WAITOMO COUNTY COUNCIL.

King Country Chronicle, Volume III, Issue 110, 26 November 1908, Page 2

WAITOMO COUNTY COUNCIL.

The annual meeting of the Waitomo County Council was hold :it (.he County Ojiioo. Otorohanga. on Wednesday. There wore present Cr* Hunt, Ormsby, ScholeS, Lovedav. 11.V.1e, Johnston, (Tie.!:'!:", and Were. Kleet ion of ('hairman Ors Onnsliy and Schoies were nominated for (he chairmanship and received three votes each. As there was a chance of Councillor 1 logman arriving, it was deeid"<! to adjourn until after luncheon. Open resuming there was no appc.'iranci' of ( 'r Hoffman audit was decided to draw lots. The names were placed in a. hat and that of Or Ormsby was drawn. Correspondence Letters wen received rem the Genera! Manager of Railways, the Valuation Department. J. Orean, 11. M. Quinn. and 0. ■l. Kirk. County Kleet ion Mr G. KHioti. waited upon the (Council representing a number of ratepayers at the Northern end of the Ohura riding. Mr Kllioft drew attention to sections Go ami (51 of the Counties Act, ]SS'o and claimed that as certain mattors in connection with the roll had not been carried out the election was void. The purpose- of these representations was to draw attention to the fact that the people he represented were disfranchised. The Ohura had two members who both belonged to the Southern and never saw the roads at. (he Northern end. and the Northern settlers wished to be represented on the Council. If was pointed out by (he Chairman and several councillors that, provision had been mr.de to give special representation to (ho district referred to. As soon as the (ihura County was formed, a new separate riding would be created at that end of the district. Cr Loveday said, when the question of boundraies was gone into last year, three ridings were provided for in the present Ohura riding, and the district referred to by IWr Kllioit was intended for a separate ridmg. However, the severance movement, which came just afterwards, affected the position and the old boundaries had been adhered to for the time being. The new Ohura County would be cut off as soon as possible ami the 'ores.iit Northern end would be left in Waitomo County, and separate riding formed. The Oierk said as regards the complying with (lie sections of the Act. referred to by Mr Elliott, he may have interpreted it wrongly but considered all mistakes were covered by a subsequent section. As to ratepayers not being' on the roll, there were several resaons why names shouM be missing. A person might be a defaulter, or might have sold out, or might hold his land under the Bush and Swamp A<'!, which provided for ' exemption for eonsiderhle time. lie ! had taken particular care to put all | names on accord inn; t" the Oovernment ! Valuation Rod- Cr Were said statu- \ tory duty wa.s imposed on the Clerk, the non-fulfilment o'i which left room j for complaint. In April of each year ' (he Clerk should cause a roll to be prei pared, which should be left open in the riding II days for inspection. Had I this course boon followed by the Clerk ; there would have been no room for ! complaint. Mr Kllioft said he had made a list of , ab or tit! names and had sent it to the Clerk. The Clerk said he had received a list i from Mr Davis, and bad done his best ! to place names on the roll, which were I entitled to ho there. ; Tt was decided on the motion of Cr 1 Hunt, seconded by the Chairman, that | (lie Council express regret for any ! mistake that had been made regarding the roll and the matter would receive full attention in future. If. was pointed out that a new elec- | lion for the riding would shortly [take ! place in consequence of the severance of the new Ohura County. Riding' I'oundaries. • In consequence with the letter received from ihe Valuation Department requesting the Council to gazette the now boundary riding's Cr Hunt, said he thought it wouh: be advisable to keep to the old boundaries, seeing that, (lie Ohura was being eu< off. Wo proposed that the present boundaries be adhered to. except in the case i'\ Paemako and Mairoa.rwhor esome slight alterations were being made in accordance with the wishes of the Mangaoiaki settlers. C r Were seconded the motion which wa.s carried. M aires. 1 ,oan " The motion rescinding the levying of the speical rate, which was passed at last meeting was rescinded on the motion of Cr Schoies seconded by Cr Were, only (Do mover and seconder voting on the question. Stone-crusher Cr Sekoles moved in accordance with his notice of motion That, the Council take steps to purchase a metal crushing plant. On the suggestion o>' Or Were who seconded the motion, the proposal wa.s altered to include the solting up of a committee comprised of the Chairman. Councillors Hunt. Johnston and Schoies to make full enquiries and report to the Council. Public Pound The Chairman said he would like to see a public r pomnl established at Te K.uiti. It wa.s decided to Dave the matter in Ihe Chairman's hands to reporl. on at next meeting. Railway Crossing- - ]f was decided to accept the offer of the Railway Department, and have a crossing put. in over the line at Te Knit! at, tin 1 Council's expense. Permission wa.s given to Mr 0. J. Kirk to erect a store-room at the junction of Mairoa, Hauturu and Caves roads, during' the pleasure of the Council. iVexi Meeling It was deci ( ied to leave the calling of next meeting to flic Chairman and Clerk, and, on the motion ol' Cv Were, seconded by Cr Johnston. ', lie Chairman and Cr Schoies were authorised, in the event of the Mangaorino and 'IV Kuit.i loan money being- available in the meantime, to call (eiiders for its expenditure.