COUNTY AFFAIRS.

Northland Age, Volume 2, Issue 1, 8 January 1930, Page 6

COUNTY AFFAIRS.

USUAL MONTHLY MEETING. Held in the Council Chambers on December 18, the monthly meeting of the Mangonui County Council was attended by Crs. W. Vickers (in the chair), C. J. EBarribal), J. N. Berghan, E, Evans F. Holder, D. Kitchen, L. J. Matthews and R. T. Wrathall. Correspondence. The Auckland Chamber of Commerce wrote 'expressing appreciation of the courtesy and hospitality extended to members of the Commerce Train Party on their recent visit to the county. The tentative itinerary of the Minister of Public Works, the Hon. E. A. Ransom, on his visit to the county in January was given in a letter from Captain H, M. Rushworth, M.P. Advice that the Main Highways Board could not see its way clear this year to authorise the council to proceed with the formation works on the Awaroa-Here-kino Road was contained in a wire front the board and a letter iTom the District Highways CyunrjJ - Considerable dissatisfaction with the board’s dicision was expressed, and the council resolved (Chairman-Cr. Matthews) to arrange a deputation to wait on the Minister of Public Works at Herekino on his visit in January to urge the putting in hand of the work as soon as possible.

With reference to the erection of boat sheds on the foreshore at Mangonui, the Marine Department advised representations had recently been made to have the erection of further buildings barred.

The necessity for giving attention to local speed limits was stressed in a letter from the Minister of Transport, who stated the speed limit regulations did not seem to be fully understood by many local authorities. It was resolved to frame by-laws fixing speed limits in conformity with the motor vehicle regulations. Following receipt of a telegram from the Hokianga County Council, it was resolved to protest against any portion of the Main Highways Board’s funds being used for the consrtuction of the proposed Auckland harbour bridge until such time as the back-block toads receive better consideration. Deputations. Road access to Mr. Thomas’s property at Double Crossing bridge was requested by Mr. Williams, who waited on the council. It was decided to endeavour to obtain a grant. Engineer To Attend Conference. An invitation to the engineer to attend a conference to be held in Dunedin next February was extended by the N.Z. Society of Civil Engineers. Opposition was expressed by some councillors to the engineer attending, on the grounds of both the expense and the inopportune time. It was resolved, however, to grant the engineer permission to attend, and to pay his travelling expensesAn amendment that the society be informed that owing to the busy season the council could not see its way to allow the engineer to attend, and be recommended to fix future conferences at a date later in the year, was rejected, Miscellaneous. A letter from the Kohumaru Settlers’ Association on reading matters caused some amusement by referring to the ‘‘policy of silence” adopted by the riding member, Cr. Wrathall. It was resolved that the association be

informed that plans and specifications for the work concerned had been submitted for approval, and that the riding member and engineer would confer with them on any proposal that would meet with their approval. Permission was granted to R. Corbet to lay a pipe-line across the road to his property. lhe riding member was authorised to have planks put on a culvert near Mr. W. Holster’s property at Rangiputa. A request that Church Road should be included in the itinerary of the Minister of Public Works when he visited the district was submitted by Mr. E. Parker. It was decided to bring the matter before the notice of the Minister.

The riding member was authorised to spend up to £5 on repairs to the bridge on the Waipapa-kauri-Sweetwater Road. On the motion of Crs. Wrathall and Barriball, the council resolved it was agreeable to carrying out the legalisation, including land plan survey, of Jameson’s Road, and to exempt the Government from all liability which might 3f.'s£ ’5 3 feSult of construction work being commenced before legalisation was effected. Four tenders, ranging from £24 4s to £36 10s, were received for the erection of a garage for the traffic inspector’s car. The prices were considered too high, and it was left to the engineer to amend the plans and obtain fresh prices. Tenders. The following tenders were accepted Contract 147—Supply and de*

livr-y of 300 yards of approved river shingle to Tracey’s Road ’• A. E. Tracey, 3s per yd. Contract 148—Supply and delivery of 400 yds. of shingle to Awanui-Kaingaroa : S. A. Christensen, 14s 6d per yd. Contract 152 —Supply and delivery of 500 yds. of shingle to Church Road : S. A. Christensen, 8s 9d per yd. Contract 154 B—Supply and delivery of 500 yds. of shingle from Uwhiroa stream to Takahue Junction-Herekino Road : Baker and Curran, 4s per vd. Contract M.H. 170 —Supply and delivery of 300 yards of Paranui shale to Peria-Oruru Road : E. C. Beleve, 7s 3d per yd. Construct M.H. 171 —Supply and delivery of 250 yds. of Oruati shingle to Oruru-Mangonui Road: E. C. Beleve, 6s 9d per yd.

The action of the committee appointed in accepting the following tenders was confirmed: — Cont. 150: A. Stanton, 4s 9d per yd; Cont. 151 : J. W. Taylor, £lsl 10s; Cont. 152 : W. Stevens, £43 15s; Cont. 154: Baker and Curran, £SO; Contract 165: A. Stanton, Bs, 7.-, 6s, ss, 4=, 3c, 3s. ufenerai On the motion of Crs. Matthews and Evans, authority was given tor taking the necessary steps to survey and legalise Quarry Road through Sections N.W. It, S.E. II andE.R. 10, Takahue S.D. It was decided to offer no objection to the Hospital Board using the old road at Mangonui, provided gates were erected at each end of the road. It was further decided to spend £5 on the Mangonui Hospital Road. A grant of £5 was made for improvements to the Mangonui Cemetery.