WAIMARINO COUNTY COUNCIL.

Taihape Daily Times, Volume 7, Issue 141, 17 February 1915, Page 3

WAIMARINO COUNTY COUNCIL.

monthly meeting. SATURDAY, FEBRUARY 13. Present: Councillors P. Brass (chairman), J, Kennedy, H. H. Harris, C. G. Powell, T. Epps, C. L. Pemberton, T. McArthur. CORRESPONDENCE. From State Advances Office, deciding to entertain Council’s application t'or a loan of £O7O for Feild’s Track; rats, 41 per cent; currency, 3CI years. From same, deciding to entertain the application for a loan of £1250 f.-ii j'oad, under similar terms.

Tne Health officer reportal one case cf typroid in th e County for December month.

The Prime Minister,* replying to the resolution supporting a war tax. stated that the question would receive oarei'ul consideration. From State Guaranteed Advances office, granting the loan of £2iso toi Parapara-Raetihi road, and enclosing debentures and forms of declarations i'er exeemion

From Horcpito Progressive Association forwarding a request that thirds accrued cn Yaley road, together with £1 for £1 grant offered by Government be spent cn Valley road, and hat the balance in hand for variousstreets in Horcpito West be spent on Hikuhiku road, which was next in urgency. The expenditure ol this money upon tlie roads mentioned in Council’s schedule would not materirnd (he position io be explained to the Association.

NEW LOAN PETITION. 4 pelifior. signed by R. H. Wiikie, ally assist the township),—Deterred. J. Wilke, A. Wilkie. Fleming and Hunter, and 0. G. Houghton, re quested Council to raise a loan foi forming Ohotu-Karioi road into a dra> read, and that the engineer be allow ed to estimate, Parapava Road. —The new road formation work is progressing favourably on this read and tiie construction ot the Hapckapolca bridge has been carried on. Repairs have been effected on either side of the Mangawhero bridge and the culverts throughout will be inserted at once. GENERAL. The Council agreed that a road-roller would be a good investment, but funds wcAild Jnot permit the purchaste at present. The proposed inspection of the roads by the Council was further discussed, and the Engineer was Instructed tc arrange a, suitable time within the next me nth er so Cr Epps represented (lie request of Ruatiti settlers that several stock reserves be fenced so that they could be utilised to accommodate stock travelling on long “drives,” which at present occasioned considerable hardship Cr Harris objected that the request opened up a big question. Others would apply for similar expenditure, and then maintenance and attendance had to be considered.

The clerk reported that the two reserves subject of the request were the only ones under Council’s control.

The Chairman stated that he did not contemplate any keys being used. Fees should be waived if possible. The reserves should be available free to bona-fide travellers.

Cr Pemberton agreed that the collection of fees would occasion more trouble than they were worth. Cr Harris estimated the cost of fencing and subdividing at £25 each, which would involve an immediate outlay of £75 if the three reserves on Ohura road were utilised. The Council being hard pressed to keep roads open, everyone using the reserv-

es should pay to defray cost of main Lenance. Cr McArthur concurred.

The chairman pointed cut that an outlay of £SO on the two reserves only involved £5 per year, supposing the fencing to last ten years. The Clerk reported that the Council’s proposal to the Commissioner of Crown Lands was to fence the reserves and to provide free accommodation. Regulations would have to be submitted to the Commissioner.

The chairman opined that there would be no end of humbug employing anyone to keep the keys.—Cr. Kennedy concurred. Cr Epps undertook to obtain an estimate of cost of fencing required. Cr Pemberton suggested that preparations should be put in hand for the expenditure of Parapara-Raetihi loan—-Left to Engineer. The Native Land Court having recently held a sitting in the Council Chamber, th> question of rent was introduces by the ( Jerk, and it vas decided to mna similar charge as in the case of the Justice Dept., viv., IPs a sitting. On the moth- 1 of the Chairman and Cr Kennedy, the Erghioer was authorised to attend the Confernce of Engineers. The Treasurer's statement showed a General Account debit of £2013. On the motion of Cfs Keiiv. ■» !y and Powell, the Council to take steps to raise a lean of £ 070 over Ohotu No. 4 rating district for purpose of foimIng Field’s Track into a dray road from junction with Tokiahura stream southwards to Ohotu-Kario.j road,