EGMONT COUNTY COUNCIL

Hawera & Normanby Star, Volume LXV, Issue LXV, 15 November 1913, Page 6

EGMONT COUNTY COUNCIL

MONTHLY MEETING.

The usual monthly meeting of the Council was lield at Opunake on Friday, there being present : Cm W. C. Dudley (chairman), Maxwell, Campbell, Hurst, Farquhar,. Harvey, Davey, and Willcox'. l>eave of absence was granted to Cr Burgess. INWARD. CORRESPONDENCE. From the Counties Association fe proposed legislation to impose on local bodies liability for bells, appliances, overhead bridges, etc., at level railway crossings.—Cr.Maxwell remarked that, apart from the question of whether local bodies could stand the cost of these works, there was the more furious question of the liability of local bodies in- accidents. The Government might resist claims where a local body would not be able to do so, and there would be the further difficulty fi conflicting evidence. It seemed quite clear that the authority running the trains should be the one to be held responsible for any accidents. Resolved to request the member for the district to resist the proposals. From the Premier noting the Councils resolution in regard to the' Taranaki district hospital boundaries and their diflHulties in regard to the < >co district. The matter would have his careful ♦••onsitieration. From the Public Works Department, intimating that the Council might include repairs to culvert in their proposals for the expenditure of the £54 cine to the Wiremu road. From the Public Trustee, re the £1000 loan, intimating that, being satisfied that the special rate oi 1.85 d in the £ was sufficient to cover charges on the loan, together with the 10 per cent, margin as required, would shortly forward necessary resolutions for completion. From the State Advanoes Office, re proposed loan of £6000 to renew a number of bridges, etc., asking for Information regarding the proposed work. They also intimated that the office could Tiot make any promise as to future advances (of £2000 » year as suggested), as it was not possible to say what would be the position of the department's finances so far ahead.

TARANAKI HOSPITAL CONTRIBUTIONS. \ communication was read from the Taranaki District Hospital Board, enclosing formal notification re adjustment of apportionments and setting out that the Egmont Council's contribution would be £3515 (previous £3500). A letter was also read from the Public Trustee notifying the Cpun- j cil that their application for a loan of £3600 had been approved at 5 per cent, interest and 1 per ] oent. sinking fund. The money, however, must 4>e lifted by December 1, at which date interest would commence.—The chairman explained that the Hospital Board would certainly not require any of this money before March next, tenders for the building not yet having been called.- He had interviewed the bank manager;-'who had offered to allow 2 per cent, interest on a short-dated fixed •deposit. This would mean the loss of 4 per cent. \a the Council. The bank manager suggested that it would be in the Council's interest to let this loan lapse, as having once been approved by the Public Trustee, it was marked, as gilt-edged, and the Council would probably have no difficulty in aeaih raisin? \i.— On the motion of Cr Farquhar, seconded by Cr Hurst, it was decided to let the loan lapse and to make a fresh application when the proper time arrived; also that the Taranaki Hospital Board be asked to indicate how much money they would probably require each year.

OVERSEER'S REPORT. The overseer reported as follows: Oeo Riding Northern: The work done during the month has consisted mainly of the opening up of inlets and outlets to culverts, the cleaning out of water-tables and side drains, and minor surface repairs. There are a few small breaks on the Stratford, Auroa, and Eltham roads requiring attention, and I have given instructions for thetn to tte\attended to. _ Oeo Riding Southern: Hams has effected repairs to the Patiki, Skeet, Nopera and Main South roads, and is now cleaning out side channels on the Skeet road- after which the Watino road will be deanedup. Several timber culverts on different roads collapsed, and these have been renewed with pipe culverts. Have put in a service track and stripped a pit behind the Oeo road, and the face disclosed a large quantity of good metal. RahoJu Riding South and Opunake: Side drainin» and surface repairs represent the hulk of the woric in this riding. Rua Bishop provided the required assistance and the filling alongside the Main road has been attended to. Several culverts on the Main South and Eltham roads^have also been renewed with pipes. General: As the two pits.opened up for the Oeo Southern are composed of fine material and will not require crushing, I would suggest that tenders be called for next meeting so that these contracts may be proceeded with. The work o. the office is somewhat handicapped for want of a large county map, and I would suggest that one be obtained at a scale of 20 chains to an inch. 'As instructed tenders were called for contract No. #12, and these aTe now before you. I would ask the Council's authority to pay permanent hands overtime for any time worked over eight hours .while engaged on contracts. Discussing the report it was resolved that a map be obtained as suggested by the 'overseer. Re paying surfacemen overtime, Cr Willcox moved that they be paid overtime as recomniended.—Cr Farnuhar seconded.—One member remarked, that a resolution was passed last year against this, but the clerk explained that this referred to contracts —Cr Willcox's motion was ultimately carried, with the instruction that the engineer was to decide on each case. It was resolved that tenders be called for the Main South road contract as recommended.

GENERAL. It was resolved, in regard to the Oeo Boundary toad to go on with the loan as, suggested by the Waimate West. County Council. The chairman mentioned that there were no dissentient, an i it was the concern of the Waimate Council, as the spending authority, whether they had si;ffcient money or not. . The tender of James Hiekey was accepted for contract No. 212 (1500 yards of metal for ihe hltha'in road). >. , ' . Reference was again made to stock guv.ng on the county roads, and it was resolved to notify the ranger that if he did not attend to his duties better his services would be dispensed with. Cr Burgess drew attention to the fact that tne Council was not yet apparently getting any revenue from hawker's license?.—The engineer reported that he had a case against one man now impending, and was closely watching other unlicensed hawkers, whom he would prosecute as soon as he secured the necessary evidence. It was resolved to call for tenders for dog collars, to toe in by next meeting.