WAIMATE WEST COUNTY

Hawera Star, Volume XLV, 10 July 1925, Page 7

WAIMATE WEST COUNTY

COUNCIL MEETING. WORK OF THE MONTH. Tho Waiinate West County Council met at Mana-ia- yesterday. There were present: Councillors E. Long (chairman), J. F. Steven,son, J. ». Mack ay, j Leslie. W. H. Le Fleming, I<. Mourie., and Messrs. J. A. Hansen (engineer) and V. H. Hobday (cleik)* ENG I NEEtR’S REPORT. The engineer (Mr. J. A. Hausen) reported that the tilling had been put in and about 15 chains ot the road leading to the Kaupokomu beach nad been formed. A price received from Mr ' Parker for the supply ot pit gravel delivered on the road was reasonable and .should be accepted. The filling across the Waiokura. on the Nornianby Road liad been metalled and tar-grouted. While working on this job he had arranged to crush abo uit 20 yards of stone and do up a Small piece of roadway for the kaupokonui Dairy Co., for which the companv wa« paying. . , , , The council’s» lorry did not come out from the repair shop until the 4th inst and as a consequence crushing work had been delayed. It was now intended to push on with crushing as fast as possible. On the Kapuni bridge the gang was getting the steel for the beanie into position ready for the conciete. Maintenance work hail been cm i Led out on the Inaha. Manaia, Main South, Oeo. Sheet- and other roads. The Oeo Road was breaking up badly, and it was recommended that this road and also the Rowan be closed for all heavy traffic. EGMO'NT PARK SUBSIDY. A letter was received from the Egniont National Park Board referring to the recommendation of the Taranaki local bodies an conference c-n May 29 that local bodies agree to contribute proportionately, based on valuation, to an annual subsidy of £SOO towards the development of the park resources. The council’s share amounted to £3B, and it was requested that the matter be favourably considered. The chairman said he was sure the idea was a- good one. The mountain reserve offered great possibilities, add if properly developed would constitute a great asset to the province. The subsidy asked of the various local bodies' would spread cost over the whole area and would not press unduly on any one part of it. Ho pointed out. however, that amounts subscribed could not be earmarked by those subscribing for any special purpose, the expend’litre being at tho discretion of the board. Referring to the southern part of the reserve, he intimated that it was proposed to build a. new hostel at a cost of something like £12,000. He repeated that the asset was a* great- one. the reserve being unexcelled in New Zealand as a tourist- resort, and lie regretted that- •some local bodies were holding back m the matter of voting the amounts requested by the board. Tf the others would fall into line lie would' strongly favour voting the ,subsidy asked of the Waimate West County Council. Cr. Lc Fleming thought- the object' was a good one. but said it was doubt-j in,l whether the expenditure would he justified, at the -present time when so inanv were experiencing financial difficulties

Cr Stevenson also favoured the obiective. but pointed out that be contributions were not commensurate with the benefits to be derived from the tourist traffic. For instance. the Manaia town area was to be asked for £2 ns against the county’s £3B. whereas the former, having accommodation houses and business premises. _ would reap much greater returns if the tourist traffic develoned. The counties would, however, benefit- from tho national point, of view. \ftor further discussion it was. decided. on the- motion of Cr Le Fleming. seconded by Cr Mclvav. that the county would rd|itribute tho amount '•oro'ested provided that the other local bodies being approached would do likewise. ADMINISTRATION COSTS.

A circular letter was received from Alf \. F.. -Tull (president New Zealand Counties’ A seoeiationl with reference in pn effort being made hv the Motor Associations for the appointment of a commission of inouiry as to the cost of administration of county councils, it being alleged that such was extravagant, and suggested that taxation from motor traffic was thereby to some extent wasted. The letter expressed the opinion that the basis of the eomnlaint was in the table in the annual statistics, it being nossible that county officials had not filled in the form provided bv +be department with the care fhov would have exercised had thov known the purposes for which the tables were need. As illustrations two cases were cited—one in which a eountv having several motor lorries emoloverl in hauling maintenance meta 1 and doing other work on roads had shown ronairs and running costs under the heading of management- costs, and another ease in which under the same heading had been charged legal oxnoiues. when the larger portion of ilm amount, was the cost of summonses and legal fees in connection with rate eol-W-tioo. all of which was recoverable. TPaeiorr the - mounts nr>dop the heading mentioned had given a wrong percentage ef snob gets. Tn order that full ,-,o vtipido’-t; mirrbt lie obtained it ’•'a s •-er,nested that a. oonv of figures in detail corn-died under this bending to the Otatifrtiea] Denartment for the rea •• ending At a rah 31. 1004 be forwnrrlpri + n the seerotnrv of idle Counties’ Association. The eh a inner) intimated that tile "'.lubtioi’lS O’ltl’oed did net finely to the AVpimate West Conn tv. ns the various costs v-e,-e grouped under their nreoe,. headings. Tim le+tm. -oooived BEACH ROAD DEVIATION. Replying to the Council’s request, Mr A. G. Bennett, writing with reference to the found I ’s intention to obtain a piece of land from Air A. Gam!in in exchange tor a portion of the surveyed road in order to arrange the deviation of the Katipokonui beach road, estimated that legal costs would amount to between £lO and £l2. This. I of course, did not include new survey costs. The engineer intimated that the survey costs would amount to approximately £25. Cr. Stevenson thought that the expense incurred would preclude any pos-

si hi lily of the arrangement being upset by any incoming occupier of the ' land. The chairman said if it was thought necessary a lease could be arranged, but there should be no future trouble if the arrangement with Mr Gamlin was effected. It was decider!, on the motion of Messr s Stevenson and Mackay. to have tlie road put through in accordance with the agreement with Mr Gamlin. TCLTHAM COUNTY SUBSIDY. Speak in rr of the annual subsidy of 11.00 which the county lias paid to the Jiltham County Council ponding the

completion of the Opunake railway, the chairman intimated that the contribution payable this year would mark the termination of the subsidy. OEO HOAD RAILWAY BRIDGE. The chairman mentioned the bridge spanning the railway on the Oeo road, the approach to which was causing inconvenience, owing to it being too narrow and at present unfenced. The engineer explained that the railway authorities intended fencing the approaches, but considered that they were too narrow. » It was decided to? request the rai’way authorities to have the approaches widened and fenced as early as possible. GENERAL. The formal motion authorising the levy of rates as advertised was passed. A letter was received from Mr G. J. Mudfcrd, asking for the cleaning out of a culvert- on Skeet Road fronting his property, and occupied by Air Robinson. as the storm water was causing damage.—The engineer reported that the ditch had been cleaned out. _ To satisfactorily cope with the position, however, a new culvert would, be required.—The matter was left to the engineer. The South Taranaki Automobile Association wrote thanking the council for agreeing to supply signposts, and intimating that painting was being arranged, and the secretary would confer with the engineer as to erection. The officer in charge of the State Forest Service, Palmerston North, wrote stating that- the Department wished to keep in touch with all treeplanting operations, and requested information concerning any areas' planted by the council and the species.—Hie clerk reported that he had replied giving the area as two acres, together with required particulars. A copy of model by-laws under the Health Act, 1920, relating to dwellings and buildings for human habitation was received from the District Health Office. Wellington. - A circular letter dealing with road economies was received from the Main Highways .Board. Accounts totalling £B5l 0s lid were passed for payment.