WHANGAMOMONA COUNTY COUNCIL.

Stratford Evening Post, Volume XXXV, Issue 92, 25 April 1913, Page 3

WHANGAMOMONA COUNTY COUNCIL.

MONTHLY MEETING. The monthly meeting of the Whangamomona County Council was held on Wednesday afternoon, when there were present, Councillors W. A. McCutchan (in the chair), J. McCluggage, A; Coyne, J. Higgins, W. Bacon, N. R. Cleland, and E. B. Roberton. INFORMATION WANTED, The Chairman stated, with reference to the refusal of the Commissioner of Crown Lands to supply local bodies with monthly schedules of lands sold, transfered, etc., that the Council had been informed that this information could bo obtained from the Valuation Department. This, however, did not got over the difficulty. If they knew there had been a transfer, the matter, would ,be all, right, but the Council did not know when transfers occurred, except on the advice from the Land Board. The trouble of course was that the Council did not know who might be responsible for the rates.

Mr Coleman, the County Clerk, mentioned that it was incumbent upon the, solicitors to notify the Council with regard,to transfers of freehold, but unfortunately many solicitors neglected to do so. WOOD v, CONCRETE, Referring to the culverts required for the Whitianga Road, the Chairman said that the Council was being put to continual expense through having to renew rimu culverts. Ho thought it was a reasonable thing to ask the Government to put in concrete pipes in the first instance. Councillor Cleland mentioned that tiro Department did put in concrete pipes in some instances, while in other places, wooden culverts were put

Cr. McCluggage: Rimu lasts about ton years under ground, doesn’t it? Cr. Diggins: Less than three years, sometimes.

Cr. McCluggago then moved a motion requesting the Government, wherever possible, to instal concrete pipes. The motion was seconded by Cr. Bacon, and carried. ENGINEER’S REPORT. The Engineer (Mr E. C. Robinson) reported as follows:—Mangaehu and Kohi Road formation.—Tho whole of this work extending over two and a half miles is well in hand and should all bo complete in about two months. I Brewer Road Metalling.—As instruct--1 ed, I interviewed Neilson re this work. His price was 13s per cubic yard, which I reported to you, and acting on your directions, I have hold the matter over for tho consideration of tho Council at this meeting. At the 1 same time 1 wrote tho Under Secretary ' of Public Works with reference to revoting the subsidy of £350. His reply, stating that this will be done, is attached herewith. Lower Kohuratahi Road.—Application was duly made for £OO grant being balance of authority on this road. Tho Resident Engineer’s reply is attached herewith. Mr Aylwarcl forwarded petiiton with portion of signatories shortly after last meeting, but the remaining signatures did not reach me until Thursday, 17tb inst., two days after tile Land Board meeting, so I was unable to put it before the said Board, j The papers are now before you. Pipes for Whitianga Road.—These have been ; procured and delivered. Foremens’ j Whares.—The timber for central and Tahora Riding foremens’ whares has been delivered, and the former is nn- ; dor construction. Langdon would ! like the Council to provide a tank if 1 possible. Tho Pohokura forman is desirous of having a house built for himself and family, and is willing to pay a. moderate rental for same. Gen- • era! surfacing and maintenance work has been carried out by tho foremen during the month on the various roads under their control, which roads, gen-

orally speaking, are in very good order. Advantage is being taken of the splendid season to dress them up well for the winter months. The enclosure referred to was: From Mr G. T. Murray, Resident Koad Engineer, stating that the available balance on the Kohuratahi Road was in his hands, and was for extension ot dray road oh eastern side of Tangarakau river. It was not intended to bo used in metalling, but if the Council would undertake the expenditure in widening, he would wish to bo informed on this point, in order that his authority might bo cancelled and then issued to the Council. INTERNAL FINANCE. A long discussion ensued on the alleged illegal expenditure of “thirds” on tire Kohuratahi Road. The Chairman said that the question was simply one of internal finance. The settlors knew how much their roads were in credit, and when they made application for expenditure of “thirds” the money would be spent. He moved: “That the County Clerk bo instructed not to credit roads with ‘thirds’ , until the contract is let, but to credit to a suspense account until such is done.” Cr. Bacon seconded the motion, which was carried. A FOREMAN’S ; COTTAGE. The question of building a house for the Pohokura foreman was discussed, the opinion being expressed that £2lO or so was a very heavy expendihure to make, seeing that the Council might not always be employing a married man in the position. Cr. Bacon deprecated penalising the married man. His experience was I that the married men were the better for this sort of position.

Cr McCluggage moved that the cottage bo built provided that it cost no more than £2OO. Cr Bacon seconded.

Cr Roberton spoke against the motion. The house might not always be needed, seeing that a single man might be employed on the situation. Cr Diggins was in favour of letting road work by contract. The Chairman said he felt that the objection raised by Councillor Roberton was fatal to the resolution. He had every sympathy for the motion, and recognised the value of the foreman’s services, but the ratepayers’ interests must bo regarded. r Cr. Cleland said the difficulty could be overcome by' making the position one for rimmed men only. It was certainly hard for a mdh with a family to have no decent roof over his head.

Cr. Coyne remarked that there were thousands of ' people--very good peop]e_liying |ri tents! - l lf there was any likelihood of the 5 being let permanently Ho would support the motion. The motion was lost by three votes to four, , * DEPUTATIONS. Mr R., Anderson, bootmaker, waited on tao Council, and , ashed, if the Council cion Id grant him the use of a portion ‘t)f land in their.(reserves in the township, as the site for a small shop. People had been ' continually asking him, [ ho said, why ho did not come in close to town.

It was explained that the land had been leased to Mr Calgher, and until Mr Calgher gave up his tenancy the Council could do 1 nothing in the matter until ten months from the present date.

Messrs Bradley and Aylward brought up the question of a loan for carrying out town drainage, and also the matter of 'metalling the Ohura road from the' present train terminus to the station yard, and asked that these matters should again bo brought under tho notice of the Department. The deputation ex-, plained that with regard to tho loan, the Hon. Mr Fraser had said that if another application was put in to the Board through himself, there might be a possibility of tho request being granted. The Council agreed to take tho necessary steps to bring these matters under the notice of tho Government.

ANOTHER TRAMWAY. Mr H. J. H. Blow, Under-Secretary for Public Works, acknowledged receipt of the Council’s letter advising that tho Council was of tho opinion that when tho Public Works Dept, commenced to cart timber ovci the Mangaowata Road for tho Tahora tunnel, provision should be made for burning a kiln of papa for road maintenance purposes, and stated that it was intended to run a tramline along this road to carry all tho Department’s materials, and tho road would thus bo saved from damage by extraordinary traffic. It would not be necessary, therefore, to make the preparation for burning papa, as suggested. Having in mind tho experience of tho Mangaro Road, tho Council decided to instruct the engineer to report- on the present condition of the road. Tho Department will be informed that the Council agrees to this proposal, provided that settlers’ goods lie carried on tho tramway free of charge, and that tho road bo reinstated when tho tramway is‘ no longer required. ACCIDENT INSURANCE.

The Akitio County Council wrote with reference to accident insurance, and -drew attention to the fact that Local Government Legislation does not give local bodies power to create a special fund for accident insurance. Recently a majority of the local bodies within the Wairarapa Hospital and Charitable Aid Board District were desirous of co-operation on the matter of establishing a special employees’ (Continued on Page 7.)