EGMONT COUNTY COUNCIL.

Hawera Star, Volume XLVIII, 9 July 1924, Page 3

EGMONT COUNTY COUNCIL.

monthly mii'n.s'c. The moutlily meeting ui the Egmont County Council was held at Opunake yesterday. There were present: Crs. " • C. boeen (chairman), .j. a. Pectigcew, it. Ferguson. K. A. Collins. D. URbsoii, .J. A. 'ioslancl. hi. Donald. J. Dickey, and J. lining. BRIDGE COAX. Consideration was given to the question or raising me bridge man, me chairman of me council being of the opinion that it should be raised as early as possible, it was thought that tne money should, if possible be obtained from the Government, 3 thomm there appeared little prospect of ti7.s being none at present. It Avas i e.solved that, it be a recommendation to tne chairman to aoain approach the Government before negotiating with other '-.financial.' investors. UNPAID RATES.

Aiising out of a discussion regarding the recovery of unpaid rates, it was pointed out that under the month tc month and hall-yearly tenure of lease grained by the Crown certain settlers chough they remained for the required period in occupation of the land, did net come under the .provisions of 'the Dating Act. Consideration was given to the question of outstanding 'rates owing by soldier settlers in the Pliriliaka block, who, with one exception, it >vas stated, had not paid the council rates since the block‘was opened. It Avas decided to notify the settlers referred to that the council would not be willing to remit the rates owiim previous to March 31, 1029, but that unless the current year’s rates were ■immediately paid legal proceedings would haw to he taken. It amis further decided to communicate with the Commissioner of .Drown Lands, drawing attention to the position regarding the short tearm leases. GOVERNMENT grants. /

The chairman intimated that he had been advised by the District Engineer of the Public, Works Department that the Government grants were being considerably reduced, and that tins" year only £1<)(K) ivould be available. This was allotted as follows:' Wiremu (Airawhata to Ngariki Road) £SO. Mai taikahawai Road £25 (£ fm\£), Ohuli Road £25 (£ for £), Nitoiia Road £25 (£ for £), Ara,wii:ita Road above Wiremu Road £25 (.£ for £). Teika-pru-au bridge, Wairea Road, £7OO (£ for £), Kina Road bridge. £■]()() (£ for £). r Ur. Tosland thought that , another £ISOO, being the unexnended portion of .last year’s grants, should also be ■available. The chairman further stated that lie had been informed that the.Taungatara bridge, on which they were to have received a subsidy of £1 for £2, would now come under the Main Highways Board, and they would receive a \£ for £ subsidy. The clerk intimated that application had been made to the Main. Highways Board 1 for permission to lay a. bitumen surface on the Main South Road. f rom Opunake to the Tipaka Road, and on the Eltham road to the Taungatara bridge.

It was resolved to apply for permission to .also lay a bitumen .'surface on the Main South Road from the Elthain Road to the, Taungatara bridge, and for permission to construct the Tatvngatara and Mangahume bridges, it being further decided that, two olants lie brought iqto operation to expedite the work during the coming summer. NEW ALL ROAD. Advice 'was received from the Public Works Department that the expenditure of the Government grant of £IOOO on the Neival! Road had been completed, and the maintenance of the road devolved on the county. Complaint had been received that the water was washing down the wheel ints, and the Public - Works 'Engineer (jJ;r T. 3T. Jinll) requested thp council to give ea) - ly attention to the matter. Cr., Donald and the countA* OA r erseer were appointed to-inspect the road and report to the council, they being authorised to have effected in the meantime anj’ urgently-needed repairs. OPUNAKE POUND. Considerable discussion took place regarding the council\s subsidy' to the Opunake Town 'Board lor the upkeep of the tOAA’ii pound, reference being made to the presence on the county roads of stock licensed hv the, board to graze on the .roads governed by the board. It was re.soh’ed to bring before the Toavii Board the necessity of keeping such stock off the county roads. "WORKS COMMITTEE.

The AYorks C. minittee reoctrted as folioAvs: —A meeting was held on June 16, when there were present: Cr. W. C. Green (chairman), J. A. Pettigrew. It. Ferguson, J. Hickey, and Messrs C. Skitrop (engineer), and L. J. Harrop (overseer). With Mr Skitrop, the committee had previously inspected the Araivhata Road dump, which was considered quite satisfactory, and Mr Skitrop said he would supervise the erection of the plant, etc*. Air Skitrop had suggested that the council should apply for the permission of the Main Highways Board to construct another 12 miles of the Alain South Road ]Bft aide. He considered this could be done without duplication of plant, hut if the council desired to work in different places at the same: time another plant would be necessary. The chairman had said that another bitumen sprayer and road roller avoul d then be necessary.

On the motion of Cr. Ferguson, it had been decided that the overseer be authorised to have all ararngements made in connection with plant for bitumen sealing. The action of the 4\ r orks Committee was confirmed by the Council. OVERSEER’S REPORT. The county overseer’s (Air L. J. Harrop) report was adopted. Jt stated, inter alia:

Oeo Riding (Northern).—Eltham Road: Hie AVnite dump truck vas engaged carting hand-broken metal and boulder stone for maintenance. A considerable amount ot patching ha>. also been done. Oeo Road: Tiie"lorrv was engaged carting boulder stone m be hand broken for maintenance. Watiiio Road: The lorgy was engaged carting nit grave! from the Kiri iloau pit to i eface a bad piece of road hv J. Hmviter’s gat3. Patching has also been done Mu places. Opunake-Stratford Road: Boulder stone has been sprawled* and carted on to the western end oi the road, ami wiii he knapped down for maintenance metal.

Oeo Hiding (Southern).—Main South Road : Patching has been done between \V. Hambie’s and the Nope.ra Road, and the watertahles -cleaned nut in plaros. Patiki Hoad: About 2d yards of stone have been hand-broken and the road has been patched from the Main P.oad Id the boundary. Wntino Road : About 24 yards of stone have been handbroken and tlie road has been patched from W. Stevenson’s to the boundary. Slight deck repairs were also .(one to the, Taungatara bridge. Opua Hiding (Southern).—Filtham Road: A fai.t amount of patching has been doite on this road. Main South

Road: 'The crushing plant Ims been set lip by the Taungatara and has made a start crushing metal, Avlneh is being laid, down in a coat botv. T t<n the Waiteika Road and the 'J auiigatara bridge: The water-tables have also been- cleaned out in places. Rah.otu Riding.—Main Soutimßoad: Patching lias been done between the Manilii Road and Rahotu. The crushing plant lias been removed, from the Opua Riding, and set up on the Ngariki Road, to crush maintenance' metal for the Main Road and the various byroads. The roller has made a start scarifying and rolling in the road by the Kapoaiaia River. Pines have been made in the shed on wet days. Patching has been done on the Cape, Lower Kahui, and the Ngariki Roads. GENERA!,. Advice - was .even oil nom trie Mima-' -Ci. ul i'1.11.i.,' \* ul'lwa -iUllill.ii.Uljf 1u... -uC WUiitn s Xe-jUu.llUu te-.uu.i.g t ,._ ooillujil ui 1011 gait-, Vv US Ug jj.acv.. -tune live -VLam .vugnwavs no.uu.. bm. sutie auvuiices witwe n. emeu i ,a cmem into me ca.incu s account ui a sum oi on account ot tuv inaia, Road special loan ot xobuj. i.enat:.s as loiunv were accepted : 400 varus pit metai, upper" kamu Road, ,j. x,. iVlcßeynoids, o- pu j ouu -yarns ooiuutr stone, Mam 6011111 Road, ciingareiui, u. • Kup-e, 7s ini; 150 varus pit metal, j,ower Tvena Ku.m, .j. t.. i\tcneynoius, -is.

v . Harnett. (Pnniho) wrote complaining 01 tne bad state or tliei'aora Rcuu, tne lower portion of wiuoli, lie stated, ivas a uisgra'ce. He also asitecl wnai sums had been expended on tlie roau during the mst tour years, and wnat amounts we,re on tne estimates, His letter also complained ot the number ot stock allowed to stray on the road, the writer asking if couneiL could give aatnority to any person to graze sUa.k on tne county roads. —It was deemed to reply that che required avci U •youid lie unaerP.iKeu as early as possible. tiie ruling member, tne chairman and the county oveiseer. noiug appOiTited to inspect the road and ieport to Did next meeting.

P. C. Trye, SU. .1. Griffiths quo T. Kelly wrote complaining el the bail stale of the 'le .\amu road, am! requested that the road be put in order, as it Avon Id soon he impassable for wheel traffic at-' the top end. It was also -asked that the midge, railings, which viere dangerous, be repaired.— Lt was decided to instruct the overseer to attend to the Avork as early as possible.