WHANGAMOMONA COUNTY COUCIL.

Stratford Evening Post, Volume XXXIV, Issue 52, 25 October 1912, Page 3

WHANGAMOMONA COUNTY COUCIL.

MONTHLY MEETING. The ordinary monthly meeting took place on Wednesday, there being present: Cr. A. Meredith (chairman), Crs. McCutchan, Bacon, Cleland, Roberton, Digging, Coyne, and Jury. Engineer’s Report. The Engineer (Mr E. C. Robinson) submitted his monthly report as follows : Work in hand.—The Mangaelm Road having dried sufficiently, I laid off the earthwork on Mr Phie’s metalling contract, and a start has been made with the work. The mile length under contract extends to within 2* chains of metal at Murcatt Road suspension bridge, leaving a short gap over a filling which it would be extremely advisable to metal- I. would recommend that the contract be, extended to the bridge.-Nearly, alj the metal necessary 'has been quarried in respect to this contract, and once the weather -properly takes up, the work of putting it on the' road will not take long. During the month better progress has been made with .Korrislcs formation contract, and if the same rate is continued it should be about completed by next meeting. There is now enough formation done to get a vehicle along the whole length of the contract. At the far end of this contract, on a steep face, the formation has badly slipped away on a greasy papa shelf, and will continue to slip even if taken in on the hill. In order 1 to safeguard the place, it will be necessary to lower the grade for from four to five chains, the cost of the extra work being from £25 to £3O. I recommend that this work Ire authorised. Needham’s formation contract No. 41, is practically completed, the work being generally satisfactory. I inspected it in company with the local 'Road Inspector, and found the widths narrow in several places. This will be rectified forthwith. The same contractors have made a .start with the next formation contract (No. 42), about 8 chains of it being in hand. The work of improvements to Strathmore township has been carried out. lAs instructed at last meeting, I put the work of laying down planking in Whangarnomona township in hand, inthe foreman in' the matter, and borrowing enough material from Mr Hodder to carry out the portion between the store and hotel forthwith. The day after the meeting timber was ordered from the sawmillcr at Polfokura, and the need of urgency stated. During the month as the timber had not come to hand, I communicated again with the sawmiller, and received a wire to the effect- that the timber

was being sent in forthwith. It has Just arrived, and I have wired the foreman to come down and put it into place at once. The Strathmore Riding foreman reported that the following work has been carried out during the month : Strathmore township improvements, metal patching and water-tabling' on Ohura Road, the tunnel cleaned out op Brewer Road, repairs to Makahu, Upper Mangaelm, Tapuni, and O’Connor’s Roads. Also blackberry and foxglove have been grubbed on Council reserve at Tapuni Road Junction. Maintenance metal will be wanted for Brewer Road tunnel, and possibly for Ohura Road between 20 and 22 mile pegs. Three cubic yards of stone were taken from Ohura Road for very necessary repairs on Brewer Road.

j,, The Pohokura Riding foreman reports that the Ohura Road is in fair order, that repairs have been carried out on it and on Pohokura, Arnold, and Makahu Roads, that the sawmfilers horses and shavings at Pohokura are putting the commencement of Makahu Road into a bad state.

The Central Riding foreman reports having put down planking in main street, Whangarnomona, having put in most of his time -shifting slips on Kohuratahi Road, being unable to obtain assistance for this work. The Whangamomona Road has also received attention.

The Whitianga Road was practically blocked at the lower end. I have instructed the foreman to keep it open for horse traffic only until this rneet-

I have inspected Raekohua Road, including the work recently carried out, and find the road generally in good condition, though sloppy with so much wet weather. The pipes ordered for Strathmore and Pohokura Ridings have arrived. The report was adopted. CORRESPONDENCE.

From C. J. McKenzie, resident engineer, re Courthouse -site at Whangamomona. It was resolved that the Clerk reply to the Public Works Department, advising them of the full particulars of F. Calgher’s lease of the road reserve selected for the Courthouse site, and also that the Department be informed that the Council considers the site mentioned a most unsuitable and unsafe one. From F. T. O’Neill, assistant undersecretary for Department of Lands and Survey, re Whangarnomona come-! teries, informing the Council that the' Whangarnomona Public Cemetery, section 24, block 1, Mahoo Survey District, and the Whangarnomona North Public Cemetery, section 10, block 1, Mahoo Survey District, have been vested in the Whangarnomona County Council, in trust, for public cemeteries, in terms of section 4 of the Public Reserves and Domains Act, 1908.

On the motion of Cr. Bacon, seconded by Cr. Meredith, it was decided that Mr T. Bradley be asked to undertake the position of issuing burial warrants, and in the event’ of Mr Bradley not agreeing to act, the matter be left in the hands of the chairman. From W. S. Short, assistant undersecretary of Public Works, with reference to the Council’s letter to the Resident Engineer, of Stratford, regarding the handing over of sections of Mangare and Ohura roads (in the Central Riding) to the Whangamoraona County Council for the control of maintenance, stating that there is no obligation on the part of the Government to consult a local authority before declaring any road to he a County road. The representations of the Council, had, however, received

consideration, and a report had been obtained from the Resident Road Engineer at New Plymouth. From the information furnished him, it appeared that the repairs which were necessary to the Mangare Road were very light, ancl probably not more than £IOO would be required; but to metal the six miles of Ohura Road, with metal from Mt. Egmont Quarry, would cost approximately £SOOO. The Minister regretted he 1 could not sec his way, t.o J make any grant in respect of the Mangare Road, but as the Ohura Road , IqqJ been considerably damaged by cartagq for the Ra'ilwfiy works, the Mini^ tecoinsiderfed that the Council had spffiO-ejaim fin- resistance on that 1 accept, This beiiig ko ; lie had to inform them that he 1 wail 'prepared to assist the Council in repairing the portion of Ohura Road 1 referred to,_ to the extent bF granting a subsidy, say, £3 for £2 up to £3OOO, which was considered a reasonable contribution on the part.ml ithc Government, and asking if,;the Council was prepared to accept the: proposed/grapt on these conditions, r-j.-.v i • ■

Cr. McCutchan moved, and Cr. Coyne seconded, “That the chairman interview the member for the district, and lay the whole, (past and present) position of the Ohura Road before him, and also the matter of the Government’s offer, and, if considered desirable, to proceed with, him to interview tire Minister for Public Works, with a view to obtaining more favourable terms than those outlined in the above offer.—Carried.

From the Public Works Department, re Mangaelm (Upper) £1; for £1 (on account of £IOOO loan), informing the Council that the sum of £77 13s 9d has been authorised to bo expended on the above-mentioned work.—Received.

From Wm. Ward, wishing to withdraw his offer with respect to exchanging a piece of his property opposite Mr Kopkie’s house for the Council’s reserve facing Tapuni Road.— Received.

From A. C. Mannington, County Clerk of the Wanganui County Council, forwarding copy of a resolution passed by his Council, with respect to protecting in every way the interests of its ratepayers, particularly in preventing or rectifying any unfairness in the incidence of local taxation such as small grazing run holders are suffering by reason of the passing of section 22 (21 of the Rating Amendment Act, 1910). The resolution read: That in view of the necessity for continued heavy expenditure on roads in this district passing through lands held on the small grazing run tenure, the Government be urged to grant the right of conversion to freehold to the lessees of the said lands, thereby making the collection of an adequate rate fair to the lessees who are now suffering an injustice by the present mode of rating, and that a copy of this resolution be sent to the Pripie Minister.

It was resolved, on the motion of Cr. McCutchan, seconded by Cr. Diggins, that this Council is of opinion that the alterations in the rating of the small grazing runs made two years ago were an unjust action, and that this Council is favourable to the freehold being given to such tenants, provided that the terms upon which the freehold is to be granted arc clearly laid down before hand. Some little discussion took place on the subject, which eventually Jed Cr. Coyne to move as an amendment that the letter be received. On the amendment being .put, it was declared lost. The division was as under: Ayes: Crs. Coyne, Roberton, Bacon. Noes: Crs. Jury, Diggins, Cleland, McCutchan and Meredith. The motion was carried. From Mrs E. Jv Williams, Te Worn, applying for the lease of the two pound prlddocks at Huiakama, and offering to pay 10s a year rent. The matter was left in the hands of the, chairman with power to act.

From E. W. Hoddcr, applying for permission to take the water from the drain leading to the cellar at the hotel across the road reserve along river bank at the hack of Mr R. Campbell’s section. Also applying for permission to remove the earth from the road in front of his residence on part 2, ' section 21, Whanga Road, so as to get an entrance into the section, the same to be taken down not loss than 9 inches above road level.

It was decided that the chairman and riding members go into the whole matter, and interview Mr Calgher re this and the Post Office drains, with full power to act. It was also decided to grant Mr Hodder permission to remove the earth in front of his house. From the Clerk of the Ohura County Council re alteration of boundary, informing the Council that the Ohura County Council was willing to accept that area which is bounded by the Ohura River, and asking the Council to draw up an agreement and forward same for Ohura Council’s signature. Or. Roberton moved, and Cr. Cleland seconded, that this Council is of the opinion that the intiativc in the matter of preparing, an agreement lies upon the Ohura Council.—Carried. A REQUEST. John M. Jones, Makahu, wrote under date October 14th, as follows: “Your Council omitted to reply to my letter of last meeting. I understand, however, that my request was again refused, this time on account of being for unauthorised work. I have estimated my expenditure on Mangarewa track at from live to six pounds a year for three years. lam therefore paying, and am quite willing to pay for 80 per cent, of the cost of this work, it is in respect of the remaining 20 per cent, only that I ask for the consideration of your Council. This money has been expended to the benefit of all ratepayers using this track, and the justice of the request was carefully considered before any appeal was made to your Council. I canpot therefore accept as final, the somewhat arbitrary refusal of your Council without a good and sufficient reason being given for this action. My request at your last meeting that a report on this track be first obtained from your engineer or riding foreman, might help matters, and trust that your Council will consider this. Dealt with by notice of motion. PETITION.

The following petition was received; —Pohokura, October I.2th, 1912. The Chairman Whangamomona County Council. Sir,—We, the undersigned ratepayers and residents on the Makahu Road, desire to, draw the attention of your. Council to the fact that saw(lust and shavings are still being deposited in large quantities on the end of the road near the sawmill, as they have been for some months past, with the . result that the decay of the material is creating quagmires of a more dangerous nature than ordinary mud, and which will only be able to be repaired, even in the finest weather, at great labour and expense, owing to the difficulty of removing such a surface with a shovel. The condition of the end of the road has been aggravated by the fact that it has been used nearly continuously during the past two years, and is still being used as a feeding stand for heavy horses; a feeding trough being erected practically in the middle of the road, and as soon as it becomes unapproachable owing to the trampling of the horses, it is simply removed a few yards backward or forwards, and a coating of shavings spread over the mire. ;In addition to the damage actually done, it is obvious that an erection of that nature and size right in the roadway, might easily be the cause of a serious accident, with a nervous horse, especially at night, and in the case of a stranger who was ignorant of the existence of the obstacle. We therefore respectfully beg to point out to the Council that so long as such conditions are allowed to prevail, the time of the surfaceman, who otherwise is doing excellent work, is being largely wasted, and your petitions, etc.,— (Signed) A. Spencer, C. Spencer; K. Frank, C. 0. Prideaux, E. M. Prideaux, IA. Featherstonc, M. Featherstone, 1). Sealey, C. Sealey, R. MeCluggagc, 1). McCluggage. Cr. Meredith moved, and Cr. Jury seconded, that the sawmillcr at Pohokura be informed that be must discontinue the practice of putting sawdust on the road, also to discontinue feeding the horses on the road.—Carried.

NOTICE OF MOTIONS. Cr. McCutchan gave notice to move at next meeting of the Council, that the separate rate on the Kohuratahi separate rate, and the Whangamomona township rate lie subsidised to the extent of 10s in the £ from the Central Hiding Special Fund Account. Cr. Coyne, to move, “That in >vicw of the further information furnished by Mr Jones, the Council now sees its way to make payment for the amount of his claim. GENERAL BUSINESS. Cr. Biggins moved that steps be taken to raise the 10 per cent, on the £3BOO loan. It was decided, on Cr. Coyne’s motion, that the Engineer be instructed to carry out the recommendations in his report with respect to the BrewcrMurcott road, to the extent of £24. Cr. Cleland moved that the Engineer be instructed to have the Whitanga Road kept open for dray traffic. The Engineer was instructed to carry out his recommendation with respect to the altering of the grade of the road in Mr Kerrisk’s contract to the extent of £25. It was decided that the Strathmore Riding Foreman be instructed to clear the noxious weeds twice a year, and do the clearing necessary to give effect to the resolution on all County reserves. Cr. Bicmins moved, and Cr. Mere-

dith seconded, That a further formation contract up to the five feet track on the Upper Mangaehu be let as soon as possible.—Carried. ACCOUNTS. Accounts amounting to £356 4s lOd passed for payment, and the Council adjourned.