Mangonui County Affair

Northern Advocate, 21 April 1939, Page 9

Mangonui County Affair

[Special to “Northern Advocate ”]

KAITAIA, April 20

At the meeting of the Mangonui County Council presided over by Councillor C. G. Barribal on Wednesday, a motion of sympathy was passed with Councillor McKay in the death of his sister. Tenancy of Room A letter was received from the District Engineer offering to take the room in the county chambers vacated by the town board, at 15/- per week, for the Agricultural Department, provided that a communicating door is put in between the room and that now occupied by the Department; also that the room is wired for lighting and heating by electricity when power is available. After a little discussion in which it was mentioned that the Hospital Beard may require the room, it was decided to take no action till' the Hospital Board meets. The view of the chairman was that the Hospital Board’s offices should be in the county chambers.

Ranging Main Highways

The District Highways Council wrote intimating that while it was prepared to delegate its powers relating to the control of wandering stock on main highways to the council, it was not intended to pay a subsidy, but council would be allowed to retain any revenues resulting from the activities cf the rangers. Councillor Matthews: The fees will recompense us for the increased work. Councilor Holder: It will be an advantage for the council to have control, even if it costs something. On the motion of Councillor Matthews it was decided to accept control on the terms laid down. Road to Gum Fields f The Commissioner of Crown Lands wrote asking that the access to the kauri gum fields, Ahipara Hill, be improved by providing a ramp enabling cars to pass over the stretch of soft sand.

His Department had no funds for the work. The Clerk: The Department gets a certain amount of revenue from the gum.

The engineer: A ramp would have to be three chains long and would be very expensive. Councillor Berghan: As soon as the weather breaks the approach will be satisfactory. The engineer was asked to report. Legalising Road A further letter from the Commissioner of Crown Lands stated that a portion of the main highway between Kaitaia and Peria had not been legalised add it would be necessary to have a survey of the road made at an estimated cost of £43 12/-. The council was asked if it was prepared to make any contribution towards the cost. The road had been in use for 50 to 60 years and had been metalled for nearly 30 years. The Clerk: The particular portion of road referred to passed through Crown land, and led to a quarry reserve. It was decided to have the survey made, conditional on a severed portion being set aside as a quarry reserve. Crown Lands Access Mr C. W. Boswell, M.P., wrote asking the council to give specific cases of Crown lands sections without road access. A letter from the Minister of Public Works was forwarded by Mr Boswell in which it was stated that the petition for a special grant for Duncan’s Hoad would be given the fullest consideration in connection with the estimates for the coming year. The Clerk: The deputation to the Minister from the council did not touch on Crown lands access. As far as he knew all Crown tenants had access. “Cost More Than Property Is Worth” Mr A. G. Garton wrote asking for an access road. The Engineer: Tfre road will cost more than the property is worth. Councillor Vickers: If some pay £5 in rates they expect expenditure of £IOOO on their roads.

The engineer was asked to make an inspection.

Damage to Side Road

The traffic inspector reported that he had made the Public Works Department cut down its loads of metal to two tons over Clough’s Road, and a promise had been received from Mr Bosselmann that 50 yards of metal would be placed on the road to make good damage done.

Kiangaroa Roads

The attention of the engineer was drawn by Councillor Matthews to the number of pot holes in the Kaingaroa end of the Awanui-Kaingaroa road and also to the bad state of the culverts at the top end of Pikerau Road. The engineer said he was attending to both matters. Planks had already gone out for the culverts.

Awanui Footpaths

Councillor Matthews said he had been given to understand that the cost of asphalting that portion of the footpath at Awanui which had not been concreted would be £37, and that the Public Works Department was pre-

pared to do the work at that figure. The Highway Board would pay a subsidy reducing the cost by half, and it would be advisable to see what the j property owners would pay. i The Clerk. Seme of the property j owners have not yet paid their agreed i share of the cost of concreting opposite their properties. Councillor Matthews: The matter will need some further investigation. West Coast Road Councillor Shaw, referring to the West Coast road, said that past the Tohcroa factory there were only two ratepayers. The road was a riding responsibility, and a great deal of damage had been clone during the Christmas and Easter Could any compensation bo obtained, holidays, he asked. The erection of a toll gate was suggested. but it was thought that it | would be impossible to get a permit. It was decided to ask for a Government grant. General The engineer was asked to make a survey of a road from Paranui to Olakai. It was decided to recommend the granting of a license for a slaughterhouse at Hereki?io to Mr F, D. Liinjevich.