AKITIO COUNTY COUNCIL.

Wairarapa Age, Volume XXV, Issue 10713, 9 July 1913, Page 6

AKITIO COUNTY COUNCIL.

MONTHLY MEETING. (Pahiatua Herald.) The monthly meeting of the Akitio County Council was held at Pongaroa on Saturday. There were presenters. R. B. Robertson (chairman), J. W Murray, H. T. EUingham and M. Ferrick. ' Crs. W. Burling, P. V. Smith and A. Dickins were absent from the district. The overseer, Mr J. H. Berry, re- / ported as follows: Glenora Road.—This road is in a very satisfactory condition and culverts are being placed in position out of loan moneys. Abitio Bridge.—The contractor is making satisfactory progress with this work.* A quantity of material from Wellington is on- the site. Retaining Wall at Akitio.—Contract 187. J. Martin. During the past month the contractor, has been making better progress than previously. . _, , 'Beach Road at Akitio.—The work authorised at last meeting has been carried out, fascines and metal having been put on the bad. portions of the r-"d. . A -blip at top of Hill, Waiotiaki.— willows havo been carted,to the Waiotiaki slip, and are now being planted fttrd put into position at the bottom of the gully. Sugar Lonf Road.—The rond is cutting up badly in places where culverts were placed in position. ITiave given instructions to have the worst places fascined. Waiowaka Road. Deviation of Creek.—The Waiowaka-road w as visited in company with the County Chairman and Mr Larsen, the owner of the property concerned, and the proposed deviation was laid out satisfactory to' all parties. The work will be proceeded with .immediately. . Pongaroa-Masterton Road. The portion of the' road near the Masterton boundary is being widqnecr and : prepared for metalling contract works. Culverts have been> ed to. niid willows cut for r>lanting.< Makuri-Pongaroa jlbad. portion of this .mad where .metatj : <m obtainable have been repaired: and metalling will be proceeded with on the other portion .of the road when the weather permits. Karaka Contract.—The contractors are spawling metal readv for sending doM'n when the aerial plant is erected. The aerial, when completed, will cost £625. BRIDGE PLANS.

I The district engineer, Mr J. D. pouchy wrote asking the Council to supplv the usual plan and sections of the Maraihananga bridge site in order that.the plans of be prepared.- -The letter /&\&o -stated, thatri&e fqr ; \jlw K "MftrigaKew'a;! bridge ,"pn roacr- 1 were; in. 'hand, "■ and wbtild be forwarded as soon as completed. The overseer was instructed to> forward requirements. WINTER BY-LAWS.

■ The Minister of Internal Affairs notified that the Akitio Council's 1912 winter by-laws had been approved and confirmed. . COUNTRY itOADS. The Public Works Department, notified that the Marainanga and W'ajb*-. akura roads had been gazetted country roads. , The chairman remarked that the Couiidl had not received a refund for work done on t-h a Waioakura road. Cr J. W. Murray also stated that the Marainanea-rond was not in good order, and he thought the Department should put the road in good i\pair before the Council took it over. It was resolved to notify the n f these facts. • THE £2B.OQy LOAN, tile New Zealand State AdvMcefl Department wrote, asking the Council when the balance of the £23,000 loan would be required. The information was- required in order that the Minister for Finance could make provision for advancing the 'money. There were a a number of applicants for loans. The clerk stated "that; £14,000 had already been drawn. Ijfc ., was decided t» apoly for £7OOO in December next, This will leave a balance of £7OOO to be drawn a"t a later date. ' RATES.

It was decided to strike a" eeheral ■rate of 3d in the £ on the unimproved rateable value of property in the Akitio County; also the following special rates: Loan in the £ on* special ratine area, ; ,Huia-r.oad; loan 2. 3d in the £ on special ratinpc area, Waihi-Akitio road: loans 3 and 5. l-5d in the £ over the whole county; loan 4, 3d in the £ to pav interest and principal on £14.000 (balance of £28,000 loan) to be levied over a special ratine area. -MAIN, ROAD. MAINTENANCE. ~. The Pahiatua County Council wrote asking the Council fca pas* for paymerit tnp contribution for th? maifl> tehAnce of the Makuri-Poiifartfa fd&d without prejudice to Mr Short 3 decision. The chairman"{tffttea tnP.t the conference between the Pahiatua and Akitio County Councils arid Mr Short relative to the upkeep of the road in question had not yet been held, but he expected it would take pla«e about the end of the present month. The amount qf the contribution- was £250, and he suggested making a, payment of £2OO on account. The other coimcillors present agreed with the chair- ! man's suggestion, and a motion to that effect was carried without adisi sentient. '"' GENERAL. Mr Jaiil os McGrath; who recently met with all accident while in the Council's employ claimed a sum

of £SO a 9 full compensation for sick pav, hospital costs and loss to teeth. It "was agreed to pay the sum asked, and to draw up an agreement to be signed by the Council and Mr McGrath. _ * The Lands and Survey Department, Wellington, forwarded two tracings and schedules of the Glenora-rbad deviation, which had been duly approved under "The Land Act," The Castlepoint County. Council ! [ wrote asking the Council for the year- •> ly ■ contribution of £lO towards the 1 maintenance of the Tinui-Pakowni track, and also requesting the Council to renew the grant for the ensuing year.—Granted. The Horowhenua County Council ,forwarded a circular letter, asking the Council to support resolutions, giving county and borough council; power to appoint representatives o.■ Hospital and Charitable Aid and. Harbour Boards.—Approved. The Pahiatya Council notified that the Makuri-road near, the top of the IPuketois had been repaired.—Received. \ - The Justice Department, Wellington, acknowledged receipt of a coml plaint ,made by the Council regard--ing decisions given -jin county by-law cases recently. ' The Department stated that, the matter would receive careful consideration. —Received. Mr T. Biggar, formerly carrying contractor to the Council, waited on .the Council in connection with the termination of contract, and asked that the deposit monev he returned to him. After a short, discussion it was decided ;riot to entertain Mr BiEgar's proposal. The Postal Department. -Wellington, wrote stating that the -Council's share of the deficiency,on the Mangatiti and Puketoi telephone working j was one-third. The original agreement was that the Council should con*-* tribute one-half of . the deficiency. The Council's contribution for, the,;, past year under the arrangement wap ! £6 7s lid,. Councillors considered thjft/i l reduction made byY the Departmgitt\ was satisfactory. t , \ /;: i HioA-Te Aw&ihutu Countv Council forwarded a circular letter askina - rfchat body with reference to the dan- ■. gerous state of level railway crossings -and-suggesting that better danger erected. Cr Ellingham thought 'that in the majority 6? cases . private individuals were to blame in many a&tlents. O Murray said it seemed as if the Railway Department' was being harassed. The letter'was received. v • • . , A circular,-letter was received from the Kahia County Council embodying a proposal to urge the Govern-ment-to make provision for road access to, native lands when fresh blocks were being opened up.—The proposal was sunported by councillors. : Mr. T. ParW, Makuri, was granted, 'permission to cut- firewoftd ottv a ' small length of road near the saddle : -' :of v the Puketoi. range, - -' v! ; t':: .:/:"•'•'-''.' \ I Mi' i asking for a of the winter | by-laws, relative to driving two horses attached to his butcher's cart.—-Tt wa» decided to inform Mr Meech, that even under the special circumstances stated, the Council regretted it could not grant the concession. A renewal of a slaughter-houso licenpe was granted to Mr F. A: M*rch, of Pongamn. •■» JVIr .Tame*; ■ Wrifht, Rakanmii.* ..wr>te requestifiqr the Council to effect:. ■ 'W>nn;rs to tlie v Maniratiti-road.—To bo left to the overseer to attend to as soon a« weather permitted. Mr H. Gilford wrote offering £1 per annum for the rijrht to graze the j i?.°Brve on the Puketoi range.—Left to to make inquiries.