HAWERA COUNTY COUNCIL

Hawera & Normanby Star, Volume XLII, Issue XLII, 8 September 1923, Page 11

HAWERA COUNTY COUNCIL

MONTHLY MEETING

The ordinary meeting was held today, when there wer» present: Crs.. J. B. Murdoch (chair), R. J. Linn, E. A. Washer, B. C. Lysaght, A. Larcom, G. Williams, R._ B. Douglas.

In to the Matangara Road it was suggested that some metalling should be done. The chairman said that all work authorised had been done. He considered it might be possible to get a grant, especially where roads run along past native land, as was done on the Austin Road and otheT olaces. Some more might be done on the road this year and a grant would be likely next year.

Cr. Williams said he was certain that J some on this road was immedi- ; ately" necessary, as parts of metalled roads were in very bad order and going back.

BY-LAWS. The Normanby Town Board wrote in reply to the council that owners who had a license to graze stock on the roads and allowed these to wander after dark would have the license cancelled and the cattle impounded. The ranger was instructed to this effect. The Hawera Borough Council wrote in reference to mirrors on motors, expressing appreciation that the by-law on this subject would be enforced -in the county.—The chairman said that the county had decided to rigidly enforce by-laws on motors. It was absolutely necessary. With regard to j wandering stock, he considered it was a very serious menace to users of the roads, and therefore prosecutions should be made when and wherever possible. WATER FOR HAWERA SUBURBS. When the question of the supply of water to the closely settled area at Nokntown was before the council, the chairman said that if the closely settled areas round Hawera did not come in with the borough some action would be necessary by the county in the matter. The Fire Brigade would go out if required, but they could not be compelled to go. Until water was secured there was a serious menace to house property in case of fire. He considered they could go in with the borough and raise a loan, which would be carried on by the borough if the Greater Hawera scheme was adopted. If not they could arrange with the borough to go-in for a scheme re supply of water. He considered wells could be sunk which would give a perpetual supply.

GENERAL. The Valuer-General wrote advising that regulations re issuing copies of valuations would be found in the Gazette of March 24, 1921, and fees were fixed for supplying copies, ranging from 2s 6d where capital value was under £250 to £1 Is where value was over £9000. He added that the cost of compilation and correcting rolls was borne equally by the Tax Department, local authorities, and the Valuation Department,, and the fees were intended to recoup the last-mentioned. On revising a roll notice of new valuations was sent, and inspection offered] to anyone interested.—The chairman said that fees could hot be retained by ' the Council when valuations were lequired. The Public Works Department, Wellington, advised that £173 was authorised for expenditure on the Austin Road. A. J. Haseltine asked for the cleaning out of a i)ipe on the Main South j Road, at Waihi. —It was decided that Mr. Baker be written to, asking him to clear the stream of willows, which caused a banking up of the water. A copy of toll charges and 'by-laws "•as forwarded by the clerk to the Manurewa Town Board, where toll-gates are proposed to be erected. The Hon. J. G. Coates wrote acknowledging further representations re New Plymouth mail train services^ The county had written expressing dissatisfaction at^ the weakness of the department in instituting a time-table to satisfy the demands! of one end of the district. GRANTS FOR ROADS AND BRIDGES The Public Works Engineer advised that amounts were available for expenditure on submission and approval of proposals as follow: Austin Road (£730 £1 for £1), £930—£200 is free money for grading and the balance is subsidy; Eraser Road (£1 for £1), £500; Ngawhine Road (on account of £3600, £1 for £1), £1500—the balance will be voted next year if required; South Road (Tongahoe river bridge) (on account of £3000, (£1 for £1), £1500 —the balance will be voted when required. The- Waingongoro bridge was deferred, as requested by the chair., man. The other items on the estimates are for expenditure by the Department on Tongahoe Valley, Patete stream bridge (Tongahoe). and Manawapou Block. The chairman said tha^t on the Austin Road it was proposed to improve • •rv~ ■!-,.,„ I^:i1~ -.„,! J._ J.-1 _J. J.L_ 1.

vjmi i/ivu Uliia OIIU l/U lU<Sl;a.l ill/ LUC J? lOism. Road end. There would be nothing available for Brett's corner. For the Tongahoe bridge a loan of £1500 would be required. He would suggest that in reference to the Main South Road nothing should be done at present, and that the matter be deferred until they get into touch with the Main Highways Board. In regard to Fraser Road he considered that there would be a difficulty in arranging a special area, because it was a through road to Eltham. Cr. 'Larcom said he did not consider a special area could be formed these. The chairman said that the difficulty could be surmounted by making a special area for 'the loan, and that it ' be paid by the riding. It would be difficult to define an area in the Ngawhine district, because of the shallow j blocks. In all £2750 would be wanted —Austin Road £750, Fraser Road £SCO, and Ngawhine Road £1500. He ] suggested, after conferring with the •engineer, that when special areas were ' denned loans could be raised, and then the engineer culd see whether the metal could be pot here ojt should be secured outside. Then they cotild let contracts for the work. Regarding other work, he said that there were several roads to be formed, including Lewis Road, Arthur Street, Nowell's Road, a road near the racecourse, and in Hunter's. The jtotal required* would be about £8000, and the amount that could b& i pot would be £5000. He suggested that the balance could be raised sepa.rately, and all the work could then be done. i REPUTATIONS. ! Messrs J. Thompson and Johnston ' waited on the council in reference to ; the Ohangai Road, near the Turuturu. Mr. Thompson said there was a bad hill, j where it wa* difficult for a horse to : get a footing, and he asked that nine chains of metalling be done. It was agreed that, if metal could be landed at Normanby, a hundred yards be secured and the work done as request- • cd.—The chairman said that they hoped for a better season frr work. j Messrs M. Kelly, Hurley, Barrow, . »nnd Hitchcock attended in regard to : the Onewhai.Road, near Te Rcti. which was in bad order. Forty chains required to be done,

[ The chairman said that the cost would j be about £550. | Mr. Kelly said a large sum was paid in rates, but nothing was done. The chairman said that this was so, and it was the case in several parts . where the rates were spent partly on J side roads and partly on main roads ! used by the settlers concerned. He ! suggested the formation of a special ! area and raising a loan. It was impossible to do the work out of rates. |The amount required annually would be i about £30 for 36 years. ! The deputation agreed to this course, , and a petition will be prepared for (signature and the matter carried through. j Accounts amounting to £1669 were ; passed for payment and the meeting rose.

POREMAN'S REPORT. Whareroa Road —This road is now getting near completion, and the two metals are joined at the Putiki pa. There are eight chains near Mr Winks' property that will have to be scarified and a small amount of metal laid. When this is done the whole road will be finished.

Ohangai Road—There are about eight chains of this road which required a coat of metal as it was getting very rough. This is being attended to at the present time, and the rest of the road will be scarified as time permits. Brett's Corner—The formation of the deviation is finished, and now it will required to be metalled, but it would be advisable for the traffic to consolidate it before this is laid, and, as we shall be having metal at the Normanby station, it will be cheaper to wait till then before the work is done.

luaha Bridge—The stringers in this bridge are getting in a bad state, and it will have to have new ones or be replaced with a concrete culvert. The culvert would cost about £250, as there would be a considerable amount of filling to be done.

Ramie Road—The greater portion of the metal.for the refaeing of this road is now dumped along the road and will be laid as soon as a roller is available.

Austin Road—A start has been made with the formation on this read in readiness for the metalling. The whole length between the Fraser road and the Normanby dairy factory will have to be done.

The road going into Mr Kiley's property has been done and there is a good grade. The cost of this work was £16.

The engineer's report was adopted, with the adidtion that the culvert over the Inaha river on the Main South Road be carried out concrete. It was mentioned that near the Riverdale factory was one of the worst places on the road, for there was a narrow bridge and tremendous traffic.