RANGITIKEI COUNTY COUNCIL.

Taihape Daily Times, 11 March 1919, Page 5

RANGITIKEI COUNTY COUNCIL.

0 MERGING OF ERBWON RIDING.

HAWKE'S BAY DELEGATES

WAIT ON RANGITIKEI COUNTY COUNCIL

A delegation from the Hawke's Ray County Council, comsprising Messrs. T. Cross, M. Chambers, and C. D. Kennedy (County Engineer) waited upon the meeting of the Rangitikei County Council last Thursday, with a veiw to the Rangitikei County Council taking over the whole of the balance of the Erewhon Riding at present included in the Hawke's Bay County.

Mr Cross, Chairman of the Hawke's Bay County Council, stated that the area of tbe Erewhon Riding was 214,000 acres. The capital value on March 31, 1918, was—Europelan land, £169,146; Native land, £9,270. There ware 7 European and 11 Native ratepayers. The rates were European £B7O lis, and Native £52 Is 2d. The rates struck being as follows: General. 7/Bd. hospital, 5/l(id; credit on March 31 last,

£142 5s sd. The loan over the riding was £2055 at 31 per cent with an anual interest payment of £36. There are about 25 miles of main road, partially metalled, and three miles of branch road into Ngamatea. The bridges in the riding are the Ngarurore at Kuripapango, which is a boundary bridge between Okawa (and' Erewhon. The Taruarau bridge was built by the Government in 1909, and is in good oiv der, and Irhere is also a suspension bridge over the Rangitikei River, "built twenty years ago. The Erevrhon Riding lies between the- Rangitikei and Ngarurore Rivers, and the nearest point to Napier is 40 miles distant and the furthest, about 65 miles away. As practically all the wool grown in Erewhon goes to Taihfape for shipment which is within easy distance, it seemed desirable that the district s/ritonjld foe eo nit rolled, jjfirom; Taihape and not from Napier. The Hawke ? s Bciy Council ')s Committee was empowered to arrange for the severance of the whole riding from Hawke's B'ay into Rangitikei, should there be any suggestion of a partial severance the Committe would have to refer the question o he Council.

Cr. Doole said there was no question that the ratepayers in the Eangitikei County's portion of the Ercwhon Riding would object to the merging of the balance of the riding into the Rangitikei County. The ratepayers on this side paid a three-farthing rate and the ratepayers in the Hawke's Day County seven-eighths of a penny. This would mean that the rates would have to be increased on this side in order to make a uniform" rate.

The chairman stated that if they received a guarantee that the Hawke's Bay County would bear its share of the bridge across the Rangitikei at Erewhon and they also received the Government subsidy, he could sec no reason why the merging of the riding should not take place. The cost of the bridge wiguM be about £3OOO. The question was discused by the Councillors in a conversational manner and eventually Cr. E. Brice proposed and Cr A. G. impson seconded —That the Rangitikei County Ooivncil is agreeable that the Erewhon Ridingg of the Hawke's Bay County should bo annexed to the Rangitikei County as at the Ist April, 1920, provided that the Hawke 's Bay Council takes ever the whole of the liability of the Hawke's Bay County both in respect of Joan now raised or that may be raised or for any other obligations of the Hawke's B'ayCounty Council in connection with Hospital or Charitable Aid institutions.

The teestolution *vas carried, <Gi.. DOcle dissenting.—Advocate.