EGMONT COUNTY COUNCIL.

Taranaki Daily News, Volume LV, Issue 230, 17 February 1913, Page 7

EGMONT COUNTY COUNCIL.

MONTHLY MEETING. The Egmont County Council met at Opunake on Friday for its usual monthly meeting. There were present: Crs. S. .T. Campbell, E. Maxwell, F. J. Davey, C. 11. Hirst, .las. Burgess, T. Harvey, P. Willoox and Farquahar. In the absence of tha chairman (Cr. W. f. Dudley), Cr. S. J. Campbell was voted to the chair. ENGINEER'S REPORT.

The newly-appointed engineer (Mr. C. A'Court Opie) submitted his initial report. Owing to the limited time, the report was merely a general one. All the contracts in the Rahotu North riding were completed and the roads were now in fair order. The water-tables along the whole length of the road would next be taken in hand. Timber was required for repairing the Waiweranui bridge. Considering the dry weather and the heavy traffic, this length had stood remarkably well. In the Rahotu South riding metalling was in progress, but there bud been a- few days', delay owing to tlie breaking of one of the hanger pins of the crusher. The dry weather had broken the road up badly in places, and the only remedy at present would lie to chip down the rough edge- and (ill in (he breaks as cheaply as possible. lie also reported generally on repairs required in the other ridings. Authority was given to the engineer to get necessary timber for the repair of bridges.

FOREMEN'S REPORTS. Foreman 'Newport (Raliotu Northern) had boon engaged with contracts that were in progress. Tie reported that G. Vickery had completed all contracts in the riding, and lie recommended filial payment on them. He had engaged a team for Winding the metal. Foreman Thos. Humphries (Raliotu Southern) had been engaged repairing the road between "VVaiaua and Tauugatara rivers, and also the Elthani road. J. Munro had completed various contracts. and (I. Vickery was making good progress with his contract. D. F. Leahy had completed his drain contract very satisfactorily. Foreman W. Harris (Oeo Southern) had been engaged principally on the Main South road repairing bridges, etc. Contracts ivere progressing favorably. Three chains of the Skeet road had been picked up.

HOSPITAL .AND CHARITABLE ATD. The Tinier; County Council forwarded a copy of tlie following resolution, which they asked the Council to favorably consider:— "That this Council is of opinion that contributions to the hospital and charitable aid boards should be made from the Consolidated Fund, in lieu of the present system of making levies on local bodies.'' Tn a covering letter, the Bruce county clerk stated that it was thought that owing to the probability of a new Local Government Bill being brought down by the Government next session, the time was opportune to move in the matter.

After a slight, desultory discussion. Cr. Maxwell moved Unit t.lm Council support Hie resolution. There was more in the matter, he contended. than appeared on the surface. The ratepayers who contributed did not derive any honclit from the payment of their hospital rates, because if they made use! of the hospital, thev lu\vo to pay in full for treat incut, and being ratepayers can be sued for the money. On the other hand, the rates lie pays go to make good the deficiency caused by the non-payment of hospital treatment by the drifting population. who may be wasters. That class of people should be a charge on the consolidated revenue, and not aga'inst the local rates. Moreover, under the present system every hospital district endeavored to shunt its charitable aid cases on to the next board, even in some cases paying their fares into another di>- | trict. This was not desirable; in fact, it was not honest. Ratepayers, of course, received no benetfi through cliar- | itable aid. IVrsonallv he did not want ■ ratepayers to shirk their responsibility. but he did-not think they should lie ' locally responsible for ' wasters who | drifted'from district to district and on I whom it was impossible to keep a proper check. If they were a general charge t.liere would be some check against tliem preying on the public purse. Then, again, in regard to defective child-

r veil, I,lie central authorities made l 110 I effort to recover tin' fees for their maintenance from relatives who wore in a position to pay, but merely passed the account on to the local body, which was perhaps thus debarred from recovering it, and so the defectives were a chaise against the rates. If if. came out of tin l general fund, the authorities would perhaps make art effort to recover it. ("r. Campbell seconded Hie motion, as he considered it would save, a lot of trouble.

Cr. Willeox thought that if it c.ame out of the 'Consolidated Fund, the ratepayers would pay indirectly. The larger centre, too, would benefit at the expense of the country districts, where the floating population was comparatively small. Cr. Maxwell: The taxpayer would pay, and that is vastly different to the ratepayer. ' .

I The resolution was carried, Cv. Willcox voting against it. OPUNAKE RAILWAY. Cr. Hirst referred to a letter which appeared iu. the press from Mr. A. Wilkinson re agitating for the Opmiake railway. He thought a resolution from the Council might assist. Cr. Burgess though the Council would be divided on the question. The members at one end would think that if the railways were started at one end it should start simultaneously at the other. Cr. Maxwell thought that it -was a matter for the Railway League, though all would favor the railway being brought to Opunake as quickly as possible. He did not think there would be any antagonism over the route. The south should help the north, arid, the north the south. Undoubtedly the southern end had the better claim to first consideration, but that was no reason why the southern members should not assist the north.

Other members deprecated the route question being introduced. No action was taken, but a deputation will wait on the Premier when lie visits Taranaki. GENERAL. The Lands Department notified that, it was intended to discontinue the practice of supplying monthly schedules of land sold, etc. The engineer was instructed to give an estimate of the cost of replacing the small bridge near Mr. Maxwell's with a concrete culvert. Cr. Will cox gave notice of motion that the charge of 12s fid per trip levied on traction engines carting along the Main South road be rescinded. The District Road Engineer (Mr. G. T. Murray) asked the Council if contracts were in hand for the expenditure of the Government grants, viz., £93 on the Okalui road. (Ngariki-Ncwall) and Wiremil road (Iliaia-Ngariki), £IOO. Paiticulars are to be forwarded, a*d it was resolved to apply for any available grants. The various foremeii are to be notified of the overseer's appointment. G. Keheley asked for final payment on contract for the supply of metal, Auroa road. He pointed out that he might have to wait twelve months before the metal was broken. —The engineer is to report on the matter. It was resolved to draw tlie attention of the Noxious Weeds Inspector to the weeds growing along the roads in various places. • The Treasury Department notified payment of 2s Gd to the Council s account, being fines collected at Opunake Court during the quarter ending September 30, 1012. . Mr. Rutherford (Waverley) wrote offering £5 for the right to cut flax along the county roads during the next twelve months. —The Council to ask £lO for the flax. . It was resolved to pay the Waimate West County Council the balance of the money due on the Oeo road. Accounts amounting to £1433 10s /d were passed for payment.