WAITOMO COUNTY

King Country Chronicle, Volume XXXIII, Issue 4811, 17 July 1939, Page 5

WAITOMO COUNTY

MOKAU HARBOUR BOARD. PIO PIO DRAINAGE. The monthly meeting of the Waitomo County Council was continued on Friday afternoon, when the following matters came up for discussion.

Mr. Blackman solicited donations for the Te Kuiti Municipal Band, holding that in view of the fact that it was Centennial year and the Band would be prepared to give its services at many functions, town and country, free of charge, the present time would be appropriate for the Council to make a donation.

After Mr. Blackman had retired the Council decided to adhere to its previous decision that it could not make any contribution to the Band funds.

The Awakino Golf Club wrote offering to open negotiations for the purchase of an old cottage owned by the Council. This matter was left in the hands of Cr. Black and the engineer to arrange. At the previous meeting of the Council a request was received from the Marine Department that the Council should undertake control of the Mokau Harbour Board works and liabilities, and the matter was held over for enquiry. On Friday, the clerk reported- that after discussing the matter with Messrs. Whitehead and Bell, and studying the balance sheet he found that the liability that would be taken over would be a heavy one, and a collection of the rate would be necessary.

A general discussion on the matter followed, during which it was pointed out that the new road by the Mokau River would, if it took the route desired by residents, obviate the need for the wharf when it was built. A heavy cost in repairs would have to be undertaken if the wharf were to be continued to be used much longer.

The delegates to the Counties' Conference are, while in Wellington, to discuss the whole matter with the Marine Department. Resolutions to fix the general and hospital rates as fixed at last meeting were carried. Special rates were struck as amended by the Clerk. These showed slight variation's, but were generally on the same level as last year. It was not necessary to strike the Pio Pio township 1 and 2, Otewa and Waitomo special rates for the current year.

"Is it any wonder that we now endeavour to live within our limits?" said the chairman, referring to the Waitomo rate, a levy on the whole county incurred years ago as. a result of £SOOO being- raised to secure a reduction in overdraft. A letter was received from a farmer adjoining the Pio Pio township asking if the Council intended taking any action in regard to the drainage of a stream which turned eight acres of his land into a swanip, and caused most unsatisfactory conditions in the township itself. A cut is necessary to provide an outlet for the stream, and the Council has maintained that the Hon. P. C. Webb undertook to see that this work would be carried out.

On Cr. Laurenson's suggestion the Council decided that a meeting be called to determine if sufficient inducement could be given the Public Works Department to undertake the work.