WAITOMO COUNTY COUNCIL.

King Country Chronicle, Volume IX, Issue 797, 18 August 1915, Page 5

WAITOMO COUNTY COUNCIL.

- The ordinary monthly mee.ting of the Waitomo County Council was held at Te Kuiti on Monday evening. There were present Cib A. Scholes, chairman, Johnston, Willis, Were, Berry, Smyh, Jackson, and Potts. County Koads.—The Public Works Department wrote intimating that the following had been gazetted County roads: —Portion of the Main South road, portion' of Ellis road, access road to section 5, Ohirea road, accesß road to section 2, portion of Kopabi road —Received. Tangitu Paddock. —The Commissioner of Crown Lands wrote intimating that this matter must stand over till he had received the district sur- *"•" veyor's plan of the Tangitu post office site. —Received. Drainage Scheme. —The UnderSecretary of the Lands and Survey Department wrote stating ths Council's request to send an expert to report on a Bcheme of drainage for the country subject to flood between Te Kuiti and Otorohanga was being enquired into. —Receied. Ahuroa Loan.—The Advances Department wrote to the effect that the loan application for £SOOO for Ahuroa and Pakamanu roads had been granted, £3330 for Ahuroa and £1665 for Pakamau, the previous loan of £IOOO to oe cancelled.— T?oi*OlVP(] Loan of £lo,ooo.—The Resident secretary of the A. M. P. Society wrote stating the Principal Board of • the Society would aanctio i the granting of a £IO,OOO loan to the Coucnil at 5 per, cent, interest.— The chairman said the difficulty Which confronted the Council was in respect to subsidies. If they accepted the loan money they might "not have subsidies granted. In respect to the Mangaotaki loan the chairman of the Awakino County Council had informed him it was desire to go on with the work and the subsidy had been promised.—Cr Jackßon said a meeting had been held and it was decided to go on with the work. —The clerk said this loan would practically absorb the whole of the £IO,OOO and. money would be available for other'loans from the public Trust Department.— Cr Jackson said he was going to Wellington and he would be glad to make enquiries regarding the subsidy.. „ , Carter's Licenses.—H. ingnam, on behalf of the Rangiatea Suppliers' Association, wrote pointing out that the cream carter for the setilers was obliged to take out two licenses in the one milking season —one till the end of March, and the other till the close of the season about the end of May. He asked if it could not be arraiiged that one license covered tha whole season.—The chairman said the matter was provided for in the new by-laws. Pirongia-Kawhia Road. Mr J. Parsons wrote forwarding a petition from a number of settlers which had been forwarded to Mr J. A. Young, _ M.P., for presenting to Paliamsnt. The petitioners asked for a grant of £4OOO for grading and metalling portion of the Pirongia-Kawhia road. —Cr Potts explained that this road had been made and maintained by the Government, and the settlers Were askingifor a grant and wished the Council to endorse their application, —Cr Jackson said he did not ) Bee why the settlers on the road should not rate themselves by pecial rate. It appeared to him that people in these roads were the only ones in the County who were going to escape special rates. Cr Potts said the road was not a County road, it was a main road traversing several counties, and no money except thirds was spent on it by the County.—On the motion of the "chairman and Cr Berry it was decided to endorse the petition, Cr Jackßon voting against th 3 motion. A Necessary Bridge. Messrg Moore and West and Buckman and Barna applied for a £SO grant towards forming parts of their road • at Aria and erecting a bridge. Tbay offered to do the work free of charge. Cr Smyth supported the application. The settlers were on native land but the Government had surveyed the road and there was a Government section adjourning. They were included in the Kumara loan but there was no provision ior this road in the loan.—T.ie matter was left in the hands of the member from the riding and the engineer to report to next meeting. Stray Stock.—Cr Willis drew attention to the necessity of appointing a ranger for Otorohanga. Stray horses and stock were causing great damage to the roads.—Or Smtyh said the same thing was happening in his district.---The engineer was instructed to employ men to impound all stock on the roads. Gravel Reserve.—Messrs Howartb and Arrowsmith wrote on bahalf of H. Clarke, of Otorohanga, claiming J5266 compensation for land taken aa gravel reserve by the Council. A claim for £7O was received from Elizabeth Morgan for one acre two roods. —Received. General, Rate.-Tbe notice of motion given by the chairman to strike" a rate of 2d in the £ for the comnig year wa3 seconded by ur Were.—Cr Smyth said he was sure that last year's rate would be sufficient in the Aria riding.—Cr "" Potts expressed a similar opinion concerning Te Rau-a-Moa riding. After the position had been discussed Cr Smith moved as an amendment that gd in the £ be o tri> c k throughout the County. Cr Wilils seconded the amendment, which was carried.

Bridge at Kopaki.—Cr Berry drew attention to the necessity of a bridge at Kopaki. The settlers were petitioning for the ereciton of a bridge over the Mangaokewa stream on the Tunariki road. Hp moved that the Council support the petition. Seconded by Cr Were and carried Caves Road.—The district roads engineer wrote with respect to the reqtfest by the Council to expend

the unencumbered balanqe of authority in effecting repairs rendered

necessary by the recent heavy rains intimating that aa such repairs came under their heading of maintenance such expenditure could not be sanctioned. The coat of repairs should be borne by the Council. The engineer farther stated there was a total balance of £36 5s lid £ for £ availabl which should be spent on new metalling and formation. —Received. Roads Estimates.—The district road engineer wrote acknowledging the County engineer's letter which asked in the event of rnad grants being cut down that the items Kawa £ for £ £2OOO and Otorohanga to Ouruwhero £ for £ £ISOO be retained arid stated the request had been transmitted to the head office. —Received. Aoounts. —Accounts to the amount of £1904 Is 4d were passed tor payment.