COUNTY COUNCIL.

Hawera & Normanby Star, Volume XLII, Issue 7366, 20 January 1902, Page 2

COUNTY COUNCIL.

A, ** • Mine County Council met on Saturday. Present : Crs Winks (chairman), McLean, Boddie', Maunder, Stewart, B^uchanan, Marx, and Watson. r VALUATION CHARGES. ,- Cr McLean incidentally mentioned > that the New Plymouth Harbor Board \ had received a bill for ;693 from the Valuation Department on account of revision of roll. The Clerk said the Council had - received an account from the Depart- . rnent for £'26 13s 2d. The Valuer-General, in reply to the Council, advised that it could give no further information re valuation charges. J The matter was fully drscussed in I Wellington by representatives of Clifton, r Hawera, and Taranaki Counties, who J expressed themselves satisfied. Cr McLean said the work was done ' more satisfactorily and with less trouble " by the County Clerk than by the 3 Department.

The Clerk said the rolls had to be revised after being received from Wellington.

Cr McLean said the present system should be done away with by law. The Chairman thought a resolution should be passed asking the Department to pay the Council for correcting rolls after revision by the Department.

Cr Boddie said that the Council could not do the work so cheaply as the Department. The Valuer-General had pointed out that the first cost was very heavy, bufc after that it would be small, revision charges only. Under the old system, the valuation wos made every three years, and the cost was heavier on the Council. The cost of revision was only about £25 per year.

Cr • Maunder said they could never revert to the old system.

The Clerk, in reply to Cr Boddie, said there were not sufficient errors on which the Council could base a claim against the Department.

TOKAORA ESTATE.

E. J. Murray, Road Survyor, wrote accepting the Council's offer to carry out work on the Takaora estate, as far as funds voted by the Government will permit. He recommended that the draining and culverting on Hauroto road be first done. The most necessary works have already been done on the Ohawe road.

LOAN MONEYS.

The Treasury Department advised the Council that loan moneys for Whakamara road, old Anderson road, Burke street (Eltbam), Rotokare and Palmer roads were available.

DAMAGE TO ROADS.

The Sawmillers' Association wrote, stating that it could not pay any further levy towards cost of repairs of damage to roads, and advising that the Council should ask for a portion of the gross amount paid by the Association to the Stratford County Council for the purpose named.

NOXIOUS WEEDS.

J. W. Deem, Inspector of Noxious Weeds, asked for particulars of patches of noxiou3 weeds known to councillors.

ELTHAM SANITARY. MATTERS.

W. J. Tristram, Town Clerk of Eltham, wrote : — Your letter of 10th inst., forwarding copy of a resolution of your Council that deposit of nightsoil on the Chapman road must be discontinued, was laid before this Council last evening, when the following resolution was carried : " That the Hawera County Council be written to that this Council will do its utmost to obtain another nightsoil depot with the least possible delay, and asking for permission to use present site meanwhile." At the same meeting, the Council expressed surprise that some reasonable notice of discontinuance was not given, especially in the face of the fact that in the past your. Council, as the governing body, from time to time experienced difficulty in obtaining a suitable depot, and, as the same trouble is well known to exist, it was fully expected that some consideration would have been shown.

The Chairman said the Council could not do anything else but give notice ; the place had to be abandoned because the road had to be opened. Cr Marx said the Council had no choice in the matter.

Cr Boddie said the arrangement had been only a temporary one, and it was with some reluctance that the Council had allowed the use of the site in order to suit the convenience of Eltham people until the borough was formed. To say that the Council should allow any further time in face of the fact that the road was open to traffic was absurd. The Chairman moved. That the Eltham Borough Council be notified that there can be no extension of time for the use of Chapman road as a nightsoil depot, as the road has been opened for traffic. Seconded by Cr McLean, and carried.

GATE ON ROAD.

W. Edwards wrote stating that that was the third time ho had written regarding gate on Ingahape road. Cr Buchanan said the gate had been removed on Thursday.

The Clerk to the Taranaki County Council replied to a letter from Hawera Council regarding plant ordered by the former Council, and gave certain information.

foreman's report

The Foreman (Mr T. Twigg) reported :— I have to report very little progress being made with metalling contracts during the past season, owing partly to the holidays, but more to the exceptionally bad spell of weather. There has boen scarcely a day that the bush roads have been fit for putting metal on. Julian has been able to complete his contract for metalling Burke street ; also contract for supply |of stone on Mangawhero road. Cave has completed contract for the erection of Mangawbero Bridge, Mountain road. H. Phillips has only been able to cart on a few days since last meeting on his contract, Hu road. Bedding, Adams and Day, and Griffin havo made a start on their metalling contracts on the following roads : Mangawhero, Old Anderson, and Ingahape, and I hope to see them make | good progress during the coming month. ' The contractors for supplying metal on the Noonan road have not been able to secure a crusher, and I am afraid they will have trouble in doing so, unless the Council decide to secure one, I have had the greater part of the Old Anderson road fixed up ready for receiv-

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ing the metal during the past month. c I would recommend that contracts be let as early as possible for a supply of stone on the following roads, for main- , tenance:— Main South, 1000 yds; Nor-manby-Okaiawa, 400 yd s; NormanbyHawera, 200 yds ; Lake and Manawapou roads, 100 yds; Wbareroa, 100 yds ; Mountain, 200 yd s; Bawhitiroa, . 150 yds of stone and 150 yds of shell rock ; Eltham, 600 yds of stone ; Hunter, 100 yds; Stuart, 100 yds; Hastings, 300 yd s; Skeet, 150 yd s; Ahipaipa, 200 yds. This makes about 3700 yds; cost about £1000 ; cost of breaking by hand, about £650, or a total cost of about £1650. This does not include any new work. In reply to Or Boddie, the Foreman Raid the whole of the road north of Eltham required the metal to be picked up. I Answering Or Maunder, the Foreman said the Council would save about 2s 6d a yard if it had a crusher. Gr Boddie moved, That steps be taken to purchase a crusher at the earliest possible moment. A crusher would cost £310. Cr Mcl jean seconded. Gr Boddie said the Council had an expensive plant, from which it at present got no benefit. The plant could be utilised in connection with crusher. Cr Marx did not believe in crushed metal. Angular shaped metal set better, though no doubt it was more expensive, than that crushed. In answer to Cr Maunder, The' Foreman said he recommended the purchase of a crusher. Cr Boddie moved to add to the resolution, That a committee, consisting of the Chairman and Cr Buchanan, arrange for purchase of crusher. The motion was carried on division. Ayes : Crs McLean, Boddie, Maunder, Buchanan. Noes : Crs. Marx, Watson, and Stewart. REPAIRS. Mr Burgon, Okaiawa, complained of defective culvert, and claimed £2 for damage to cow. The Foreman was instructed to attend to the matter. GATE. H. Halliwell, solicitor, wrote on behalf of Mr Packman, Lake Road, drawing attention to an obstruction caused by a fence erected across the Hawera Road by Mr J. F. Pease. The Chairman said the road was a public one, and should bo open. Enquiries will be made by the Foreman. DRAFT AGREEMENT. The matter of the request of H. T. Lysaght for permission to tunnel under the Normanby Boad to divert the Waingongoro River for the purpose of getting electric light power was again considered.' Draft agreement between the Council and Mr Lysaght was forwarded by Mr Barton, and read. The Chairman said a point the Council had to consider was the avoidance of the granting of a monopoly. Cr Boddie moved, That the draft agreement be submitted to Mr Welsh, and that he be instructed to insert clauses protecting the Council for all time against . damage that might be caused by tunnelling and attendant work, approval of the work to reaS entirely with the Council. Cr McLean seconded the motion which was carried. After the luncheon adjournment, Cr Stewart said in the interim he had, with Cr Buchanan, been speaking to Mr Barton, who objected to delay, which would be inconvenient. He moved, That the resolution passed that morning be rescinded. Cr McLean objected to hasty action. The transaction was one which would affect the Council for all time. The Chairman seconded the motion. Mr Barton attended. He said there were other business matters attendant on the fixing up of an agreement with Mr Lysaght. The proposed work was not for purely local purposes, but for supplying power to the several dairy factories contiguous. He pointed out that it was of vital interest to Mr Lysaght that the road should be protected. The matter was discussed at some length. Mr Barton said, on behalf of his client, he was prepared to agree to the insertion of a clause to the effect that the work has to be done to the satisfaction of the Council's engineer. He was also prepared to have inserted a clause indemnifying the Council in the event of damage. The motion re rescinding resolution was withdrawn. Cr Boddie moved, That a committee consisting of the Chairman, and Councillors McLean, Stewart, and Buchanan be set up to settle and execute deeds required ; three to form a quorum. Seconded by Cr Stewart, and carried on division. Ayes : The Chairman and Crs Boddie, Stewart, Buchanan. Noes : Crs McLean, Marx, Maunder, and Watson. The Chairman gave his casting vote with the ayes. AHIPAIPA BOAD. J. B. Murdoch wrote in regard to the Ahipaipa road, the account of which is overdrawn to the extent of about £200. The writer thought it hard that the Council could not see its way to subsidise the road, and stated that if the Council did not do something the ratepayers interested would have to take other steps. Cr Stewart : That is a dark, mysterious threat. The Chairman : Seeing they are in debt, and are going to take other steps, we had better wait. Perhaps they will raise a loan. (Laughter.) Cr Maunder said there was about £40 of land fund available. There was some £60 accruing to the Burgon road, and with the consent of the ratepayers on that road that amount might also be expended on Ahipaipa road. The Chairman moved, That the letter be held over till next meeting, and Mr Murdoch be asked to state what other means he proposes to take. The Clerk said theie was an overdraft of £202, and the proposed expenditure would, if carried out, bring the amount up to £550. Cr Marx seconded the motion, which was carried. j CLOSING ROADS. The Committee (the Chairman and Cr Buchanan) appointed to report on the matter, recommended tho closing of certain roads, schedule of which will be advertised. Cr Stewart said there were a great number of acres involved, which were at present lying useless. It was time the Council took action. It was decided that the report be adopted. Cr Stewart pointed out that there were many things to be considered, and it might be as well if the Council postponed advertising for a month. In giving notice of motion at last meeting, he had proposed moving in the matter in a totally different manner. His idea was to leave the roads open, the occupiers of land through which roads run to pay rental for the roads ; if they did not agree to reasonable terms, they would have to fence. He did not wish to bear hardly on settlers interested, but it was not reasonable that for eighteen or 1 twenty years they should have the use of the land for nothing. It was decided that the motion re adoption be rescinded, and on the Chairman's motion it was resolved that the matter be held over for a month. v ? ' • DOGS. Q. T. Potto's tender (7^d each) for dog collars was accepted. *

The tax was fixed at the same rate as last year : Sheep and cattle dogs, 2s 6d each ; others, 10s each.

H. Marchant'a tender for collection of dog tax in the Eltham and Mangatoki ridingß was accepted, P. Tarrant's for Waimate and Okaiawa, and W. Cooksey's for Hawera and Mokoia.

SLAUGHTERING LICBNSE.

The Agricultural Department forwarded form of slaughtering license for issue to Alex. Duncan, Eltham.

CHAPMAN ROAD.

A. Duncan asked the Council to remove fence from Chapman road, in order that he could have access to site for his slaughteryards.

NECESSARY WORKS.

Cr Boddie moved, That the Foreman be asked to attend to necessary works on the Pukengahu and Ohango roads.

Seconded by Cr Marx, and carried. TURU-TURU ROAD.

The Clerk said there was to the credit of Turu-turu road. With next year's rates there would be £168, from which would have to be deducted 33£ per cent.

Statement of position will be forwarded to Mr Fantham. The Council rose.