WAIMATE WEST COUNTY COUNCIL.

Hawera & Normanby Star, Volume LXXII, Issue LXXII, 13 July 1917, Page 6

WAIMATE WEST COUNTY COUNCIL.

MONTHLY MEETING

The monthly meeting was held at Manaia on Thursday. There were present: Civs McPhillips (chairman), Bridge, Long, Le Fleming, Morton, Stevenson.

The Minister of Internal Affairs wrote asking for particulars of cemeteries, if any, under control of. the Waimate Council, and if they would allow burial plots for soldiers free of charge and later permit the Government to erect suitable headstones.-—A reply was sent that the Council had nothing to offer. The secretary of <the Manaia branch of the N.Z. Farmers' Union asked for permission to meet in the Council rooms. They also sent a letter drawing attention to the careless manner in which boxthorn is left lying about the roads and to the large number of stray cattle allowed, to wander at large. —On the motion of Cr Long, it was agreed that the request be granted. It was a farmers' concern, and the Council should do what they could to help them. In reference to boxthorn on the roads councillors agreed that there were many cases in which it was left lying about far too long. It should be cleared within a week at the latest. .—The engineer said the matter had been a great trouble to him. —On the motion of the chairman, it was resolved to leave the matter to the engineer, it being agreed that a reasonable time should be allowed.— Cr Long pointed out that the Council must consider that labor is very scarce. The Council insisted that boxthorn hedges should not encroach on the road, and that as far as possible the by-laws should be jmforced.—The chairman said they d* not want to be hard on farmers, especially in view of labor troubles, but it was necessary.— In regard to stray cattle, it was decided' that the ranger's attention be called, to this matter and that he be requested to pay more attention to abating this nuisance.

A letter was received from the Automobile Association requesting that the provisions of the Lights of Vehicles Act be enforced in the county boundaries. Owing to tlie increasing traffic, said the secretary, the need for strict compliance with the" law is the greater. Cars are not often driven without lights, while it is a very common occurrence to meet horse-drawn vehicles without any light.—Cr Stevenson thought it was a step in the right direction. It was most dangerous to ride without lights. There was also danger sometimes in using dimmers.— The chairman said it was essential that motorists should, make use of the dimmers. On his motion, it was resolved that the Council should support the Act in every way possible. The engineer was requested to try to enforce that motorists carry proper lights.

The Manaia Town Board wrote asking tne Council to bear the cost of painting the walls of the room in the Town Hall formerly occupied by the Council, in order to have the premia^ in a respectable condition.—Cr Bridge said" that the rent paid by the Council was considered a contribution towards the upkeep of the Town Hall. He was rot in favor of paying any more. On his motion the letter was recerred.

A letter was received from the executors of the late Felix McGuire, in reference to clearing a part of the road I near a property on the llowan road v owned b.y the estate, so as to prevent verflow on to the property.—it was resolved that the Council can accept no liability in regard to the drain mentioned.

. il. Hinch, of Auroa road, wrote drawing attention to the outlet of the creek running through his farm, -where the water has backed up on an adjoining farm, and he has no chance of getting his cows over or round the creek because it cannot dry. owing to the heavy rains.—Considerable discussion of a more or less informal nature took place. The chairman said that the matter was one for the Counties' Association to deal with. The trouble had been met with ever since the time when that country was in bush and drains were laid at the sides of the road to take away the surface 'water, it was resolved that the matter be r-.-ferred to the Counties' Association solicitor, and that he be asked to give an opinion on the liability of the Council to, the public re keeping drains open for taking surplus water off settlers' property. The chairman and the clerk were deputed to draft the letter and the engineer instructed to firing down a report on the creek in question.

NEIL ROAD

The Eltham County Council, in ref&rence to -Neil road, stated that the total amount expended on the road was £120 Is Bd. The clerk stated that Waimate had agreed to contribute £35, but as the work could not be ■cione tor this amount, plus subsidy from Eltham, it was considered better in the ratepayers 1 interest to complete the work without delaying for another season. He added that his Council (Eltham) hoped that Waimate would see its way to meet them by paying an equal hdf share of the cost.

Cr Long said that the Eltham road •was be:ng maintained out of toll-gate revenue. He-did not see why the extra amount on the Neil road was necessary; £35, he considered, was a fair thing. The chairman said this was so, hut considered it should be paid, it was right that the county should help the ratepayers in every part of their district.

Cr Long said it would be better to raise a loan and make the road right through. It was at present one of the worst roads in the district. Waimate have given every penny of revenue raised on that road.

'Jho chairman .said the arrangement had been that Waimate should contribute £35 if Eltham gave £ for £. He was in accord with the suggested loan, but he was afraid they could not ask settlers to go in for another loan. Cv Stevenson .suggested that the £»o required should be advanced out of next year's rates. They could not jrve more than the total of rates on the road.

Cr Long said it would be a big job to make the road, but it would give satisfaction. He was anxious that the .road-be done and done properly. At present it was most unsatisfactory. The engineer said it would cost about £1000 to make the road.

The chairman said the road was out of the Waimate area, but the ratepayers use it. It is in a very had st?te.

Cr Morton said that the money raised on that road belongs fco the settlers. He moved, and it was carried, that the £25 extra be paid.

RATES, 1917-18

The chairman, in a few introductory remarks, said that he had been round ihe county roads and they were mosti' :'; ■■■•>'». <■ . r was not the ';*>;■ •"- ■"•"'-'■••■. J.'.!ip " .:■ v.j.i to l«ie ■ ■ ;-<: :'la- t«. • X :.<\i 'n !i : ,-x f|-.----1 • '?h .- w<: ■• :.r ,-. s .. ,■•>.. jic I'Mjf. A. -GO"'!' "^n (*iM h*>on '!>!"•■ iior:'. ~ avc wt-.en th:s came it wouid

leave the county with a clean balancesheet.

The estimates for the coming year were as follows:

Waimate Riding—Revenue £6522, expenditure £6311 (including £4290. for schedule of works); balance, £211; proportion £5000 loan, £3334; total, £3545; less proportion bank overdraft, £1375; estimated credit, £2170. Kaupokonui Riding—Revenue £3101. proportion £5000 loan £1666, total £4767; less expenditure £4142 (including schedule of works £3070)"; credit, £625.

It was decided to adopt the schedule of works proposed. Cr Stevenson said it would be folly to strike a less rate than last year. Ratepayers were satisfied because they had good roads to travel over. Also, it would not do to strike more at present, ' and besides ,they were under agreement not to increase the rates. It was resolved that the rates be th» same as last year, viz.: Waimate lid, Kaupokonui lfd.

ENGINEER'S REPORT

The eagineer reported as follows: I have to report that 1 had about 125 yards of stone crushed and spread on the Rowan road. With very little attention this should keep the road in good order until we are ready to remetal it next season. During the month I re-tarred the Main South road from Kaupokonui bridge along to Otakeho store, i propose holding the balance of this work over until the weather is more suitable. I made a start breaking the large stone in the metal on Winks road east, but have not yet been able to arrange with anyone <to cart out the blinding. I have had maintenance work done on most of the roads throughout the county, and also had a new guard rail put across the small bridge on the Rama road. After finishing the crushing on Rowan road I found it necessary to bring the crusher into the yard to have her overhaiiled. We put in new bearings and also found it necessary to have the. main shaft turned up. I have since had the crusher taken up on to the Oeo road, where we have made a start crushing.