EGMONT COUNTY COUNCIL.

Hawera Star, Volume XLV, 14 October 1925, Page 7

EGMONT COUNTY COUNCIL.

MONTHLY MEETING

:uPOKTAN> MATTERS CONSIDERED. The monthly meeting of the Egmont County CounV.il was hold yesterdaywhen ' there were present: Grs. V\. o. Green (chair), J. Young, iunr., 11. Donald, .1. S. Tosland, G. Gibson, E. A. Collins, T. IT. H. Sinclair, an.l J. A. Pettigrew. COVE f;NM ENT I.' ESTTITCTI ON. The Christchurch City Council wrote stating that it viewed with apprehension the recent pronouncement by the Prime Minister relative to the constitution of a board to which all applications for loans by local bodies would be referred to, to determine whether the proposals for which the power to rri,,c money was being asked were in the best interests of the requisitioning locality or of the country. Tile City Council asked support in voicing a protest The chairman remarked that theie was enough Government control in countv matters already. It the Government thought it was better acquainted with the requirements of a district than the ratepayers were it was a P ool ' look out. and the sooner the councillor., handed the council’s affairs over to the Government to administer the bettei it would be. If the Government wore going to dictate in that way it was .the '‘stone-end’’ of the. councils. Or. Tosland said that there were cases where Government intervention in the interests of the- ratepayers would be beneficial. There might be a case where a vote on the residential status might saddle the district with a heavy burden. Also they, had cases like the Opunake harbour and the Waitara harbour. The .chairman said he thought that it the Opunake people and the Waitain neople had made a mistake they had benefited by it. The Government, however, was more likely to make a mistake than the people of the district. Cr. Collins said there was a lot in | what Cr. Tosland. said. Or. Gibson moved that the protest be endorsed and Cr. Pettigrew seconded. Or, Tosland moved as an amendment that the letter lie on the table. He pointed out that all counties were not as economical in administration exp*nscs as the Egmont County Council. The administration expenses of some countv councils were so high that they might have caused the Minister to take action. Or. Donald seconded the amendment which, on a show of hands, was lost. The' motion was then curried. The Christchurch City CounciVs protest against the continual filching ot local bodies’ powers, as evidenced by the recent intimation received from the deputy chief inspector of explosives that it had been decided to administer from NYe'ilingtou regulations in connection with the control of .cinematograph machines and the storage of films, also came before the council for support. ‘ It was decided to support the proUSt ‘ EXIT IBTTI ON SUBSIDY. Mr I). le C. Morgan wrote asking the council to grant a subsidy to the representation of Taranaki at the Dunedin Exhibition. Under the scheme proposed, the sum of £IOOO was to be subscribed by the Taranaki local bodies as the basis of the capital value of the land. Egmont’s quota was ToF. Gr. Tosland said lie failed to see how the poor ratepayer on the land was going to benefit hv a contribution to the exhibition. The people in Taranaki were exporters, and not industrial manufacturers, and the great benefit of the exhibition would lie to the cities and the tourist resorts. He moved that the council make no donation .

G'r. Gibson, in seconding, said he wou'd go further :tnd state that the idea of their contributing to the exhibition has .pernicious. The motion was carried without dissent. ■ ENGINEER’S SER VICES.

The Opunake Harbour Board wrote stating that it would require the whole of its engineer’s services ,as from the end of this month, and it would therefore lie necessary foe the council to release Mr Corki'll from his duties as from October 31.

A committee consisting of Messrs Collins, Hickey, Gibson and Young was set up to wait on the Harbour Board in connection with the matter. RIDING REPRESENTATION.

The committee consisting of Crs. Sinclair. Gibson, Donald and Tosland. which was set up to report on riding representation, . recommended as l’olows: —

“J.f the council sees fit to divide the county into two ridings, we suggest either tlie Arawhuta Road or the section line first to the south of it, according to the working out of values. Your oi.mmittee suggest that if three tidings are acceptable the boundaries be: North Riding—To include all the county north of the block (ine from the beach to the Opuarapa Road, and along the road to the top of it, and thence along the block and section line to the reserve. Central Ridings— North Riding boundary on 'the northern boundary and the Waiau River, from the beach to the reserve on the south. Southern Riding—All the portion of the .county to, the south of the Waiau River. Your committee has endeavoured to apportion to each riding approximately the same mileage of by-roads. As the out- of valuations and the totals of ratepayers would entail a great deal of work, your committee did not ask the clerk to do this until the number of ridings is agreed upon.’'

Cr. Gibson said he considered that thc most equitable way was to form three ridings, but in any ease the matter was a .most difficult one, and he thought that the report should he held over until the next meeting of the council, when it could be oonsideied in more detail. He moved in, this direction and the motion was -eeoiided and carried. GENERAL. The Taranaki. Hospital Board forwarded a proposal for capital expenditure which was not included in the estimates as at April 1 last ’1 lie Egniont County’s proportion of the expenditure was £J 03 9s. the cost of the whole wojit being if7oo, but it was not anticipated that the cost- would mean any additional amount to the council’s contribution next, year.— Received A circular from the Main 'Highways Board stated that at a. recent coniercuce of executives of the District Highway Councils a request was made that the Main Highways Board approves the principle of paying its subsidy in the cost of metal which had been dumped on or near the main highway preparatory to spreading.—Received.

The Public Works Department advised that it was intended to insert an additional clause under Section 7 of the Motor Lorry Regulations, 1925. to provide for the use of a motor lorry, which, with the maximum ! oad it was licensed to carry, weighed not more than six tons. With regard to the 'classification of roads under the Maiil Highways Board’s operations, the chairman said

that in the winter time the Opunake County Council always restricted the weights of: vehicles on certain roads, under its heavy trailic by-laws. He felt that the. heavy traffic by-laws were of more value, to the council than the Highways Board’s scheme oi classification of roads. ■ In reply to Mr. V. Harnett’s letter (received at, the last meeting of the council) the engineer (Mr. Gorkill) reported that no metal had yet been distributed on the Paora Road. A quantity had been deposited on the Main South Rbad’ near its junction with the Paora Road; from which supplies lor that mail would he drawn a.sand when required. The county clerk 'would he best able to answer the second query The engineer presumed that the cost would he debited to the road as and when the metal was used or put there, the fact of which would be notified to the clerk at the proper Lime. The crushing at the Baora Road was not completed till September 7. The paysheets were therefore not yet in. and the accounts for this job had not yet been made up.—lt was decided to send Mr. Harnett a copy of the engineer’s reply. ’• Authority for the issue of £57 3s ;>d being a" subsidy at the rate of £1 for £2. in connection with work on the Eltbam-Opunake Road, was received from the Main Highways Board.

The Public Works Department advised that'the sain of £197 15s Hid had been placed-to the credit of the council i in respect of work done under the Ivini' i Road. Man.ganui culvert grant (£80) and the Leppcrton Junction—Hia-wera 1 via-Opunake grant (£1171os). —Receiv- '■ ed. Mr. M. Fleming, chairman oi the ■ Gape Eginont Dairy Company, waited on the council with a request that the council’s charge for metal put on me dairv company's private road, be reconsidered. A total of 110 yards had cost them £9B Is 9d. The engineer explained that the costs had been taken off the time sheets, and the charges for spreading .and crushing compared more .than favourably with recognised present-day prices. After considerable discussion the council decided to deduct the item “plant hire'’ (£l4 148 2d) from the account. The matter of the appointment pi an inspector iva.s held over until the end of the financial year. In connection with the tar-sealing of the Ihaia Road the engineer submitted an estimate of the cost at £4lO per mile lot two coats. Alter some discussion it was decided to tar-seal the road with , two coats a.s far a.s the money available will permit. In the event of the .settlers petitioning for the additional 10 per cent to he raised, ihe council will expend that amount (£o00) in . doing a further distance of two co arts.. ENGINEER’S REPORT. The engineer (Mr F. M. Corkil.l) reported as follows: Alain Road Reconstruction. —The weather has still prevented an active start being made by the contractors, who have been here since September 9. but in. the . short spells of fine wea--1 ther they have been able to put the

sealing coat on 93* chains between Onttsi i-oad and Arawhata road. they are now engaged in preparatoiy woik at Rahotu, from which point it is pronosed to work southw aid. . ~ . Taungdtara Bridge.—This work is almost completed, the whole of the piling and the gravelling of the new road havillcr been finished. Traffic was allowed over it on September 28. The protective groining has been placed and the centering has been removed and the cement washing completed. The temporarv bridge is being removed. Xainu Road Culvert.—Some materials are on tlie site, and tenders for the concrete aggregate have been invited. A foreman hns been engaged lor tne work. Eltham Road Culvert.—Steel and boxing for this are ready and, aggregate- Is being delivered. Mr Dillon’s crang will commence at once upon competion of- the Taungatara bridge. . pjnnt —I have prepared a list or tne council’s plant. A great deal of this is in verv poor order, and much work will still lie required to overtake arrears. 0 -currences such as- that at the Ngariki road are most disheartening to all those who have to operate the plant, besides causing costly delays. \\ lth such a'quantity of varied machinery it is essential that the council should alwavs have available a competent fitter, with ample tools and proper supplies of materials. Waiaua Stream Bridge (Wiremu Road). —Application| was made for the insertion of this work in the Supple*rnentarv Estimates, and though it was very late it was pushed through by the district engineer and was passed. The sum of £265 (£ for £) is available, and the plans and specifications have been sent in for approval. Public "Works Estimates.—All the items asked for were inserted in the Estimates, and proposals for the expenditure of most of the items have alrcadv been completed, but bad not been paid* for at the end of the financial Board Estimates. —The amount provided for “maintenance” is that asked for, but the amount provided for “construction” is only about half that asked for. However, this will nrobnblv not mean that the work will be delayed, as reallocation may be made Inter in the year. The renort was adopted.