HAWERA COUNTY COUNCIL

Hawera & Normanby Star, Volume XIX, Issue 3299, 10 December 1892, Page 2

HAWERA COUNTY COUNCIL

The ordinary monthly meeting of tbe Hawera Couoty Council was held on Friday. Present — Councillors Forsyth (chairman), Scott, McCarthy, Glean, Winks, and Quin.

SPECIAL RATE.

A resolution was passed striking a special rate over Cornwall road loan area.

CORRESPONDENCE

was read from 33 ratepayers praying tbe couooil to seriously consider tho possibility of metalling tbe Tawhiti road, so that it may be equal to the greatly increased traffic — No funds available, in view of prospective expenditure in connection with tbe bridge.

Normanby Town Board promising cooperation with the council in reference to improvement of Normanby-Manaia road.

Treasury asking for additional information in regard to the proposed works on the Morea-Matamaroke roads, for which loan bad been authorised.

J. Boddie with regard to guarantee of interest on money to be expended on Mangawhero road, stating that matter was being attended to. Deed had eince been sent in and engineer was instructed to lay off work to be done (Quin — Soott).

C. Martin again calling attention to urgent necessity for attention to Conway road east. — Councillor Quio said he believed that tbe fall rates from Eltham only amounted to £40, and out of this the council bad to maintain main roads and by-roads. Tbe engineer said he tbongbt the money coming to tbis road bad been tally spent. On the motion of Councillor McCarthy, it was resolved that Mr. Martin be informed tbere are no funds available.

Woods Bros, asking for improvement to crossing of Waingongoro at Burgon's road. — No lunde available.

W. T. Wells drawing attention to bad condition ot Kapuni bridge and approaches on the Normanby road. His property was being injured by the protective willows and approaches being washed away and his frontage then being washed away. — Cr. Winks and Cr. McCarthy said it was urgently necessary that the matter should be attended to. On tbe motion of Cr. Glenn tbe engineer was instructed to attend to the matter and take necessary steps immediately. E. D. Welsh enclosing letter from Messrs. Bell, Gully, and Izard as to payment to Mrs. Edwards in connection with deviation oflnangahape road. — Besolved to inform Mr. Welsh of the conditions which Mrs Edwards had accepted. Foreman was instructed io ascertain cost of fence arranged for.

SKEET, BOYLAN, AND DALZIELL ROADS.

Messrc. Groodlaod, White, and J. Twigg iuteiviewed the council to ask what money tbe council bad to speed on Boylan, Skeet, and DalzieU roads. They further put forward a claim to the expenditure of moneys due to Eltham riding. It was stated by tbe deputation that when the old Hawera Boad Board was dissolved tbere was a Bum of over £400 to credit, of which very little bad been spent, the balance in their favor being, they claimed, £292. Then subsequently a loan had been raised under .the local bodies loans legislation to make tbe Mountain road, and, by consent, deferred payment money bad been taken from the district roads to pay the interest. But it was only intended that it should be a loan, that it should be returned. Mr. J. Twigg, who was principal spokesman, estimated that '£300 bad been taken away. Mr. Twigg went very fully into the whole subject for a period extending over tea years, and quoted figures to show tbat there must be a considerable amount due to this part of the district. The deferred payment money bad been, he held, illegally borrowed, and the councillors were responsible, while tbe £292 had been simply stolen. On a previous occasion when they appealed to the council they were eimply given the books and told to prove their case, but they could not make much of the books, and that was merely a put-off. He hoped that would not be repeated on this oooasion.

The Chairman said there was now he learned from the olerk about £203 available for expenditure on these roads. As to the other matter it would be enquired into and an answer sent to tbe deputation. Mr. Goodland asked where the £203 would be expended. At a fall meeting of ratepayers it was thought that the track past Mr. O'Connor's to tbe station should be made good, which would be only a small matter; and that the two hills should be metalled: they were tbe WaiDgongoro bill and Boach's bill.

The Cb airman thought tbat the wishes of tbe ratepayers ought to be considered in eucb a matter, and be was glad they took sufficient interest in the question to Btate their views.

Councillor McCarthy observed that the deputation ought to take away with them tbe information that the general account was now overdrawn by more than £2000, so tbat while the deferred payment account was in credit to the amount of £1800 tbe council's bank balance was really overdrawn by £400.

Mr. Goodland said that brought to mind another grievance. The settlers thought it very objectionable that deferred money should be kept in tbe bank to save interest on the general account instead of being expended. In answer to the reply tbat otherwise there must be an increase in the rates,

Mr. J. Twigg said that would be preferable. Tbe riding was rated much more lightly than other parts of the provincial dietnot.

The deputation thanked the council, and withdrew.

It subsequently appeared from a statement made by the clerk tbat there was, according to a statement prepared by tbe auditor, a balance of £414 dne on account of land fund, but tbe balance actually in the bank was only £30 when the county took over tbe road board afiairs. However, a schedule came to hand immediately for £270, which brought up tbe balance to £300. Tbe council, on going through the account, decided tbat £293 should be written off for cost of administering deferred payment money, and this left nothing divisible, but accepting the auditor's account there was a balance of £120, which it was decided should be divided among the district roads, but it never had been bo divided.

Tbe oounoil deferred consideration of tbe matter.

• " ERASER AND TURU ROADS.

Messrs. Thompson and Cowper waited on the board with a petition from ratepayers, and asked that the bottom end of the Fraeer road and tbe Taru Tara road bo formed, aad suggested that it be plouehed and thrown up in the centre. Councillor Qain moved that £25 be spent on the Fraser and Austin roads within Eltham riding; and Councillor Winks moved that £15 be spent on Turuturu road within Hawera riding; but, after some discussion as to the position of the accounts, it was resolved to leave the, matter over for a report from tbe foreman as to what could be done.

ELTHAM ROAD LOAN.

On tbe motion of Councillor McCarthy, it was resolved to apply for the balance of Eltham road loan.

DOG TAX.

Councillors McLean and Winks were appointed to call for tenders for collection of dog tax and for supply of dog collars for 1893.

CONTRACTS.

Councillors Winks and Qain were appointed a oommittee to accept tenders for several nrgent works, for wbiob tenders were authorised to be called.

uhe's contract.

Councillors McCarthy and McLean were appointed a committee to arrange matters, and take legal advice if necessary.

Resolved tbat notice be given that rates in Hawera, EJltbam, and Mokoia ridings not paid by Blßt Deoember be sued for.

engineer's sepoet. This waß read and received.

CULVERTS.

Tbe chairman reported for committee on tbe question of concrete work generally and Dillon'B contract particularly. The oommittee recommended tbat concrete work be done by day labor, and that in place of breaking tbe stone finely rough stone be used for side walls, wings, and floors. As to Dillon, the committee recommended that bis deposit be returned on account of tbe alteration of the system. Action of committee confirmed. AUROA ROAD.

On the motion of Councillor Glenn, it was resolved that Auroa road, near the dairy factory, be levelled to the extent of funds available. Tbe water bad run down the centre of the road and cut a ohannel in it.

BRICK YARD, TVAINGON6ORO.

Councillors Winks and McLean were appointed to draw up conditions for leasing ol brick yard at Waingongoro, and call for tenders.

TAWHITI BRIDGE.

Councillor McCarthy brought under notice tbe dangerous state of the Tawhiti bridge, and said that as Portland cement was cheaper than previously this would be a proper time to test the cost of concrete work. He therefore moved that the engineer be instructed to construct a concrete culvert, by day labor, over the Tawhiti stream, in place of the bridge. He knew funds were low, but he believed tbat the work conld be done more cheaply now than in twelve months' time.

Councillor Quin thought it would last a year yet.

The Engineer said he would not like to guarantee it for a year. He thought the next grain season would make it risky. Councillor Winks would approve tbe proposal were it not that he did not see how the money was to be obtained.

Councillor McCarthy said if they waited it might be very costly to the ratepayers, and cement was now very cheap. The matter was held over until next meeting.

ACCOUNTS.

Clement, .£6 2s j Munro, £8 8s; Roberts, £8 15s ; Cashen, .612 12s ; Morey, £6 6a ; Fairs and Co., Ha 6d ; pay sheet, £9 9s and £87 4s; Budge. £12 15s 8d; Welsh, £5 ss ; Barton, £3 3s ; petty cash, £2.