PATEA COUNTY COUNCIL.

Hawera Star, Volume XLVIII, 15 October 1924, Page 3

PATEA COUNTY COUNCIL.

MONTHLY MEETING. At the ordinary meeting yesterday there were present: Crs. Gibbs (chair), Belton,. Tavlor, Scown Alcx“"fe Sutherland,' Back, McDonald, Watkins. The clerk and engineer were also in attendance. GENERAL. t v '' as received from Mr D. A Taylor asking if it was proposed to take steps to have the deviation on the Tamaha Road legalised by proclamation. It was stated by the chairman and Cr. Taylor that the deviation was not shown on the plan, the chairman said he would make a shrewd guess that it was forty-three years since the land was taken from the Maoris. 0(n Cr. Taylor’s motion it was resolved to have inquiries made, and if satisfactory to have the proclamation made.and a piece of land that was originally on the road transferred to the Maori owners. The minutes of a meeting of .settlers held m the Ivohi Hall on October 9 received, showed that a resolution was carried to the effect that £250 •of next year’s lates be added to the £250 now available for metalling the worst part of the Ivohi Road, the work to be commenced immediately after February, 1925. The account is to be presented to the April meeting. The chairman said he did not approve of mortgaging next year’s funds unless subsidised by settlers or the department, and in addition they might thus lose the chance of a larger Government grant next year. He said in addition he was very 'firm in securing subsidies, and be would be m favour of “helping those who lielo themselves.” x It: was resolved that providing the settlers found a sum of £2OO the riding would contribute a. sum of £3OO inclusive of the sum of £BO from the Highways Board. Mr. TV aldie asked permission to build a- buggy shed on the road near the roadman’s whare, and wrote drawing attention, to the bad state of the road near bis place.—The matter of the road was referred to the engineer, and permission to. build was granted, subject to the engineer’s approval. A statement of the position with regard to rates on section 1, block 1, Nukuma.ru, was received from Mr. T E. Roberts, solicitor to. the council. A letter was received from the TVaverley Town Board stating that part of the cemetery reserve had been exempted from rates.—The council decided that the riding member and the clerk make inquiry into the matter. A request for support was received from Mr. W. P. Robinson to a proposal that the Meteorological Department extend its work in the direction of furnishing weather forecasts for the benefit of farmers. The district engineer asked when a cash contribution could be expected from the council towards cost of TVaitotara Valley Road bridge.—The clerk reported that no amount has been received, and it was resolved to reply that the payment would be made when the loan was to hand. A schedule of amounts approved by the Main Highways Board for maintenance of highways in the county was received from No. 8 Council. This was as follows: Manawapou to TVaitotara. £BOO, Ball Road £BO, Kaparoa Road £BO, Kohi Road £BO, Moumahaki State Farm Road ‘£Bo. Advice was received from the Patea Licensing Committee that the publican’s license for the Railway Hotel. TVaitotara., had been refused. A complaint- was voiced by Cr. Belton on behalf of the storm water accumulating on the freezing company’s holding paddock, and it wa« agreed to. supply pipes to. take it off if the company would lay them. ENGINEER’S REPORT. Main Road and General. —A considerable amount of .work has been done oil the Derrett’s section of the main road. Nearly all the foundation is in, and about 20 chains has been grouted. Arrangements have been made with- Mr Hird to move back his fence at an early date, when the filling required will be put in with the county scoops. Arrangements have been made to have this portion surveyed for dedication. On Hurley’s section about 20 chains of the foundation has also been laid. Tenders have been called, closing at this meeting, for the earthworks required on the Patea hill. Surveys have been made and the. plan work is near completion of the two sections Momnahaki to TVaitotara. The survey lias now been commenced of the TVaverley Town Board length. The grouting of the work at the TVhenuakura factory has been completed. The plant authorised at last meeting has been procured, and is in commission. Otoia West.—Metalling has proceeded as weather has permitted on T. Foreman’s road. Some patching has been carried out on the Ball road. Very good progress has been made on the Alton gorge, and the cutting on the seaward side is practically complete. I will make arrangements to have this permanently metalled straight away. I ask your instructions as to what metalling works to carry out in this riding. Otoia East.—Plans have been prepared for improving the Patea station access in connection with the main highway improvements being carried out near the Patea bridge. I have consulted the railway engineer on these matters, but so far have not any reply. The grader' has commenced on the upper end of this district. Arrangements have been made re JVJaben road track near the bridge. The short length on Travers road • lias been metalled. TVaverley Riding.—Short lengths on the Kolii and Ivarahake and the full lengths authorised on TVybourne, TVatjkins, Parahake, and Tower roads have Sheen completed metalling this month. jThe metalling on the TVaitangi road has been completed. This will complete all the metalling jobs in this riding with the exception of the larger jobs on the Kohi and Karaliake roads. The grader, having completed the roads about TVaverley, has now commenced on the Kohi road. Moumahaki Riding.—l have inspected the culvert on the Village Settlement road, and 27 feet of 3 feet pipes will be required. The work required on Bloor’s road has been carried out nnd one culvert replaced. No definite word has come to hand as regards the timber for the Ngutuwera bridge. All the ironwork for the Motoroa bridge is complete. On other roads in this riding general surfacework has been carried out. Kapara Riding.—The Train’s track contract has been satisfactorily completed. Plans lor the Rawhitiroa bridge are well forward, and will be forwarded to the Public Works Department for approval in a few days. I am also preparing plans in connection with James’ creek bridge, which I am proposing to replace with, a tunnel and filling. The Kaimanuka hill is being nlled. and will be in splendid condition for the coming summer.

DEPUTATION. BACK COUNTRY SETTLERS. farmers from back on the river v ' ait ® d . on Die council in regard to the condition of their road, and askin'* for improvements to enable them to%et out their wool. ch ?H‘ man sa fd there was some conflict of interest between settlers on the two sides of the river, and lie could not see that rates collected on on tlTolhet-. 00 6 " Se - tl t 0 d ° work The deputation strongly urged the absolute necessity of doing some work onlvTt f °L was actuSy track linlan s op with the Ball t U f IC + h a bad state that it fin'll *■ to take a horse over the track and it was therefore impossible l Ut thei j' wocl - Tb ey said they paid l.ites, and were entitled to have some portion at least spent on the load they had to use. They added that if a. reasonable amount was spent l nl n mn they , WOuld be doite content to l' ait $ U next year, and would guarantee, if necessary, to agree to raise a special loan. Ihe chairman said he agreed the council should give help at once, and then arrange a special rate and probIrant t 0 SeCUre a Government . After the withdrawal of the deputation the council discussed the matter, and after reviewing the whole position they resolved, on the motion of the chairman, that the reaiiest of the deputation be granted, half the rates or the settlers on the western , side of the river and one-quarter of the' rates the n €ast ’ should be spent on the Ball road track. BRIDGE WORK. Advice was received from the Public Works Engineer of the forwarding of timber and ironwork for ' Pirinoa bridge, on Waitotara River, the estimate of which completed was £6500.. tie _ asked the Council to pay over their proportion of the amount. It was resolved to ask the Depa-rt-raeiw do ' their best to expedite the matter of securing the loan. BY-LAWS. In view of a legal opinion received dealing with plying for hire, it was resolved to talce no more action under me present by-laws. Tlie chairman considered it would be wise to make by-laws in future in conjunction with all counties in the Highways Council No. 8. • WORKS PROGRAMME. Considerable discussion took place on the question of the' rotation in which the general programme of work in the iciunty should be put in hand. Ci*. Belton drew, .attention to the waste of material in patching “potholes” in some parts of the county, ffe said he fully 70 yards of metal would be lost'in-this way. Eventually it was resolved to proceed in the following rotation: Whemiakura, Moumahaki, Waverlev and lastly Patea hill. ' DOG TAX. . This was fixed at the same figures as last year. LITTLE PATEA BRIDGE. The reconstruction of this old bridge and the formation of the road to the station steps occupied the time, of tlie council for some time, in order to arrive at the fairest method in which ■he cost could he allocated. Several direct proposals were made, hub ■ eventually these were withdrawn, and the following motion, proposed by the chairman, was carried: ""That the Borough Council, he approached with a view to asking them to contribute onethird of the amount required, and that a committee be set ujo to confer with them in the matter, the committee to consist of Crs. Back and Belton and the mover. ROAD ESTIMATES. The District Engineer advised that die sums of £IOOO, for Lower Maben Road. £3OOO for Waitotara Valley -road 'ridge, would he deleted from the Estimates for 1924-25. He forwarded a ’ist of items on the Estimates which it .vas intended the council should spend, md asked for proposals as to how the rioney should he silent.