WAIKOHU COUNTY.

Gisborne Times, Volume XXXVI, Issue 3994, 26 July 1913, Page 6

WAIKOHU COUNTY.

MEETING OF COUNCIL YESTERDAY. The Waikohu County Council met yesterday; present—Messrs E. M. Hutchinson (chairman), H. Telford, Mortleman, A. H. Bridge, Spence and Lewis. Correspondence. Mr Abbotsford Smith, Rakauroa, wrote calling attention to the state of the main road between Rakauroa and Matawai. Most of the water tables and culverts were blocked.—The Engineer explained that the road was under the control of the Public Works Department and that the District Engineer had stated that he would have the matter attended to. He had put on a plough and scoop to clean up.— It was decided that the Chairman should confer with the Public Works Department on the matter. Mr A. Petherbridge, Motu, in the course of a long letter, the language of which was of a decidedly expressive order, denied that, as the Council ,inferred, he had cast any aspersion on the councillor for the The road between J. Thompson’s. and Hayes’ properties was, in his opinion, the most neglected portion of Poverty Bay. He did not blame the roadman, who had 12 to 14 miles to look after, and the part complained of was ten miles from where the roadman lived. Might he suggest that the roadman should camp periodically at each length of his road.—Received ; no answer.

Mr W. Graham, Rakauroa, wrote stating his agreeableness to pay the timber tax agreed on, but asked lor a concession on account of the time and money he had spent on portion of the Waikohu Valley Road.—lt was pointed out that the tax was not retrospective, and that it was fair that the writer should be placed on a like footing to others. No proposition was made and the letter simply “received.” The agreement for the tiniber tax was adopted at a later stage. Messrs. Wade Bros, wrote enclosing a letter received from the under-sec-retary for Public Works rgarding the Motu Valley Road. It was, in effect, that the unauthorised balance of the vote for this road had been offered to the Council for expenditure, and that before the work could be proceeded with the Council must submit to the District Engineer for approval, the plans and specifications. Messrs Wade Bros, suggested that the Council should apply for the loan.—The Clerk explained that a petition previously sent to the applicants had not been returned and they now said they had never received it. It was decided to send another loan proposal form forward, so that the matter might course the proper channels of formality. The Matawai School committee wrote stating that the road adjoining the new school ground was not such that the ground could be properly drained. The culvert opposite would have to be lowered and a leading drain put in.—The Engineer pointed out that the ground could be well drained if the Public Works Department would permit the drain to go under the railway line.—The Engineer was permitted to advise the committee on the matter and to'submit some suggtsti :ns regarding the work to a future meeting.—The chairman was of opinion that it was rather a matter for the Education Department. Mr E. F. Krause applied for permission to lay a tramway across the road at this property at Ivanakanaia. —Granted, subject to the approval of the Engineer, who will also fix tlie location.

Mr E. M. Hutchinson wrote enclosing a cheque for £250, being his contribution to the swing bridge across the Waihuka stream.

Engineer’s Report

The report of the Engineer (Mr J. Mouat) included the following:— If the present extraordinary fine weather continues we shall require no extra labor this coming spring _to open the back .blocks. McCredie’s Crossing bridge is completed. Nearly all the materiakffor the two platform bridges on the Rakauroa-Tahora road lias arrived oi# the ground. Orders have been gi#en for the timber required to replace the two platform bridges on tfie Motu front road near Mr P. Wrigftt’s. Mr Telford and I inspected thqf Mangataikehu bridge, and we reJbmmend that both it and the Mang#ae bridge be at once dismantled. fThey are likely at any time to be tliofscene of a serious accident. To provide access for the ratepayers resident 8n the Mengaoae Valley, we recomimshd that a road be laid off throughl Messrs 3’elford and Scott’s as previously reported upon, the estimated cost being £135. Mr Brosnahan will he without access when the MEingataikehu bridge is dismantled ; }jp is approaching tho Cook County Council on this matter to-dav. Itlvas decided that the Council \hou|u provide half the cost of the dhtlJt road, providing that the setfJbrf, Messrs Goldsmith and Kirkwill find the remaining half. Questi*n of a Route.

Messrs Cyril White, G. A. Pend•reigh, P. H. Sherratt, W. Judd and R. Sherratt forwarded a long letter praying that the road proposed to be taken up the Hangaroa River to connect with Steele’s Road down to Wae-renga-a-hika should be taken along the stock track instead of round the river from Morice’s. They contended that the river road would be of no benefit to any of them. A petition came to hand from tho ratepayers in the Tohunga Loan District for the formation of a 14ft road from the ford _at Mr H. Morice’s to the junction with the Rotorua stock track at Hangaroa River. The signatories were T. A. Coleman (3), Wm. C. Judd. G. A. Pendrcigh, Richard Sherratt, P. H. Sherratt and Cyril White and the petition consented to a special rate of 1 l-15d in the £ on the rateable values of the sections of those - signing on a loan of’£2ooo for the purpose of constructing six miles of 14ft road as described. After some discussion, it was decided to advise the petitioners that the Engineer strongly- recommended the river road, and that, as the eettiers disagreed about the question, the Council should do nothing until the settlers met and decided what route they would want. Mr Bridge: Is this the correct position for a local body to take up Suppose one strong-minded settler makes the rest "agree to an unsatisfactory route.

The Engineer: It will bo an unsatisfactory route, the hill way, and heavy to maintain. They have redheed it to the original position-—they don’t want a road. The above-noted decision was adhered to.

Kanakanaia Settlement.

The Paymaster-General advised that £2023 12s 2d had been remitted to the County fund for the forming, metalling, etc., of the Ivanakanaia settlement road.

Originally, the settlers carried a poll to borrow £6OOO. Tlie Advance Board were at that stage when only £SOOO could be advanced. For the other £IOO, the Council had to start de novo. A petition signed by the settlers was to be sent to the Advances Board, asking if the £IOOO balance would be advanced. The petition at the present time is being circulated, but not readily signed, and _ the Council is in the position of having to stop the works unless the netition is signed. There are still three bridges to be erectrf. * The clerk was instructed to canvass the settlers with the petition and procure all tlie names possible.

Bridges of Rimu.

The District Engineer said he would

be pleased to furnish plans, showing the proposed alterations in the roads at Rakauroa and Matawai, and also to confer with the County Engineer on Buch matters. , . The Engineer said that the District Engineer had not yet forwarded any plans and the Council instructed him to take steps in the matter. It was further explained that the birdges being erected at Rakauroa and Matawai are of Rimu and are minus the necessary approval of the Council. . , . The Engineer was instructed to \\<rite to the District Engineer, so that further work on the bridges should not be undertaken until the Council’s approval is received.