Egmont County Council.

Taranaki Daily News, Volume XLVI, Issue 137, 14 June 1904, Page 2

Egmont County Council.

Tho Council mot on Friday. Present : Ci-s. Forsyth (chairman), JC. Maxwell, W. 0, Dudley, A. Shaw, H. S, Briftnt, J. Stevenson, J, Burgesa and J» Rothery. ; —Correspondence.— A letter ironi Mr H. Cock, ro consumptive annexe to the New Flymouth hospital will be acknowledged.

The sum of 17s 2d land thirds will be allowed to accumulate.

lhe Parilmku Road Board forwarded Its contribution towards cost of culvert at end of Kuhui Road, Rahotu, but at the same tlmo refused to admit any liability. 'the Hunk of New Calami wrote explaining- that six per cent, had been charged on overdraft, Instead of live per cent., because the borrowing was not legal.

Resolved that tho manager be written to, sending copy of tho resolution puseed when tho loan was arranged, when the circumstances were perfectly well known to the bank, and five per cent, arranged, and that the council expects this arrangement to be carried out.

Cr« Dudley moved, Cr. Forsyth seconded, and it was resolved that tho Land and Income Tux Department be written to, staling that the •subsidy for 1903-;) on the basis of the Rai'ihaka Road Hoard rates had not been received by this council. —Native Rates.— The Public Trustee will be informed that this council is forcing the prompt payment of rates, through the Court, and that (he council requests immediate payment of tho native rates due amounting to ,C 221 12s Id.—Maxwell—Stevenson. —Hospital Contributions.— Tho council refused its consent to the appointment of a commissioner to consider what local authority was liable for £llO overdue contributions claimed by the Tarane.ki Hospital and Charitable Aid Hoard.

Tho Taranaki Hospital and Charitable Aid Board wrote that It clalnukl Its contribution on a valuation of £3)J7,<198, whereas, according to the Eguioat County Council rolls, l-ho valuation wan £384,182. The Hawera Board claimed on £268,781, but the council estimated it at £253,000. The cleric will inquire further, —Opunake 1-Jurbour.— Tho Opunako Town Board forwarded a copy of a resolution passed at a public meeting re harbour muttere, asking the council to take steps to have the foreshore vested in the Counly Council as a harbour ljoard. —Weights and Measures.— The Colonial Secretary acknowledged the receipt of the council's resolution ro the appointment, ol an inspector of weights ami measures for the county, and promising attention.—The cleric will urge immediate consideration. —Warea Bridge.--• The clerk reported that the claim of £1 12s by the council against Mr McCullum for dumaging a bridge at Wurea had not been acknowledged. Mr McHannighan, the foreman,said (he charge for labour and timber was correct, and tho claim will be pressed. —Steel Bridges.— Quotations for jtleel joists and girders for bridge work were n.ieived from Messrs Anderson Brothers, OhriKtchurch, ami A. and T. Burt, Dunedin. The matter was held over for next meeting. —Stone Crusher.— Messrs Booth, McDonald, and Co. wrote quoting- an Austin stonecrusher at £1142 10s, with 2} per cent, discount for cash. This was the same class of machine as was now in use in the Ilawera County. Cr. Maxwell said the machine was a very handy one, which had saved its cost over and over again. The council was "eating tip" the cost of a crusher now, in breaking stone by hand. The work was costing 25 per cent, moro than tt would by machinery. The Chairman : Broken stone is worth over 25 per cent, above the value of crushed metal. Mr Maxwell moved that Messrs Booth, McDonald and Co. be asked to quote for a crusher and engine, xnd to state their easiest terms of payment. Seconded by Cr. Burgess and carried. —Partition of District,— Messrs W'right and Sorreiisen, delegated by tlm Parihaka Road Board, waited on the council to divide the Parihaka Road -district hi two, so that the northern portion might be placed under the Parihaka Hood Board—tho northern portion to run from Hie Puniho Road to the Namu Itoad, The gist of the petition was that that, part of tho Parihaka Road district south of Uia Namu Uoad ■should be severed from the Parihaka Uoad district, in order to savo expense of administration.

'''he deputation withdrew and the council deferred the matter l.yContractors' Damages.— Mr Millar waited on the. council wit li regard to damage done bv a comity contractor for metal to" his private road. Last year the same thing had occurred, lie wanted the council to see that tho contractor mndo good the damage. The chairman snid this was a matter between the owner and the conIraetor. Mr Millar said the contractor would not. repair tile l'oad, or the fences either. —l'ound at, I'ihama.— A petition was read from settlers •U'.lcing for tho establishment of a public pound at Pihama, and to the acquiring as a site a paddock nowheld by the Government as a diseased stock paddock.—lt was resolved to use every endeavour to give ellect to tho petition. —Opunake Harbour.— Mr Maxwell moved according to notice given "That tlie council apply to the the Governor by Order-in-Council to declare that tiie Egmont. County Council shall exorcise all the powers of a harbour board within the limits of tho coastal boundary of the county." He explained that this would provido a local authority in whom reserves might be vested lor harbour purposes. A harbour board was unfeasible, owing to no funds, and a loan would not lie required. A harbour district would bo synonymous with a harbour loan. Then in January next, the Jetty Company's lease would expire, and live county, if given the right, to exercise the powers of the harbour board, could assnro tho renewal of the lease. He emphatically declared there was in his motion no suggestion of a harbour district and no suggestion of a loan or harbour rate. It would bo unjust and unfair to refuso the .Jetty Company a renewal of its lease after having gone to great, expense and guaranteed large sums of money. Tho Chairman seconded the motion, believing it to be advisable that certain reserves should be secured to the Imrbour and the bay placed under local control.

' r. Burgess said he had como prepared to oppose the motion, as Warea people were very nervous about it, behoving that it was the thin end of a wedge to make- a harbour district and a harhour rate. lie could not extend his opposition very far, as lie inhls influenced by the arguments for the. motion. lie moved as an amendment that the matter lie deferred till next meeting, in order to allow Mr Fleming, another northern representative, to 1m present,. Or. Shaw seconded.

Cr. Maxwell said action must he prompt to forestall an attempt, that was being mado to form an independent harbour board and district. Cr. Dudley said ho had been unable to find anything to warrant a suspicion of Injustice to War en or Awatvirtn-. lie had Intended to dp. pone, hut was now prepared to support (he motion. Cr. Stevenson supported the mo-

tion, as this scheme provided tor a three-fifths majority by petition. Tho amendment was lost and the motion carried.

—Foremen's Report.— The Oeo riding foreman's report was considered.

—Contractor's Request.— Mr P. Julian, who had completed ft stone-crushing contract at i'uniho, asked the council to take over the metal and pay up to within a shilling u, yard of its cost. lie was ready now to deliver (he metal, but the council was not prepared to take it, and he was losing monev in the meantime,

After a very long discussion it was decided that tho foreman take what metal he requires at once, and that the remainder of the stone be paid for up to within a shilling a yard of the total cost. —Rahotu Riding.—

The Rahotu foreman reported : The mum road from Warea to Opunnke had been greatly damaged by the late storm, but was now being repaired. Twelve men wero ongaged in stone-breaking. It was waste of money to go on patching tho main road ; it required re-metal-ling. Ho recommended tho purchase of a horse and dray for tho councils work. Warea and Waiwarettul bridges had been repaired. He asked authority to employ teams for work on tho liltham Road. T, Julian's contract for stone-bj-eioklng at Warea was completed—269 yards. The foreman was given authority to engage teams and 'drays for 10ithnrn Road.

Accounts were passed for payment, totalling £2OO 5s lid. The council rose.