EGMONT COUNTY COUNCIL.

Taranaki Daily News, Volume LIV, Issue 102, 20 October 1911, Page 7

EGMONT COUNTY COUNCIL.

I The ordinary montlily meeting of Uic iEgmont Comity Council was lielcl on Friday lust. Present: Crs. Dudley (chair man), Campbell, Hurst, Young, Harvey, Farqnlmr, Macßeynolds and Willcox. An apology for absence was received from Cr. Maxwell. ' In reply to (lie Council's request the Bank of Australasia and the Union Bank wrote stating that they did not at present intend to establish a branch at Opatiikc. On the motion of the chairman and Cr. Hurst, it was decided that as no two replies re by-laws are in accordance this Council take no further action. The councillors considered that their own bylaws would suffice. OPUXAKE HIDING. The foreman, on enquiry, was authorised to engage casual hands at lis per day. The requirements of maintenance work as reported on by the foreman at the September meeting and held over for the committee's report, was considered. The eimimittee reported that the worst places had been picked out by the foreman and had recommended that as much gravel as could be got out of Morris' pit and carted both ends and only sufficient stone be obtained for bare maintenance. —Agreed to. 'Foreman F. Newport reported:—ln laying off my new work for this summer I find that I shall require the following quantities of metal for renewing various parts of the Main South road between Oaonui and Puniho, in the Northern Rahotu riding—Oka.hu river f'h'ds boulder stone; Coffee's pit, duO \ -i of pit metal; county pit, by (<. 'I ylor's, 400 yds pit metal; Keasberry's ] , Oipe road, SOflOyds pit meal; Wtfiw lanui river, at Warea, oOOyds boulder stone; Puniho river, 800 yds boulder stone.

Cr. Willcox thought there would be a considerable saving in expenditure by putting the crusher into the pits and putting the stone through the crusher. Cr. Harvey did not think the best results were obtained by putting the crusher into the pits. There was too much waste in the stone, and considerable quantities of it were blown off the roads by the wind. He moved that Crs. Willcox, Harvey and the mover be a committee to confer with the foreman and report.—Seconded by Cr. Young. Cr. Farquhar moved as an amendment that the Council decide . to-day the amount of money to be spent. < They had made a reduction in the other ridings. Cr. Mat-Reynolds: If Cr. Farquhar can tell us where the reduction can be made I would be prepared to withdraw the resolution. Cr. Campbell suggested that it be cut down to £llOO. The total amount asked for was £I4OO. Cr. Farquhar said ever since the Council had been in existence the overdraft had been spent at the northern end, and the amount should be limited. He spoke of the putting back of work by the Council (yet he was sorry to say not in the best interests of the ratepayers) where the crusher could do the work in the one trip. In reply to the chairman, he said he was agreeable that the amount to be expended should not exceed £I2OO. Cr. Hurst: We want to leave the Council with assurance to our successors that the overdraft of the northern end be reduced. Cr. Maeßeynolds said that was the object of the committee. From the outset lie maintained that the amount should be reduced, but they must know where it is to be reduced.

The motion was agreed to with the addition, that the Council was of opinion that the amount of expenditure asked for should be reduced. FINANCIAL. The clerk read the annual statement of the ridings, which showed the northern end of the county debited £1543; southern credit £U2S. 'Die chairman said lie was sorry to see th.it the northern end had gone from bad to worse and had not made any reduction in the overdraft as it agreed to do. C'r. Willcox saw no reason for the other end to be dubious, as the interest was paid on it by the northern end. The chairman .said it was not a fair deal, as the northern end members agraj to reduce the overdraft down to

* Or. Fuquhar considered the position itiif.'.ir. as ever since the Council had been in existence the overdraft on tne. Rahotu end has gone up steadily and he did not know where it would land them. Cr. Willcox believed the position would be better next season than hitherto, as the roads would be in better order and the upkeep not so great. The chairman: But there is a big request in from the northern end to-day for piinintenanee material. Cr. Harvey believed the value was there in good roads. C'r. Campbell said the road was best up at the northern end. The chairman was of opinion that there was nothing for it but to go in for a loan or raise the rates. Cr. AlaeUeynolds, seeing he was opposed to any increase of the overdraft, brought up the question of raising money cheap by debentures or from the State Caaniutced Fund.