HAWERA COUNTY COUNCIL.

Hawera & Normanby Star, Volume XLII, Issue XLII, 9 October 1922, Page 2

HAWERA COUNTY COUNCIL.

MONTHLY MEETING

The following concludes our report of the monthly meeting of the Hawera Uuunty Council: —

A deputation waited on the Council and asked that about 28 chainsi of the Whenuku road and three-quarters oi a mile of the Katini road be metalled.

The chairman said that the work would be very costly, and could not be done out of rates by th« Council. It was a question of whether the ratepayers concerned would be prepared to sanction a special loan of about £1500 so that the road could be put right through. ■■ . i it was pointed out by a member of the deputation that the land was rated j on £80 per acre. The cnairman said that something might be done to the formation where it was badly worn, but he did not think the council could do any metalling. The foreman could report to the council with regard to formation work and they would see what could be done He pointed out that if a loan were raised for metalling the condition of the road would afterwards be maintained.

Correspondence was received from the Manawatu Bhiestone Quarry Company, giving the freights charged on metal to Mokoia.—The chairman said that metal delivered at Mokoia from the quarries would cost the council 11s lOd per ton, or 13s per cubic yard; The overseer said he could get metal to Mokoia at a cheaper rate himself.

A letter was received from the .Commissioner of Crown Lands in referece to £1 18s Id penalty on rates on land occupied by two returned soldiers, , which had how reverted py the Crown, j the Government being responsible for the rates up to the time it took over. The clerk had pressed for payment ot the penalty, pointing out that it had become part of the rate for which the ■Crown was responsible. The. commissioner in his letter stated that it was not customary for county councils to claim penalties on rates in cases where the Crown was responsible through returned soldiers giving up their farms. It was a.lsQ .pointed out that it was an advantage to the council to be able to collect the ordinary rates without the trouble and expense of legal pro-., ceedings. The chairman said that it was part of the duties of the Commissioner of Crown Lands to enforce penalties, and he (Mr. Murdoch) had not yet heard of any remission. He moved that payment of the penalty due to the council -be insisted upon. This was carried. . The^ question of whether a further 25 chains of the Manawauou Road should

be metalled was discussed and it was decided to take.no action.

The foreman (Mr. Muggeridge) reported as follows: — Manawapou Road: Good progressl is being made with the metalling of this road. It is now metalled to the Whareroa Road from this end, and there is about fifteen chains on the other end, leaving about 60 chains still to do. Nowells Road: The piece of metalling authorised on this road is now finished. It took 132 yards of metal to dp the work. This cost' 10s per cubic yard. Paeroa Road : All the metal is now delivered for the piece of this road that was authorised, and it will be rolled as soon as the roller is available. Arthur Street:. From the

Turuturu Road has been graded and is now in good order. Tongahoe bridge, Main South Road: The decking of this bridge is getting in a bad state, and will soon have to be renewed. Timbar will have to be procured for this, as there is none in stock. Mokoia Road: This work is going on satisfactorily, and will be finished shortly as far as the earthwork is concrened. One of the draught horses that is working on the beach was crippled in some way last night. I am afraid that it is' his hip that is injured, and this will make him useless for some time. The teams have been engaged backing up the metal with the grader and carting clay for the Manawapou Road, grading Arthur Street, and scarifying the lucerne paddock. The inspector of machinery was here last week, and this held up the work of metalling for a few days on account of the roller being put out of commission, it requiring new stays in the firebox before we could get up steam. All the other engines were in good order.

With regard to the Tongahoe bridge, the chairman said the department would not give them a grant for the bridge on the present site. The decking would have to be attended to. The report was adopted. The following statement was presented by the clerk: Rates collected £1501 7s lid, other receipts £1741 Is lid, dehiTTjalance at the bank £5165 14s sd. Accounts totalling £1418 were passed for payment. ■ The clerk stated that within a month of the striking of the rate £1284 had come in

The chairman: Nearly all from the Hawera Riding. It was decided, after hearing a statement by Cr. Ihinlop, to cancel the" lease granted to Mr. Wills of a county reserve at Tongahoe, on the ground that the conditions of the lease had not been observed. The rent paid is to be refunded, ana "Mr. Wills is to be" given, leave to remove any materials which are his property.