MANGONUI COUNTY COUNCIL.

Northland Age, Volume 24, Issue 48, 26 March 1925, Page 3

MANGONUI COUNTY COUNCIL.

MONTHLY MEETING. The above Council met on Monday last, those present being Crs A. H. Long (chairman) J. N. Berghan, W. Vickers, E. Evans, F. Banks and D. Kitchen. Apologies for absence were tendered from Cr R. T. W rathall, who was in Wellington attending a conference of Hospital Boards, and Cr C. J. E Barriball who was away from home. Mr. C. R. Switzer, foreman P and T Dept, wrote stating that it was the intention of the Dept to commence, at an early J date, the laving of underground cables, to a distance three miles south and two miles north of the Kaitaia Post Office, which work will necessitate the digging of a trench along the footpath, thirty inches from the kerb and asking for the Council’s sanction to disturb the footpath. It was decided to inform Mr. Switzer that the Council has no objection providing the Town Board were agreeable. Mr. C. B. Michie, secretary of the Kaitaia Chamber of Commerce, wrote by direction of his Chamber asking that the County roll be purged as at present there arc a number of names appearing therein * which should be deleted.

The Chamber is to be invited to inspect the county rate book and challenge any names and councillors are asked to state any names they think should be deleted. A further letter from the Chamber asked the Council to co-operate with other local bodies in organising a large deputation to wait on the Minister of Lands when he visits Kaitaia urging him to favourably consider the request that the Dept take over a large portion of the drainage works. The matter, the letter continued, is a very serious one for the whole district and it is hoped ratepayers will realise in time the heavy demands which.will be made on them for drainage rates.

Cr Banks, in moving that the Council be represented on the deputation, said he would like to see all local bodies cooperating. Crs. Long and Berghan were appointed to represent the Council. SIGNPOSTS.

The secretary of the Mangonui Chamber of Commerce wrote re signposts on county roads pointing out that these were now at Mr. J. T. B. Taaffe’s Garage and suggesting that they be erected without further delay. The signposts were supplied by the A. A. Association. • Councillors agreed that these signposts were a great help to travellers. The engineer was instructed to prepare an estimate of the cost of erecting same. N. A. PROGRESS LEAGUE. A circular was received from the Assistant Under-Secretary re contributions to the North Auckland Progress League stating that provision relative to the question of contributions is contained in Sec 15 of the Reserves and Public Bodies Empowering Act, 1924. The secretary of the Progress League forwarded copies of resolutions relative to a North Auckland Court at the Dunedin Exhibition which the League has been asked to organise. Recent legislation, the League pointed out, enabled Councils to contribute out of revenue, and as there is no other way of financing a Court representing the whole industrial resources of tourist attractions of the North except through the support of public bodirs. It is estimated that the proposed Court will cost about £ISOO. This, spread over the whole North, should not, the letter proceeded, be a burden to anyone, and as the Exhibition from November 192 s to April 1926 will be visited by crowds of people from all parts of the world it will give North Auckland the best opportunity it has ever had to attract settlers and tour-

ists. A sub-committee set up to organise the proposal will report later a detailed estimate and outline of the scheme. Meanwhile the League would like to know if the Council’s support could be depended upon.

The following is a copy of resolutions fassed at Whangarei by a conference of %he League Executive and representatives of public bodies and Chambers of Commerce presided over by Mr. R. E. Hornblow: “That this meeting of the N. A. Progress Executive and representatives of lockl bodies, Winter Show committees and Chambers of Commerce is of the opinion that North Auckland should be represented by a Court at the Dunedin Exhibition, and that the Progress League be asked to take the necessary steps to organise a scheme and obtain support for the same.” (2) “That the local bodies of North Auckland be approached and asked to support the League in this scheme, pro rata, on the basis of unimproved value, the League to ask them for no other subscriptions or financial support this year. The Council decided to take no action at present pending further details as to the Council’s estimated share of cost as prepared by the League. Members expressed themselves in sympathy with the project but thought a large contribution was out Ot the question. Philip S. Johnson wrote making an offer

of £6 per acre for that parcel of land (about 4?4 acres) cut off from Mr. Hester’s property (through the deviation of new road) which now joined the writer’s section. Taking into consideration, ihe letter proceeded, that a big portion of the old road was washed out and covered with ti tree and also the moving and re-ereetion of some 16 chains of fence will cost at least £l6 I consider my offer full value. I am not prepared to bear any cost of transfer. On the motion of Crs Banks and Evans it was decided to accept Mr. Johnson’s offer. DEPUTATIONS. Mr. Henry King waited on the Council and asked that some work be done on the Mangataniu-Honeymoon Valley Road to give access to settlers. He presented a petition in support signed by Frank Jacentho, Harry Thomas, Joseph Foster and J. D. Edwards. Mr. King said he was prepared to spend up to £2OO on labour on the road if the Council would take the same out of his ratPS.

The chairman said they would do the best they could when the new rate was struck, but were unable to stop the money out of rates as suggested. He thought the Council should recommend the Public Works Dept, to do the work for a straightout grant. He suggested the matter be deferred until next meeting when the Riding member (Mr. Barriball) would be present. This was agreed to

Mr. C. Adamson asked that work be done on the Oruru-Taipu road. Settlers had already donated £l9 towards the work and would like something done at once.

The chairman said it was an instance where settlers were prepared to help themselves and he thought the Council should help. He was pleased to make a donation for the work out of his own pocket.

Cr. Evans said now was the time to do the work as delay was dangerous and it was resolved on his and Cr. Bank’s motion that the Council subsidise the work £ for £ up to £2O subject to the approval of the Riding member

Messrs. H. H. Thompson and S Puckey, directors of the Kaitaia Dairy Co., asked that the road from the bridge to the new factory site be remetalled. They were afraid that if nothing was done the road would be impassable in the winter time. The distance from the bridge to the company’s access road was 30 chains.

The chairman assured the deputation that that the Council would do its utmost to put the road in order and he would make representations to the Highways Board to be allowed to spend some of next year’s maintenance allowance, but he really thought the work to be reconstruction and he would make efforts to have it recognised as such.

The engineer (Mr. J. L. Wilson) presented the maintenance programme for the year ending March 31, 1926 for approval by the Main Highways Board, No. I Group. It included the following: Waipapakauri to Victoria Valley Post Office, six miles of road, £1,035 I Broad-wood-Kaitaia, six and three-quarter miles of road £107; Victoria Valley to Mangonui, 16 miles of road, £1,125. Total length 28% miles, total £2,267/4/- The engineer reported that work was going on satisfactorily with the exception that the authority for £l,lOO for the Fairburn Road had not come to hand. The District Engineer had be r n requested to urge Head Office to expedite authority.

Referring to some criticism of the work on the Fairburn Road,'the engineer said this was not justified as the work was unfinished. A finer quality metal was used for surfacing for the purpose of consolidation owing to the excessive spell of dry weather producing ravelling of the first layer which might be trafficed to destruction unless watered. When finished the road would have another surfacing and maintenance until thoroughly set for shape and general camber. GENERAL. The tender of Messrs F. B. Rowe & Co, being the lowest, was accepted for the Council’s advertising and portion of its printing requirements. The matter of access to Mr. Archer’s property was left to Cr Evans to deal with. On the motion of Crs Vickers and Rerghan a sum of £SO is to be spent on the Whangape to Whangape Jnc Road in connection with the Public Works Dept. The engineer was instructed to meet Mr. McMullen in connection with Kumi Rd requirements and report to the Council. The engineer is to put works in hand in the special rating area at Lake- Ohia immediately funds come to hand. The Council approved of the recommendations passed at a conference of northern county councils at Kawakawa in reference to classification of roads and license fees for taxi cars and busses. The county solicitors (Messrs Logan and Reynolds) were instructed to take immediate action to recover outstanding rates.

ORURU FERN FL AT-MANGAMUKA ROAD.

Good formation work has been carried out on this road and the bridge at Waikainga No 2is bring erected. Out of the vote of £SOOO, £19 jo was immediately authorised of which £7OO was committed for bridge timber which is at present being cut. When timber is cut a further £ 1000 will be authorised for the construction of bridges, and £I9OO for further formation and surveys. The full amount of this years vote on this road will thus be authorised. MANGATOITOI ROAD The expenditure of the £IOO grant secured for this road is proceeding apace Seven local settlers are engaged on the woik. KUMI ROAD. The expenditure of the grant on the Kumi road is completed, and requests are made for further grants. MANGAKAHIA ROAD. Good progress has been made with the expenditure of grants oif the above road, the completion of which vviil be a great boon to motorists travelling between Kaitaia and Auckland. The huge biidge across the Northern Wairca river is now almost completed. MOTATAU No. 2 ROAD

The authority for the expenditure of the grant on the above road has now been issued and the work will be put in hand at once. RANGIAHUA-MANGAMUK A ROAD. The metalling of the above road has been held up by the Highways Board until the proposed deviations are completed. The Council has made strong representations to the Minister, and to the Highways Board urging that the work be pushed ahead at once. VICTORIA VALLEY-MANGAMUKA ROAD. Good work has been done on this road and there is now less than two miles of metalling to do to provide a metalled road from Kaitaia to Mangamuka. TOTARA NORTH-STONY CREEK. A splendid job has been made of the road northward of Whangaroa, and the dreaded Kahoe hill is now a thing of the past. Work is being pushed ahead towards Mangonui.