WAIMATE WEST COUNTY COUNCIL.

Hawera & Normanby Star, Volume LXV, Issue LXV, 14 November 1913, Page 2

WAIMATE WEST COUNTY COUNCIL.

MONTHLY MEETING.

The usual monthly meeting was held at Manaia on Thursday. Present: Crs T. McPhillips (chairman), T. A. Bridge, Le Fleming, D. J. Hughes, Duncan Scott, and W. Morton. CONDOLENCE. Prior to commencing business the chairman said that since last meeting one of the councillors —Cr Scott —had suffered a sad bereavement in the death of his brother-in-law. It was one of those unfortunate and sad cases of a young man being cut off in the prime of life leaving a widow and young family, and he (the chairman) felt he-was voicing the feeling of the Council when he said that members extended their sincerest sympathy to the widow and young children and to the Scott family. He moved that a letter of sympathy be sent to Mrs Levings and relatives. —In seconding the resolution, Cr Hughes trusted that Cr Scott, who was a man with plenty of heart, would long be spared to help the widow and orphans.—The motion was carried in silence, members standing. LEVEL RAILWAY CROSSINGS. A communication was read from the chairman of the Counties' Association re proposed legislation imposing on local bo"dies the cost of bells, appliances, etc.' r (as already published). On the motion of the chairman, seconded by Cr Scott, it was decided to ask their member in Parliament to strongly protect against the projjosed legislation. VALUATION MATTERS. In reply to the Council's resolution that owners should be notified of the proposed visit of the District Valuer, the Valuer-General replied, inter alia : "On the completion of the valuation notices of the proposed values are sent to owners and lessees oi property advising them that objections will be received "up to a date specified in the notices. The valuation roll is, in due course, deposited in a public o^ice in the district for inspection, and notification of that fact is inserted in a newspaper circulating in the district. As soon as the date for receiving objections has expired, the objections received are forwarded to the valuer .whose duty it is to interview the objectors as far as practicable with the view of affording an opportunity for discussion and also for amending the values if found necessary. A considerable period is allowed to elapse before the sitting of the Assessment Court, if a court be found necessary. I deprecate the aid of an Assessment Court if possible. It is only in* eases where jt is absolutely necessary that a Gourt is set up. I think you will admit that the procedure thus outlined is such as to allow full opportunity for objectors meeting the valuer before the values are finally determined." —Cr Hughes protested that this was" really no reply. No one knew when the valuer was coming on to his property, and he, having made the valuation, the owner had "Buckley's" chance of explaining matters afterwards. His point was that the owner or lessee should know of the valuer's intended visit, so that such things as underground drains and other improvements, not seen on the surface, should be pointed out and allowed for. A MISSING CASE. A communication was read from W. A. McLaren and Co., Ltd., Christchurch, re a missing case of parts for the Council's engine ex s.s. Orari, stating that they had discovered that it was shipped from Wellington on January 26 and railed from Patea to Hawera on February 5. It lay in Hawera until March 1, on which date it was taken delivery of by W. Reynolds, Otakeho carrier, whom they presumed was acting on behalf of the Waimate West County Council. —The chairman said that he and Cr Scott had spent some time in Hawera investigating this matter. It appears that the case was sent through the Colonial Carrying Co.. whose Hawera agent overlooked advising the Council of its arrival. Reynolds says he signed for it, amongst other things, but actually never saw the case. The Carrying Company's agent, on the other hand, was emphatic that he saw the case there, but absolutely no trace of it could be found. Its value was about £15; and it was resolved to write to Messrs McLaren and Co. explaining the circumstances, and declining to accept any liability for the case until it was received by the Council. SKEET ROaD BRIDGES. A communication was read from the Treasury, stating that the sum of £317 had been remitted to the credit of the Council's account. This was in connection with the Skeet road bridges.— Tijt chairman mentioned that he understood that Et Mr Murray, District Government Engineer, had been over the bridges and that he was thoroughly satisfied with the work. Members were aware that a marble tablet, costing five guineas, had been placed on the Mangawhero bridge, but some contemptible, mischievous person or a lunatic had broken it. Such a person should either be in gaol or an asylum, as no reasonable person would go to work in the dark to valfully waste ratepayers' money. If he had a grievance against any councillors, the Wiairman, or engineer, he should say so openly, and not vent his spite oi jealousy in such a contemptible way. The mat ter had" been put into the hands of the police, ant if they were successful in finding the miscreant the Council would urge a substantial punishment After consultation with two other councillors hi (the chairman) had ordered another tablet to re place the broken one.—On the motion of C: Bridge* seconded by Cr Scott the chairman's ac tion was endorsed. OVERSEER'S REPORT. The overseer reported as follows: —Since m; last report the road staff has been engaged a general surface work in both ridings, besides as sisting with the approaches to the Mangawheri bridge, which one is now complete. A start ha been made with Glenn road bridge over the Kau pokonui river, the two end foundations being nov in. The contractors have been making the bes use of their time in getting out metal for con tracts 9 and 10, and should be ready for crushing next week. In this connection I think it ex pedient to let several small contracts for de livery of stone as there are contractors in ou; county who are waiting for work to come out; am if none is forthcoming may go further afield. Ri repairs to road roller : This work has been cxc. cutcd by Mr Wm. Taylor, engineer, Manaia, in i most workmanlike manner, arid to my mind the roller is stronger at the break than any othei part. The road plough : I have given the ordei to Messrs Reid and Uray for a heavy single fur row (costing £17 landed at Hawera), "and suitable for both metal and side tracks. I feel disposed to recommend the purchase of a heavy draught horse for the water cart, or even a heavy" team would be a paying proposition. The traction engine purchased by your Council, to be delivered by the first of November, has not yet arrived, probably owing to wet weather at Stratford. 1 have had a quarter of an acre ploughed and sowed down with carrots for winter feed for the horses. Re Mangawhero and Otakeho bridges : I would like to bring before your notice the fact that the gravel for these bridges was donated by Mr Jas. Wilson and Mr Duff respectively.. Jn connection with the former brieige I might mention that the marble tablet was deliberately broken by some one at night. Attached is an estimate of proposed deviation. Estimated cost of Skeet road deviation at Mr James Byrne's : Extension of concerte culvert up stream 15ft, £8 15s; filling up with earth, £12; total, £20 15s. Extension of culvert down stream, £12 10s; filling up with earth, £15; total, £27 10s. I would suggest, if the land can be acquired, to take about 15ft off the corner of Mr James Byrne's property, which would considerably straighten the road and render it only necessary to extend the culvert in the up stream end. Extension up stream and filling, £20 15s; metalling 7 chains 140 yards at 7s 6d, £52----total, £72 15s.

Discussing the report and that portion of it relating to small contracts, the chairman thought it desirable that a small committee should he set up to go into the matter, and go over the roads with the engineer and see what was to be done this year. Having done so, the committee should then be empowered to call for tenders for the delivery of stone in the different ridings.—Cr Bridge thought the better plan would be for a committee to ascertain, firstly, what monies were available for each riding.—After a brief discussion Cr Scott moved that the Council's Finance Committee report at Hie beginning of the week so that tenders be called and returned in time for the annual meeting of the Council on the 26th. Carried.—lt was resolved that one heavy horse and harness be purchased as recommended by (he overseer. It was pointed out that such a horse would be very useful in slack seasons for carting out boulders.—lt was unanimously resolved that a vote of thanks be passed to Messrs Duff and Wilson for their- donation; of metal to the Skeet road bridges.— In regard to; the Sheet road deviation ■> the chairman said that he;, had seen Sir Byrne, who said that "if the Council required a bit of land for the purpose he would be pleased to give it. This particular corner was jus an "S" and very dangerous, especially for motor cars.—Crs Morton and Scott agreed that it would be money well spent to straighten this piece of road, and the latter moved that Mr Byrne be thanked for his generous, public-spirited offer.— Seconded and carried.—The chairman mentioned that experiments were being made with two tareoating processes on the Main South road. —Cr Morton reported that he ami CrLe Fleming had secured Mr Campbell's signature re Oeo road special loan, and it was resolved that the Egmont County Council' be asked to proceed with the necessary formalities for the raising of their share of the original loan, as the ratepayers, on their side and on the Waimate side were quite satisfied with the, amount that the Waimate County , Council, as the body having (he spending of the money, considered they could make a passable job with, viz., £1800.—Cr Le Fleming mentioned the Omuturaijgi road, and thought that as nothing had been* done to it for a long time the accrued revenue should now be spent on it, and he moved that the foreman report on the best means of improving it with the funds available.— Left with . the overseer and Cr Le Fleming.— Ct L«> Fleming also mentioned a filling that wanted attenion in front of Dorn's shop afc Otakeho, and the chairman also drew attention to Winks' road. —Cr Morton reported that no applications had been received for the old suspension bridge' material at Otakebo. and it bad row been removed with the Council's other property that was there. TOLL GATES. Cr Hughes said that one of his election pledges .was to endeavor to bring about the abolition oj toll-gates, and in pursuance of this pledge he had communicated with fourteen members of the Houce asking if a petition were pres°nted tr* Parliament how they woidd regard it. Mr Thompson, a member who had vfrited the district, considered that the blocking of tho King's highway was an obsnWe method of collecting revenue, and the tull-gntes should be rr-otfid out. The ■premiT. Messrs OVuv, Wi'kinson. Fine, Pearce, and Isitt were non-comnifttal until /-hey

saw the petition. Dr Pomare, Messrs Colvin, Thompson, and Buddo were straight against tollgates and would support a petition if presented, continuing his argument, Cr Hughes asid this barbarous method of collecting revenue in tne present enlightened generation brought a blush to every right-thinking person's brow. The credit DjLa country, especially in the matter'of Arrowing, depended almost entirely on its exports, and there was, he ventured to say, no other part of New Zealand exporting as heavily, pro rata, as South Taranaki. Consequently, ii the exporting facilities of such a locality were hampered by such institutions as toll-gates, it was the duty of the Government to suDsidise the local bodies concerned for any loss they might suffer by reason of their abolition. He felt sure other local bodies, excepting those deriving revenue from these gates, would gladly back up a petition, as would also the dairy factories. It, would ccst them nothing to ascertain the feeling of the county, and he moved that a committee consisting of the chairman, Cr Scott and himself be appointed to prepare a petition for discussion at next meeting.

The chairman thought that in the case of one local body having to carry heavy traffic from another county some provision would have to be made fora special subsidy from the Government. Failing this a commission should be set up to adjust finances between the counties concerned; any means would be better than the toll-gate.— Cr Le Fleming remarked that if the Council had to pay a subsidy only the ratepayers would bear it; as it was everyone who used the road contributed towards its keep.—Cr Scott agreed that whilst the toll«gate method of collecting revenue was obsolete and expensive, still a special subsidy would mean a heavy tax on ratepayers.— Cr Bridge said they might rest assured that the Government would not assume any additional liability, even if Parliament did agree to abolish tV gates.—After a little further discussion, Cr Scott seconded Cr Hughes' motion, which was carried. IN APPRECIATION., Cr Bridge moved that, as this was the last meeting of the Council prior to electing a chairman for the ensuing year, the Council grant the present chairman the usual honorarium of £25. He wouft like to say that Cr McPhillips had been most assiduous in carrying out his duties and had spared neither time nor trouble nor his own motor car in the Council's business.—Cr Scott seconded.—Cr Le Fleming, in paying his tribute to the chairman, considered thatC'r McPhillips had conducted the Council's business in a very able and impartial manner. The thanks, not only of the Council, but of the whole of the ratepayers, were due to him. —Cr Bridge's motion was unanimously carried.—ln returning thanks the chairman said he had always striven to act impartially and to consider the interests of ratepayers irrespective of riding. He had intended at this meeting <o introduce the question of roads, but thought it advisable not to do so until the new .chairman was elected. But he would like to say that recently he had been over the roads and he was fully convinced that there was no alternative but to go in for a loan. If once they were assured of the acceptance of the loan proposals by the ratepayers the Council could spend a little extra in rates this year to keep the roads in better order in anticipation of having to spend less whilst the loan money was being utilised. As he said previously, the only alternative to the loan was another 7s 6d per acre rate, and whilst he personally would prefer this it would bear unduly hard on short lessees, and would be an altogether unfair- burden on them.