HAWERA COUNTY COUNCIL

Hawera Star, Volume XLV, 6 February 1926, Page 9

HAWERA COUNTY COUNCIL

.MONTHLY MEETING. The Hawera County Council met today, when there were present: Councillors T. A. Winks (.chair), E. A. W asher, B. C. Lysught, A. G. Lartoni, L. Walsh, G. A. W. Williams, and C. J. Haw ken. Leave of absence was granted the county chairman, Mr. JB. Murdoch.. The association of the New >.... Chambers of Commerce forwarded copies of resolutions carried at the last conference. One read: “Thatthe conference expresses alarm at the large and ever-increasing indebtedness of local bodies througliout the Dominion, and that the Government be urged to inquire into the matter with a view to checking unnecessary borrowing.” The chairman expressed the opinion that ratepayers were quite capable of looking after their own affairs. He knew that mistakes had been made, but the ratepayers had had to foot the bill themselves. Undesirable loans had often been carried by ratepayers not turning up to vote. It was decided to take no action. Dr. W. M. Thomson wrote drawing the attention of the council to the state of the iotopath outside his residence on the South Road. The Hawera School Committee also renewed its request to have the footpath in front of the school attended to. Both applications were left in the hands of the riding members, with power to act. The county chairman,. Mr. J. B Murdoch, -was appointed to represent the council at a complimentary dinner to the Hon. O. J. Hawken, to be held at Eltham on March 3. Mr. A. Allen complained of the state of the road leading to the Okaiawa township, and 'Stated -'.that for the £2OO of rates paid each year on the road it was in a disgraceful condition. It was left to the riding members to inspect and report. A misconception on the part of ratepayers concerning the power of the. .ounty clerk or the council to remit the ten per cent, penalty oil rates was referred to. The clerk pointed out that the Government auditors insisted on the penalty clause being carried out to the letter, and it was a serious matter for the clerk to attempt to give leniency. He did his best to help ratepayers to avoid the penalty by ringing up and warning them of the approach of the penalty date The chairman remarked that some ratepayers thought they had a pretty hard clerk and that lie was “putting the screw on.” This, however, was not the case, as the matter was outside the- jurisdiction of the council. CVs. Hawken, Winks and the chairman (Or. J. 13. Murdoch) were appointed a committee with power to act in regard to .signing an agreement for the installation of an. underground tank and pump for handling benzine. The Taranaki Employers’ Association wrote asking support to a. protest against the proposed Motor Omnibus Regulations.—The letter was received. Permission to instill a kerbside petrol pump was granted Mr. J. C l . Barclay. of Okaiawa, subject to the conditions laid down by the Taranaki bylaws. . An auctioneers' license was granted Gordan Vernon Hammond. After a lengthy discussion it was decided that the matter or the grazing of county employees’ .stock on tho roads should be- left to the. discretion, of the overseer and the chairman. Mrs. Johnstone waited oil the council with a request that eight to. ten chains of Bay ley Roau in Okaiawa township be metalled. The council decided to consider the matter when next year’s estimates were’ being prepared. A deputation from Whakamura, again waited on the council with regard to repairs to, or rebuilding, the Noonan bridge. The chairman said that the overseer had reported on the matter (see overseer’s report), but it was also suggested that the bill .should be regraded. The overseer said that a new bridge and the regrading of the hill would cost about £3200. Mr, L. E. Christie, one of the deputation, isaid that there were about 23 ratepayers concerned and it was proposed that they should find £IOO/ and the council the balance of £2200. However, they would have to have a further meeting to discuss the matter.

The clerk said that the loan of Lit.A would cost the ratepayers, who would form a special rating area, about £9l; per annum for 20 years. The deputation then retired. Or. Williams, .said that a committee from the council had gone over the road and it was of the opinion that the bridge '.should be attended to first, and the matter of tar-sealing considered later.

It was decided, however, that ways and means to erect the bridge be considered. the work to be carried out when the money was obtained, and, that the regrading) of the hill be taken in hand if the ratepayers raised £IOOO towards, the work, and a. subsidy of £1 for £1 was obtained from the Public Works Department. In compliance with a. request by ratepayers on the Austin Road the council' decided to raise a loan of £IOOO from the Public Trustee, for the purpose of forming and metalling the bad portion of the road fronting their properties. The loan would be raised at 6 per cent with 2 per cent sinking fund, for a. term of 20 years. The county ranger, Mr. G. H. Blackwell, reported on the necessity for seing that certain electric power poles at dangerous bends and corners were painted white so as to be easily visible to motorists. 'The necessity for land owners seeing that their frontages .were kept free from gorse and overgrown boxthorn, was also stressed by the ranger.—Received. The sonitary inspector, Mr. F. G. Ooleman. reported that during the month five premises were inspected and one plumbing inspection carried out. There was one case of tubercular trouble reported in the county during tiie month. —Received.

OVERSEER’S REPORT. The county overseer, Afr. Muggericge, submitted Ins monthly report as follows: After a thorough examination it was found that tlie Noonan bridge could not. be strengthened enough to carry the road roller without a big expense, and then the work would only be temporary. A new concrete bridge and fillings would cost £I2OO. This could be built on the up stream tide without having to remove tlie old one, as the road pegs were found on each side of the creek.

The Knpuiii bridge is now finished. All the stringers have been replaced with ironbark and the ironwork lias received two coats of paint. The bridge carpenter is now engaged lifting and strengthening the Inaha bridge on the Aliaipaipai Road. There was enough timber in stock to cairy out this work.

Twelve chains of the Tougalioe hill on the Ohangai Road has been scarified, new metal laid and grouted with bitumen. The teams have been engaged grading the hill by Mr. Minbin nick’s property on the Austin Road. It will take about another week to finish the job. Tougalioe Valley Road. —The resident engineer and myself inspected the portion of the road that is going to be handed over to the council in tlie near future. In regard to the bridge on the flat the other side of Mr. Lysaglit’s wool sheu, the resident engineer informed me that this bridge was put there for the convenience of the Pub lie Works Department, and that tho forming of the flat road and the bridge were really a matter tor tho council. The metalling of the tunnel was also pointed out. and be could not see his way to do this as all tunnels are more or less wet at first but dip up after being opened for a time, and tho day thal wo were through this shewed every'appearance of being correct. The bridge that is being built over a creek this side of the swing bridge has concrete foundations and the superstructure is rimu and the timber that was on the job that was going to be used was all heart. The swing bridge over the Patea is going to be handed over along with the rest of the road. There will be considerable expense here before long as the present bridge has been up some time, and with a casual examination it was plain to see that it needed a good deal of repairing. A thorough examination of this will, be made in the near future and a further report submitted. The resident engineer explained that all the roads that were possible are being handed over to the respective councils as the Public Works Department was short of men and it was more convenient if the council undertook to supervise the expenditure of money granted for this purpose.