OTAMATEA COUNTY COUNCIL.

Auckland Star, Volume XL, Issue 137, 10 June 1909, Page 7

OTAMATEA COUNTY COUNCIL.

TliißjEE HALVES. (From Our Own Correspondent.) DABGAVILLE, this day. At the monthly meeting of the Otamatea County Council, held at Paparoa the Engineer reported that lie had priced in Auckland hard wood piles necessary to effect repairs to the Pahi wharf, but he had found the price excessive. He was now in communication with the Northern Wairoa Timber Company. A reply was received frora the County solicitors stating that in their opinion the Council had a claim against the Land Board for those timber halves which had been approved by the Board, and partly expended by the Council, in anticipation of the sums so approved being paid into the County Xund In advising the Council to take action they looked upon the matter as a test case. A letter was also received from the Commissioner for Crown lands conveying a resolution passed by the Board on 25th February, to the effect that the Otamatea County Council be advised that on account of legal difficulties raised by the Department, the halves from Butler Bros." timber already paid, have been paid illegally, and that they are now to be recovered. Also tliat in future no halves will be allowed on any moneys derived from this particular sale o£ timber to Bntier Bros. On the motion of Mr Hunt, seconded by Mr McCarroll, It was decided that the county solicitors be Instructed to inform the Land Board that unless the amount of those allocations -approved by the Land Board, and expected by the Council, are handed over forthwith, action will be taken to recover sam«; also, in the event of the Land Board refusing to concede to this Council's demands, the County solicitors be instructed to put in motion the necessary machinery to bring forward a test ease with regard to the ownership of the halves In dispute, and derived from Crown timber sold to Butler Bros., of Raupo.

Mr Harris reported that h.e had Inspected the landing reserve at Paparoa, and strongiy recommended that in no way should the standing bush be interfered with or destroyed. Sr Skelton was given first refusal of a lease of this reserve In return for keeping ail noxious weeds cut down, the standing bush to remain untouched.

On the motion of Mr Hunt, it was decided that the Government be urged to hand over more expeditiously the money for those grants, which have been expended by the Council, In order that contractors may be settled with; also that the Chairman of the llatakohe Road Board be requested to make special application for the payment of those grani* which have been expended by -the Council on their behalf. It is reported that the North Auckland Hospital and Charitable Aid Board had decided to increase the charitable aid rate to one farthing in the pound for the current year, in order to meet the demand made- on the Board's finance. Dr. Dukes reported three cases of infections diseases In Paparoa. "With regard to the adjustment of wharfage, it was decided that the matter of reallotting the wharfage, due annually by the Kaipara S.S. Co.. and the amount to be levied on the s.s. Tnlrangi for the future, be deferred until meeting, and In the meantime a sub-committee was set up to consider and prepare the necessary, adjustment preparatory to the next meeting. Tie Finance Committee reported: General account, dr., £1703 0/10; loan fund, cr., £515 2/7. Accounts passed tor payment £205 6/5; amount of accounts met ont of the general account on 'behalf of Government grant now due, £781 15/5.