WHANGAREI COUNTY COUNCIL.

Northern Advocate, 14 October 1918, Page 1

WHANGAREI COUNTY COUNCIL.

MONTHLY MEETING. The ordinary monthly meeting of the Whangarei County Council was continued on Friday last, when the following- additional business was transacted: RAILWAY CONSTRUCTION. Mr Vernon Reed, M.P., wrote asking the council to support the Public Works Minister in his railway construction policy. Cr. Hayward said that so far as the settlers in Mangapai and Maungakaramea were concerned the present condition of the line suited them as they could get goods left where they pleased. Cr. Kernohan held that as the council was interested in roads and bridges and that the Minister had given them grants of £3000 and other amounts he did not think they should censure him. He moved that the Council simply affirm the principle that the main trunk line to Auckland should be completed. Cr. Jones could not see that they were going to do any good either to the railway or roading problems if they went against the Minister. He was not backing up Mr Reed, but the Minister should be assisted. The chairman concurred in the opinion expressed by Cr. Jones. Cr. McLennan approved of the motion. The object of the Department was to make the best possible use of the Tauraroa quarry. The motion was carried. AN OLD ROAD. Mr C. U. Hawken offered to buy an old road running through his property. The engineer was instructed to inspect the road and report to the Council. DELAY IN CONTRACTS. Thames County Council wrote protesting against delay caused in the prosecution of contracts carrying a Government subsidy and the restriction upon wages desired by the Minister. The Department, it will be remembered, disapproved of local bodies paying higher rates of pay than the Government. The engineer said he never had any trouble with the public works engineers here, and it was decided to take no action. PAH ROAD. Mr Alex. McKenzie asked -that the Pah road, Ruakaka, be handed over to him as promised in return for two sections of his land. The matter was left to Cr. McLennan to investigate and report. RIPONUI LOAN. Mr Kerr waited upon the Council with regard to the position of the Riponui loan. He had received notice that the loan proposals were not in order. He wanted to know who was responsible. Both the clerk and engineer denied responsibility for any mistake that had been made. Cr. Jones expressed the view that the engineer was to blame. Cr. Kernohan was equally emphatic that the clerk was to blame. The engineer to make himself plain said that he had done all that was expected of him. It was Mr Briggs' duty to prepare the roll. He only gave help.

Mr Briggs: "I don't want the help. I am better without it." The Council found no way out of the difficulty and the matter was dropped. RECREATION GROUND. Messrs Griffin and McKay made a request that a better recreation area be obtained for Kamo people. They had a suitable area available if the Council would be prepared to dispose of the Tupua reserve and devote the proceeds to the purchase of the new area. It was decided to ask the deputation to produce an option over the new ground before taking action. OTAKAIRANGI ROAD. Mr Whimp asked the position with regard to the construction of the Otakairangi road, and was informed that the solicitor was taking the necessary steps to acquire the land under the Public Works Act. TANGIHUA NO. 2 BLOCK. Several Tangihua No. 2 Block settlers asked for something to be done to their road and also for guidance as to the raising of a £1000 loan. Cr. Jones held that work should be done on the road. A grader should be put on that and other clay roads without delay. Cr. Kernohan held that it would be simply waste of money to keep on heaping mud upon mud. It would be well to put metal on and be done I with it. The deputation said that if the Council was not prepared to go in for a loan policy they would be willing to rate themseves, or contribute to the work. On the motion of the chairman, seconded by Cr. McLennan, the Maunu riding members and the engineer were instructed to meet the settlers on the ground and do what was necessary. RELIEF FROM RATES. Mr A. C| Greenwood, Waipu district, a returned soldier, asked for relief from rates upon his property. If such relief were not accorded he would have to throw up the property. Cr. McLennan moved that the Council regrets that it cannot accede to the request. Cr. Hodge seconded and the motion was carried. TAXI LICENSES. The Whangarei Borough Council notified that a committee had been appointed to meet the Council in conference upon the question of taxi licenses. It was resolved that Crs. Kernohan and Hodge represent the Council. OPOUTIKI ROAD. Mr J. Brake asked on behalf of the settlers in his district that the riding members and engineer should inspect roads ad make provision for the more urgent works. Access to many places was practically impossible. It was resolved to inform Mr Brake that the money granted by Government was in the hands of HoI kianga county and the matter would be given attention when the accounts between the two counties were ad]USt A"SETTLEMENT WANTED. G. T. Jobbit, Riponui, asked for a settlement of his account with the Council for land taken for road purposes. The matter was left to the enginNEW RIDING. It was resolved to inform residents that the formation of a new ridimr in Mangakahia would be proceeded with when the valuation rolls were prepared.

DANGEROUS PLACES. Mr F. Courteney asked for repairs to the Houto road. On the motion of Cr. Jones it was resolved to inform the applicant that nothing could be done until the adjustments of the county accounts with Hokianga. CARTING METAL. Waipu Dairy Co. asked for permission to cart metal from the Council's quarry. The matter was left to Cr. McLennan with power to act. A ROAD WANTED. A. Alison complained of the condition of his road at Mangakahia. He had looked for the Council to obtain the necessary land to make a road. Cr. Hodge recognised that the settlers were entitled to access, but it was a matter of finance. He moved that the matter be gone into when funds are available. Cr. Webb seconded and the motion was carried. COUTT'S DRAIN. Mr T. H. Steadman brought under the notice of the Council the question of compensating Mr A. Coutts for the work he had done in draining the Council's road property. On the motion of the chairman the matter was held over until next meeting. A PROTEST. T. Ellis and others petitioned the Council against including their properties in the Hukerenui-Riponui loan area. No action was taken in view of the informality of the loan. STONE CRUSHER. J. K. Franks asked for the loan of the crusher to prepare sufficient metal for five chains of the old Poroti road. He was prepared to give three drays and horses and three men if the Council would do the rest. CULVERTS. Mr J. I. Wilson, on behalf of Mrs Fallon, objected to the situation of three culverts on Maunu road. The matter was deferred. KIRIPAKA NEEDS. John Cork and others asked for the expenditure of their rates upon their road. On the motion of the chairman, seconded by Cr. Currey, it was resolved to inform the petitioners that no money was available at present but the work would receive attention next year. RUATANGATA EAST. E. B. Laxon and others asked for attention to their road and the matter was left to Cr. Hodge. ACCOUNTS. Accounts amounting to £879 2s lid were passed for payment. Cr. Webb moved that a statement be prepared showing the position of Government grants and the certificates held. Cr. Currey seconded and the motion was carried. CLEANING THE OFFICES. Mr Whitelock, of the window cleaning depot, wanted to know why he had been turned down in looking after the offices. Cr. Jones said that Mr Whitelock's services had been dispensed with because the Council heard that he was receiving 15s for the cleaning of the rooms and only paid a woman Bs. Mr Whitelock said he had paid the woman Is per hour and had worked himself. On the motion of the chairman it was decided to call applications for the work of cleaning.