COUNTY COUNCIL.

Bay of Plenty Times, Volume XL, Issue 5790, 3 April 1912, Page 5

COUNTY COUNCIL.

MONTHLY MEETING.

The monthly meeting of the Tauranga County Council was held yesterday, Present—Councillora D. J. McEwen (in the chair), E. J. Matthews, W. J. Griffin, M. Spence. T. P. Lemon, H. Southey, J. B. Steventon, W. J. Gray and G. V. Stewart. —Government Grants — Mr J. Hannah, resident engineer, forwarded a schedule showing the authorities and balances of authorities in the hand 3 of the Council at March 31st last, and requested the Council to supply information re amount of liabilities in connection with Fame.--Left in the hands of the engineer. —Haulage of Timber — Mr F. W. Stembridge. Mamaku, wrote stating he desires to haul timber from Manamaha to Matata, and he finds that bridges will require strengthening. Ifc was stated that the road was in the Whakatane County, and it was decided to refer the letter to that Council. jV Paengaroa Request Mr G. H. Mends, Paengaroa. wrote requesting that road leading to section 10, Block VIII., M.S.D., be made available to vehicular traffic. He pointed out that- a cutting requires to be made on a small hil>, which at piesent, owing to its steep incline, is not negotiable. It was decided that Cr Griffin inspect and report on tbe matter. Weekly Half-holiday--*

The Minister for Labor forwarded an extract from the Gazette, setting out the statutory closing-day for shops as under: —Katikati Road District, Wednesday; Te Puke Road District and County of Tauranga, Thursday. —Mr Herries' Absence — MrW. H. Herries, M.P., forwarded a letter stating that he was leaving for England and that during his absence Mr J. A. Young, M.P. for Waikato, ha • eoiisented to take charge of all business which may be entrusted to him by the electors of the Tauranga district. —Legion of Frontiersmen — Mr B G. Mahoney, Tuparoa, wrote on behalf of the Legion of Frontier - men, and asked to be supplied 'with the names of gentlemen likely to be patriotic and' interested enough to assist the Legion. Cr. Stewart moved, That the Coun • cil expre.-.s its appreciation of the League's efforts and accord the organisation its moral assistance.-Seconded by Cr. Gray and carried. .—A Sket b Wanted—

Mr C. Vagg, Pongakawa, wrote asking for a sketch of his property in-that district, as he was anxious to know,, the chainage of his boundaries. It was decided to l'eply that the Council is unable to supply the information. --Papamoa Matters Mr L. G. Hurse secretary of the Papamoa Progressive Society, wrote drawing attention to the dangerous state of the culvert on road opposite the Papamoa School, and suggested that it be lengthened or have side rails provided. He also stated that the water-trough at the Long Swamp want? renewing and protecting.

Messrs F. A. Turner and W. MeLeod, Papamoa. wrote requesting the Council to lower the pipe culvert near the school at Papamoa about 18 inches, to facilitate the draining of the swamp above and prevent the water being backed up; also, to allow the drain to be lowered below.

It was decided that the matter of providing a new trough at the Long Swamp be left in the hands of the surfaceman, and that the culvert beattended, to as requested by Messrs Turner and McLeod. —Removal of StoneMr R. A. Dowell, Te Puke, wrote asking permission to take about four yards of stone from Williams' quarry. The request was granted, subject to the Engineer's approval. —Bethlehem RoadThe Yerex Company forwarded an account for £3 10a for work carried out on tbe .Bethlehem-road about six months ago.—Referred to the Waimapu Separate Rate Committee, —A Drainage QuestionMr J. A. M. Davidson, Te Puna, wrote stating he would be glad to know when the Council proposes to drain the lake formed by them at his front gate. Cr. Spence intimated that the Te Puna Separate Rate Committee had given instructions to have the matter attended to.

—Surfacemen — The sub-commitee appointed to deal with applications for surfacemen sub mitted a report recommending the appointment of G. Earl for Te Puna Riding and G. Lazenby for Waimapu Riding. Cr. Spence moved, That Mr Earl be appointed surfaceman for Te Puna Riding at 8s per day.—Seconded by Cr. Stewart and carried. Captain Turner reported that Mr Fielding had not resigned from the Council's service in the Waimapu Riding. The Council decided to employ Mr Lazenby and also to retain Mr Fielding. Ruahihi Deviation-

lie deviation at Ruahihi Bridge, Cr. Spence reported that the road was taken through Maori lands, and that no compensation has been paid for it. He is unable to give any information regarding the owners of the land or j the area of same. j --Drinking Trough— j Captain Turner submitted a special j report relative to the drinking trough j in the Hikurangi Gorge. He stated \ that the stream dries up in summer. There is another stream of good water not far from mile-post 34. This would ! require 70ft. of fin. piping, the cost ;of supplying and installing which would be about £4.

It was decided to adjourn tho matter till next meeting, Cr. Stewart to see if the Katikati Road Board will contribute to the cost. —Tc Puke-Ngvwaro RoadCaptain Turner requested the Council to move the Te Puke Road Board to place £30 to the credit of the Council

\at an early date, being the subsidy | granted by the former body towards I the improvement of the above road. ! Otherwise, said the engineer, the I w-ork will have to stop when the Government vote is exhausted. The Chairman intimated that the request would be attended to. -Watford's Road Mr G. Dun ton forwarded an account for £5, for clearing, ploughing, harrowing and forming Walford's-road. In connection with the matter it was stated that an agreement had been signed, setting out that Mr Earl was responsible for work on the road Cr. Spence said that Mr Earl did not consider he was responsible for the work, and the ex-County Chairman wv.s of the same opinion as Mr Earl. Cr. Spence* considered that in equity Mr Earl was not responsible. Jt was decided that Mr Dunton's account be paid, and charged up to MiEar I. Advertising - Mr T. li. Wilson,, proprietor of the To Puke Timet*, wrote askiuj^ for :*. share of the Councils advertising. The request was acceded to. -'-Burial of a Dead Horse--An account for IO? was received from Mr E. Lcgg for burying a horse. The account was not accompanied hy a certificate and was deferred to enable enquiry to be made. Separate Rate Committees The minutes of the meeting of the Te Puna and Waimapu Separate Rate Committees,. held on Saturday la-1. were read. Cr. Spence said that Mr S. Norris wa* anxious to have transfer of road to him at Whakamarama completed. He moved, That the transfer of the road he agreed to, that Mr Norris be given the old road for the new* road, that possession be givi n to him as scon as the survey is made, and that he may use the old road In the meantime. The motion was seconded by Cr. Southey and carried. The two reports were adopted. —Finance—

The financial report was read as der:--To rates received since last, meeting, £1350 17s Id. By cheques issued since last meeting, £360 10s 4*>; balance due Bank of N.Z. General Account, £2304 13s Gd; balance to credit Deposit Tenders Account, £54; balance credit Combined Ridings Loan Account, £416 Os lOd; balance cr-edit County Bridges Loan Account,£ 515 16s 9d.; Balance credit Bridges Fund Account, £259 7s del; balance credit Waimapu Separate Fund Account, £84 18s 3d; balance credit Te Puna Separate Fund Account, £491 8s 9d; balance credit Maketu Separate Fund Account, £271 8s 3d; balance credit Te Puke Outlying Fund Account, .£ll 17s od. Riding Accounts.—Katikati Riding, dr., £282 Is 9d; Te Puna Riding, cr., £442 19s 4(1; Waimapu Riding, cr. £280 10s Id; Te Puke Riding, cr., £56 12s 10d; Maketu Riding, cr., £425 18s 7d. —-Accounts — The following accounts were passed for payment:--Waimapu Riding, £5 6s; Te Puna Riding, £8 15s; Te Puke Riding, £43 14s 6d; Maketu Riding, £22 12s; Katikati Riding, £21 4s; Te Puke-Nga-waro road,. £26* 4s J Faulkner's-road, £13; Thirds (Maketu Riding), £10 10s d; Waimapu Separate Rate, 16s; Combined Metal Loan, £22 18s; road grader, £106; Publicans' Licenses Account, £3 Cs 6d; dog registration, £1 7d6d; telephone fee, &% 10s; election of Licensing Committee, £72 15a 7d, —General —

Cr. Spence moved that the matter of suing Natives, for rates be left in the hands of Mr Sharp.--Seconded by Cr. Southey and carried. Cr. Spence asked if the County Council was .supposed to give effect to the recommendations of the Separate Rate Committees, and councillors agreed that the Council was the executive body. On the motion of Cr. Southey, it was decided to hire the road scoop to Mr Tollemache, payment to be left in the hands of the engineer. Cr. Matthews moved, That the Chief Surveyor be requested to instruct Messrs Page and Stubbing, who are now surveying Paengaroa No. 1 South, to survey the deviation of the road through this Block where it has been deviated from the original road line.---Seconded by Cr. McEwen and carried. Cr. Stewart asked that the Katikati Road Board should be allowed the use of the old grader, and it was agreed to comply with jiia request as soon as general repairs have been effected, and new wheels provided for the machine.