HAWERA COUNTY COUNCIL.

Hawera & Normanby Star, Volume XLVIII, Issue 8172, 23 January 1905, Page 2

HAWERA COUNTY COUNCIL.

The monthly meeting of the County Council was held on Saturday. Present : Crs. McLean (chair), Dive, Buchanan, F. W. Wilkie, F. Winks, J. Marx, and Joll. CORRESPONDENCE was received. From the Bank of New Zealand, stating that the rate of interest on the Council's account would in future be 5£ instead of 5 per cent. — The Chairman said he was expecting that. — The clerk suggested that all rates unpaid at the end of the month be sued for. — Cr Dive proposed in that direction, and Cr Buchanan seconded. — Carried. From the Eltham Borough Council, ask ing the Council to remove a stump on the Rawhitiroa road, in front of tho Ngaire cemetery, and also asking for the promised subsidy for the cemetery trustees. — It was resolved to remove the stump.— The Clerk pointed out that the subsidy promised last year was illegal. The Council had then no power to pay it. Last session an Act was passed enabling the Council to pay not more than £30.— Cr Marx moved that £30 be granted to tlie Eltham and Mangatoki ridings in equal proportions, provided the Eltham Council provide a like amount. — Seconded by Cr Dive.— Carried. From J. F. Pease, drawing the atten tion of the Council to the bad state of Iho main road between Hawera and the Tongahoc. and also to the bad way in which a culvert had been put in, back ing up water on his property.— The foreman said the culvert had been in about two years, and he had promised to have it attended to. — The. matter was left in the hands of the foreman.— The foreman said the road was in bad order, and he would have two men on till the winter. From^ the Secretary of the Eltham Bacon Company, asking permission to put a culvert in the water table on the Hast ings road. — Request granted. From the Normanby Town Board, forwarding the following resolution passed at last meeting of the Board : "That the (county) roads be put in order by the Board, the Council to pay half cost, pending a decision as to liability for maintenance, the body which is not held responsible to receive refund." and seem? that the Governor-in-Council was not agai*st the Board, the Board now ask?, the Council for a refund of the money (amounting to £7 9s 3d) expended.— Cr Marx thought that each bodv should pay half.— Cr Joll thoudil it should be settled on the basis decided upon at the conference between representatives of tht ■''•>aH and the County Council. — Cr Marx moved that the Council pay half of the amount. — Cr Joll seconded. — Carried. From the Normanby Town Board, ask ing for the signing of the agreement in relation to the dispute. — Cr Dive moved that the action of the committee in ma'c ing the agreement be approved. — Cr Winks seconded. — Carried. From F. D. Sargent, asking the Counril to form and gravel certain paths in Nolantown, and offering to contribute half cost —The Chairman said he did not believe in spending money on paths. — The clerksaid the roads were in funds. — Cr Wilk'e said they could spend money on tlm paths if they liked. — Cr Dive moved that the matter be left in the hands of the Chairman with power to act. — Carried. From John Phillips, objecting to the ranger charging £2 instead of 6s for tin bullocks impounded. — The ranger admit ted that he had made a mistake, but was entitled to 10s. — Cr Marx said an arrangement was- made on the road between the writer and the ranger. Thcv could, therefore, not take any notice of it. — It was resolved to refer Mr Phillips to the ranger. From P. Tarrant, applying for the position of dog tax collector in the Waimate riding T-Appointment made. P. Tarrant was also appointed ransj?r in the Okaiawa riding. From Messrs Saxton, A. T. Wills, and about thirty others, as ratepayers in the Mokoia riding, asking that the worst places on the Mere Mere road be metalled. — Cr Buchanan said about 40 chains were needed and there was plenty of money available. The metal in the district was very- little good, and some good stuff would have to be obtained as the traffic was all heavy. — It was resolved that the request be granted, and that tenders be called for the work. From James Wilson, applying for a slaughtering license. — The Chairman proposed that the request be granted subject to the usual conditions.— Seconded and carried. From W. G. White, J. H. Stevens, and G. A. Turton, as follows : — At the last annual meeting of the Hawera Public Library we wore appainted to interview your Council re. subsidy to the funds of tho institution. Of 189 subscribers 67 families am residents of the county. The Wanganui Council contributes £10 and the Waitotara County £5 to the Wanganui Library. — The Chairman said the library could be used by every one in the county by paying a small subscription. He thought they should pay something.— Cr Buchanan moved that £7 10s be granted, to be borne by Hawera, Mokoia, and Okaiawa ridings. — Carried. FOREMAN'S REPORT. The Foreman (Mr Basliam) reported as follows : —

The various contracts for the supply of boulders are, with one or two ■ wccplions being pushed on well, and the biggest are practically completed, and the stone mostly broken. , , Hastings road.-This contract was le in November, 1903, and up to the present time nothing has been done on it. 1 sug- ; »nst that the contract be cancelled ami ! the work given to another man at the , same price. . , Palmer road.— The work of crushing nnd . spreading metal on this road is now finished, and metal is being blinded and rolled, the latter being practically finished , a J°aten Bridge.— Piles, caps, stringer and joists arc in position, and the decking is being laid; work will be completed m about two days. Meremere road.— This contract is now completed. . Hatrick's road.— The scrubbing for the entire length is completed, and also about ten chains of formation. Ohnwc road. — Contractor will starl metalling on this road on Monday. Maugatoki bridge— The contractor has made 'a start with the excavation tor abutments. Half Holiday.— l have been asked by the men to allow them to cease work on Saturdays at 1 o'clock. At present they ceasework at 4 o'clock, and by working from 8 o'clock till 1 o'clock they will have two hours to make up in five days. This is 24 minutes per day, leaving thirty-six minutes for the dinner hour, which :s quite sufficient— in fact in the winter 100 much— as the men get too cold walking about. I propose to grant this with tinapproval of the Council. Grader.— During the month the grader has been at work on the Lake and Mnnawapou roads and is now on the Whareroa road. ' Crusher.— The crusher will proceed to Xhe Rainic road early next week, when ibis contract will be completed. The report was received. Wila regard to the Palmer road, Cr Wilkie said there was 150yds of metal over, and the question was as to what they ' should do with it.— Cr Dive moved, That , the niotal be left on the side of thr road for maintenance.— Cr Winks seconded.— I Crs Wilkie and Marx said there was too much metal to be left for maintenance, the former thinking that it should be moved to the Elthain road. The trouble was, however, that the settlers would have to 1 pay for the loan, and moving the stone would only complicate the matter. — The resolution was carried. The Council went into committee to consider tenders for the building of the bridge on Hatrick's road. On resuming, it was reported that Higgins' tender had been accepted, subject to Mr Hatrick's approval. The price was £280 16s. The other tenderers were Cave £337 17s 6d, W. It. Coles £297 15s, H. Fryer £309. Messrs Fantham and McLcod attended as a .deputation, and asked for an exchange of land on Fantham's estate with regard to a road. — Mr McLeod asked that the Council exchange a road leading over valleys for a level road. — The Chairman said that the applicants would have to stand the cost of the transfer. — The matter was left in the hands of the Chairman and Cr Winks, with power to act. The action of the committee (the Chairman and Cr Marx) in accepting the tender of H. Fryer for the bridge over the Mangatoki river on the Hastings road was confirmed. The price was £252. The other tenderers were Robertson and Cave £325, W. C. Khodes £305. KAPUNI FORD. Cr. Joll thought it was time the bridge ov»'T the Kapuni on the Skeet road was built. Ho would move that the foreman bi> instructed to prepare plans for a bridge and tall for tenders. The Mangatoki riding had its loan, the Okaiawa riding was in funds, and he and Cr Marx proposed to wait on the Waimate Road Board in order to ask for a subsidy. — Cr Marx seconded. He said it was of course understood that the bridge would be of concrete piers and steel girders.— Carried. Cr Marx moved, That the culvert over the Waingongoro, near Eltlaam, be removed and road widened. — Agreed to, ELTHAM RIDING. Cr Dive brought up the question of d - viding the EHbam riding into two parts. He 1 bought it wa» impossible for one man to do justice to the riding as at present. He did" not think the Waimate district would be injured if it were represented by two instead of three members, so there would be no need to increase the number of councillors. He moved, That a commiltcv, consisting of the Chairman, Cr Marx and the mover, b» set up to consider the advisability of dividing the Eltham riding into two/ Cr Marx seconded. He said he had heard that there was an idea of forming a new county to comprise Eltham and Mangatoki. Ho could not support that idea, < and would like to mention thirt Cr Dive's resolution had nothing to do with it. ( Cr Dive : That is so. | The motion was carried. WAIMATE ROAD BOARD. Cr Oivo said the idea did not emanate from him, but it had been suggesteJ ] that as the Eoad Board's office had bee < burned down this might be a suitable time to unite the <et«jnty and the board. He certainly thought there would be " cheaper administration. Councillors generally thought the ad- | ministration would be cheaper, hut did j not think the idea would be entertained ' by tho Board. Nothing was done in the matter. RANGER; l.'r Dive asked that the ranger be in strutted to go round Eltham more fre qnejilly. Latterly he had been round and had made a good haul. On Rawhiti roa road there was always a large number of cattle ««• horses. It was resolv«d that the ranger bn notified that unless he does lu3 duty batter he will have to gi*« place t<j some j one else. I The Council then rose.