WAITOMO COUNTY COUNCIL.

King Country Chronicle, Volume VI, Issue 493, 21 August 1912, Page 5

WAITOMO COUNTY COUNCIL.

The ordinary monthly meeting of the Waitomo County Council was held at Te Kuiti on Monday evening. There were present Crs Scholes (chairman), Hoffman, O'Dwyer, Berry, Smyth, Were, Gregg and Johnston.

Maire Road. —H. Lowrie wrote requesting that the council's engineer be sent out to pass the Maire road contract.—Received. D. W. McArthur, engineer wrote offering the use of his office at Auck-

land for the lodging of plans at any time. —The clerk was instructed to reply thanking Mr McArthur for his offer.

Sainsbury Road. J. Williamson wrote with reference to repairs on Sainsbury road. —Cr Hoffman said he thought there was an amount of thirds which could bs devoted to the road in question. —The matter ~/as left in the hands of the chairman.

Proposed Loan. —P. Mcßae wrote on behalf of a number of settlers at Hangatiki asking for an engineer's estimate for the purpose of taking steps to raise a metalling loan. —The clerk was instructed to reply. The clerk to the Tauiariga County Council wrute enclosing a resolution in appreciation of the services rendered by Mr E. M. Donaldson, Governmen engineer, who had be«n removed to Te Kuiti.—Received. Honikiwi Roads. A. Lakeman, Honikiwi, wrote enclosing the following resolution That at a meeting of settlers of the Honikiwi special rating it was resolved to request the County chairman and Councillors for the Otorohanga and Te Rauamoa ridings to attend a meeting of the settlers in the above-mentioned special rating area in the Honikiwi school at 1.30 p.m. on Saturday, August 31st, with reference to the unsatisfactory manner in which the contract of Messrs Cameron and Brooking has been carried out and that they be requested to lay before the settlers all information with respect to the contract. —Received.

W. Lorigan wrote complaining of a letter he had re:eived from the county clerk in respect to a demand for rates. —Received.

W. B. S. Lindsay wrote enclosing a guarantee from seventeen settlers in connection with the taking of a road at Pio Pio to connect tne Mangaotaki and Te Kuiti-Awakino roads. —On the motion of Crs O'Dwyer and Smyth the clerk was instructed to draft an agreement between the council and the guarantor and forward the same for signature The Government assistant road engineer wrote with respect to an objection on the part of Patupatu Keepa to the taking of a site for a store by the council in Kaingapipi No. 9. —The clerk said the necessary steps to acquire the land had been taken, and the matter was in the hands of the council's solicitor to complete. The reserve was intended to form one of several throughout the county for use by the, council's surfacemen, and as a night paddock fsr horses when necessary. He had written to the resident engineer to this effect. . Waiwlrakaata" Road The Public Works Department wrotß respecting the expenditure of the Government grant on the road. —'Received. The chief surveyor, Auckland, wrote stating that an authority had been issued to A. W. Cheal to survey a road through Te Kumi and Tapuiwahine subdivisions;— Received. Tenders. —It was reHolved that fresh tenders be called for metalling Te Kuiti-Awakino road between the 17 and 18 mile pegs.

Telephone Charges.—The Kiwitea County Council wrote asking for the Council's support in urging for a reduction of telephone charges on private lines from Gd to 3d. —Cr Johnston said he considered the matter worthy of support. The settlers who had private lines had to pay all expenses of installing the lines and in addition 30s per year for the use of the machine. The clerk said he had already written giving the neceasary information and stating the movement had the council's sympathy.— The clerk's action was confirmed. Back Blocks Association. —E. G. Gandy, secretary of the Waitaanga Settler's Association wrote requesting information respecting the proposed Backblocks Association. The clerk was instructed to reply. J. E. Slattery, town clerk, Taumarunui, wrote stating the Taumarunui Borough Council heartily endorsed the action of the Waitomo Council in promoting a Back Blocks Association and promising to co-operate. —Received. A Damaged Road.—The Otorohanga town clerk wrote stating his council could not accept any responsibility with respect to the damage done to the county road by contractors.—Cr Gregg said that Mrßothsry, the contractor for the town metalling was not responsible for the damage. Other carters had been carting metal to the station. Moreover, the road had been metalled eight or nine years ago by the settlers themselves. Resolved that Mr Rothery be approached in the matter.

J. B. Valder wrote respecting the Otorohanga-Te Awamutu road stating that it was in a dangerous statu in places.—Resolved to ascertain what work was require.! and report. Otorohanga Cemetery.-—lt was resolved that a grant of £5 be pain to the Otorohanga cemetery. In view of the necessity of arranging for renewal of grants arranged previously with the Government, and of transacting other business in connection with the county it was decided that the chairman proceed to Wellington on behalf of the county. Engineer's Report. During the month I have submitted plans and sriecifications to the Public Works Department for the following works, viz.The delivery of 13,000 cubic yarda of metal on the Hangatiki-Wai-tomo and Waitomo-Valley roads; the widening and metalling of two miles tfcirty-five chains of the Mairoa road; the formation of forty chains of bridle road, an extension of thn Waihohono road; the formation of twenty-nine chains of bridle road, a

continuation of the Parakoko road. I have inspected the roads put through the Hangatiki township and found the work carried out according to the specifications supplied to the contractor. The contractors on the Tumu Tumu are finished and are now awaiting final approval by the Public Works Department. Metalling operations on the Caves road are not progressing satisfactorily. A distance of twenty-six chains being put down in nine weeks. I also found when cutting the metal in company with Mr Worthington that the work was not being dune up to specifications.