GREY COUNTY COUNCIL

Grey River Argus, 2 August 1935, Page 8

GREY COUNTY COUNCIL

MONTHLY MEETING. The monthly meeting of the Grey County Council was held yesterday morning, there being present. Crs J. W. Hannan (Chairman), J, Ryall, H. G. Carter, A. Robinson. A. McDonnell, J. MuJcare_, A. Donne I .lan, W. T. Ogilvie and the Clerk (Mr. Al. Keating). Accounts amounting to £2354/18/1 were passed for payment. The Main Highways Board wrote agreeing to the Council’s proposal for raiding portion of the Gery-Brunner road, in preparation for tar-sealing and requested payment' of the Council’s contribution of £250. The Clerk said that the amount had already been paid, and the payment was apploved. The Chairman was appointed delegate to the D’ominion Counties Con ference, to be held in Wellington on August 20., The Main Highways Board advisgd that they had generally approved the Council’s four year plan for road regrading and scaling. Cr. Carter said that the data regarding the plan had not been, supplied to Councillors. a-s requested by him the last meeting. The Clerk said that the Engineer had been indisposed since receipt of the letter from Highways Board and had not been able to do anything in the master. It was decided that the matt'er should be he’d over until the next meeting of 'the Council. The Main Highways Board wro-t’e agreeing to subsidise the renewal of Kaiata Creek Bridge, on a £3 for £1 basis.

The Treasury advised that the loan of £2412, in connection with the Taramakau bridge loan had been paid off, as from February 1, 1935. A petition was received from twen-ty-five residents of Riverview, Ahaura, requesting the Council to construct a footbridge over the Ahaura river, at Riverview. The petition said that the present means of access for the signatories was a. cage over private property. It was in a dangerous condition and four men had had to receive medical attention through accidents on it. There were eighteen miners and fourteen residents living on the south side of the river, while the cage was also used by surveyors and others It was suggested that’ the unemploy ment Board might be approached for asi stance. It was decided to allow the petition to -lie on the table until nex't meet ing, to enable the Engineer to supply a report as to the probable cost of a bridge, -to p’ace before the Unemployment Board. A petition was received from about fifty residents of Ngahere, requesting the Council to construct a road to Ngahero. Recreation Ground.

The matter was held over for a report' from the Engineer. The Forest’ Sawmilling Company wrote asking the Council to construct an access road to house adjacent to the Company’s mill at Nelson Creek and offering to provide the material for the bridge required. The letter was referred to the Engineer for a report. Air. J. A. Ryan, Rotomanu, in rep’y to the Council’s communication regarding the purchase of portion of his property for a gravel reserve, wrote stating that he would sell one acre foi £5OO. After a discussion in committee, the matter was left to the Chairman and the Engineer to finalise. The Commissioner of Unemployment wrote regarding the deputation which placed before the Minister of Employment the question of the Blackbal' water supply, and stated that the Board would subsidise wages at the rate of 35s a week, if -the Council was prepared to undertake the work at Public Works rates of pay. Cr. Afuleare said that the matter had been brought, up by a man named ißiit'chie, he suggesting the work as a suitable avenue for the employment of relief workers.

On the motioii of Cr. Mulcare the matter was referred to the Engineer, to go info it with a Committee from Bkickball, and to report to the next meeting as to what could be done by the Council to avail the offer of the Unemployment Board. The Engineer was instructed to place several loads of gravel on Hudd Road Karoro, which had been badly cut up. It was decided that the Council -hould agree to the representation of the Amuri Counci 1 to the Unemploy ment Board, regarding the destruction of keas. Defaulting Ratepayers The Clerk said that the return of defaulting ratepayers, asked for at the last meeting, was not yet complete, and it was decided that’ the matter should be held over until the next meeting. In reply to Cr. Carter the Chairman said that if outstanding rates were not sued for within three years, then they were not recoverable legally. Cr. Carter moved that t'he Clerk prepared a report of all rates which had become statute barred over the last six or ten years, and of mtr--

through not being recoverable from the Lands Department and State Advances Department. He said that' the idea was prevalent that a lot had been lost and he thought the Councilors could get a good idea from the return. It should not be a big job. as the returns should be known to the office. There was an opinion prevalent that things were not quite right, and the ratepayers would like to know the position. In reply to Cr. Afuleare the Clerk said that prior to t'he depression the Council was not troub’ed very much over collecting rates. However, they could get nothing from the Stat'e Advances Department, and although they could get a judgment, they could not sell Crown land. Cr. Carfer: If armed with that information the Councillors wi’l be in a position to refute the charros. Wr want to knew where we arc. The Clerk said that fifteen soldiers had benu put on the land at candlelight and the Council never got a Denny in rates from them. The resolution was seconded by Cr. Ryall. Cr. Ogilvie said that’ he supported it He did not think it was a fair thing that some should pay. and others I get’ away with it. Or. Afuleare said he thought that was ■ genera! throughout New Zealand twid i ■the Gmy County was not ass bad as * some North Island counties. The Clerk said that it was just a question whether or not it would pay |

them to have a collector, who could also be dog collector. Cr. Carter said he thought t’hat phase could be discussed when the report was presented. Cr. Robinson said that they would get nothing out of t'he dogs. The license fee was 2/6 and the collar cost 1/6. Cr. Ogilvie said that anyone who would pay their rates would pay without a collector. The motion was carried. On the suggestion of Cr, AfeDonnel' it was decided to have Hahn’s Road Totara F’at attended to.