WHANGAMOMONA COUNTY COUNCIL.

Stratford Evening Post, Volume XXXIV, Issue 29, 27 September 1912, Page 2

WHANGAMOMONA COUNTY COUNCIL.

MONTHLY MEETING

The ordinary meeting of the above Council took place on Wednesday, when there were present:—Crs Roberton, Jury, Cleland, Bacon, Coyne, and Biggins. Cr Roberton was voted to the chair on account of the Chairman’s absence from tho district. Engineer’s Report. The Engineer (Mr E. O. Robinson) submitted his monthly report as follows : Instructions from last meeting carried out. ' The necessary timber for re-decking Prospect Road bridge 'and for repairs to other bridges, has been ordered. The estimated cost of work of Hiiiakama Dairy Factory having been paid to the Council, the necessary boulders for carrying out the work have been ordered from the Public Works Department. The Strathmore foreman has been notified re completing drain work at Te Weraj when the weather is favourable. The necessary lithographs for bringing the County map up-to-date have been obtained from the Survey Department, and the work is in hand. The Whangamomona (Central Riding) foreman has been instructed to keep Putikituna Road open for horse traffic only. . . •■. A supply of pipes for Strathmore, Pohokurai, and Central Riding has been ordered; those for Tahora Riding can be more conveniently obtained when the tram line has been laid up to the valley.

The work of improvements to Strathmore township to the exent of £ls has been put in hand. Work in Hand.—The very bad weather experienced during the last four weeks has had the effect of seriously hampering work, and but little has been done.

Contract No. 33 (Kefrisk’s forma>tion, Upper Mangaehu Road) is progressing slowly, and is as yet far from being finished. The contractor, however, hopes to get a cart track through the entire length in about 8 days’ time. Ho has forwarded a letter asking for consideration in regard to tiriie. Contract No. 41 (Needham’s formation, Upper Mangaehu Road) is as yet unfinished, and the heavy rain experienced recently has caused it to slip considerably. It should be out of hand, however, before next meeting. The Poarangi Road formation contract was kept clear until the end of the maintenance period, but the recent broken weather has caused it to again slip bodily; in fact, the whole length of formed road is in’ a general state of disrepair. The Riding Foreman reports having carried, out general necessary maintenance work during tho month', which has been too bad to allow of road improvements. The Central and Tahora men have been laid up during the month; The former reports that the lower part of the Putikituna road is blocked with slips, and that he is unable to obtain labour to do the necessary clearing; also that the Whangamomona road has slipped badly. The latter reports that there are a few slips on Mauku road, but beyojid that, nothing serious. The report was adopted. Correspondence. The following correspondence was received and ddalt with as under:— From C. A. Blarembcrg, Tokarima, re rates alleged to be due. Also applying to have his property paying rates to the Whangamoirrona County Council transferred to the Ohura County Council. It was moved by Cr. Roberton, and seconded by Cr. Jury, that with reference to the first portion of his letter, with regard to his complaint re not receiving rate notices, that he be informed that the Clerk has forwarded several notices, and with reference to the matter of transferring his property to Ohura County, the Council will look into the matter and advise later. Also that Mr Blaremberg be requested to supply this Council with full details re the area and location of his section. The Council is under the impression that it agreed to transfer all property, the owners of which had signed the petition to that effect.— Carried. From Mr James Eerrisk, informing the Council that he will have his contract open for cart traffic in ten days. Received.

From Mr T. H. Penn, secretary of the Stratford Hospital and Charitable Aid Board, as follows:—“A letter from the Inspector-General of Hospitals,

read at the Board’s meeting, revives the question of a district nurse for Whangamomona. The letter was written on receiving a report on the death of Mrs Crozier, and strongly urges the immediate appointment of a. certificated nurse. The Inspector is prepared to recommend to the Minister that a grant in aid be placed on the Estimates in view of so many cooperative workers being in the district. The Board is prepared to engage and pay a nurse, provided this Government’s assistance is forthcoming, and the settlers form a District Nurse Association, and contribute annually £4O. The nurse would be under the immediate control of the Association subject to the Board’s .supervision. Will your Council be disposed to take any steps in the matter? I have written similarly to Mr Jos. McCluggage, as chairman of the committee, to obtain a resident doctor.” Cr. Bacon moved that the Stratford Hospital Board be informed that the Council wishes the matter to be held in abeyance at present, as the settlers in the district are at present negociating in the matter of procuring a resident medical man.

From B. G. Signal!., clerk of the Wairoa County Council, forwarding copy of a resolution passed by the Wairoa Council re Standard Bridge plans. Cr. Bacon moved that the Wairoa County Council be advised that this Council understands that the PublicWorks Department have such plans available, and will issue same to any local body requiring them. Seconded by Cr. Coyne, and carried. From the engineer of tho Stratford County Council, with reference to a proposal to establish concrete pipe manufacturing works in the Taranaki district, and asking the Council’s views on the matter, prior to taking further action. On the motion of Cr. Roberton, seconded by Cr. Bacon, it was decided to inform Mr E. C. Robinson that this Council is in favour of tho local bodies undertaking the enterprise unless some assurance is obtained from a private company, that it will commence forthwith.

From T. Evans, Managing Director of the Masterton Cement and Pipe Company, notifying the Council that they propose starting a factory for the manufacture of cement pipes, etc., at Waitara, or in the adjacent district, and stating that before going into this large expense the support of the local bodies in the district would be necessary.

It was decided to inform the Company that the local bodies are contemplating commencing pipe works themselves in Taranaki, but if, the Company establish such works, the Council would be prepared to deal with it, provided that the pipes can be supplied at Waitara at a reasonable price; Pro- 1 vided further, that the Company’s m 1 • -I’i I i Taranaki manufactory corpulence operations shortly. From the Clerk of the Ohura County Council, re alteration of boundary, stating in reply to the Council’s letter of the 12th ■ instv,'-that they 'are-will-ing to accept that area which is bounded by the Ohura river, and asking the Council to draw up an agreement and forward sa.irie for the Ohura*Council’s signature. Consideration of the letter was held Over. ' I»'

From the Public Works Department, re Brewer (Strathmore to Murcott road), £1 for £1 on account of £I4OO loan, informing the Council that the sum of £350 has been authorised to be expended on the work.—Received. From Mr J. M. Jones, Makahu, as follows;—“The Council’s reply to my request for assistance on Mangarewa road received. I cannot allow this matter to rest without making a further appeal to your Council. I desire to point out that I am paying a general rate of £2O per annum, as well as two special rates. Further, that for three years no request for expenditure for maintenance on this track has been made. I have, during this time, kept the track open, and in failorder at my own expense. In asking your Council for the sunn of £3 4s for work recently done, I am asking that a proportion only of the cost of upkeep of this track should be paid for out of rates. I trust your Council (will re-consider its decision of last meeting, or will instruct your engineer or the Riding foreman to inspect and report on this track before again refusing my request.

It was resolved to inform Mr Jones that the Council cannot recognise claims for unauthorised work, but is willing to consider future applications for work on the road. Deputation.

Messrs Court, London, and Aylward waited on the Council with respect to the bad state of thj footpaths in the township, and asked if the Council could not take steps to have something done in the matter of putting same in some state-,of repair, as it is at present almost impassable, and very inconvenient for the lady folk to get about, and suggested that the Council undertake a similar work as has been done in other parts of the town. Cr. Bacon stated that a good deal of the trouble was caused through Von so horses wandering about, and that was mostly the cause of the present bad (state of tiheir footpaths, and suggested that a ranger again be put on. He also stated that only- about £l6 was received in rates in the township, so the Council had not much money at their disposal to expend on the work. It was moved by Cr. Bacon, seconded by Cr. Cleland that the engineer be instructed to have the necessary work done at a cost of £ll, to be debited to tho Central Riding Special Fund Account.—Carried. Notice of Motion. Cr. Bacon gave notice to move at next meeting of tho Council “That a separate general rate area be formed for the Whangamomona township.” General. Cr. Coyne moved, and Cr. Roberton

seconded, that the Council make application to the Government for provision;}! approval of a loan of £BOO for metalling a portion of the BrewerManga elm road.—Carried. Mr E. C. Robinson (engineer), reported that two tenders were received for contract No, 42, formation of Upper portion of Mangaehu road, and stated that the tender of Needham Bros, had been accepted. The chairman's and Cr. Biggins’ action in accepting the tender was confirmed. It was decided to call for applications for the positi m. of ranger for the Central Riding,.*to close at next meeting of the Council, and that a notice, be advertised to the effect that legal proceedings will be taken against owners, of animals allowed to .stray in the township of' Whangamomona. Cr. Bacon brought under the Council’s notice that a considerable number of dogs were owned by the Public Works workmen, and he has been informed that a large number have not been registered, and he thought it win the Council’s duty to protect the ratepayers from the persistent worrying of sheep that lias been going on in the past by these mongrels, and suggested that a man bo appointed for the propose. The matter wps eventually hold over until next meeting of the Council. Accounts. 1 Accounts amounting to the sum o f £227 4s 3d were passed for payment, and the Council rose.