WHANGAREI COUNTY COUNCIL

Northern Advocate, 15 March 1919, Page 2

WHANGAREI COUNTY COUNCIL

MONTHLY MEETING.

The Whangarei County Council met yesterday morning. Present: Messrs J. R. Mclnnes (chair), R. Y. Kernohan, W. Jones, L. Webb, A. McLennan, Thorburn, Hayward and R. it. Hodge. HIKURANGI STREAM. The chairman reported that so far it had not been possible to make an appointment with the resident engineer to. visit the locality. He hoped to be able to do so before next meeting. QUARRY ROAD. Peter Fergusson, Ruatangata West, complained that he had never been paid the £10 promised for putting a road through his land to the Council's quarry. On the motion of Cr. Hodge it was resolved to pay the amount, plus 5 per cent., making a total of £14, wire for fencing also to be supplied. A DEVIATION. Mr Dent, Kaitara, asked for an adjustment of a road line in which lie ! was prepared to give land in return for a portion of the old road line Such an adjustment would prevent his legal fence line cutting off the metal. On the motion of Cr. Jones the offer was accepted without prejudice, provided that the adjoining settler (Mr Cleary) makes no objection. KIRIPAKA RESERVE. The chairman moved that, provided Cr. Currey is agreeable, a surveyor be sent to locate the road through the Kiripaka reserve.—Carried. ROAD DRAINAGE. The clerk was instructed to take legal steps to recover cost of road damage from Messrs McCallum and Coulthard. WORK ON PUHIPUHI ROAD. On the motion of Cr. Webb the Cinnabar, Ltd., is to be paid £75 for work done on the road to the mines. BALD HILL DEVIATION. Cr. Webb said he had consulted the settlers regarding the Bald Hill deviation and it had been decided to let the Public Works engineer say whether the department would spend money on the hill or insist on the deviation. ROAD BLOCKED. T. Matutinovich, Marsden Point, complained that M. Jurakovich had put a gate across a surveyed road. On the motion of Cr. McLennan it was resolved to proceed with the legalising of the road. MANGAKAHIA RIDING. The Mangakahia branch of the Farmers Union asked that the new territory of the county be made a riding pending settlement at the elections. Action was deferred pending quid- ' ance from the Crown Law Officers. BRIDGE WANTED. The Mangakahia branch of the Farmers Union also asked for the Council to expedite the, reconstruction of the upper Mangakahia bridge and to confer with Bay of Islands county upon the subject of inducing Government to rebuild the structure. On the motion of Crs. Kernohan . and Jones it was resolved to communicate with the Bay county on the subject. \ TELEPHONE LINE. The New Zealand Quicksilver Mines, Ltd., asked for permission to construct a telephone line over the Council's land and along roadways. Permission was granted provided usual conditions were complied with. AUTHORITIES READY. The P.W.D. notified that the following grants were payable on approval of plans and specifications:— Lecca's-Kaitara road, £45; Manga-pai-Mongonui bridge road, £148 (£ for £); Ruakaka-Otaika road, £60; Waiparera-Horahora road, £100. MILITARY TRAINING. Ashburtpn County Council forwarded a resolution protesting against the holding of compulsory training camps and urging the abolition of the territorial system. Cr. W e bb moved and Cr, McLennan seconded that the letter be received. Cr. Jpnes moved as an amendment that the resolution be endorsed. He thought that the councillors did not fully realise the cost of the defence system. He was strongly of opinion that the defence vote should be cut down. He also questioned the efficacy of the territorial instruction. Cr. Thorburn seconded. The amendment was put and carried on the casting vote of the chairman, Crs. Kernohan, Jones, Thorburn 1 and Mclnnes voting "aye" and Crs Hayward, Hodge, Webb and McLennan "no," BETTER ROADS. Waipa County Council urged that the County Councils' Association should meet as soon as possible and apply to Government for assistance in making better roads; also that a tax be levied on motor tyres. The chairman moved that the resolutions be endorsed. Cr. McLennan seconded and the motion was carried. j CAVES ROAD. I The Ruarangi Road Board asked for the legalisation of the MangapaiCaves road. The Board would contribute £25. The matter was left to Cr. Hayward to report. REPAIRS WANTED. A Matthew's, Kara, asked for repairs to a portion oi! the road near the school.

On tho motion of the chairman it was resolved to inform Mr Matthews that there was no money available.

Cr. .Kernohan ppinted out that these settlers had helped the Council last year to the extent of over £100. The Council should help those prepared to help themselves if it were possible .

Cr. Webb protested against Maunu piling yp their overdraft' as it was unfair to the smaller riding^.

Every voter who is in favour of continuance will be interested in the big advertisement which appears #n page 1 of this issue. It gives some interesting facts regarding the question.

BANITATIOIC OF MAORI PAS. Teurangw Hoepitiel end Charitable

Aid Board urged the better sanitation of Maori pas.

On the motion of Crs. Webb and Hodge it was resolved to support the resolution.

WILSON'S CUT

Mr A. Wilson waited upon the Council with regard to the straightening of the Waiarohia creek through his property at Maunu. He understood that the permission had been withheld pending the arrival of the new engineei*. The position was that they had completed one cut and they were anxious to finish the second one before the workmen left the job. On the motion of the chairman, seconded by Cr. Hayward, it was resolved to leave the matter to the riding members with power to act. EXPENDITURE OF A GRANT. The Hikurangi branch of the Farmers' Union asked for the expenditure of a grant of £100 on the main North road from Hukerenui onwards. Cr. Webb moved that Mr Kerr i (secretary of the Union) be informed that there was no grant of £100 for such a road, and the motion was carried. AN OLD ROAD. M. E. Dane, Whareora, asked that tlie legal colsing of an old road through his property be proceeded with as promised. The matter was left with the chairman to inquire into. BRIDGE WANTED. R. McDonald and Danks wanted to know what had been done in connection with the construction of the Waiparera road bridge. Cr. Thorburn said that there was a grant of £150 for the work. The chairman moved that the P.W.D. he asked to build the bridge and the motion was carried. WANTED A TITLE. Thomas Fraser, Otaika road, asked that the road to his- property at Toi Toi be legalised so that he could obtain a proper title. The matter was left in the hands of the member for the riding (Cr. Hayward). LARGER PIPES. Rosa Taylor, Kamo, asked that larger pipes be put under Ruatangata road opposite her property to prevent flooding and destruction of crops. Cr. Hodge is to report. VICTORIA BRIDGE. The town clerk notified that the borough engineer had been instructed to effect repairs to Victoria Bridge at a cost of £180. STATE FOREST. J» W. Hertherington wrote asking that the Council assist in getting part of the Pekapeka State forest thrown open for settlement. There was no longer any useful timber on tlie ground. Cr. Jones supported the request. The Council should do what it could to make Government understand that there was a large portion of the block without milling timber and suitable for settlement. He moved in that direction. The chairman seconded and the motion was carried. Cr. Hodge mentioned a block in Wairua riding and it was resolved to also include that area in the request to Government. ROAD LEVEL. Waipu Road Board asked the Council to take steps to have Finlayson's road, in the township, restored to its proper level as it had been altered by the Council effecting repairs. The matter was referred to Cr. McLennan for investigation. HEAVY TRAFFIC TAX. Waipu Road Board asked for a ruling as to whether it was called upon to pay the heavy cartage tax on metal carted for its own purposes over county roads. Cr. McLennan thought it was well to consider how local bodies could work in together. Did the county or road boards have to pay each other or did they allow it to cut both ways? The chair: It cuts both ways. Cr. McLennan wanted it understood what the policy of the county was towards these hoards. The chair: All bodies should walk hand in hand. Cr. McLennan: Vest, but I want to know what is to be done. Cr. Hodge did not think it was intended to charge the small local bodies. They were all making roads. Cr. Jones: Do away with the bylaw then. Cr. Hodge suggested collecting the tax and making a refund. Cr. Hayward considered it was a mistake to charge the road boards. Cr. McLennan said the particular road board had already called upon the Council .to repair roads which they had "carted over. If they were going to charge the county they should pay in return. Cr. Webb moved that the by-law be complied with. It was the fairest way. Cr. Jones seconded. ~ Cr. McLennan moved aa an amendment that the Waipu Board be informed that the toll would be refunded if the board agrees that the Council may cart on its (the board's) roads free of charge. Cr. Thorburn seconded and the amendment was carried on the casting vote of the chairman. A BALANCE DUE. John Davis, Parua Bay, asked for balance of money due for breaking metal. Cr. Thorburn said the metal should be carted on to the road and the man paid his money. ' The chairman moved that Cr. Thorburn be authorised to have the metal carted and Mr Davis be paid. The motion was carried. •

PROFITEERING. | Sixteen pubs make more profit than sixty ordinary business ventures, and that is how they rob us, A traveller, whose 'veracity and experience are j unquestioned, says that the increased volume of business since six o'clock closing has convinced almost every businessman that to close the hotels altogether would mean vastly-improv-ed conditions for industry, labour, and commerce. The business man's vote fpr prohibiten will be split}, and Labour has its eyes wide open, So, t too, has the harrassed employer, j

AN ANCIENT ROAD. George Whittle asked the Conned to make a legal road to his property ( at Mangapai. ' Cr. Hayward said that the road line had been open for 30 years and county money had been spent upon it. The owner of tlie adjoining property proposed to fence in a V shaped piece which would block tlie road. The matter was left |o Cr. Hayward STILL ANOTHER OLD ROAD. H. T. Snell, Maungakaramea, urged that roads through his property be closed to facilitate sales. The matter was left to Cr. Hayward. METALLING WANTED. J. R. Palmer asked for a piece of metalling to be done on Raumangi road. It was resolved that no funds were available for the work. HELENA BAY. The P.W.D. forwarded authority to proceed with the expenditure of £50, £ for £ on Helena Bay road. OBSTRUCTED STREAMS. Cr. Webb brought up the question of obstruction of two streams in his riding and it was decided to call upon adjoining owners to clear the water courses. I EXPENDITURE WANTED. I F. Elliott and five others asked that the grant of £200 for their road be spent. If the engineer would lay off the work they would provide the labour at a price to be arranged. The request was granted upon the motion of Cr. McLennan, seconded i by Cr. Kernohan. MOTORS FOR METAL. . Manawatii County Council sug- ! gested application to the Government for motor lorries from the battlefront suitable for carting metal. [ No action was taken, i EXPENDITURE OF RATES. Joseph Hannam, Whakapara, asked to be allowed to spent his rates upon i improvements to the road to his sec- , tion. Cr. Webb said the request wa3 reasonable and he was prepared to : vote the money. The matter was i therefore left in his hands. I ONERAHI ROAD. A deputation from the Onerahi Town Board and Whangarei Chamber of Commerce waited upon the Couns cil with a request that the Council [ push on the work without further s delay. Mr Ormiston (chairman of the Town Board) said that as an 1 evidence that the ratepayers were ; behind them he presented a petition ; signed by 76 persons in and around [ Onerahi. He believed that the i money could easily be obtained out- ! side the Government. The road was an important one for the whole of the county. Mr S. J. McCormick, of the Chanv ; ber of Commerce, presented another . petition containing considerably over [ 100 signatures of ratepayers praying [ that the road be made. He believed that Whangarei was the only town > in New Zealand without road access to the ocean beaches. In a hot climate it was more necessary to have i access to the beaches than in the south. The progress of the town largely depended upon the facilities for reaching the seaside. . The chairman pointed out that they . were without an engineer at present [ and would not have one until June, i They would, however, proceed to . raise the £9000 required without delay. At a later stage a motion was carried authorising the raising of a , loan of £9000 to make the road through the Public Trustee or some other source. MOTOR TRACTION. Mr Millington (manager of th? Whangarei Dairy Co.) jvaited on the Council with regard to the adaption of motor lorries for cream cartage , on the Purua „and Maungakaramea . roads. The company was not in a position to say whether the lorries would be oil or electric. Cr. Jones moved that permission .be granted to use either form of lorry. Cr. McLennan seconded; Cr. Hodge moved as an amend- . ment that the matter stand over for a month. Cr .Hayward seconded. If tho traffic were allowed the Great North Road would not stand it. Cr. Jones then withdrew his motion and the amendment was carried. Cr. Webb urged that motor traffic was coming and they would have to provide for it sooner or later. j SAVING A ROAD. Two Waikiekie ratepayers asked for repairs to the metalling near the dairy factory in their district. They thought that 150 yards of metal would make a good job. If it were left until next year it would cos*, twice as much. Cr. Hayward said he was prepared to see what could be done and the matter was left with him. NEW BOUNDARIES. A request was also made that something be done to expedite the proposed alteration in the boundaries of Whangarei and Otamatea counties. Cr. Jones moved that Cr. Hayward, the chairman and the mover he a committee to meet Otamatea county, and the motion was carried. HOSPITAL ROAD. The chairman of the Hospital Board asked for the construction of a short piece of road to the maternity ward.

The Council viewed the work in the morning and later in the day it was resolved to put the work through and make it a county charge.

"Never content yourself with doing I your second best." Gen. P. Sheridan. I ' Doing your second best when chest trouble attacks you, is going to bed. Doing your best is taking a course of Baxter's Lung Preserver. Dozens jof testimonials have been received* from sufferers from Bronchitis, ami Asthma, telling how Baxter's put' them on the road to good health, after years of suffering. One testimonial says: "I consider Baxter's worth Is a drop." If ypu are suffering from chest trouble let "Baxter's" give you reI lief. 2/6 buys large bottle. : Order to-day.

PEACE CELEBRATION. The Peace Celebration Commttte;; asked for a donation of £50 from th; Council in aid of the proposed celebrations.

The chairman said that it was proposed to extend the celebration* over three days. He approved of a day for the children in any case. Cr. McLennan opposed making the grant unless a proportion was paid , to the out-districts. Cr. Webb said he would like to sea the children enjoy themselves, but there were many who could not get in. Local picnics would be better. He was not prepared to vote for a grant to a central celebration iv Whangarei. Cr. McLennan moved that £10 be voted for the Whangarei celebrations and £5 to other ridings upon application. Cr. Webb seconded. It would enable the other districts to get the • subsidy. Cr. Jones was dead against th» whole thing. It was diabolical ro'.. He declared that no man had kept hi* enthusiasm bottled up for six month* and was in a position to fizz whenever desired. It was tommy rot. The only merit was the enjoyment cJ the children. Cr. Hayward did not agree wita Cr. Jones. He thought they shoo:i show the boys who had come • that they were appreciated. j Cr. Jones declared that it was net a matter for the soldiers, but for tbß public. I Cr. Webb thought that something j should be done to mark the event specially for the - children. The chairman then moved as ao amendment that the amount voted U> Whangarei be increased to £25, leaving out country districts. Cr. Hayward seconded. Cr. McLennan urged that the county should support the outside di>.' tricts. The town was well able t* pay for the celebrations. Cr. Hodge concurred with Cr. McLennan. The amendment was tJien lost, Crs. Kernohan, Hayward an*. the chairman voting "aye," and Cm. Jones, Webb, McLennan and Hodge "no." ■■ ;#

Cr. Jones then moved that the Council vote £50 towards the hospital as a peace offering. To this there was no seconder and Cr. McLennan'* motion was then put and carried. GENERAL BUSINESS. Cr. Kernohan asked if anything" had been done about the dedication of Anzac Park and the clerk replied that the matter was in the hands of the solicitor.

Cr. Kernohan further asked if the contributions towards the work tX Tangihua had all been paid and the clerk stated that £100 had been paid in and two other settlers' dues s.t £10 each had yet to come in.

• Cr. Webb brought up the question of obsolete machinery which was lying rusting in Hardies yard. There was a grader or two which might be done something with. They ought to be scrapped if of no further use.

The chairman explained that one machine had been made out of twa and little was there of any good. Eventually Cr. Webb moved that machinery of no use be scrapped, the chairman to have, power to act X3r. Hayward seconded and the motioi was carried..

On the motion of Crs. Webb and Jones it was resolved to bring the Council's car from the Engineering Company's works and place it in it* own stall under lock and key.

Cr. Webb urged better facilitiee for making concrete pipes. Water should be laid on to the works and a shed erected to shelter the workmen. He moved that a committee go into the question, and the motion was carried.

Cr. McLennan referred to the fact J that the Council had passed a re»- J

solution that a gate upon the road from Kaiwai to Mangapai was to be removed by January 15. This had not been done. He further pointed out that the pegs for the Waipu lin* went down: the road for some _disstance and a deviation was necessary The chairman, Ors. Hayward and McLennan were appointed to look into the matter.

Cr. McLennan also complained that too much time was wasted with deputations and he moved that it be notified that all deputations be received at 2 p.m. each meeting day and that notice must be given of the subjects to be raised. The motion was seconded and carried.

Cr. Hodge wanted to know whera county crusher was situated. He could find portions of the machine, but others were missing. Councillors, however, could not enlighten him.

Cr. Hayward said\the Otaika Valley road was in poor repair. The settlers were prepared to put in the pipes if the Council would supply them. He also asked permission to put a team on for a fortnight, and this was granted.

On the motion of Cr. Jones members are to be called upon to supply a complete list of all machinery: pipes, material, etc., in each riding as at March 31. ' '

The Portland Cement Co. asked for some improvement to their road and the matter was left to Cr. Hayward.