EGMONT COUNTY COUNCIL.

Taranaki Daily News, Volume LVI, Issue 268, 11 April 1914, Page 7

EGMONT COUNTY COUNCIL.

MONTHLY MEETING. The ordinary meeting of the Egmont County Council was held at Opunake on Thursday, when there were present: —Crs. W. C. Dudley (chairman), E. Maxwell. S. Campbell, S. H. Hurst, 11. J. Farquhar, F. J. Davy, and P. Willcox.

'ENGINEER'S REPORT. The Engineer (Mr C. A'Court Opie) reported as follows: Oeo Riding, Northern.—Tate Bros, have completed their contract, putting out altogether 910 yard*.. As soon as ithe permanent hands were free from contract work a start was immediately made with the renewing of several culverts throughout this riding previously authorised. He arranged with Tate Bros, to cart 30 yards of boulder-stone on to Oeo Road, above Eltham Road, to replace a similar amount, of broken metal which had been used to repair the Eltham Road last winter. Good progress had been made with putting out boulder-stone on the Opunake-Stratford and Auroa and a start had also been made'with the breaking of this metal by hand. He recommended that the Auroa Road ,be broken right up from Joyce's to the Eltham Road, knapped over and repaired,- relaid, and rolled next season, as far as funds would permit. Oeo Riding, Southern —Contract work had claimed the attention of the permanent hands since last meeting. Messrs. Faulkner and Barlow had made good progress with their contract, and Mr E. Davidson had also practically completed his eontract. He had arranged with the latter contractor to cart 100 yards or so of pit metal on to the Puketapu Road as soon a* possible. Rahotu Riding, Southern—Hiekey had completed his Eltham Road contract. ■Since then, beyond raking in the metal, the permanent hands had been busy replacing culverts and opening -up side r drains along the worst places of the Eltham and Main South Roads.

Rahotu Riding, Northern—A start was made with the contracts at Warea on March 10, and Jamss Hickey had completed one of his crushed boulder-stone contracts, and had the other one at Puniho about half finished. Tate Bros, liad shifted out to Warea to get their pit stripped ready for the crushing plant, and it was hoped to have this contract started by about Thursday next. When Tate Bros., had finished .their contracts it was anticipated the main road from Rahotu northwards would be in thoroughly good repair. General.—The roller had been kept busy up to a week ago scarifying and rolling on the Main South Road contracts at Oeo and Pihama, and it was intended to keep it there until these contracts were complete and then start on the Eltham Road at Awatima, working right through this road to Opuuake and then going out to Ptfniho and working-it again. It was only by taking the roads in rotation and completing them as they went on that finality of work would be arrived at. He regretted to report that, owing to the severe illness of Driver Collins it would be necessary to obtain the services of another driver for the roller meanwhile. The Engineer was directed to report monthly as to whether the'ranger was attending to his duties. The Engineer was authorised to make arrangements for a temporary roller driver.

ACCESS REQUIRED. ■ Mr E. ,T. Davis wrote offering to pay three years' rates in advance (£10), to enable the Council to complete a drain on the Oeo Road, so that he could get his cattle to his section through " a swamp. The Council had asked him to pay f for £ subsidy towards the completion of this, but he regretted that lie was unable to do so, as he was onlv a working man struggling to do the best he could. .

Councillors were of opinion that it would be illegal to accept payment of rates in advance, though they recognised that the man had no access. Some discussion ensued as to the advisability of advancing the settler £lO, on condition tlmt"lu! did-£2O worth of work.

Cr. Hirst .thought the Council should adhere to its original resolution. Cr.'Davy saw no reason why this settler should be. treated different from others

Cr. Willeox remarked that people taking up cheap land should be prepared'to help themselves to obtain access. They should remember that they had the use of the lower portions of the metalled road. • - ■

Cr. Farquliar thought it was a difl'icult position for the man to be placed in, and he considered the Council should give the man a subsidy to do the work. It was resolved that the Council could not see its way to alter its previous decision.

NATIVE LANDS. Cr. Willeox brought up the question of native laud in the occupation of Europeans that was not paying rates. It was stated that the majority of these would appear in the new valuation now being prepared. Action accordingly was held over.

RILLIARD ROOMS. Renewals of billiard room licenses were granted to G. Dobic aud W. U. Parker (Opunakc). and F. J. iintterwortli was mranted a new license for Opunakc. It was pointed out that the billiard room proprietors at I'ungarehu am! Rahotu had not applied for renewals, and were now, and had been since March 3], unlicensed. It was resolved to draw the attention of Constable Kelly to ihe facC It was also decided that in future all applications for billiard room licenses must be in at the March meeting of tin Council

GEXERAE. T'-ausfor o? the fch<\ighu>i'honsc lie™;* nt Uahotu from Phillip.- Jjros. to A. linker was unproved. The Wanganui Education Board \i r . ; .„ re wool-classing instruction. No acii>a taken. . Mr .las. Rutherford wrote :>!rrcchi:; l„ pay £3 (is Sil additional for a year"- •■:.-- tension of time in which to cut ha:: growinjr on the main roads. Messrs. John Chambers and Son notified that the .Minister had decided to place a sum of money on the Est imat.es to enable duty on road roller.- to be refunded. The amount could not In- paid uiifil the item had pas-ed the Mouse clurin.tr the coming session. The chairman, ('is. Oampbc'i and Farqiiliiir and the clerk were annointed 11, comniittee to meet the Town I'ciard co"nrojttcc to make arrangements for' tlic function in connection with the turn in" of the first sod of tin? Opimake railway. No tenders were received for formation and metalling on the Carringtnu Road. It was.accordingly decided to extend the time, and the chairman and clerk were appointed a committee to dual with, the tenders. The report of the committee appoint-

oil to go hi to tin- question cf jjioviiJiisjr Council chambers \vn* adopted, after being taken in committee.

The clerk (Mr G. W. Rogers) was granted a fortnight's • leave of absence after the May mect.'n'.'.

It was resolved to ascertain if the Council could secure the pound reserve at ffo Kiri in the event of deciding to erect a worker's dwelling under the Act.

Accounts amounting to BU 17s 8d were passed for payment.