EGMONT COUNTY COUNCIL.

Taranaki Daily News, 11 June 1919, Page 7

EGMONT COUNTY COUNCIL.

MONTHLY MEETING. , The ordinary meeting of the Egmont County Council was held at Opunake yesterday, when there were present: Crs. W. R. Wright (chairman), A B. Coffin, T. Harvey, T. H. H. Sinclair, W. G. Green, T. A. Rowe, M. O'Brien, and S. Campbell. Cr. Holder was granted leave of absence. ENGINEER'S REPORT. The engineer's report was read and adopted (it will appear in to-morrow's issue). The engineer was instructed to endeavor to find other work for the enginedrivers during the time the plant was laid up for the winter. Aa no further money will be available for bridges for a couple of months, it was resolved to finish two bridges. OKAHU ROAD.

H. H. Sharp, resident road engineer, notified that there was an unexpended balance of the authority held by the council for the construction of the Okahu Road (Newall Road to Ngaruhe Road) amounting to £74, and there was also an unauthorised balance of £4Ol. He asked whether there was any prospect of the council going ahead with the work, how many settlers would receive benefit therefrom, and whether the council considered this an urgent work at the present time. He asked whether the necessary labor could be obtained if the balance of £4Ol was authorised. It was some considerable time since there was any expenditure on the road, £6O being spent by the Egmont Council in 1914, and £23 in 1915-K, but there had been no action by the council since then. 'The clerk stated that some time ago the Government had withdrawn oil grants, stating that they would expend all the money themselves*, and that was the Teason the council had not expended the money.

Cr. O'Brien thought the settlers might be given the opportunity of doing tne work. Labor could be obtained if sufficient wagea: were paid. It 'was resolved to reply that the council.could undertake the expenditure of i the money. In reply to Cr, Green, the chairman stated that he favored carrying out tne work by contract. , The engineer (Mr. Peasi) said that the lesident engineer, informed' him that he fully intended going on with the work of clearing'the Wirenui Road at the Kiri Road end, but the tenders received were so high—just double what it would cost to get it done anywhere else—that he had declined them.

QUESTION OF RIOAD ACCESS.

The Pihama Dairy Company WTote asking for some improvement to he effected to the road, so as to give access to their section at Taufigatau. The clerk pointed out that the road had not been taken over.

Cr. Campbell thought the council should take the road over, as the settlera (five in number) were paying rates.

The chairman suggested obtaining a £ for £ subsidy from the Public Trustee. They must be careful not to create a precedent. Wiremu Road 1 settlers were in the same position. In the course of discussion, it was pointed out that the road was not gazetted. The Public Trustee had cut up a block of Native land, and had laid, off the road to give access. It was resolved that the engineer should report on the road at next meeting. THE OPUNAKE RAILWAY. The Town Board notified that all the members of the Opunake Town Board were appointed a committee to cooperate with the council in urging the Minister of Public Works to push on with the Opunake Railway construction. The chairman stated that when in Wellington he had an .interview with the Minister of Public Works, who was anxious to push on with the work, which he recognised as one of the most important in the Dominion, but it was impossible to get men.

Cr. O'Brien: Wag the question of wages mentioned ? If lie is not prepared to pay wages it is all humbug talking about obtaining men. The chairman: The Minister says that if he paid 15s and got the men farmers would have to pay 15s also. Cr. Green: Wo have to pay that now. HOSPITAL BOARD LEVY. The Taranaki Hospital and Charitable Aid Board notified that the amount payable by the Egmont Countv Council on a valuation of £1,870,42*: would be £1407 6s 7d on the levy of Is Cd per ; £IOO, and £172 0s Id special levy of 2 l-5d in the £IOO.

The chairman stated that he would have to give notice of motion to strike a special rate to cover this levy as it was impossible to pay that amount out of general rates and keep the roads in order too. They were rather inclined to laugh when he said that the Taranaki Hospital Board would be drawing £2OOO pei; annum from this county, but it was quickly creeping up to that amount now. PROPOSED TAR-SEALING LOAN.

In connection with the proposal to raise a loan for tar-sealing purposes, Mr. C. A. Wilkinson, M.P., notified that the limit of loans to local bodies was £IO,OOO per annum, and he was afraid the council would have to get the money outside the Department. The Publio Trustee was a likely source.

The chairman stated that, with Mr. Rogers, ho had visited Wellington, and had waited on Colonel Campbell, the head of the State Advances Department, in order to see if it were possible to boirow more than £IO,OOO in one year. This amount, he pointed out, would be useless, as with the £5600 already borrowed for.bridges it would reduce their limit to £SOOO, which would merely buy two motor wagons and some of the plant and leave very little for tarring the first year. He considered that they should have at least £IB,OOO or £20,000 for the first year or two. Possibly afterwards £IO,OOO per annum would be sufficient. The balance required might be obtained from the Public Trustee, bat the interest would be 5% per cent., as against 4i per cent, from the State Advances Department. Colonel Campbell had, however, promised to consider whether it would be possible to advance them over the limit for the first couple of years, and less thereafter, thus averaging it up. This would overcome the difficulty. With Mr. C. A. Wilkinson, M.P., the chairman said that he had .interviewed Sir William Fraser and asked whether he would grant a subsidy for tar sealing the main road, and the Minister had promised to grant a. subsidy. Continuing, the chairman stated ,that the council would have to ascertain how nraeh of the money would taeggjßfr torfer <«gsei. hm the Eu&UaJ

Trustee, as the increased | per cent, would affect the rates.

Cr. Green thought they would require this mformatioji before .striking the general rate. If the loan was carried they would not require such a high general rate. If they struck a high general rate now ratepayers would not sanction the loan.

Cr. Harvey: Make no mistake the loan will not be carried. I am very proud of the state of our roads. They are as good as tar macadamized. Ctf. O'Brien also oongrattuflated the chairman on the state of tlie roads.

Cr. Green: Are you proud of the overdraft? If we don't raise a loan we can't* carry on and also keep the roads good. The overdraft was creeping up. The chairman pointed out that if they went in for the loan it would be at least 12 months before they got a start With the tar sealing.

Cr. O'Brien pointed out that their overdraft was £13,000, and they must bear in mind that they now had tie Pajihaka Road Board roads to cope with. The chairman said that all recognised the need of tar sealing. Cr. Campbell considered that the raising of the loan should be deferred until after the general rate was struck and they knew where they were. He moved in this direction.

The chairman pointed out that it would be some time before the loans could be placed before ratepayers, and tho general rate would have to be struck first.

GENERAL. Messrs Quickendon Bros, and S. Campbel were granted slaughterhouse licences at Rahotu and Opunake respectively. The secretary of the New Zealand Counties Association notified that, a conference would be held during the forthcoming session of Parliament. Tho appointment of a delegate was deferred._ 'P. R. Fomhain, Tatarahnaka, applied for the position of ranger. The chairman stated that a ranger was very necessary. He had communicated with the applicant, but owing to a hitch in the sale of his farm ho was unable to take up the duties now. , The Opunake Town Board asked for support of the project to erect a memorial to the men of the Egmont County who lost their lives in the service of the Empire, and they also asked that the names of the councillors be added to the committee. Cr. Green considered that the Town Board could go ahead with tho work. The matter was deferred.

The State Advances Department notified that it had resolved to grant the council a loan of £145 for forming and metalling a portion of the Auroa Road between the K?mont National Park and the railway re "rve. The Minister of Internal Affairs forwarded a statement containing a summary of events leading up to the Great War, and suggesting that a portion at least should be read at the peace celebration.

Mr. P. Berge was appointed poundkeeper at Rahotu.

Cr. O'Brien considered that the council would save money by purchasing horses and carts instead of hiring the same. He estimated that there would be a saving of £45 the first year and £BS the second. It was pointed out that the council now owned three of the Parihaka Road Board horses.

The Public Works Department notified payment to the council's account of £350 on account of the Punehu bridge, £ for £.