COUNTY COUNCIL.

Bay of Plenty Times, Volume XLIV, Issue 6506, 6 October 1915, Page 4

COUNTY COUNCIL.

MONTHLY MEETING.

The monthly meeting of the Tauranga County Council was held yesterday. Present: Councillors H. Southey (in the chair), G. V. Stewart, J. Hume, T. Lochhead, C. Lally, W. J. Griflin, T. P. Lemon, h. J. Matthews, and J. B. Stevenson. Rating: of Islands. The Thames County Council advised that it has included in its rating area an i-land named Slipper Inland, which is situated about 1 3-2 miles from the mainland. This island contains 462 acr:s, and the owner pays rates to the Council. In the exemptions under the Rating Act there is no mention of islands being excluded from rating.— Received. Owners of Sections. The Valuation Department. Auckland, wrote stating that enquiries had been made at the Crown Lands Office re tecti'ons 227, 231 and 235, Te Puna district. Lot 3 2-31 and 233 were taken up by E. Butt, but only held for a short while and then forfeited. No. 235 is still unoccupied and No. 227 is held by P. J. Jenson, of Tikokino. It was stated that previous to the receipt of the Council's letter the Valuation Office was not advised regarding the above dealings by the Crown Lands Department.-—Received. 1 A Te Puna Road, i Mr A. Thomson, Te Puna, wrote l drawing attention to the necessity to repair and improve the road leading to Pa Karana and adjacent sections. He said it is essential that earth be carted on to the swamp to raise and round it up a little. The embankments also require, earth carted on to them for the same purpose. Cr Lochhead said be thought the grader could do the greater part of the worH. It was decided to have the road improved when the grader reaches the locality. Rating Questions. Mr T. H. Smith, Paengaroa, wrote at length in regard to rates on property at Maungarangi and requested that certain corrections he made. The Clerk said he bad not received notice of any transfers and Mr Smith's name was still on the roll. —The question of furnishing a reply was left in the hands of the clerk. Messrs Hesketh and Richmond, solicitors, Auckland, wrote in regard to rates on property at Omokoroa. A guarantee that the rates would be paid was also forwarded and accepted by the Council. Mr W. M. Jackson, solicitor, Waihi, wrote regarding rates clue on Illingworth'a property, Katikati, and asked would the Council, if requested, sell the property for non-payment of rates. It was decided to take the necessary steps to sell the property under the Rating Act. Motor Regulation Act. The Department of Internal Affairs forwarded an extract from the Gazette containing an Order in Council amending regulations under the Motor Regulatin Act, 1908.— Received. Access to Land. A memorandum from Hon. W. Fraser, Minister of Public Works, to Hon. VV. H. Herries wa9 read concerning road access to Mr A. Pinker's property, Maketu. The former Minister stated: "I find that Mr Pinker obtained a piece of land from the natives some years ago without proper road access, and to reach the same he has .now to pas,s through a number ..of native holding. Tbe provision of accesa to land so situated is certainly not a matter for the Government to undertake and I regret lam unable to assist/—-The ! Clerk intimated that he had notified Mr Pinker accordingly. Drainage Obstructions. Mr T. A. Waldrom, Paengaroa, wrote requesting the Council to take the necessary steps to remove the obstructions from the watercourse or drain between sections 17 and 24, Block 8, Maketu, Survey District, the obstructions having caused damage to his property. The matter was referred to the supervisor with power to act. • Whakamarama Road, Mr W. H. Norton, Director cf the Whakamarama Land and Timber Co., Ltd., wrote drawing attention to the very bad state of tbe road leading to the Whakamarama Settlement, more especially the part nearest to the mill. In addition to the necessity of the road being attended to, Mr Norton asked the Council to erect a small bridge over the Te Puna Creek on the road leading through the Company's property. He also said that the rates from the district amount to a considerable sum, the Company's contributions being over £150 per annum. Cr Stewart said he thought they should give the Company every pos- i sible assistance. Mr Gray advised thatjhe had made arrangements for the grader to be put on the road. No further action was taken. Wairoa Keserve. The Clerk intimated that Mr H. Petersen had ottered to lease tho landing reserve on the eastern eide of the Wairoa river at £2 per annum, from year to year.—Agreed to. (Continued on Pago (} )