PATEA COUNTY COUNCIL.

Hawera & Normanby Star, Volume XLII, Issue XLII, 12 April 1922, Page 5

PATEA COUNTY COUNCIL.

MONTHLY MEETING.

I I The monthly meeting of the Pates County Council was neld yesterday 1 resent: Lrs. Gibbs (chairman), Suth«rl «0,7 J- vr^°] °P^\ Taylor, I Be A l*on * Hurley, Scown, and Catkins, i Mr. *. J. j. in er and six otner rate^ payers brought before the notue of the council tne oad state of the road between Waitotara and Ngutuwera creamo' J},° nJ hQ U PPer VVaitotara Valley Koad.—The engineer said that there were practically five miles of road and fou* miles were pretty bad. It would cost £20 a chain to make a job of the road, and £10 a chain would be a lot of money to spend. He thought tiie surfaceman would be able to attend to^ the road in the meantime.—lt was decided that the petitioners be informed that the council had no money for permanent work, and that the'engineer: would attend to temporary repairs A letter was received from a ratepayer stating that he was unable to pay his rates at the present time, and expressing a, hope that the 10 per ceafc penalty would not be imposed.—Cr" Belton said he had been aproached hy this^ratepayer, who was under, the impression that the Council was'giving: privileges, to some ratepayers that it was withholding from others This he had absolutely denied.. GVvMcDonald said there was a great deal of misapprehension about the date on which rates had to be paid, and many people, guided by the custom o£ former years, did not think it was necessary to pay before March 31. In cases like this he did not think ttev should insist on the penalty. Cr Belton said it was the duty of the Council to make things as easy as possible m the present difficult times - lne conditions were extraordinary and1 many people were finding it 'hard enough to pay the rates without the addition of 10 per cent. He wonldmove that the 10 per cent, be remitted on rp, rates ?aid UP to March 31 The chairman: What about those whox have paid the 10 per cent. Cr Belton: The amount would have to be remitted

The clerk did not think that any refund could legally be made of rates: already paid.

Cr Belton said there had-only been * one wool sale yet, and the proceeds fcatt not been up to expectations. « /™ was stated tnat rates amounting to £4000 had already been paid. V, The clerk said that £6000 would bear the 10 per cent, penalty which had been collected in many .eases. The: legal advice was that'rates, once collected, could not be refunded. Cr Belton: It is only the penalty which we propose to refund. The clerk: It forms part of the rate Cr Belton said he was not satisfied on that nomt.

Cr Taylor sard they would probably nave to wait a good while yet for some of the rates not yet collected

Cr McDonald seconded the motion. lhe chairman said that their efforts t^-^aeji their finances on a better foo*2rig*u&Htd lose their effect if the motion. was carried.

The motion was carried by five votes to four.

\Et was stated that the resolution, could only be given effect to if in accordance with the law, in so far as it. atteeted refunds.

■Mr A Young, Kohi, Waverley, wrote stating that wandering stick were again, causing a considerable amoun of trouble so much so that it was unsafe for school * children to travel on the road at times the psst fortnight 15 calves and 2& iiead of cattle had been practically LYing on -the road.—The clerk stated that he .had written stating that the matter was in the hands of the riding member A circular letter was received front the Hastings Borough Council in reference to the Local Bodies' Finance Act, 1921, which, restricted the borrowing powers of local bodies, and made no pro^ ' vision for a credit balance in one account being used to set off a debit balance m the general account, and so save interest charges. Objection was aTsit raised to the provision made for wininjr oft antecedent liability. The chairman said they would have ta decide either then or at the next meeting how they were going to deal with the antecedent liability. A defect inthe method by which the antecedent liability was arrived at was that it did not take into consideration outstanding ; rates. It was for them to decide whetlu " •r it would be better to pay the amount within seven years. Otherwise their would have to raise a loan. Their antecedent liability was £3496 2s 6d. He thought seven years was too long ta take in paying it off. and they might take advantage of their right to pay the amount off in a shorter period

, a a ™otlorx °f the chairman, seconded by Cr Belton, it was decided to adopt the method of paying o ff onessr&r&r" m the -hoie •»-* • TJI« Conservator of Forests wrote stating that could quite understand the Council's difficulties' in planting trees* that would not be affected by salt spray Iress-not affected in this way were not unfortunately, of a durable * ature J or the eucalyptus the two mpst suitabletor seaside planting were E Obliqua and E Kegnans, neither of which could he classiged as good for bridge or pole £ki?*T Planting «ffi^r would visit laranaki as soon as possible andwould call and give any 'advice tteCouncil may require. ' Cr Taylor suggested that there was a, reserve at Kakaramea suitable for tree Planting, and the chairman replied that the reserve was owned by the Education. .Department. -The letter was received. ! Mr E. Dixon wrote enclosing a letter ; ±rom the Minister for Public Works in reference to flood damage to the mam road and bridge, Patea to Waverley The Minister stated that he had been advised that very little damage had been done, and owing to heavy calls resultingrrom more serious damage in Omona district he regretted that he could not see "I s V:a7 «P contribute towards the costor metalling tfe road in the Patea Mr Dixon intimated that he was dissatished Ayith the reply, and was interviewing the Minister again. A telegram was received from the I ?°-l- + J" £• Cojit.es »i reference to his j visit io Taranaki, and stating that he would be Pleased while in the district to attend to any matter the Council might bring under his notice. A later message from Mr. Coates stated that he would be unable tovisit Patea district

The engineer said the only way t see the Minister would be to meet Ml. as he motored through. The chairman said that several works were being, held up, notably the Makakaho bridge, owing to departmental delays, and he thought they should try and meet the Minister. It was decided that the chairman: and the southern members arrange to meet the Minister at Waverley. Cr. Ballin asked when the Mataroa bridge was going to be attended to. The engineer said it Vas just a question of whether this bridge or theNgutuwera bridge should be gone on with first. i It was resolred, if Mr. Finer and ' the other ratepayers find horses and 1 other assistance, that the council senc^.

jjwo men to put Block 8 hill. Moumaliaki, m order. The engineer was asked to report jin. the cost of making certain alterations to the interior of the county Offices with the object of cutting oiF draughts from that part used by the Harbour Board's clerk. ENGINEER'S REPORT. The engineer reported as follows: — Main road and general—The wet iweather has delayed tarring work consideraoly during the month, about 40 chains of Verry's frontage being tarred since last meeting. The sealino- of th« iWaitotara hill will be gone ahead with this week, b«fc I regret ,to report that this job is not up to the usual standard, and I expect to have to scanty the worst sections to get an even surface. So far as 1 can see, this is due to faulty .spreading-, though in the past trouble has been experienced in rolling this metal on a grade. As soon as the section at the water trough is overhauled the metal from Brewer's road to the State Farm'road iWill ne scarified", it being very rough and narrow. The grading in of the road between the tarred work at Moumahaki and Waitotara will be put in hand soon. General surface work has been carried on from Patea to Waver - • ley, and this section also wants the sides graded over the metal. The-main Toad north of Patea is in good condition, and' the surfaceman has Carried on necessary repairs, the outlet from i .the waterhole culvert being cleared I and tables cleared and reshaped. I Otoia West district—The surface-1 man has been improving the water tabxes on the cuttings on the Ball- road clearing outlets, and general. Twelve! - yards of stone Takings from the Ball, road have been carted and spread on the Makino gorge road beyond the filling, and this road is greatly improved. Two new lines of pipes have been put '% ln ' ione eacil side of 6in and 9in Pipes, -"Nlla bulk of the tables clear- *-■"]£&' -A .1 uantity of patching metal will : for the Ball toad before the '■*!»* weather sets in^ as weak places *^n shoZ lng UP' chiefly near Hurley- *'; yille. Thg road has Keen got ready tor the Ball road metalling, twelve chains of this road being counter sunk and reshaped. The melal has been ordered, and should be to hand iany

Otoia East district—The grader horse team has been at work in this district all the month, but wet weather lias delayea the wori4 a good deal. The .grading of the Otaut'o road, McCarty's mil, was started the week following last meeting, and ten days were spent on this job and four days on the unformed section above Lockett's. The natives deserve great credit for the work they have done on this section, having stumped and cleared between 20 and 30 chains and assisted in the scooping work required. In view of the efforts the settlers on this road have made both on McCarty's hill and on the upper fiat, the team was^kept on the work the extra time, councillors tor the riding approving, same. The grader has since overhauled the Opaku road from the school down past the top factory, and is now working on the Upper Otauto road. This work should be completed about the end of the month\ when the main road will be cleaned up and the team turned $$$' for the winter months. C. HayJftif Is" %nsious to get off for about three' fconths. The metalling contract is progressing slowly, wet weather delaying -the work, and carting was commenced on Friday last. The pit is showing signs of running out, and is getting very sandy, and after inspecting yes^ terday, m company, with Cr. Hurley it was decided to allow the contractor .; an extra Is 3d per yard to put everything from the metal face through the crusherA The contract provided for ©rushing all stones over^iu and carting out the balance as it came from tne pit. This offer will bring the contract price to-. 16s 9d per yard which is very little more than the cost of carting metal from the Patea station Uwing to the sandy nature of the conglomerate it is very difficult to get the material through the crusher, and the extra allowance is to make this up ihe contractor has between 400 and 500 yards already stripped. Waverley riding^The top dressing of the Uturi road near the railway crossing is now completed, and the metal for the Tower Hill is on order -Th© graamg on'the Kohi road was completed soon after last meeting and the overhaul of Rentoul's road put in hand and completed. The tractor then shifted, on to the Karahaki road, and whea this is completed the machine will be put aside for the winter The two surfacemen in this district will combine to overhaul the water tables xn the Karakahi, Kohi, ami Okutuku distrzct The men engaged with the tractor have been engaged a good part of their time with the tar work and other maintenance in the district The pipes for the Mataimoana road are to hand, and will be sent- out shortly This road is reported to be in good

+fc? w^k ndlng-The overhaul of the Waitotara station road is now about completed, but quite half of this length requires additional metal The tarred section is-being sealed, and this will be completed to-day. The Ngutuwera surfaceman has been engaged in ■f UIn S worst holes on the Valley road ; -but this road 'is in a poor !¥* °J tS affi?- Th& W^n of prodding funds for the Erection of the Ngutuwera bridge must be gone into tw?v S ThtlUS Wo^7 iJI ft in hand shortly. The new bridge will require to go on the upper side of theold structure and I understond that there is some doubt as to whether there is ™J tor the. bridge on the surveyed road, and it is advisable to have this point decided by a surveyor The Umata road plans, etc., have been approved b y the resident enginee? Public Department, but the authority to spend has not been reoeiwd. Tenders have been invited closmg to-day for the work, but can^ iiot be finally dea t with unless subject to the grant being authorised. The surfaceman has been engaged in improving bad sections of the valley road ttS *r! 1S nossr,. in v«ry fair order! me Motoroa surfaceman reports that seven new culverts are wanted on the JJtaahme road beyond Lupton's, and has asked for the tank and stove that were m use at Christensen's old house. Th e school hill' scoured out badly, but has since been repaired and a new culvert put in. Kapara riding—An inspection of the . Upper Waitotara roads was made early in the month, it being necessary to take up men to repair the Makakaho Waitotara river suspension bridge four hangers in this bridge being broken. lnese were replaced without much trouble, but the truss is in a bad state and the bridge is badly buckled, but up till now I regret that the plans for this work have not been returned by the Wellington office of the Public Works Department. An inspection of the Upper Makakaho road was made and the contractor for this work is making fair progress, and expects to be ' finished shortly. Tenders have been invited foe a bridge across' a small creek below Waldie's, closing to-day. ' a extra man has been put on to : sist in the clean up of the Aharoa ' 3:: U before the winter.up there is too' mien for one man to get through

v The lower Waitotara valley road is J reported in good order, the wet i weather preventing an inspection.— ! Adopted. • j Some discussion took place on the • need for three bridges in the Moumahaki riding. It was stated that only £600 had been granted, and this was for the Ngutuwera bridge. The tender of Byers and Dazzler for formation work on Orhata road was accepted conditional on the work being done for £344. Nine tenders were received, the prices ranging up to £626.