a? already published. Upper Mangaehu.—lt was resolved that the engineer’s recommendation that the bridge be constructed as recommended. It was proposed by Cr McCutchan and seconded by Cr Cleland, that the engineer give effect to his recommendation regarding the Remuputa Road contract.—Carried. Cr Coyne moved and Or Diggins seconded that the engineer bo author ised to let an extension of the present contract on the Mangaehu Road The motion was carried. The Council also agreed to the con struction of culverts on the Kira: Road mnd also that the "decking fo; bridge on the latter road be pui hand. At the .instance of Crs McCutchai and Diggins the Council directed that, the chairman should interview the Public Works Engineer re metalline from the Mangere Road siding to tin township and taking over the Ohur; Road by the Department. The outward correspondence wai then read to the Council. Tho following inward correspondence was dealt with:— From W. Ward, proposing an ex change of land with the Council. After some discussion Cr Coym moved and Cr Diggins seconded, tha a copy of Mr Ward’s letter be sen; to the Land Board asking whether i would consent to tho transfer of tin freehold of Mr Ward’s land to thCouncil at the original upset valut This transfer seems to be rather complicated matter, Mr Ward’s lan being held under an L.I.P. tenure and which he wishes to exchange fo a portion of the Councili’s freehok reserve. The Waitomo County Council’s 1c tor re expenditure of Governmen grants was read and tho Council d: racted the clerk to acknowledge th receipt thereof and to thank the Wa tomo County Council for the troubl they had taken in this matter. , Letters were read from Crs A r ; Coyne i;e subsidy on, £380,0 .loan, an. from the. Public . Works Departmer. with regard to £(70() subsidy authoi : ised on the above loam ~ ;;Or McCutchan. and others, of th Council, complimented. ,Cr Coyne o. the success he had .achieved in.regar to tho above subsidy, Cr Coyne havim had a very successful interview wii the Minister for Public Works in Wc lington on th 6 matter.

The Council directed that Messr Court and Cottier’s letter re acciden insurance be replied to in the follow iag terms: The Council’s.present pel .icy; with the Government being sal isfactory, and: Messrs Court and Col tier’s offer not giving any financia advantage, the Council declines t make any change.

( A letter from the Countits’ Asso nation giving counsel’s opinion wa: read, also a letter from M. - Ford n £3BOO loan. The Council then went, into the mat ter of the delegation of their powers' as. a sanitary body to the Stratforc Hospital Board, a letter from tin secretary of the Hospital Board beint read* There was considerable discussion by the councillors about this matter Cr Coyne moved and Cr McCutchan* seconded that a letter be sent to tin secretary of the Stratford Hospita Board informing him that their pre vious resolution delegating their pow ers holds good. Tho Council divided on tho mo tion, which was carried. Tho Council dealt with a letter fro i Mr V. Klee, claiming an amoun stated by him to be due as wages. Or McCutchan nnoved and Cr Cle land secondc'd that Mr Klee be inform cd that as tine riding foreman will no! certify to the amount claimed the Council cannot entertain his claim The motion was carried. At the instance of Cr McCutchar the Council directed that the Govern-' mont Printer bo written to asking as to whether copies of tho proposed new Local Government scheme were available for distribution to local bod ies. A letter was read asking the Council to subscribe to the County and Municipal Journal. The Council then proceeded to consider a letter from tho Ohura County Council suggesting alteration in the boundary line between the Ohura and the Whangamomona Counties. The Councillors inspected the boundaries and areas affected upon the map and discussed the matter at length. It was then moved by Cr Roberton : That this Council suggests a new boundary line between blocks 5 and 6, which will probably take in all the settled district. The Council would, however, bo glad to receive a petition from settlors wishing to bo transfered to the Ohura County together with a map of such settlers’ sections.—The motion was carried. Tho Council then agreed to subscribe .to the Municipal and County Journal for one year. Cr McCutchan pointed out that one copy would in his opinion bo of very little use to the Council and stating that ho thought the proper course to pursue would be for every councillor to subscribe to the Journal and thus have his own copy at home, to study at his leisure; each councillor, of course, paying his own subscription. A letter from the Public Works De-

partment re expenditure of grants was then read to the Cohncil. The Council resolved that the chairman, clerk and engineer bo a committee to deal with this matter and to arrange with the Public Works Department specifying the grants which the Council wishes the Department to expend. Cr Diggins then spoke to his notice of motion regarding the use by the chairman of his power to give a casting vote. After some discussion Cr Diggins withdrew his motion, having been under a misapprehension with regard to this matter. At this stage Cr Coyne reported to the Council his interview with the Minister for Public Works in Wellington with respect to the subsidy of £l-100, and his success in obtaining tllb authorisation of tho Minister for the expenditure of that cum. Cr. McCutchan spoke at some length, congratulating Cr. Coyne, and moved that the Council accede to the request of the ratepayers, that they, the Council, will contribute £2 10s towards 'Cr. Coyne’s expenses.—Themotion was carried. Cr. Coyne then moved, and Cr. Diggins seconded, That the balance (£700) of second instalment of subsidy du on loan of £3BOO bo applied for at once.—The motion was carried. IA lengthy discussion then took place as to how the money was to be expended, and finally Cr. Coyne moved, and Cr. Diggins seconded, That tenders be called for Contract No. 35 for metalling 1 mile on the Brewer-Man-gaeim Rbad, J tenders to close in a fortnight,'the Chairman and Engineer to bo'authorised to deal with tho matter subject to the authorisation of the ’Minister being obtained for the expenditure.—The motion was carried. Cr.' Bac'bu then moved, and Cr. McCutchan seconded, That a further contract be let bn the Pourangi Road, .o a;i to give access to the section of the last settler on this road, tenders to bo closed at the date of the next meeting of the Council.—Tho motion was carried. Cr. McCutchan then asked that the engineer bo asked to report as to the uroposed deviation near the bridge at die Whangamomona Dairy Factory.— The Council agreed to this being done. A letter from tho resident road engineer was road, requesting authority to erect a powder magazine on the river reserve near the Whangarnonlona school. The Council consented to 'the proposal, subject to the Department accepting all risks of accidents to children or others. The Council confirmed the action of tho ■ cliaii’iUahh liv‘accepting T. Ryan’s tender for work on the Mauku Road, Cr. 1 Cleland raised the question as to whether settlers could be compelled ito triim'barberry hedges. The ebum eillors 1 discussed' tlio matter, but no ; action'Av& : takehi 1° J M -n;a ■<— The' Cbuncil 't'hbn ’pbbcecded tbUthfe allbbatiori '6'f ■'rate^. ! ' i!, U' l .i : j" : > -< : : - It was moved by Or. Coyne, and seconded by Cr. Diggins, That tho rates of tho : Brewer Road rating area be allocated as follows: —viz.,l-Jd to

Brewer 1 Roadbed to Ohura Road, and to the byfe roads in the area.— The motion was carried. ' -The Council allocated the Strath-' more general'rattfiW’ follows IRI toDreSvbr Road, 1 Jd to bye roads.—The motion tva-S carried'. ’ ; 1 1;; ‘; >m, j At this point, councillors agreed-to an adjournment for tea. ■ • ; The 1 Council resumed its' duties at 7 pi in., when Cr. Jury moved, and Cr. Roberton seconded, That there no be allocation of rates in the Pohokura riding, ' excepting such sections as have 'abbess to the Whangamomona Road, and that such .section shall contribute f jd I to the main road.—The motion was carried. At tin’s istage Cr. Bacon gave .notice of motion to rescind the allocation of rates made for the Strathmore riding. Central Riding.—Councillor McCutchan moved, and Cr. Bacon seconded, That' the allocation be Ifd to the Main Road and fd to tho bye roads. ( Some of tho councillors not being quite clear ns to the contributions of the several ridings concerned towards the main road, the clerk,'Mr Coleman, gave'a Very complete explanation of the matter to the councillors. Tahoni'Riding.—lt was agreed that no allb’cation bo made. The Council then proceeded to discuss the matter of contributions of the ridings to each other, when, the hour being late and the subject und'er discussion requiring very careful consideration, Cr. McCutchan moved That consideration ef the matter bo defbfHe'd until the next meeting of the Cbtinbil, in the meantime members to receive copies of the engineer’s report- dealing with the whole matter;' also that details of the amounts spent on tho main roads -of each riding in the past he supplied to councillors.—The motion was carried. Accounts amounting to £378 12s lid were passed for payment. The meeting of the Conncil was then declared closed by the chairman. The councillors had a long and arduous meeting extending their sitting until late in the evening. However, they had the satisfaction of getting through a good deal of work.