COUNTY COUNCIL.

Bay of Plenty Times, Volume XLV, Issue 689, 8 August 1917, Page 4

COUNTY COUNCIL.

MONTHLY MEETING.

The monthly meeting of the Tiuringi County Council wis held on Frl <|ty list. Present: Messrs H. Southej (in the chair), J. B. Stevenßon, G. V. Stewart, T. Lochhead, J. Hume, C. Lilly, T. P. Lemon, J.A. Ball, and < B. J. Matthews.

Tshawai Deviation. The Deputy-Superintendent of the Stite Advances Office, Wellington, forwarded plan, in duplicate, in conlection with land for Tehawai Deviation.

Cr Stewart moved—That the Chaifinan Jbe authorieed to sign the plants on behalf of the Council.—Seconded by CrjLemon ard carried. ; > Mining Subsidy. 4 The Under-Secietary of the Mines Department wrote advising that it has been decided to grant Mr Muir a subsidy of £125, being at tbe rate of 5s per foot for 500 ft of driv ing. Payments on account of this subsidy will be made through tbe county fund fon the certificate of the Inspector 1?of Mines Wtihi. Cr Lally moved—That the letter be acknowledged and the Miniate'; thank ■ cd for the subsidy.—Seconded by Cr I Lemon and carried.

Penalty on Rates. Messrs A. J. EntricaiTand Co, Ltd., Auckland, wrote regarding rates on Holmes' property, Katikati, and appiled for "the remission of tbe penalty of 10 per cent It was decided to reply tbat the Council baa no power to remit rates.

Te Matai Koad. Mr Thos. Tanner wrote calling attention to the bad Btate of the road leading to Mr J. Marks' and the writer's farms, and asked that repairs be effected. The supervisor reported that the road had been attended to.

A Pongakawa Road. Mr Harold Bear, Pongskaws, wrote calling attention to the need for repairs on that portion of the road between the turn-off near Mr J. Drabblea'e section, past Mr R. Billing's nate, to the junction of the Tauranga County with Rotorua. Mr Bear stated: "This piece of road nag received very little attention for years past and I shall be glad if you can see your way to effect a few repair?. Mr Bear, in a later letter, stated he had seen Mr Allen (Rotorua overseer) abd the Utter says bis grader is now at work this side of the piece of road referred to. Mr Allen would be willing to do t little work in this county if arrangements were made with him. Cr Ball said he thought a day's work I would luffice to effect necessary repairs. It was'resolved to offer Mr Bear 10s to put the road in repair. Culvert Asked For. - Major W. A. Bennett wrote stating: "The water is backed up on my land situated at ttte deviation between the Long Swamp ard Te Puke. This would fee obviated if the County Council would place a email culvert in the lowest portion of the road near the bridge and enable the water to get away; ks at present the rrad dams the water." He pointed out that his land and the road are suffering damnge.

After .bearing Mr Gray in regard to the matter the Counx:il decided to receive the letter.

Hikurangi Gorge Road. Ho/i. VV. Fraser, Minister of Public Works, wrcte: "The Hon. Mr Henries referred to me your letter of May I last, in which you stated that the portion of the main Waihi-Taur*inga Rot.d through the Hikurangi Gorge was in a very bed state of repair on account of the railway construction works. I have had the road examined by the Resident Engineer at Taurangß, who report that there has -not ".been any heavy traffic over it in connection with the railway condUuetion woikß since December, 1915, when the Departuhsnt placed the three miles affected in complete repair and aho metalled , two deviations rendered necensary by the railway, Mr Hannah further reports that «xcept for some luta which are in no instance more than six inches deep, the road through the Gorge is in fairly gocd order. A number of the ruts had been filled with rough metal which had not been blit.ded, with the consequence that a considerable amount of it was displaced.by the first vehicle passing over it. Mr Hannah understands that the Council has recently expended £80 on the road and expresses the opinion that a further expenditure of about |30 in. clearing out watertablee, inaerting one set of 9 inch pipea and blinding new patches of metal would improve the road considerably] aid make it fit to carry traffic all through the winter. As, however, no damage has apparently teen caused recently by- railway construction cartage or traffic there does not appear to bejany reason why the Public Works Department should make any contribution towards the coat of the work already carried out or the additional improve ments recommended by the Resident Engineer. The Resident Engineer hue expended 9 few pounds on improvements at an overhead bridge crossing,' which he noticed on hi* inspection of the road had not been finished in accordance with bis instructions." Cr Stewart argued that the repaira effected by the Department were inadequate. On the motion of the Chairman, seconded by Cr Lemon, it w»b decided that the matter of replying be left in thehauds of Cr Stewart. Proposed Roads Connection.

Mr Id. L. Vercoe, Rangiuru, wrote aa follows: "I am writing at the request of the surrounding settlers to ask your Council's assistance in having something done as regards the connection of the Rangiuru Road with the Te Matai Road at the edge of the bush; An irreparable blunder was made when the road was put there, but- are We to live the remainder of our lives and still have this blunder tolfcfacer In winter thia connection sret»^niKh" impaesable. We-would suggest la deviation out lin ths'open/^ as no^iuri gets at the present cbnnecticu through.the bush, the cutting facing

■outh." A rough iketcb, ihtming the proposed deviation, was also submitted.

Mr D. McCracken, Te Puke, wrote X " I understtnd'frora Mr J. L. Vercoc and Mr Elwin'that they are applying to take a roid through my property, which I object to very much as it takes the frontage of one lection altogether and spoils another small section by cutting it in half, angle ways, which makes the section of very little vtlue after it is cut up io the way they want to put the road through.

Cr Hume asked: What would be the cost of the deviation? Cr Lemon: £400 or £500. Cr Matthews moved—That Mr. Vercce be informed that the land for the road through Mr McCracken'a area would hive to be taken under the Public Works Act; if the settlers interested are prepered to form tbeir propetties into a special rating area tbe Council is prepared to consider the matter The motion was seconded by the Chairman and carried. Rangiuru Road. Mr M, W. Grffin, Ridge Farm, Te Puke, wrote drawing attention to the very'bad and dangerous state of the Rangiuru Road opposite Mr Fen ton's property. He stated that tbe road (or about ten or twelve chains is on a steep grade and is completely shut out from the sun by a row of overhanging willowi. He suggested that the Council should have the willows cleared and'the hillpumiced. Be also said be would like to know what steps have been taken in connection with the road alocg the eastern bank of the Kaituni River, about which he had previously -written? p»r-

Mr Gray explained thit when the railway bridge was built ■ railway crossing in the vicirity of the Kai tuna River would be done away with; only in places alon» the Kiituoa River was the land set apart for a road. [The trees referred to ought to come out, but there was no pumice available. The Council agreed to leave the question of removal of trees on the Rangiuru Road in the bands of Mr Gray. (ioldfields Revenue. I The Treasury notified payment of 59, goldfields revenue for month of June. Counties' Association. Mr H. D- Atkinson, Secretary of the New Zealand Counties'? Association, wrote stating that the Executive Committee of the Association met on July 25, and he forwarded a precis of the bUßijess'trar.sacted at the meeting. The Chairman eaid he desired to submit a numbei of remits with a view to having amendment! made to the Public Works Act. He slso eiked Coun cillors to submit any remits' they deeired and he would forward them to the Cour ties' Association. Settlement of W«ete Lands. Cr Stewart moved—(l) That this Council in congratulating the Right Hon. Mr Massey and Mrs Massey upon their safe return to * the'; Dominion, desire to express their appreciation of the intentions expressed by the Prinie Minister to foster the increase of eyporls by ever,possible means; (2) this Council, however, respectfully submits that thfl foundation for! securing fthe above desirable object rests upon the settlement of the available waste lands of tha Crown, and; therefore,■ urges on the Government: (a) the* amendmeiit "f tbe^ Nationsl Endow--: ment Act, 1907, in the direction of granting the option of the freehold, the pruceeds from the purchtae thereof being capitalized to carry out the provisions of the existing Act;- and (b).tbe re-enactment of jthe Homtatead Act fo.r tha dispoail of lands considered suitable for applicants; (3) that having regard to the revolution in support of the freehold and accepted by the almost unanimous luijority of Parliament the above "requests cannot be regarded aa a breach of the existing party truce; (4) that coplfls of tbe above resolution be forwarded to Right Hon. Sir J. Ward, Hon. W.H. Berries, and Hon. W. D. S. MacDonalrt.Cr Hume seconded. ,Cr Lally agreed with the first part of the proposal. The National MiriLtry, he eaid, would not introduce conteniioua legislation ard on that account the litter part of the motion - should be deleted.

Cr Stewart said Burely the development of the country could 'not be regarded bs a party matter. The motion was carried.