HAWERA COUNTY COUNCIL.

Hawera Star, Volume XLVIII, 8 September 1924, Page 4

HAWERA COUNTY COUNCIL.

MONTHLY MEETING

The monthly meeting of the Hawera County Council was held on Saturday, when there were present: Crs. J. B. Murdoch (chair), Hawken, Williams, Larcorn, Lysaght, Washer, and Walsh. Leave of absence was granted Cr. Douglas. Mr. Don Stewart, town clerk for Normanhy, wrote asking if the council would appoint two representatives to meet two members of the Normanhy Town Board on Monday next to consider the County Council’s account against the Town Board.

Mr. Stewart also forwarded a statement placing the County Council’s expenditure on boundary roads at £2OB los.

The chairman said that the Town Board owed the County Council about £420, and it was decided that the chairman and Cr. Washer meet the Town Board’s committee.

The secretary of the Hawera W.E.A. wrote asking the council to consider the matetr of making a contribution towards the association’s funds. The chairman said that some time ago a'similar application had been refused. The position had not changed since then, and as there were other educational institutions in the town the council could not see its way to comply with the request.

With reference to the suggestion of the Hawera County Council that the Main Highways Board should takeover the control of the heavy traffic licenses, the clerk of the Heathcote County Council wrote stating that he thought there were possibilities in this direction. To his mind it seemed the only solution of the problem that faced the question of the heavy traffic matters. — Received The Taumarunui County Council wrote requesting the council to pass a resolution supporting a proposal that a payment of half of all revenue from the sale of timber on Crown lands should be made to counties from within whose boundaries the revenue is derived.—The council decided to support the proposal. i A copy of a letter from the bounty clerk to the Hon. A. T. Ngata, concerning the collection of native rates, was placed before the council. The clerk in his letter stated that he had found it most difficult' to induce the local natives to pay rates, as they seemed to be under the impression that their rates were paid by the Native Trustee. The council had also to contend with some Te Whiti-ites, who would not pay after'extreme measures had been instituted against them. He had registered several liens against native lands for overdue rates, but he found this to bq a cumbersome and costly procedure, j with no prospects of ultimate satisfaction. He would like to take the liberty of suggesting that the Native Trustee be given the necessary power to pay the rates on behalf of all the natives in whose lands he is interested, and to make the same a charge against the rents. If this could be done his council was willing to pay a reasonable commission on all rates so paid. He would also like to bring under the Minister’s notice the question of rating Maori pas, which had proved’most troublesome owing to the multiplicity .of interests 'and the uselessness of a, lien. He therefore suggested that Maori, pas be .brought under the provisions of customary lands as provided in the Native Land Act, 1909, which eonrse would exempt such lands from rating; and obviate the necessity of stuffing the rate books with uneollectable rates. The clerk said that sufficient time had. not yet passed fof him to receive a reply. • In connection with the above letter the county clerk this (Monday) morning received a reply from the Hon. A. T. Ngata, stating that he would have pleasure in bringing the views expressed in the letter under the notice of the Hon. Mr. Coates. Native Minister, who, he understood, was preparing a Bill on the lines of the writer’s remarks in the House in July last. Until the details of the measure were available he was not in a position to say whether the clerk’s views would be met or not. He quite agreed that there should be recourse to rents, but. only after inquiry by the Native Land Court and subject to its order, so that cases like that of Te Rewhiti would be covered. As regards Maori pas, there is some opinion in favour of exemption, but there should first be a fixing of boundaries by the court. In connection with the same matter Mr. J. R Corrigan, M.P., wrote stating that the Hon, Mr. Ngata had informed him that the main questions which the clerk’s letter contained had been discussed by him with the Native Minister, and he had agreed to bring down legislation embodying these questions this session. Thp Hon. Ngata and tlie writer would do their very l>est to get the Bill passed A letter was also received from the Hon. ,1. G. Coates, who said that legislation had already been drafted and was undergoing revision by the chief draughtsman of the Crown Law Office. As soon as the revision was completed the measure would be introduced and, it was hoped, would be passed into law this session. Cr Williams asked if the Council could give some assistance in opening a certain length of road in the back' country behind Meremere.

It was decided to refer the opening of the too end of the Meremere Road to the county foreman, and to write; to the Public “Works Department relative to the opening of the Mnbin Road and the apnroaches to a bridge over the Patea River.

A deputation, headed by Mr Landers, waited on the Council and asked that about half a mile of metal be put down on the Wairiri Road, a by-road leading off the Meremere Road. He had been struggling through the mud for the past 29 years, and there was a. metal nit on his property close handy. The ratepayers on the road in. question were willing to contribute something.—lt was left with the lading members to renort.

( The secretary of the Tawhiti School Committee wrote requesting the Council to draw the attention of the ranger to impound the cattle and prosecute the owners if the offence was continued.

There was a lengthy discussion on the subject of closed roads within the county, and finallv, on the motion of ,Crs. Walsh and Washer, it was decided tlmr, the users of closed roads be asked to make some arrangements with flje Council to have such roads enclosed with their holdings. \ OVERSEER’S REPORT. The overseer’s report was as follows: Brett’s Corner.—A first coat of sin. of metal had been laid on the new road, and this will he rolled as soon as the roller is available, and 4in. of crushed metal will then be laid in readiness for grouting. There was a giveaj> cry out about this dangerous corner by motorists and others before the Council undertook this work, and now a great proportion of the traffic gees up the Mountain Road. If this

continues it will make the road more dangerous than before, that is as far as the milk carts are concerned, and there is no possible chance for anyone chiming from the factory seeing an approaching car. f ; Ahaipaipai Road.—The refacing of this road from Short Road to the Main South Road will be finished in a few days. The roller will be shifted to the Division Road for scarifying, as the wheel tracks are getting worn down and the water stands in them. Mountain Road. —An old wooden culvert at the Tawhiti caved in last montji and this is being replaced by concrete, and will be finished at an early date. Noonan Bridge. The approach to this bridge was carried away by aslip, and this is now being attended to. Piles had to be driven' to hold, the sheathing -for" the retainingwa.il, which woirk is now practically finished. The bridge carpenter will go oil with the strengthening of the . Manapappu bridge. Rapuni Bridge. —The stringers of this bridge are getting past their usefulness, and will have to he replaced by iron bark, as this timber will have to be ordered direct, I should like to have your authority to procure, same." There'will be 6000 ft-. required. Fraser Road.—The scarifying of this road is going on satisfactorily, and will he finished shortly. The unnletalled portion will be fit for carting on. before the Ngawhine or Austin,. a.iiA If the loan money is available it Would be as well to dc this work first.tAdopted.