WHANGAMOMONA COUNTY.

Taranaki Daily News, 21 September 1922, Page 8

WHANGAMOMONA COUNTY.

MEETING OF COUNCIL. The monthly meeting of the VMliangainiomona County Coupcil was held on Monday. Present: Messrs. N. B. Cleland (chairman), J. McCluggage, K. G. Callaghan, D. Kemp, W. L. Kennedy, J. M. Jones, A. Coxhead, and A. McCutchen. The chairman welcomed the new councillor, Mr. Coxhead, and trusted the good feeling which had existed with his predecessor (Cr. Mackay) would be continued. Cr. Coxhead briefly replied. CORRESPONDENCE. Mr. R. Masters, M.P., re the Public Highways Bill; from the council’s solicitors re heavy traffic on county roads; from the Sir Arthur Pearson Memorial Fund appealing for funds foi the civilian blind; from Mr. H. O’Neil re the closing of road adjacent his section; from Messrs. Sladden and Palmer re Te Wera metal and Marco Road shellrock outcrops ; from the secretary of the Aotuhia Settlers’ Association re the need for cutMng the abundant growth of tutu on the Wlnmga-momona-Wanganui River Road; from the secretary of the Whangamomona Settlers’ Association calling attention to growth of foxgloves on unoccupied Crown lands and the need to prevent flowering. PURANGI ROAD METALLING. A petition was received from Messrs. P. L. Coxhead. D. H. Proffit, F. J. Proffit, M. Proffit. and L. Smith, settlers in the Purangl district. asking for a %d rate to be levied on their properties for the payment of interest itnd principal on the loan for remetaillng the Purangl Road. METALLING WORK. The following tenders for quarrying and stacking 3000 yards of shellrock were submitted: G. Kehely Ils 3d per yard, C. Hodge 8s fid per yard, W. Smith 6s per yard. The tender of W. Smith was accepted, and the matter of making further arrangements, in connection with the delivery of stone at the crusher site was left in the hands of Mr. Sladden. It was decided, on the motion of Cr. Callaghan that the matter of commencing the metalling operations on the Whangamomona Road at the Whangamomona end be left in the hands of the engineer, he to confer with Mr. Ball- and the county chairman. TANGARAKAU GORGE ROAD. Cr. Kennedy moved that Mr. Masters be communicated with re the necessity of getting the road through the Tangarakau Gorge being made accessible for motor traffic. Cr. Coxhead moved an amendment that the approaches thereto be done first, and not the gorge. Cr. D. Kemp seconded. The chairman said he supported the amendment in view of the difficulties in their immediate vicirtity. The ratepayers had a greater claim to good roads and decent access. The ; Kohuratahi Settlers’ Association had already' protested aginst money being spent out of the council’s area. After further discussion the amendment was carried. GENERAL. On the motion of the, chairman, a grast of £lO was made to the funds of the blind Institution. With reference to the deviation of the main road at Te W’era. the chainman said he considered tlje, council had given Mr. O’N.eil every latitude in the matter of closing the road adjacent to his property. He moved that the council adhere to its original proposal’re the closing that portion of the road.—Carried. The matter of sending out explosives to the contractors- was left Jn the clerk’s hands. Mr. Sumer Hayes’ request for assistance in opening a .drain was .left in the hands, c? the working foreman. Mr. Wilton was granted the use of about 1U acres of land, abutting on his property on the Prospect Road, at a yearly rental of 10s. The chairman and Cr. Callaghan were appointed a committee to consider the Te Wera shellrock for reading purposes. The surfacemen are to be instructed to out tutu at the proper time of the year. Tn connection with fl communication as to weeds in. the it was decided that a copy of the letter received be sent to the inspector Cf noxious - weeds, asking him to keep an eye on lands infested therewith. Tn response to a petition front Purangl settlers asking for a subsidy of %d for a Iran of .£lOO for necessary work on their road, the request was granted. The matter cf raising the loan is to be held over. Ratepayers whose rates are unpaid are to be given a final notice re arrears. Cr. Kennedy, in moving that the wages of surfacemen be reduced by a shilling a day, pointed <Ttn that the council were going in for a foreman and they could not do so if they did not economise. The motion was carTl It was decided to call for tenders for 250 yards of metal for the Brewer Road, tenders to close at the next meeting of the council. Various councillors reported on their rld4fter seme discussion, in which the cha.r- . man pointed out that the Important work they were taking in hand needed the services of a ' qualified foreman, who' wouhl save the council pounds, the motion by. Cr. McCluggage to appoint a foreman was carried, Cr. Callaghan speaking against the ’ proposal. Mr. W. Tolfcr ’ was then appointed to the position at £2ao 1 per annum and horse -allowance i It was resolved that there be two members each for the Strathmore, Central, and Tahora Tilings, and one for Puhuluira. ' The tender of J. N Carrell for the ling of the Prospect Road bridge for £j-l was T accepted. R. Smith’s tender being £27. 1 The recommendations of the finance committee were adopted. _ After the surfacemen's reports were .eaa and dealt with the council rose.