HAWERA COUNTY COUNCIL.

Hawera Star, Volume XLVIII, 8 November 1924, Page 7

HAWERA COUNTY COUNCIL.

MONTHLY MEETING. At the ordinary meeting to-day there were present Crs E. A. Washer (chairman), R. Bi Douglas, C. J. Hawken, S. Lareom, T. Walsh. An apology was received from the chairman (Or Murdoch), and in his absence Cr Washer was appointed acting-chairman. Apologies were received from Crs Lysaght and' Williams. GENERAL. The secretary of the N.Z. and South Seas’ Exhibition advised that their directors would not be able to visit Hawera. Prices were received for dog collars from the N.Z. Glove Company. It was resolved to stick to the local firms. A letter was sent to the Wellington Gas Company agreeing to accept" delivery as offered of 20,000 gallons in January. The company replied accepting the offer.

The stationmaster forwarded a list of reductions in freight rates for benzine. These have already been published and show that the reductions are considerable. A request was received from. residents of Normanby for work to lie done at a very dangerous place at Waihi Hill, near the factory. The- place, they said, is impassable, and settlers are obliged to go round by an. unmetallod road. —It was agreed that the foreman see what could be done. Three settlers on the Austin Road asked that Mr. Nicholas be instructed to remove several hives of bees from the corner of the road, as they are an annoyance and a danger to the public.—The matter was left to the county clerk, who said there was a clause in the Act by which he could get over the. difficulty. \ The Health Department advised that sanitary defects were found on L. Bunn’s premises on the Manawapou Road, and urged that notice should he served on the owner. TOLL-GATES. .

A member of the Main Highways Council, No. 7, stated that he would be glad to get information, in regard to the allocation of £14,700. He asked for a statement as to the expenditure as follows: (1) Formation, (2) bridging, (3) metalling, (4) tar or bitumen sealing, (5) other work, on the section of main highway from western side of Hawera to Waimate West County boundary, ancl similar information in regard to Normanby-Okaiawa road. He asked how much was expended on these sections out of tollgate revenue. The County Clerk said that no expenditure had been made on tarring out of loan, all having been made out of revenue. The board had agreed to allow half proportion of interest and sinking fund on the proportion of loan until the loan was liquidated, and in addition one-third maintenance. This will. amount to £744 against the loss of the toll-gates, which brought in a net revenue of over £I4OO. . OVERDUE RATES. It was resolved to advertise notifying raepayers that summonses would be issued for all rates unpaid on November 30. LEAVE OF ABSENCE. ■Or. Douglas was granted leave of absence for two meetings on account of ill-health. The chairman said he hoped Cr. Douglas would come back thoroughly restored to health. GENERAL. The matter of road request from Mr Kiley was left to the riding members. METAL SUPPLIES. Mr Campbell, of Waihi Road, waited on the Council in regard to supplies, stating that- he was able to give metal required, and asked for an indication of the Council’s needs. —After some discussion, it was agreed that the matter of procuring metal from Mr Campbell, or any other source, be left with the foreman.

The- chairman said they should push on all they knew how with the metallyirig, and get all supplies possible, if satisafetorv to the foreman. FOREMAN’S REPORT. The foreman reported as follows: Whenuku Road. —The lower-part has been re-graded, but this will he of nc use to settlers near Has tie’s unless five chains of metal are laid to let the water away from the crown of the r-oad. Crusher. —The casting was completed and crushing done for Brett’s corner, .vhic-h will finish the job except for idling and grouting, which will be dene next week. Jnaha Stream. —The old bridge lias been taken down, the culvert filled in, and metal laid, 800 yards being used for the work of filling. The spoil was procured from the bad corners over the stream. Fraser Rond —The unmetalled portion will now be metalled, the work beginning next week. It will not be a long job, as most of the shingle is out in readiness for tarring, and there will be an extra lorry available. Enough metal has accumulated to do the work. Tarring will be commenced next week if weather is suitable, and the Meremere Road will then be tackled. The practice of throwing benzine tins in creeks is growing, with the result that culverts are continually being blocked: This is going to be a serious expense to keep them clear. In one case on 'the Main South road the cost of clearing a culvert ran into £ti.’ This culvert is 90ft long, with about 20ft of a filling. The report was adopted, and it was decided to do the metalling on the Whenuku road, ami to advertise warning people against throwing tins on the sides of roads and in creeks. The Council then adjourned.