MANGONUI COUNTY COUNCIL.

Northland Age, Volume 16, Issue 17, 16 January 1919, Page 7

MANGONUI COUNTY COUNCIL.

MINUTES OF MEETING, 19TH DECEMBER, 1918. Long—Houston.—That a rebate of half rates be made to C. B. Dunn for the year 1915.1916, during which time he was on active service.—Carried. Panther—L. J. Matthews.—That this Council endorses resolutioi passed at the meeting of the Bay of Islaids H &C. A. Board on 7th October, 1918, <e separation of Hospital District.—Carrie! ■ Long—L. J. Matthews.—ie section 7, ' Block VI, Maungataniwha 5.0., J. M. Colville, that the letter from dr. Skect be acknowledged and that this Guncil have no intention of taking extrem action in the case of J. M. Colville’s rat«, and will see that proceedings are suspeded until his return from the Front. —Carfed. Long—Garton.—That the acaunt of Messrs Foster and Miller for srveying Wiwhera Block be paid.—Carriei Houston—Garton.—That the emand | of the Bay of Islands H. &C. Aboard for a payment of a hospital levy\n the , present Jfjd demand be referred \ the County solicitor for his opinion.—Caied. riWtquston—Long.—That T. be wired...* whether <h<.\ hearing onwths.hustrial dispute to whitvi the Mangonui County Council were cited to attend on November 20, 1918, took place on that date; or whether in con- , junction with other meetings it was postponed on account of the epidemic.— Carried. Long—Evans.—That Crs. Panther, Garton, Matthews, and the Engineer inspect the hew stone outcrop near Meffin's quarry as Pointed out by Mr. O. Fisher.— Carried. Garton—Lon^—That ihe letter from the Oruru-Fairbuhu Dairy Co. be received and that they be informed that the TaipaOruru road complained of has been completed.—Carried. L. J. Matthews—Panther.—That in answer to a letter from Mr. James Rice> a sum not exceeding £5 be expended in / putting this culvert in order. —Carried. Panther—Garton.—That in reply to communication from secretary of OruruFairburn Dairy Factory re opening up of Edwards’ Road, the Engineer and riding member will visit the locality and report, the delay in this matter being caused by the recent epidemic.—Carried.

Houston—L. J. Matthews—That this Council endorses the resolution passed by V the Bay of Islands County Council re the Vjiound.aries of Northland Land District.— Carried. Garton—Panther.—That a notice be inserted in the two local papers, that before any patriotic functions for the purpose of collecting money for patriotic funds be held, it is necessary to obtain permits from the Chairman of the Mangonui County Council—Carried. Long—Evans.—That this Council agree to pay Mr. E. C. Matthews the sum of 3d per yard for all metal quarried and taken x by the Mangonui County Council from Anderson’s quarry, and his offer to donate Ik the royalty for this season towards the of opening up this quarry be with thanks by the Council.— W Houston—Garton.—That the riding ™ member be asked to confer with Mr. Herbert Panther re repairs on his road, and to report at next meeting.—Carried. L. J. Matthews —Garton.—That the Commissioner of Crown Lands be requested to gazette as a Cemetery Board for the Oruaiti Cemetery the following gentlemen Messrs Henry G. Foster, Howard E. Foster, Albert G. Garton, Alfred S. Foster, Clement Foster, all of Oruaiti.—Carried. w L. J. Matthews—Garton.—That in reply to the request ot the Oruaiti residents for help to fence in the Oruaiti Cemetery, that this Council agree to donate the sum of £7 towards same.—Carried. Long—L. J. Matthews.—Re dedication of Church Road, Kaitaia: That the letter from Messrs Parr & Bloomfield be acknowledged, and they be informed that the Council will go into the matter as soon as possible and report. Long— Garton.—That the matter of looking into Church Road dedication be left in the hands of riding member, engineer, and chairman.—Carried. Long— Garton.—That the complaint of C. H. Everitt, of Waihopo, be left in the hands of Cr. Evans with full power to i deal with—Carried. V Houston— Long.— That D. K. Dysart’s ■ letter be acknowledged.—Carried. k Houston—Garton.— That the chequeL signers for the Kaitaia special rating area B loan account be any two councillors V countersigned by the treasurer.—Carried. ■ ' Panther— Houston.—That In reply to of the Hokianga County CouncnSilLlSi v ' n ß a 6™nt of £l s° t 0 open up the TaiS^ ue Saddle Road, that on receipt of a TtSPort from our County Engineer, this Cornell will give Us de[j, cision. -Carried. ■ 111 Long-L. J. MattheWs.—Sections 13 and

io, Awanui Parish: That this Counci f offer to lease these two sections for quarry purposes at a sum of £5 per year for a period of 5 years, with the right of renewal in the event of the stone not being exhausted and further required by this Council.—Carried.

Long—L. J. Matthews.—That Mr. R. T. Wrathall’s account of £1 for services rendered to Council be paid.—Carried. Garton—H. B. Matthews—That in reply to Mr. F. Emsley re rates on allot. 1, Mangatete.that the Valuation Department being the controlling authority in this matter, the Council advise him to communicate with them. —Carried.

L. J. Matthews —Panther.—That the matter of the Petition of the Hokianga County Council be left in the hands of the Chairman to reply to.—Carried. Garton —Evans. —That this Council dissent against the decision of the Bay of Islands Hospital and Charitable Aid Board striking a levy of Jtjths of a penny in the £ on the County, upon the following grounds:— 1. That the said Board has not given to this Council the notice provided by Section 8 of “ The Hospital and Charitable Institutions Amendment Act, 1913,” of the estimated expenditure and income, or of the proposed apportionment of the estimated expenditure among the contributing local bodies. 2. That the two district members of the Board (who are also members of the Mangonui County Council) have reported to the Council that the estimated expenditure of the Board is in excess of the requirements of the Board by the sum of £looo.—Carried. Houston—Long,—That Cr. H. B. Matthews be thanked for his services in going to Rawene to attend the inquiry re adjustment of County boundaries.—Carried. Houston —Garton.—That the Waimate West County Council be written'To requesting their concent to allow their Engineer, Mr. J. A. Hansen, to visit this Count) - and report on the suitability of our roads to lay down on the Tar system.—Carried. Long- -Evans.—That the Clerk be instructed to write to the Chairman and Engineer of the Waimate West County expressing the appreciation of the Mangonui County Council for all information given to the Chairman on his recent visit to Taranaki to inspect their roads.— Carried.

L. J. Matthews—Long.—'That the resignation of the Assistant Clerk be received and accepted with regret. —Carried. L. J. Matthews—Garton.—That Miss Taaffe be appointed assistant clerk to help in the general office work at a salary of 20s. per week for six months.—Carried. L. J. Matthews—Garton. —That applications be called for Collector of Lie enses for this Council for the year 1919 to collect all Licenses, viz.—Dogs, vehicles, billiards, motors. The Collector will be expected to enter up all register books and hand in all receipts butts in order. Applications to be, in the County Office Kaitaia, by the ityli January, 1919. — Carried. Long—Evans.—'That the question of dog collars for the ye*\ 1919 be left in the hands of the Chairntm, Clerk and Engineer to arrange.—Cakied Houston—Garton.—Tiat the Minister of Public Works be writen to drawing his attention to the faclthat the Grants most urgently wanted viz, Ahipara-Here-kino £2OO £ for £ and he Mangatoitoi Road £IOO £ for £ have no l appeared on the report ot Estimates gtinted and request that they be considere] as they are most urgent.—Carried. H. B. Matthews—Long.—Tiat the Minister of Public Works be writtm to drawing his attention to the fact thauhe Grant Kaitaia-Church Road £SO £ fort should be given favourable consideration.—Car - ried. , Panther —Garton. —That the Hanger, Mr. Sam Yates, be informed that unless he attends to his duties, that a freshoanger will be appointed.—Carried. Panther—L. J. Matthews.—That the Chairman, Crs. H. B. Matthews,' A. h. Long, and J. Garton be appointed to act as a Finance Committee for the en«i n g year. Three to forma quorum.—Carried. Long— Panther. —Th a t the Coifey Clerk’s salary be increased by £25 (hr year.—Carried. Houston—Garton.—That Mr. Stuaal Masters be advised to write to the Inspec tor of Noxious weeds, Ohaeawai, on tin matter as the Council have no jurisdictioi in the matter. —Carried.

Tenders for these works have been invited and will be placed before you today. Proposal for £2OO on a£l for £1 basis has been prepared, for metalling and reformation works on Stony Creek to Mangonui Road. A considerable amount of the formation works required on this road has been done with the Coi&ity Grader. f

From Ravenhall’s to Stony Creek, thp road is being properly culverted, earthernware pipes taking the place of an old wooden culverts in places now in. A contract for quarrying, breaking, and carting and delivering about 450 cubic yards of rock metal on this road has been let and the contractors have commenced work. A small contrac.t of formation and culverting on Kohumaru road has been let the contractor advising having completed. Bridging and culverting works, on this road, held over from last year are nearing completion. ORURU RIDING. A contract has been let for metal repair works, between Garton's corner and Little Bush, this work is now being proceeded with. A proposal covering the expenditure ot £225 on a £1 for £1 basis for metalling and formation works, between Garton’s corner and Intake near Mangonui has been prepared. Oruru-Paranui-Taipa Road works have been completed, some necessary repair works have also been done on TaipaMangonui road. Two or three chains of metalling is required near Mrs. Wallen’s property.

Jones Bridge, on Fern Flat Road has been completed, some necessary culverting and general repair works have also been effected.

Some widening, slip clearing, and water-tabling has also been done on Paranui road, and also a little formation work on Duncan's road.

Complaints having been made that Kauri log hauling contractors caused covering of clay to be put on metalled portions of Oruru-Peria road for the purpose of making the load easier for bullock teams, I made some inquiry and found that in some places this had been done. VICTORIA VALLEY RIDING.

A rather dangerous washout (which has been temporarily repaired) occurred at the end of the bridge near Pearson’s. Some further metalling repairs are required along the Peria-Victoria Valley road. The settlers on the Te Rore road are asking to have a little metalling done on one or two places which are particularly bad in winter months. I would recommend this work be done. The contractor for formation works, and metalling works on Raetea road advises that the metal he intended using for this contract has been washed away by winter Hoods, and states that he canniit now do the work at price agreed upon,nis he will have further to cart the metal.

A proposal for metalling and formation works for expenditure of £lls on a £1 for £1 basis, between Flat Bush and Black Bridge has been prepared.

I have let a contract for carting and delivering about 150 cubic yords for repairs between J. Coulter,s and Carse’fe. I have also let a contract for completing short length of Mangatoetoe road west of Stanton’s. KAITAIA RIDING.

A proposal, for expenditure of £275 on a £1 for £1 basis has been prepared for metalling and formation works between E. C. Matthews and Flat Bush. Reformation works along that portion of the road between E. C. Matthews and Johnston’s old store had just been fairly started when the men engaged were prostrated by recent epidemic.

A few chains of the worst portion of Fryer’s road has been metalled. A few necessary culverts have been put, and the work of clearing of the “ Big slip ” put in hand. Tenders for formation, culverting and metalling works, on the KaitaiaAwanui road, and on Kaitaia main street have again been invited and will be before you to-day. It has been found necessary to repair a few of the really dangerous holes on these roads, pipe-clay being used, and also to fascine a few very bad places on the “side-track” between Kaitaia and Awanui. HEREKINO RIDINGOn account of the recent serious ‘influenza epidemic,” which prostrated 1 all our workers, only ordindry maintenlance work has been done in this and 'other ridings. I Some culvert repair work has been Ijbne on Kaitaia- Ahipara road, and on acWnt of a bad slip in Herekino Gorge it found necessary to widen the road for distance in one place.

\ AWANUI RIDING. 41ittl<: drainage work has been dbne 0,1 yhe Awanui-Kaingaroa road, and preparations have been made for 1 >me me t»\ n g on fl a t a t Kaingaroa. 11 & ve b een wdeavourmg to arrange for a JUPP* v °\ metal for metalling a short distance fiKareponia flat. I hope to nV /

elude this work in proposal for expenditure of £l5O. £1 for £1 grant. HOUHORA RIDING. A good deal of general repair- works have been effected between Pukenuiand Waihopo, and roads in that vicinity. I intend as soon as possible formulating a a proposal for, expenditure of £l5O. £1 for £1 on the Unajii Road. GENERAL. While good work is and has been done by the County teams they are not by any means being worked to the best advantage. Native labour has been employed throughout, (other labour not being available) and this has proved most unsatisfactory, as those employed do not turn up regularly to work consequently teams are not always kept going. For the last few weeks, only the grader team, has been (intermittently) working, as the foreman states he has not been able to get a driver for the dray team. Now the roads are dry, quite a number of small urgent metalling works could be done with the metalling team. Obviously the urgent necessity is a couple of good experienced permanent men with the County teams to assist the Foreman,—to have to depend on casual labour to keep the teams going is hopeless and expensive. I have therefore inserted a notice in the paper calling for applications for experienced men, any received will be placed before you for consideration. On account of grants placed on Public Works Department’s estimates for this year, I have mapped out a lot of work for the County teams, and as the recent epidemic has given a serious set back to all County works, I am of opinion the sooner we can get men in question the better. T.R. MCMULLEN, County Engineer.