MATAMATA COUNTY COUNCIL.

Matamata Record, Volume III, Issue 203, 2 December 1920, Page 3

MATAMATA COUNTY COUNCIL.

NOVEMBER MEETING. The ordinary meeting of the MataJmata County Council was held on Wednesday last. The members present were Messrs. J. W. Anderson (Tirau riding) J. Fohlen (Matamata), I C. A. Stopfo#i'(Tapapa), M. Rollett ' (Peria), R. A. Bent (Putaruru), J. E. West (Tokoroa), J. P. Keeley (Taotaoroa), S. H Jiuhl (Maungatautiri), and |W. H. Allen (Okoroire). « ANNUAL REPORT. . The clerk, in a brief report, slated as follows: — DIVISION OF RIDINGS. Matamata riding, of a ratable value : of £923,510, is now divided into Matas| mala and Peria ridings, of £573,230 and £350,280 valuations respectively; by the table of riding accounts, the whole area has an approximate balance on estimated revenue to March 1 31st; available for expenditure, amounting to £222(5. Patercre riding, the ratable value being £927,222, will in future be: Tirau riding, Tapapa riding and Okoroire riding, the respective values being $364,758, £364,580 and £107,780. There is an approximate balance of £1057 available for expenditure. Putaruru riding, with a ratable Value of £576,747, will in future be Putaruru and Tokoroa ridings, the valuations being £270,135 and £207,(512 respectively, excluding native lands, of which the latter has a large area. The whole area is faced with a debit after allowing for the approximate collection of rates to the end of the year; the present liability, after allowing for such collection, being £714. Added to this must be the cost of maintenance of roads necessary to the ; 31st of March next. Taotaoroa riding, £255,055, and Maungatautiri riding, £104,520, are unaltered. The former has an approximate balance of £340 available for expenditure, and the latter £BO. In all cases quoted the balances are based upon an estimate of rates collectable to 31st March next. The values set against the new ridings are approximate, and await the issue of the new roll for each before the exact figures can be ascertained. A number of important works have been carried out during the term of the recent Council. Two large new bridges have been erected over the Waitiariki and Omahine streams, - partly by Government grant and partly by revenue. Concrete culverts in four or five instances have replaced small bridges. The Omahine district roads have been metalled by being cbrought under the operations of a area; the loan thus raised, . by Government subsidy, has been most adva. A ageously expended on behalf of of the area,- and incidentally to all users of • the roads so treated. The Tirau riding has followed suit, with a loan of £SOOO. This is also being augmented . by Government subsidy. Maungatau--1 tiri is having expended its fifth area I special loan. The method of road improvement, by way of loan raised for a special area has always appealed to your ratepayers as the roads to be benefited are the actual ones used by them, and when so made, ordinary revenue can then be expended in keeping them up to traffic requirements. . The recent poll on the loan for plant and machinery has been carried, and will doubtless be in operation early in the coming year. Contracts at the . Kaima £1900), Totman's road I (£1901), and Maungatautiri now in

hand, amount to £4579. Attention is to be given to the bridges throughout • the county, and, with the increasing settlement making increased traffic, the making of roads to carry same I points to the coming term being imi portant and busy. HINUERA ROADS. The secretary of the Hinuera branch of the Farmers' Union wrote, stating that at a meeting of Hinuera ratcpayI crs, held on November 13, it was unanimously decided to ask the Council to take steps to raise a loan of £4500, or more, for metalling the Cambridge-Tauranga road for three miles eastward of Hinuera station.— It was decided to accede to the request to take preliminary steps for the raising of the loan. TIRAU-MAMAKU ROAD. R. H. Daldy, Mamaku, wrote, complaining of the state of the above road, stating .also that the water trough in the accommodation paddock was not accessible to stock.—Left in the hands of the engineer. TIRAU ROAD. The secretary of the Tirau-Okoroire branch of the Farmers' Union asked that the road from the Tirau railway station gate to the Rotorua road, running parallel.with the railway, be put v in order in time for the heavy manure carting at hand for swedes, etc. The writer stated that a little work on this road would do away with the I heavy drag up both hills to the town--3 ship.-Left in the hands of the riding *4 member and engineer. ■)■■■ SPECIAL COMMITTEE. On the motion of Cr. Stopford, Cr. 1 Bent was added to the special committee appointed tq,4§al with the matter of the electric or motor lorries for road metalling. OMAHINE SCHOOL. The Auckland Education Board wrote, stating that it was agreeable to purchasing three-quarters of an ■ acre of land, owned by the Council, adjoining the Omahinc school.—lt was decided to lease the land, which had since been found to be less than a Jialf-acro, at a nominal rental.

PUILDING PERMITS. Th" Taupo-Totnra Timber Company wi'ol", asking the Council for a permit to acquire bricks for the re-establish-ment of the mill at Putaruru, recently burnt down. The Salvation Army asked for a permit for material for uncompleted buildings at Putaruru, stating that the authorities hoped to shortly accommodate 100 more boys. Both applications were agreed to. SCHERER'S ROAD. Messrs. Mampson and Bell, on .behalf of Mr. A. Soberer, asked the Council to decide upon the exact position of the proposed right-of-way on Schcrcr's road. —Left in the hands of Cr. H. Rollett and the engineer. FARMERS' ROAD. A discussion took place regarding the formation of Farmers' road, Matamata. The engineer was of the opinion that the county should carry out the work originally agreed upon. The road, he said, was dedicated, and if the Town Board wanted footpaths and further metalling, it should arrange with the company. He suggested that the county team be sent on to the road when grading works in hand arc completed It was decided that the teams be put on as suggested.