HAWERA COUNTY COUNCIL

Hawera & Normanby Star, Volume LVII, Issue LVII, 11 April 1910, Page 6

HAWERA COUNTY COUNCIL

MONTHLY MEETING.

The monthly meeting of the Hawera County Council, held on Saturday, was attended by Councillors Duirs (Chairman), Goodland, Tarrant, Dunlop, Murdoch, and Winks. BURN STREET. Ten residents of Burn street south, Hawera Extension, forwarded a petition asking for a footpath and a crossing to connect with main. road. The letter pointed out that the path was urgently needed, in view ot the approach of the winter. It was decided that the foreman bring down a report for next meeting. LIABILITY OF A CONTRACTOR. The Taranaki County Council wrote holding Hawera County Council responsible for any extraordinary expense incurred in repairing any road damaged hy the Hawera contractor taking metal from Sentry Hill. The letter from the Taranaki body states that the Council had been unaole to enter into an agreement with the contractor and they would therefore be compelled to recover the amount under section 150 of the Public Works Act. It was pointed out that the specifications do not specincially provide that any damage done by contractor to auy ' medalled roads over which he may, c^rt I must be repaired, by him, but giaijse 10 of specifications reads: "Payments will be made monthly at the, ? tt i, e o f 75 per cent on work done bi>_* v fi na l payments Trill be withheld as. legally, required and until the contra^or produces ,proo£ that all claims for royalty, trespass, damage done and an y i oss .through any cause I whatsoever in connection with this conlinnet have been fully satisfied." It was decided to [take no action for the present. ROYALTY FOR METAL. The Reserves Agent, New Plymouth, sent forward a claim of 3d per yard royalty for metal taken from Mr McGuire's land and declining to reduce the charge. The County Clerk (Mr. Budge) stated .that in the past the Council had only paid 2d per yard. After discussion it was resolved that the public trustee be paid 3d and that Mr McGuire be paid at the same rate. An amendment moved by the Chairman that Mr McGuire should only be paid l£d was not seconded. A CLAIM FOR £200. Messrs Weston and Weston, New. Plymouth, wrote, claiming £200 for personal injury and loss suffered by Mr Alfred Drake through being thrown from a waggon on Waingongoro Bridge, Skeet Road, on February 25 last. The letter alleged that the accident was caused through a defective plank in the bridge tipping and the wheel of the waggon going through. Cr. Goodland said there was no doubt that the Council were liable for some amount. Cr. Dunlop enquired if the^. Council could recover from the Eltham County Council. Cr. Goodland did not think they could. 1 Cr. Murdoch understood that the claimant was trotting across the bridge at the time and he believed this was contrary to the Act. Mr Muggeridge (County foreman) said he was making enquiries into the affair. He had seen the plank, but it was nailed down. The Chairman said he did not think they could do anything until they got further information. Cr. Goodland said they would not get full particulars until they received the statement of claim. It was resolved to leave the matter in the hands'of the Chairman, Cr. Goodland and the foreman to make\enquiries and confer with the county solicitor. MANAWAPOU BRIDGE. The Patea County Council requested that the- Manawapou bridge, re* repaired by Hawera County Council, the cost to be shared between the two bodies* Agreed to. REMOVAL OF TELEGRAPH POLES. The Post and Telegraph Department forwarded a communication in regard to the removal of the telegraph posts on the Hawera-Normanby road, and stated that owing to the removal of the soil from around the existing poles the responsibility for any accident which might occur would rest with the Coun- . cil. The Hawera lineman had been instructed to remove those poles which are now in tho way of traffic to a position nearer tho edge of the road. The Department looked to the Council to pay tho cost — from £7 to £8. No action, pending receipt of claim for payment. GOVERNMENT GRANTS. At the previous meeting the Council passed a resolution, stating that unless the Government was prepared to allow a reasonable amount for engineering; and other expenses, the Council could not see its way to undertake the expenditure of grants for the Whenuakura Valley, Tongahoe, and Putupurenui roads. The Under-Secretary for Public Works, Mr H. J. Blow, in reply, wrote : "The condition iJhat the expenses of supervision may not be made a charge against the authority issued in respect of any particular road has been imposed in the case of every other local body, and the Minister regrets that ho ■ is iinablo to see his way to make any variation of this general rule in favor of llio Hawera County Council. As tho Council is unable" to take up these works, the matter will bo referred to

the District Engineer for report, and if the works are of a sufficiently urgent character the question of having them carried out by the Department's staff will receive the Minister's consideration."

In connection with tho Government

grants a letter was received from the Eltliam County Council suggesting that concerted action be taken by local bodies interested, with tbe object of endeavoring to arrange for each grant being made to bear the expenses of and incidental to its expenditure. Cr Dunlop moved. That this Council will unite with all the local bodies concerned in tho direction indicated. Cr Winks seconded tho motion, which was carried.

ABOUT A CLOSED ROAD.

Tho Chief Surveyor, New Plymouth, wrote as follows: "An application has been recived in this office from Mr H. W. Climie, on behalf of Mr R. H. Nolan, who owns the bulk of the adjoining land, to have the portions of road

adjoining north boundary of Section 106, Patea District which were closed by Gazette No. 22, '0f 26/12/74, p. 106, re-opened. The land belongs to the Crown, and boforo considering the application I should like to know your Council's view of iho matter."

Mr Budge said Mr Climio was making further enquiries into the matter. Tho Council decided that it could not Jo anything in the meanwhile. COUNTIES' CONFERENCE.

Tho Counties' Association wrote intimating that it was proposed to hold a conference during the first fortnight of the forthcoming session. Cr Goodland and Mr Budge were appointed the Council's delegates. RAILWAY DEPARTMENT AND CONTRACTOR.

District Engineer, Railway Department, Wanganui, wrote saying ho understood that Mr Montefiore was paying tho cost of opening up railway pit at Sentry Hill, and asking if the Council would bo willing to recoup Mr Montefiore part of the cost. Replying to Cr Goodland, the Foreman stated that only a glut, for testing purposes, had been mado into the G > vernmont pit. It was pointed out that Mr Montpfioro had nearly a thousand yards to complete his contract, and that this amount would not be sufficient to meet all tho requirements. Eventually it was decided that a fu^ ther quantity of metal be obtained from Mr Montefiore at contract price — the amount to be obtained beiiig left to the discretion of tn© Fo,V6man.

FOREMAN'S REPORT.

Mr Muggeridge i-eported for the month as follows; —

"The accoroiiiodation for the men in Ararata is insufficient. If the Council will supply enough material to put up an Bf.t ; x. 10ft room the men will do the work. The chimney is worn out and requires replacing; a brick one would be preferred." — Left with foreman to arrange. "Mr Robertson complains about an open drain through his property close to the "house, and wishes it filled up. It would take two and a half chains or 6in pipes." — No action to be taken at present, but the Council will keep it clean. . . , "Kohiti Road. — The culvert is finished and the work is now proceeding with the filling in. "Difision Road.— The contractor has finished the original contract. Councillors Goodland and Murdoch decided to do the remaining 14 chains finishing the road from end to end. "Austin Road. — In anticipation of a loan Cr Goodland and I let a contract of 150 yards of metal at 6s per yard to put on a cutting and filling. "Main South Road.— l am now putting the broken stone on this road, countersinking and putting between 6 and 7 yards to the chain. "Webster and Hay. — This contract has been finished in the specified time the Council gave at last meeting. "The grader has been working on the Normanby road, and has also formed a mile of the Otoki road. "The telegraph poles have been shifted back to the fence on Normanby road, and I should like to have them shifted on the Normariby-Okaiawa, road, as the metal wants backing up and the posts are in the way of the grader." — Resolved to ask the poles to be removed. "I would like to call your attention to the need of metal on Main road, Mokoia, Lake road, and Ketemarae road as reported last month." The report (except where otherwise dealt with as shown above) was adopted.

GENERAL.

Cr Goodland moved, and the Chairman seconded, That the necessary steps be taken to raise a loan of about £500 for the construction of Austin road from the Boylan road for a distance of 70 chains. Cr Tarrant moved, That the necessary steps be taken to raise a loan for construction of Princes street extension as agreed upon by the ratepayers and when procedure is in order. The Chairman seconded the motion, which , was carried Cr Dunlop complained that A. C. Vincent, the contractor for the delivery and crushing of metal from the Tongahoe river for Ohangai had not yet made a start. He moved, That unless the contract were started within three days and proceeded —hh satisfactorily — delivery of 60 yards per day — the contract would be cancelled and the full penalties enforced. — Cr Goodland seconded the motion, which was carried. H. S. Squire waited on the Council in connection with his metalling contract at Whareroa station last year. He stated that he had arranged with the then foreman to cart some 1100 yards extra metal, for which he claimed

6d per yard. — No action. It was decided to contribute £2 towards th# cost of repairing damage done on the Ingahape road, in Patea West district, by Council's contractor. The Secretary of the Discharged Prisoners' Aid Society wrote appealing for financial assistance from the Council to help the Society in its work. — Decided to inform the Society that the Council had no funds from which it could make a grant. Applications were received from H. Mowbray and Rossiter for permission to erect boiling-down works in the county, and it was decided to get the foreman to obtain a report on the proposed sites before taking action.

FINANCE

The Clerk reported that £7277 2s Id was the total amount of rates collectable for the year, and that £7084 2s 9d had been collected. There was still £IGO 13s 6d to get in. Of that amount £31 17s 9d was disputed. He had issued summonses for £108 13s 6d.