Mangonui County Council.

Northland Age, Volume 3, Issue 6, 11 September 1906, Page 5

Mangonui County Council.

A meeting of the above was held in the Council Chambers, Mangonui, on Friday evening last, 7th instant. There were present: —Crs. Wilkinson (Chairman), Powell, Pearson, Thomas and Masters. MINUTES. The minutes of the previous meeting were read and confirmed. RESOLUTIONS. Crs. Masters (proposer)—Powell (seconder) —That the Council accept Mr. Pepa’s offer of £5 per year in payment of his Charitable Aid account, amounting to £47 7/8, the pajpnent to commence on Ist November next. Crs. Powell—Masters—That the Clerk write to Mr. H. Blencowe Matthews, and his attention be called to a former notice to cut down the gorse on the roads abutting on his property; that he be required to commence to cut down these noxious weeds within two weeks, otherwise the Council will proceed to do this work and charge same against him. Crs. Wilkinson—Masters—That the County offer £25 towards the erection of Thomas’s bridge, Oruni, and that the Roads Department be advised that in the present state of County funds that is all that can be afforded. Crs. Powell—Masters— lie an application from Messrs. F. J. Hagger and J. E. Thomas for a flax area in the Waiharara district: That same be recommended to the Commissioner of Crown Lands for favourable consideration. Crs. Powell—Pearson—That Mr. Harris, County Clerk, be granted leave of absence until the annnal meeting, and that a vote of condolence at his illness be recorded. Cts. Wilkinson—Powell—That a cheque for £IOO 4/10 be drawn, payable to the Bay of Islands County. Crs. Powell—Thomas—That the Government be asked, when considering the amendments to the Local Bodies Bill, as proposed to be made during the present session of Parliament, to insert a clause empowering each county to administer their own licensing elections and laws, the present system of one County having control of the election being unsatisfactors. Crs. Wilkinson—Powell —That Mr. Watts be instructed to inspect the road at Kenana in the direction of Mr. Efford’s land.

Crs. Wilkinson Powell That Mr. Frear’s letter re the road along the beach at Butler’s Point, be referred to the County Solicitor for his opinion, and that the Chairman and Mr. Pearson be empowered to act in accordance with that opinion.

Crs. Wilkinson—Pearson—That Mr. Nelson Hayter’s letter and claim for extra pay be received and the matter stand over until Cr. Gillibrand be present.

Crs. Powell—Pearson—That this Council adopt the resolutions of the Collingwood County Council, and recommend same to the M.H.R. for the district. The resolutions referred to were as follows: 1. That, whereas a very serious waste of public money is caused by the expenditure, during the winter months, of sums voted by Parliament for public

works in the more remote parts of the Colony; and whereas Local Bodies to whom such expenditure is entrusted are rarely authorised to spend the same until the most advantageous time of the year is past, the Member of the House of Representatives for this District be requested to co-operate with other members of the House in urging upon the Executive Government of the Colony the need of devising some means wherby sums voted for public works may be available for expenditure during the summer months of the financial year in which the same are voted. 2. That copies of thefforegoing resolution be printed and forwarded with a printed circular letter from the County Clerk to every County Council in the Colony asking their co-operation, and that they will pass similar resolutions and act upon the same with all convenient promptitude. Crs. Wilkinson—Thomas—That Dr. Trimnell’B letter be received and that his account be left over for Cr. Gillibrand to arrange. Crs. Masters—Thomas—That the Secretary of the Post and Telegraph Department be asked to extend the telephone at Waiharara to Hagger’s Point, the Council giving the usual guarantee.

Crs. Pearson—Wilkinson—That Walter Waipouri’s application for lifting the gum reserve from land at Waiharara be not entertained, such land in the opinion of the Council being gum-bearing.

Crs. Wilkinson—Powell—That the tender of Pomare Kariwi, for the Lake Ohia contract, at 4/6 per chain for cleaning out th.e old drain and 12/- per chain for making the new drain, with nothing for fascining, be accepted. (Five other tenders were received). Crs. Wilkinson Powell That the the Council agree to contribute half of the cost of the Parapara bridge out of timber halves, the Roads Department to spend the money, the estimated cost being £lls. Crs. Powell—Thomas—That a final offer of £3O be made to Mr. T. Maugham as compensation for the taking of the proposed road through his land, and the old road be closed, Messrs. J. Pearson and H. H. Thompson being empowered to negotiate with Mr. Maugham and cither arrange for the amount named, or less, as they think fit. That failing a satisfactory arrangement the Government be asked to take the road under the Public Works Act. Crs. Pearson—Thomas—That Mr. Harry Matthews be informed that the old road through his land will be resumed unless he permit of the graded road being taken. Crs. Powell—Wilkinson—That Mr. E. L. Leyland be informed that be must remove the obstructions on the South Houhora road, and, failing such removal within one weex of notice being given, the riding member be empowered to employ a person or persons to remove the obstructions mentioned. Crs. Powell —Pearson—That the Government Roads Department on this occasion be asked to expend timber halves V r-. ml, . <;.■&&& ... . i*

paid into Mangonui County funds* on account of Herekino timber, and Council pay accounts on the Government Road Inspector’s certificate. Crs. Wilkinson—Powell—That the County Solicitor’s opinion be asked as to the Maoris collecting billiard table licenses, vehicle licenses, eto., and the County’s position in this regard. Crs. Masters—Wilkinson—That subject to the approval of shippers and ratepayers, as expressed at meetings to be called by Cr. Powell and Masters, the Council offer the Northern S.S. Coy. the right of building a wharf and goods-shed at Awanui, retaining the right of purchasing same at any time at cost less 5 per cent, on the diminishing value for depreciation. Crs. Pearson—Wilkinson—That the parcels rate for wharfage be 3d. for all parcels going over Mangonui wharf. NOTICES OF MOTION. By Cr. Wilkinson— I That a rate of Five Farthings in the Pound on the capital value of all rateable property in the County be struck and levied at nextmeeting. By Cr. Powell—That steps be taken to alter the boundaries of the various ridings, with a view to creating a seventh riding. ACCOUNTS. Accounts totalling about £220 were passed for payment, and Council rose at M p.m.