WAIAPU COUNTY

Gisborne Times, Volume LXIV, Issue 10016, 1 February 1926, Page 3

WAIAPU COUNTY

ORDINARY MEETING. i (Special to the Times.) A meeting of the Witiapu County Council was held on January 19; present—Councillors A. W. Kirk (chairman), M. Hyland, J. Woodford, J Reedy and F. J. Williams. • The Native Land Court forwarded an order for compensation for land taken for the purpose of surfaceman’s paddock and for road. The clerk stated that the new order was practically the same as the previous one and included compensation lor road taken when it had agreed with the natives that the land for the road should he exchanged for the portion of road closed. —Left in the chairman's hands to interview the Judge of the .Land Court and get the matter rectified. The Petone Borough Council asked the Council to endorse their views as expressed in their letter in the matter of the regulations in regard to tlime licensing of heavy traffic, more especially of the licensing of motor omnibuses.—Received. Mr B. McClutchie wrote in reference to the Council offsetting money duo to him for chaff and maize and protesting against such procedure.— Or. F. J. Williams proposed that Mr McClutchie bo informed that it is usual to offset accounts in tlie manner done, and if he still wishes to take the same view of the matter he had better take what steps he thinks necessary.—Seconded bv Cr. Hyland ar.d carried.

Mr H. W. Langlands asked for an extension of time for the completion of his Waitolioata bridge contract. — Granted seven weeks. The Commissioner of Crown Lands wrote, stating that the Minister had approved of the sale of the land set aside for a roadman’s paddock in section 5, block X, Mata, and on the receipt of the purchase money, etc ; steps will be'taken to issue the title. —Amount passed for payment. The Commissioner of Grown Lands advised tlie Council rc the Stock Ins Doctor's house, I.’e Puia.—Received. * The Public Works Department wrote in reference to the Tales pan Iluingia road metalling grant and stating that before the work is undertaken it will be necessary for the Council to pass a resolution undertaking to annually set aside £59 per per mile per annum for maintenance of the metal work.—Agreed to. The Public Works Department wrote, stating that the Minister had approved of the £SOO grant for the Hikuwai stock bridge being transferred to the Anaura road. MV E. H. Joblin applied to be allowed to erect a telephone line, across the road.—Granted, subject to engineer’s approval. The Tauranga County Council wrote in reference to Native rates and tlie provisions for collecting under the Native Land Rating Act 1924, pointing out the enormous expense entailed in collecting same under this Act. and suggesting the local body paying the wages of an extra clerk to register the titles in lieu of having to pay the fee of 10s on each title.—Cr; I* • J. Williams proposed that the cil supports tlie Tauranga County Council and that the Minister for Native Affairs and the Member for th p District be written to and their aid solicited.—Seconded by Cr. Hyland and. carried. Mr A. J. Kirkham replied to die Council’s letter re Maaarika roads and cnvir.g the necessary- information asketT for.—Cr. Reedy proposed that the Chairman interview Mr Ngata m to the road through the nutivc block in Alii o te Atua and report at the next meeting.—Seconded bv Or. Hvlnnd and carried. 'Messrs Graham and Todd wrote in reference to the rubbish dump at Tokcmnru Bay- and advised that a client had complained in regard to the dumping of offensive and rotten matter.—Sanitary inspector to be directed to inspect the dump and, it possible, discover the offenders and take proceedings against them.

Mr T. G. Buchanan applied for an auctioneer’s license for the year 1926. —Granted. . The Council then went into committee to open end consider tenders. —On resuming, the Chairman announced that the tender of Mr H. C. Cairn for contract No. 22/2o had been accepted.—ln regard to the tenders for contract No. 29/25, as the tenders were all too high, it was dcci-ed to make an alteration in the specification and call for tenders afresh.— The tender of Mr P. Carroll of Is per head for the registration or uogs was accented. , , Arising out of the engineer s report CV. Hvland proposed that ©ngineer interview Mr O’Sullivan m regard to his action in plougmng out roan pegs and inform him that Council considers he should pav die cost of re-instating the pegs.—Seconded hv Cr. Needy and carried. In regard to the crushing or met.. at Makarika, the Chairman proposed that as soon as it is readv tne plant rt To Puia he taken to Makarika.— Seconded by Cr. Woodford and carOn a disemussion. on the Ford son grader, the Chairman proposed that the engineer make enquiries whether there arc any Fordsongraders to be had at present and, n so, to order one.—Seconded by Or. Hyland and Williams stated that there was a culvert near Mr Mclntosh’s on the Anaura road that required to be enlarged and anothei culvert required to be put in aiong the flat. Timber was required for one of the small bridges and the timoers on another bridge required to be t..stened.—The engineer to attend. Cr. F. J. Williams enquired whether any compensation had been pan vet to the Pewhairangi s for mud taken for gravel reserve —The clerk stated that the order or the v-ourt had not yet come to hand. Cr. F. J. Williams brought up fhe matter of repairs to the surfaceman s cottage in the Hikuwai—iEngineei to inspect and see what new work r co pi red* to T)© done. . Cr F. J. Williams, reverting n* the proposal to collect shingle from the Hikuwni river-bed, said that there nprears to he good shingle which, u opened up might produce four to five thousand yards.-The'. engineer to bear the matter in mmu. Cr lteedv said that the rpmoach to Manka’s - cutting should be fenced on both sides as it is most difficult to drive stock across at present owing to the approach only neing -enced on one side- —Engineer to inspect. Cr Woodford said that a eulve t was required to he put m on the load U. -nisr to Mr Wi Henare’s - s pointed out that if the roao is o p i vnto one the Council baa.-no powci to erner.d money on it. At 'Or. Hyland’s request, the cl .dneer was iustructeu to ins .o„t » b T necessary, have a emvert put m the Nangitiltm-Tiknpa. 10. d. CV Hviaml said something should ti PP.ui Surfaceman !-e done to lc hf u i -tens .ssrrJrst Mi .A?,* 1 ' a . 111 *- rp•on the roadside, and 1 e and is .< ti.« Sibils.«»«*■. * in Tt°the liiStance of the Chairman. t/ctk To dir ra Jjafjjjf iSS 4i %*»> Ww—

Cr. lleedy proposed tliat the matter of the overseer’s house allowance stands over until the noxt meeting. —Seconded by Or. Hyland and carried. The Chairman stated that he had spoken to''Mr Ngata in regard to the Mahora Road fence and Mr Ngata had thought that the fencing was a matter for the Council.—Engineer authorised to deal with the matter. —Engineer’s Report.— Main Highways construction: About two days will complete the stone carting for the Hikuwai bridges. The building of the stone and netting groynes for the Mangahauini protection works is proceeding, and will be carried on continuously now until completed. Crushing at Te Puia is still being carried on; about a week’s work will complete our requirements for this season. The contractor for the Kopuaroa bridges is busy sinking foundations and building piers for No. 2 bridge. One pier is about completed and excavations for three cthmers aro well on tlfe way to completion. Timber is being worked in readiness for placing and some earthwork on approaches carried out. Carting of the stone for these piers will be completed bv the Council lorry in a few days. The carting of spawls to the Makarika depot is preceding satisfactorily. The metalling of Reedy’s hill and Ivaharau flat has been completed by the Cbuncil’s lorries and the lorries have been transferred to the metrlling of a portion of the Ruatoria-Tuparoa road in front of the Mangahanea-Pa. From there they go to the Ruatoria School road to comnlete ten chains of metalling. After that they start carting out from the crusher near the mouth of the Kopuaroa stream to comnlete the Jersualem and Matahiia* roads. Timber for all the bridges contracted for is coming to hand and should be carted out to the different sites shortly. Maintenance. —• Maintenance work is being carried out as usual. District Road Construction.— The formation of the Anuara road deviations is proceeding. About 40 chains of drains and part of the formation has been carried out and gravel is being procured for the concrete culverts. Formation and widening of the Mata-Waitahaia Road is being carried out. Formation, work on the Mahira-Reporua road has been started. The owner of Section 2 Waitekaha Block through which this road passes has, I understand, ploughed out all the formation pegs ;i This means that all. of these pegs will have to be re-instated. Action should be taken against this person and the cost of re-instating pegs charged against him. Formation of the Mareahara East Itoad is being carried out and the building of concrete culverts is being done at present. The work on the Waitekeo bridge is nearing completion; there remains only tlie work on the parapets to be done. Maintenance: The re-forming of the Anaura Road for nearly the whole length has been carried out. The Sauuderson grader and tractor are being employed on this work. Widening and re-grading of the lakapauIliumna Road for metalling purposes is proceeding. A start will be made shortlv on the re-forming of the Rangitukia road. The maintenance on all other roads is being carried on satisfactorily.