WHANGAMONONA COUNTY COUNCIL.

Stratford Evening Post, Volume XXXV, Issue 22, 24 January 1913, Page 2

WHANGAMONONA COUNTY COUNCIL.

ORDINARY MEETING. The ordinary monthly meeting of the Council was held on Wednesday, when there were present: Cr A. Meredith (chairman),• Crs. Roberton, Cleland, Bacon, Coyne, and Diggins. ENGINEER’S REPORT. The Engineer (Mr. E. C. Robin son), reported as follows: Engineer’s Report. The engineer (Mr E. C. Robinson, reported as follows : Upper Mangaehu Road.—-Needham’s formation contract on this road is about completed. McPhee’s metalling contract should be completed very shortly if the weather holds good. Kola Road.—Three miles of this road have been pegged off for widening, and the levels taken. This will, 1 think, rather more than exhaust the balance of loan money available. The preparation of plans and specifications will entail about a fortnight’s office work, and if the Council so desires, tenders covering the whole of the remainder of loan could then be called, closing at next meeting of the Council. Should any subsidy be available later on, plans could then be submitted for approval. The new foremen have taken up their duties, and have been allotted definite sections of roads in their respective ridings. The roads in the Strathmore Riding are generally in fair order with the exception of Faver, Akama, and Kind, the- former, of which Foreman Atkins is now attending to. Ho will also very shortly put in the large pipe culvert on Ohura Road near Ngatimaru railway station, the laying of which has been long delayed owing to pressure of other work.

The Pohokura Riding Foreman re"ports that the roads under his control are in fair order, barring a portion of the Junction Road, which has slipped recently. Some drain cleaning is required on Arnold Road, and this will he attended to during the coming month.

The repairs to Prospect Road bridge have been let to Mr R. J. Scott, at the following rates: —Lifting old deck and laying new deck, 7s lOd per 100 sup. ft., supply of -spikes and tar for same i£3 16s. The spikes and tar have just arrived, and the work will be put in hand forthwith. What is required at the filling and tunnel on Whangamomona road about four miles down has been explained to the Foreman, and he has been put on to clear the mouth of present tunnel and the bed of stream below it prior to an extension being made. The Poarangi Road is now in fair order, with the exception of a slip in the block cutting at the far end. This will be cleared next week. ■ The Kohuratahi Road has been put into fair order, the lower portion to Tangarakau suspension bridge being thoroughly cleared. The Foreman is now at work on Putikituna Road. The necessary, pipes for renewals on Kohuratahi Road will bo sent up very shortly. I have again inspected the flood openings on Kohuratahi Road. The most unsound one is that in the bend above Hodges’, and it should be seen to without delay. The lower one could be left for a year.

A further inspection of Mauku Road bridge shows the whole of the deck to be unsound, and not safe for traffic. I have measured it up, and find about t'3oo sup. ft. would bo required to renew it.

Mr Bennett, a settlor on the road, spoke to me about it' yesterday, and urged that something bo done. At the December meeting, nothing was decided re the holidays allowed. The two Foremen (Atkins and Jamieson) have in their time-sheets entered four days (the days allowed in previous years). CORRESPONDENCE.

Correspondence was received and dealt with as under:—

From T. Langdon, surfaceman, ashing the Council to erect a whare or hut to Jive in, pointing out that at present, he is living in a tent, and the bad weather makes it impossible for him to make a tent a permanent place of abode, and suggests a p'ace on the Whanga Road as .be mcst suitable centre. —It was decided to inform Mr. Langdon that the Council is prepared to erect a where 14 x 12, provided he pays a rent of Is 6cl per week. From Austin F. Wilson (Inspector of Rabbits and Noxious Weeds) with regard to the\spread of foxglove in the County.—lt was decided that the Clerk inform the Inspector that he be asked to call on Cr. Bacon in particular when visiting, with regard to Californian thistle growing in his locality, and that his attention be also called to a patch of blackberry growing on Rerekapa Road. ° From T. A. Bradley, informing the Council that he is quite willing to act as a trustee of the Whangamomona Cemetery, in conjunction with Messrs F. W. Court and E. McCluggage, provided that the plan of .ho cemetery is completed prior to the ; ppointment. tion that Mr. Bradley lie informed that the plan is practically completed, and will he forwarded to the Cemetery Committee by the Engineer at an early date.

From tho Commissioner of Crown Lands ro closing portion of. the AVhangaraomona Valley Road.—lt 'v a s agreed to forward a copy of tho Commissioner of Crown Lands and the .Engineer’s letter to Mr. Praffitt.

From M. O’Neill, enclosing a petition signed by H 7 settlers and incidents of the district for tho Council’s endorsement, pointing out that it L a grave injustice to settlers to have there' or thereabout 30 acres of land confiscated for railway purposes without compensation.—Cr. Coyne moved, and Cr. 'Higgins seconded, that the petition of the settlers he commended to the Government for favourable consideration.—Cr. Roherton moved as an amendment that this Council considers that all owners of whose property is taken by the Government for railway purposes should receive compensation for such property so taken. — Tho amendment was carried. From tho ITulor-Seeretary of Department of Internal Affairs, acknowledging receipt of Council’s letter in regard to boundaries made between the Ohura County Council and the AA’han-ea.m-tnona County Council for gazot-

ting purposes, and asking in what riding of the Ohura County the area is to be added.—-It was decided on Cr. Robcrton’s motion that the communication be forwarded to the Ohura County Council to forward the Government information required.

From J. McCluggage and Co., asking the Council to grant a tramway right across the Makahu Road, close to’the railway line, to enable them to tram the timber down to the railway station at Pohokura from the sawmill they purpose* erecting on Mr. R. Mo Clnggage’s property at Pohokura this month, and thus save carting on the roads.—Permission granted, subject to the usual conditions being complied with.

From the New Zealand Counties Association, forwarding Council’s Opinions Nos. 129, 130, and 131. Received.

From the Clerk of the Waitomo County Council,' informing the Council that a meeting of delegates of the Back Blocks Local Bodies’ Association will take place on Wednesday, January 29th, at Ohura, also enclosing remits for discussion.—lt was decided that Crs. Meredith and Bacon represent the Council at the conference.

From the Resident Road Engineer, ro deviation of Whangamomona to Wanganui River Road, and enclosing tracing for Council’s consent.—The Chairman was empowered to sign the plan of the road deviation on Whangamomona Road as asked for by the Resident Road Engineer. —Carried. COUNTY RANGER. From H. Jakes, applying for the position of County ranger.—Left in the hands of Crs. Racon and Meredith. Mr. Jakes was appointed. DOG-TAX COLLECTOR. Mr. A. A. Cuthbertson wrote offering to collect the dog-tax at the rate of Is per head per dog. Mr. H. Jakes also applied for the position of dog-tax collector.—The natt'r vas left in the hands of Crs. Racon ard Meredith to attend to, and Mr, Jakes was appointed. HOLIDAYS. Cr. Meredith moved, and Cr. Coyne seconded, “That the permanent hands bo granted five holidays during' the year, and that these ho Christmas Day, New Year's Day, Boxing Day, Easter Monday, and Good Friday. Cr. Diggins moved as an amendment that the men bo granted five days’ holiday, and that they choose themselves. The amendment lapsed for want of a seconder. The motion pn ‘being put was carried. NOTICE OF MOTION. Cr. Diggins, in accordance lyith his notice, moved: “That the resolution carried at the Noyemher meeting of the Council ifi favour of raising the 10 per cent. Pn the £3BOO lojui, 1 and paying therefrom the amount o£ £220, being the amount now, overspent on the loan, be rescinded, and that the 16’ per cent" tbgetlM I ' witlt the available £350 subsidy, ho utilised to metal contract No. 36.” , ( Some little discussion tobk “place, and in order to place the matter before the Minister, Cr. Diggins applied for permission to lipid over his notice of motion till next meeting.—Granted. *i ■ ■ £3BOO LOAN SUBSIDY. It was resolved on the motion, of Cr. Coyne, seconded by Cr. Meredith, that in cohection with the subsidy on the £3BOO loan, the County Engineer be requested to interview the Resident Road Engineer, and report to the Council as to what amount of subsidy in his opinion is still duo to the Council on the amount already expended, and that if possible the Engineer have the information available when the Minister for Public Works visits the district. GENERAL. Tho Chairman brought under the notice a nuisance existing near the Te Wera Station, and moved that the Railway Department be written to pointing out that it is causing a menace. It was decided to procure four wheelbarrows for the Tahora Riding. On the motion of Cr, Racon, seconded by Cr. Coyne it was decided that the question of rates in the Marangoae Block be held over until next meeting of the Council, owing to the illness of the clerk. ,

The Special Order .to raise the 10 per cent, on the Makahu-Mangaehu loan of £3BOO instituted at last meeting was confirmed. The question of scheduling the thirds were held over till next meeting. ft was decided that tenders he called for widening (in three separate contracts) Kohi Road up to the amount of money available.-—Referred to in Engineer’s report. Cr. Robertson moved, and Cr. Cleland seconded, that the whole of the Manku Road Bridge lie re-decked in accordance with the Engineer’s recommendations.

Consideration of the flood openings on Kohuratahi Road, referred to in the Engineer’s report, was held over till next meeting of the Council. The Special Order, making rate on the Makahu-iMangoehu loan of £3BO fheing 10 per cent, on original loan of £3800), was confirmed. T 1 ie accounts as read, amounting to over £IOO, were passed for payment, and the Council adjourned.