MAUNGATAPERE

Northern Advocate, 25 August 1888, Page 3

MAUNGATAPERE.

(From our own Correspondent.) There has been an examination of the two half-time schools in this district. At the Kaitara school there were eight scholars presented, and eight passed. At the Maungatapere school there were 19 scholars went up for the examination, and 16 passed. This result was considered very satisfactory to all concerned, and reflects great credit both on the teacher, Mr Hockin, and the scholars. Mr Fidler, Inspector of Schools. Was the examiner, and the quiet and gentlemanly way in which ht> conducted the examination gives the greatest satisfaction, both to the pupils and teacher.

Our Maori war has for the present ended, as the chief Taurau has gone from the field of the battle to plant his potatoes at the Toe Toe, near Otaika. The Maories who were killed are all Rangitira's, Hemi Hoera, Naha, and Weretu; the latter was the father of some ten children. They live at Marekura, on the Wairoa river. It seemed rather hard for the head of such a family to be taken away, all on account of land disputes, when it is well-known that the Maories have in these parts ten times as much land as they can cultivate or make use of. I must not fail to omit to mention the death also of the Chief Tito Papa, who after being brought to Auckland died of quinsy. His body was afterwards sent up to Whangarei in the steamer, and buried in the family burying ground of his uncle, the late chief Terarau Kukupa. Tito has left seven sons and one daughter besides several grandchildren to inherit his land on the ' Wairoa and Whatetere. He was greatly esteemed both by ! Maories and Pakehas, as he was of a very kindly disposition, also very hospitable to travellers. He was a Rangitira of the old type, now fast dissappearing from the land : brave of the bravest in war and gentle in time of peace. It is talked of here about getting up a soiree to augment the funds now in hand to build a Public Hall in this settlement. Whether it will eventuate in anything definite remains to be seen. WHANGAREI COUNTY COUNCIL. On Wednesday last a special meeting of the Council was held. Present : Cr. Brown (chairman), J. I. Wilson, Hunter, Carter, Wolf, Wakeliu, McKay, and Mallabond. SPECIAL MEETING. The minutes of the previous special meeting were read and confirmed. This meeting was held to consider the propriety of making certain bye-laws for the suppression of hawkers, by imposing a license. There was a good deal of discussion as to the definition of the term pedlar. « The Chairman stated that he considered all men pedlars, who purchased goods in town cheap and carted or packed them round the country, or took a small shop in Whangarei or Kamo for a month, got all the money they could, and then cleared, witboixt paying taxes or rates for the maintenance of roads. All these should be reached by this proposed license. He admitted that the matter was beset with difficulties, but they must be overcome. Cr. Wilson proposed "That a committee be formed to frame bye-laws, and submit to next meeting of Council, comprised of Crs. Wakelin, Carter, the Chairman, and the mover." Seconded by Cr. Hunter, and carried. ORDINARY MEETING. The ordinary monthly meeting of the Council was then held.' The minutes of the previous meeting were read and confirmed. Mr Burnett waited on the Council, and complained of the danger of tying horses to the posts in front of the Post Office. He said he had spoken to Mr O'Hallaran, and he objected to remove them inside the fence on account of the expense. After some conversation on the subject, the Chairman said it would be considered by the Council. The Chairman said that, as many persons were present with petitions, he suggested that they should be heard before the routine business of the Council proceeded. Mr Killen then presented a petition on behalf of some of the Maunu ratepayers, asking the Council to make an order that a portion of the present Maunu Road Disiriet, near Whangarei, be declared a seperate road district. He said there were 50 xatepayers in the proposed new district, 36 of whom had signed the petition. He read certain clauses in the Road Boards Act of 1882, which stated that, if three-fourths of the ratepayers in the proposed new district signed the petition, and a few other points (advertising, &c.) complied with, it only remained for the Council to make the order. A counter petition was presented by Mr W: Hawken, signed by 42 ratepayers of the Maunu District, praying that the proposed new district be not declared a seperate district. Some considerable discussion as to the For all skin diseases the sweet and best cure is Clement and Bentley's Compound Sarsaparilla Medicine. — Advt.

powers of the Council took place, one contending that they were obliged to accede to the request of the petitioners to separate, to which the Councillors demured.

Cr. MALiiABOJTD read a clause from the last County Councils Act, which was to the effect that the Council had power to accede or r jf use to make an order for a seperate district, whatever the Eoad Boards Act said ; and that, if it came to a division on the subject, he would oppose the petition. He looked upon it as a clever scheme to get over the former decision of the Council on the merging question.

Cr. "Wilson said the district was very large, possessed great diversity of interest, and he thought it was hardly right to compel a number of settlers to live under any particular road Board, if they did not like to do so. He proposed " That the petition be granted." There, however, no seconder.

Cr. Wakelin said, he did not tbin& it fair that the people living near the town should leave the back settler in the lurch after he (the settler) had helped to make the good roads past the people's doors near town.

Cr. McKay said his sympathies lay with the out settler, but he would rather the Council's decision was deferred for the present.

Mr Killen said that, if the Council refuse to grant the petition, they could refer to the Governor.

The Chairman said he thought, in spite of the Road Board Act, or anyother Act, the Council could do as they thought fit in the matter, and that if petitioners referred to the Governor, he would only refer them back to the Council, and be guided principally by their decision. He also pointed out the expense of maintaining two road boards.

Cr. Wakelin proposed " That decision be deferred."

Cr. Hunter seconded the proposition, which was carried.

Cr. "Wilson requested that the former petition to merge be returned to petitioner, which was acceded to, after a copy had been taken.

Mr Neville, Chairman of the Waikeikei Road Board, waited on the Council and explained that a certain road was in a dangerous state, and asked permission for the Road Board to do something to it, and a promise made that a portion of the money be refunded when the Council "was in funds.

The Chairman explained that the Mangapai Biding was not afpresent in funds, but when it was the matter would be attended to.

Mr Neville said the road was a County road, and that nothing had been done to it for four years.

Mr Galbraith waited on the Council, on behalf of the Kauri Timber company, requesting the Council to lay off a road through certain Village Settlement sections at Whananaki, about 90 chains long ; and also that permission be given to lay down a tram on the said road for the conduct of timber. There were about six million feet at present to go by the proposed tram. The company were willing to pay the cost of survey, &c. The Chairman proposed, "That the application of Mr Galbraith re road through the Village Settlement at Whananaki, be favourably received, and that steps be taken to carry out the same." Cr. Wilson seconded the motion, which was carried. The request of Mr Killen and others, to erect a swing gate on a certain road was granted. A letter was read from the agent of the Jubilee B.S. Co., asking that a light be kept on the Marsden Point Wharf on the night of their steamer coming in, which was agreed to, so long as the wharf was under the care of the Council. The Chairman said it was not advisable to accept the proposed charge of the wharf from the Government, and he was endeavouring to get out of it. The Collector's return was laid on the table, and The Chairman said the Collector was to be congratulated on his success. The following is the return of amounts collected in each riding.

A letter was read from Mr Jaggar, offering to purchase the land on which the Council Chamber stands, for the purpose of erecting an hotel. Cr Wakelin proposed, " That the property on which the County Chamber stands be offered to Mr Jagger for the sum of £800, buildings not included, and that the Chairman and Cr. Wilson be a committee to negotiate the sale.*' Seconded by Cr. Wilson and carried. Cr. McKay proposed "That the Telegraph Department be called to the position of the telegraph posts on the main road in Upper Waipu district. Accounts to the amount of were read, and a few reductions made in accounts considered too high. They were then passed for payment. Cr. Wakelin proposed, " That, in the event of the offer of the Council to Mr Jagger being accepted, the Chairman advertise for offers for a site for a new office, including price." Seconded by Cr. Hunter and carried. Cr. J. I. Wilson proposed, " That more chairs be purchased for Council, and that policy of insurance for £200 be renewed for the year. Seconded by Cr. Hunter and carried. Cr. Mallabond proposed, " That the balance of the Parua license fee be handed over to the cemetary trustees." Seconded by Cr. Wolf, and carried.

On the motions of Cr. Wakelin and Cr Carter, £5 were ordered to be spent on the road between Kensington and the Kaino Hotel, and also £b in repairing the Hikurangi Swamp road. The Chairman proposed, " That a rate of f d in the pound be struck for the year ending 31st March 1889, and that the same be payable in one instalment on the Ist of October, 1888." Seconded by Cr. "Wakelin and carried.

£ 8. d. Hikurangi Riding . . . . 239 1 5 Maunu do 309 14 ] Manaia do 130 4 5 Mangapai do 144 0 11 Ngunguru do 58 10 3 Waipu do 145 4 8 Total, 1022 15 9