HAWERA COUNTY COUNCIL.

Hawera & Normanby Star, Volume LXII, Issue LXII, 8 May 1911, Page 2

HAWERA COUNTY COUNCIL.

1 MONTHLY MEETING.

The monthly meeting of the Hawera County Council was, held on Saturday. Present: Crs. W. Duirs (chairman), C. Tarrant, J. Dunlop, J. Murdoch, and W. Goodland. MOTOR CAR TRAFFIC. A letter was read from the Patea County Council intimating that it proposed to pass by-laws regulating motor car traffic and asking Hawera County Council to join in a proposed conference of the Patea and Waitotara County Councils and the Automobile Association to thoroughly consider the question. On the motion of the Chairman and Cr. Tarrant, it was decided that the County Clerk and Chairman be authorised to attend the conference. ROYALTY ON METAL. Replying to an application from the County Council to 'charge 6d per yard royalty on all metal or sand taken from the beach adjoining the Hawera County Council the secretary for the Marine Department said it was doubtful whether I the Department had fcny authority to ! authorise such a charge and in any case ! the Minister dia not see his way to give authority to make such a charge. The roads were for the use of all and if any kind of traffic unduly cut them up the matter of making a charge to repair the damage appeared to be one which should be dealt with by means of a wheel tax or toll under any powers for the purpose which may be given by the Counties Act. —No action. NEW ROADS. i Mr H. W. Climie, C.E., wrote on behalf of the executors of Moore Hunter's estate, asking if the Council would take over the roads on the property as the j work was now completed in accordance -rith plans and specifications approved by Council. Mr Muggeridge, county foreman, said he had not yet made an inspection of the road for a final report. Cr. Goodland moved ana Cr. Dunlop seconded, that the matter be referred to foreman for his report.—Carried. AUSTIN ROAD LOAN. Mr P. ODea, solicitor, wrote making formal objection to the proposed inclusion of Mr G. Inkster's property on the Katene road in the proposed rating area in the Austin road loan, and to the proposed non-inclusion of the sections of Mr Goodland which abut on the Austin road and which he understood are far more directly benefited by the loan than Mr Inkster's property. He hoped the Council would consider the matter. The Clerk pointed out that Mr Ink-' ster would have an opportunity to object when the case came before the magistrate to hear any objections. It was decided that the letter be acknowledged. HEAVY TRAFFIC. The question of heavy traffic on the county roads was discussed and it was decided that the by-laws be rigorously enforced during the winter months. The Normanby Town Board applied for the use of the Council's steam roller for the Ketemarae road. The Board to be referred to the foreman. FOREMAN'S REPORT. Mi* Muggeridge reported for the month as follows:— "Fraser Road —I am now proceeding with the metalling on the Fraser road, but I am afraid it will be too late to finish the work this year. "Tongahoe Valley—l have procured pipes for this road—26o one-foot pipes and 47 eighteen^inch—but it has been impossible to get them where wanted on account of the wet weather. The fillings on the new formation being very soft, there has been a considerable number of slips on this road, but have managed to get them removed. "Austin Road—The culvert in the Mungapoa stream, which. consisted of a double row of 2ft pipes close together, had to be lifted this week on account of the scour between the two pipes causing some of them to sink. 1 put them about 3ft apart, and rammed dry clay in between. From the corner of this road by the Ketemarae road for about 10 chains will require facing. The metal could be got at the same time a-s the 10' chains on the Boylan \ road is done, which has been sane- i tioned. "A. horse and spring-dray for Normanby surfacemen would be a great convenience, as they have to hire all the time, having long distances to go. It takes a man most of a day to go to fetch one when wanted. The one procured for Hawera has been in'use every day, and has saved the Council a great deal of hire. "Cottage for Reserve—The reserve would be much safer for the Council's plant if there was one of the employees living on it, as there are a lot of things missed and damage done at present. The Council could charge rent enough to pay the interest. "The roller has finished at Meremere and Mokoia, making a good job of these roads. She rolled four days for the borough, and is now engaged rolling the Hauroto road, which will be finished about Wednesday, and then proceeds to the Austin road. I think it would be advisable for the Council to fix a scale of charges for the hire of this machine. The cogs on the engine are very much worn, and they will want replacing. "The "grader has beeen engaged on the Katene and Whenuku roads, and will be going on to the Whereroa road, Ararata, next week.. "The surfacemen, Mokoia, are engaged patching Mokoia flat, and will be on the Hill in a few days, backing up the metal and widening the road. As there is a creek running parallel, with the road it will be a constant source of expense until the creek is fenced off. Travelling stock is the cause of the trouble, treading the sides away to get at water. There would be about 15 chains of fencing. The contractor on the Whereroa road is getting on slowly on account of the weather. If it rains again the contract will have to stop, because of damage being done to the road. It will require about 30 yards of maintenance metal for this end of the Whereroa and 70 yards for the Ohangai road. There is a piece of metal going up to the dairy factory at the Tawhiti which will require a "few loads of metal." It was decided that a horse and spring-dray be purchased for the Normanby surfacemen. The erection of a cottage at the depot was held over for the present, it being considered that there was no urgency for it. On the motion of Cr Goodland and Cr Tarrant it was decided that the charge for the steam roller to private individuals be £4 per day, but in regard to local bodies the foreman be siven discretionary power. The balance of the report was adopted. SPECIAL RATES. On the proposition of Cr Murdoch and the Chairman it was decided that the following special rates be struck in respect to the undermentioned loans: Austin road, £600 loan, 9-16ths of a penny; Princes street extension, £350, fdj Hauroto road, 19-32 d. The County Clerk said all the loans had been provisionally approved by the Treasury. GENERAL. < It was resolved to offer one shilling per acre to the Public Trustee tor lease

of the Ford Reserve, in the Tongahoe Valley. The employees of the Council forwarded a petition to be allowed one hour per week instead of the half-day allowed monthly. The men said they were willing to make up their hours weekly by having half an hour for lunch instead of one hour as at present, thus making 8£ hours for five days and 4£ ( hours on Saturdays. [ The Council agreed to the request with the exception of the men with the grader team, councillors considering that the horses required a full hour at dinner time, particularly in the winter. Cr Goodland reported that he had arranged with the New Zealand Loan and Mercantile Agency Company to supply Council with necessary oats. — Action confirmed. Mr H. A. Julian waited on the Council regarding allowance for dumping metal.—Referred to foreman with power to act. TENDERS. Tenders were considered for 600 yards crushed pit gravel or approved pit gravel for repairing Lower Inaha road, and it was resolved that M. Morrissey's tender be accepted provided Waimate West County Council are satisfied that he can satisfactorily complete the contract; failing this that H. A. Julian's tender be recommended for acceptance.