CLIFTON COUNTY COUNCIL.

Taranaki Daily News, Volume LII, Issue 109, 7 June 1909, Page 4

CLIFTON COUNTY COUNCIL.

The Clifton Council held its ordinary monthly meeting at Waitara on Friday. Present: Crs./. W. Foreman (chairman), C. O'Suliivaii, A. L. Hunter, 11. Sander, S. J. Kennington and Julian. An apology was received for the absence of Cr. T. McKenzie, owing to injuries received in an accident. NATIVE LANDS. Mr. J. B. Jack, Reserves Agent, Xew Plymouth, wrote regarding native royalties and rates. A misconception, he wrote, seemed to exist in the minds of some of the councillors, and he now wished to place the true position before them. As for royalties on stone, the position was that when stone was taken from any native lands in the Public Trustee's charge, the royalty on the stone must be paid to the Public Trustee, the occupier of the land being entitled only to compensation for damage done to the surface of the land by the removal of the stone. This applied whether the land was leased or unleased. He wished the Council to accept this letter as a notice that in future if any stone were taken out of these properties the royalties must be paid to him. If the land were leased surface damage could he paid to the occupier, I but if unleased then the money must be paid to him for distribution to the natives entitled to it. As to native rates, he was' not aware that he failed in his duty. It was no part of his duty to put the rate roll in order, but if he could give any assistance in the preparation of it he was quite willing to do so. He bad no recollection of any action or inaction of his preventing any native from having his name entered on the roll when entitled to it. If there w-as such a case he would be glad to receive particulars so that he could put the matter right.

The chairman said it was somewhat of a pity that the Public Trust Office had not notified local bodies of the position taken up "by the Reserves Agent. Such a course would have saved the Council some trouble and the Maoris some expense. He wished to make it clear that there was no charge against Mr. Jack. The published remarks were, as far as he could remember, that Mr. O'Carroll

said he had made application to Mr. Jack to have his name placed on the roll, and the chairman simply remarked that apparently there was' no reply yet. Cr. O'Sullivan wanted to know if the Council were going to endeavor to collect the native rates, as decided at a former meeting. The chairman said that the delay was due to the fact that when the Council changed its solicitor it was arranged that Mr. Roy should complete all matters in his hands, and the collection of native rates was one of these. Mr. Eoy had advised the Council not to hurry, as he was getting the rates in. He intended shortly to take action with regard to judgments obtained, or would band the business over to the present solicitor. Cr. O'Sullivan: It's time we did

something. The chairman said lie knew of several local bodies which hud obtained judgments against Maoris, and the Native jMinister had refused to consent to

orders being made on judgment sum

moils. Cr. O'Sullivan said the local bodies should make representations to Parliament. He mentioned that the Tara-

naki County Council was moving still in this matter. The chairman replied that the Taranaki County Council was in a better position to .recover rates than this Council, for many of its native lands are not under the Public Trustee's control. But even there difficulty was being experienced in obtaining consent w the enforcement of judgments. The Hon. Mr. Carroll, Native Minister, had promised the chairmen of the Taranaki and Clifton County Councils that where the Councils obtained judgment for rates, he would see that' the rate was paid or els'e consent to the judgments being enforced. Rut he had gone back on his word, and had refused the very first application made. .Mr. Foreman said be noticed that other councils in tlu/Auckland district had been discussing this matter, and it would come up at the Counties Conference if the conference wore held this year, which was as yet doubtful. Should the conference not eventuate the local bodies in Taranaki should hold a conference with a view of agitating for a better state of affairs than existed at present. Cr. O'Sullivan emphasised the ucd for some such movement, if only to have the little holdings of Maori hinds | cleared of noxious weeds. ENGINEER'S REPORT.

The engineer's report was read as follows: Waihi Riding: Weather permitting, it is intended to commence crushing the Waipapa metal on Monday, Uth June. Tikorangi Riding: West is proceeding with his fencing contract on the ()l:t----raoa. road, and'has rather more than 50 chains completed. Ngatimaru Riding: Cartwright and Tarry state that they were unable to complete their stone contract at Tarata which has been taken over under a du'v signed contract by W. Crosier at a shilling per yard less cost. - Xeilsen has satisfactorily completed Ins maintenance contract cm the Junction road. His total output is 4:14 yards. The cutting at Baxter's on the Olaraoa road is too wet to metal at present, but arrangements were made that the settlers could, in the meantime, obtain stone and break same ready for use when conditions were favorable, l'rosser has been (blinding the broken metal portion of the Oapui road, and the Council lias now resumed responsibility. On the South Matau road Smith and Wallace have finished (heir widening contract with the exception of some minor mat-

ter rt requiring attention. Urenui Riding: C'olnian has completed the Kaipikari road-metalling contract, and also put out H.) yards for repairs on the Main road. T.' Falconer reports having completed the widening and enlvcrlmg of the Matapo road. Svmes has put out to date about 500 varus of maintenance gravel on the Main road, covering a. distance of about 7(1 chains W. J. Clan, has effected general repairs to Colsons .bridge on the Okoke road. On a bad papa siding beyond Ekdahl's on the iPiko road arrangements have been made to permanently widen it oui to 12ft, together with other impassable places. This work has been performed by Kkdahl and lleiiwood, and consoquently their contract has not progressed to any appreciable extent. The completion of these widening* is also necessary to allow Whittakcr getting his timber on the site for the Mir.i'sv |iito bridge. '"

Mokau Riding: Fascining. fencin». and metal repairs at the southern end are works in progress on the Main road. ■Schmidt is slill working on lli P I'iitilci road sanding when weather permits; in the meantime his |uien are generally forming up the roads and doiii" other necessary work. Clare has completed the vedecking of the coast bridges at longaporutu. An inspection when stripped revealed the fact that another eighteen months is the extent of their safe life. I'iripi has ibeen unable lo do much with his contract on lh« Clifion road, but is -engaged in geitin<r boulders inmi the foreshore and-breakin.r «,nie. <:EXEI!AL.

/■>'"•• C. N\ !!..«'.■ u'rotc statins Unit *' will, 1 iilioiit t,) gravel in front nf Hie _/•''"i J"'-t "(lit-c. and asking that lb,, :. 'in'ii-ii ~.vi,.h,i ; ty ~,,,1,.,! ,„ ( .„ llll(>ll _ ""• <■ "iim-il carefully considered Hi,. !'"'!'",'* 1 "','""' '''"S^ l * l ( ' v, ' l '. v "H'liilii'V I'iit ( r. San, „■ speaking s«.. V( .|-a| times, ■mil eventually it ua- .Iwid.nl-to contriImte a third of th* cost, tho ivork In 1.0 itani- t„ the satisfaction of the eouulv niginwr.

Mr. 10. A. Marshall ollercd t„ Ml Ihe Ihisli for 21 chains along hi, .\utawa road frontage for £■> »hcn lliri o , vn Imsli was l.oinrr fcllcd.-OflVr accepted. rhc Council decided to slmpon resoliitioii s submitted l lv the Woiicr ('Olllll v C'ori;ifil rclalivc (o timlicr for papa-lnini injr. particulars of which have elrcadv liccn puhlwhed. It was decided to call f,. r f- ■ ~.„. dcrs for the ereetion of n com--, nilvert on the Junction road. The chairman and Crs. O'Sullivan and Julian were appointed a committee lo revise and report upon the gc ral conditions of contract of the Council. Accounts amounting to .CIO9O Is lOil were passed for payment.