PASTES FROM COUNCIL MEETING

Northland Age, Volume 2, Issue 21, 24 February 1933, Page 7

PASTES FROM COUNCIL MEETING

SH T he usual monthly meeting of ■jT* County Council was held last |B -k when there were present ancillors W. Vickers (Chair»n), C. J. E. Barriball, J. N. WK jrghan, F. Holder, J. Garton, J. Matthews, W. J. Steed and H. Thompson. /H WORKS Riding member and Engi|Ber are to report on Pribicevieh’s outlet. * * * * road through Marshall’s at Houhora is to be alised. * * * * 'he Engineer was instructed nspect tlie bridges on the Fern H t Road and see what repairs required.. * * * * MM 'he metalling of Church Road ■ i left in the hands of Cr. |H lder and the Engineer to ifilß ange for. * * * * need for new decking inks on some of the bridges in ridings were spoken of by |Hlrs. Matthews and Garton, and Engineer is to arrange for pairs to be carried out. &<rs. Henry, of Mangonui, K e regarding the road access ;er property. The Riding nber and the Engineer were to inspect the position 1 report to the next meeting of Council. mm * * ' letter was received from E. C. Bruce, of Oruaiti, reHB.rding the legalisation of the access to her property and Riding member and the Enwere instructed to inspect road and report to the next HBneeting of the Council. B A letter was received from Mr. ■ S. D. Powell regarding the need ■ of maintenance metal on the ■ Takahue Road. Cr. Thompson f stated that the Public Works I Department were at present trucking metal over the section of the road referred to and it would be better for the Council to leave the matter in abeyance until the Department had finished and then see in what state it was left as the Department may repair the road. The matter was left in the hands of Cr. Thompson and the Engineer. * * * * After an inspection of the Ruaroa Road had been made by Crs. Holder, Thompson and the Engineer, the former reported to the Council regarding the position. At present a Government Grant of £2OO on account of £BOO was r being expended but this would not give some of the settlers access and Cr. Holder suggested that his Riding contribute £5 to the settlers concerned, to assist L them in making a track for them to get out their cream. This was agreed to by the Council.* Cr. Holder reported that he was endeavouring to arrange for unemployed men to be placed at work cutting a drain near where the new bridge on Clough’s Road was to be built and he desired ' the Council’s permission to alter the bridge site, if this drain was » cut. The Council decided that the Engineer be instructed to put the new bridge to he erected on Clough’s Road on the site where a canal is proposed to be cut through by the property owner concerned, subject to contractor agreeing to the altered site. RATES » Various aspects of the Council’s regarding the collection rates and the rating problem generally were discussed.* A petition (the full context of which has appeared in the col- » umns of the “Age) was received from the Bay of Islands County Council regarding the vexed

native rates question and the inability of County Councils to collect rates from any native lands. The petition had the full support of the Council. * * * * As no notification had been received in reference to the Government’s intentions regarding rate subsidies as was granted last year, the . Council decided to enquire through the Member for the District, the prospects of the Government making Special Grants or subsidy to Local Bodies to assist farmers in paying their rates for the current year. * * * ♦ The question of the Highways Board paying interest and sinking fund on loans raised for the construction of roads which were afterwards declared main highways, was introduced by Cr. Holder who stated that it was only right that the responsibility for i he payment of these loans should be assumed by the Highways Board which had been saved that expenditure for construction and metalling. If these loans were taken over it would mean a decided relief for the ra'epayers. Crs. Matthews and Thompson supported the proposal but the latter remarked that owing to the raids on the Highway Board’s finances he did not think that much would come of the suggestion. The following resolu'ion was carried: — “That the Highways Board be again urged to take over the payment of Interest and Sinking Funds on the various loans raised by this Council for the construction of roads and bridges that are now Main Highways, and so have saved Highways funds that would have been provided by that Board.” * * * * After a discussion, when it was pointed out that the Council would have to sue for arrears of rates, otherwise a large amount would be irrecoverable, and also, unless this were done, it was not fair on those who had paid their rates, the following resolution was passed: — “That the Clerk be instructed to sue for all rates unpaid on 15th March 1933.” Ra'epayers, if they are not able to pay their rates, have the opportunity ot placing their position before the Council or the Clerk, before this date. * * * * “I think that the time has arrived when the Council should push for the derating of farm lands.” —Cr. F. Holder. * * * * “I sold a hundred prime wethers and the price realised was not sufficient to pay my rates.” —Cr. L. J. Matthews. * * * * “The returns I received from eleven bales of wool did not come within £3O of my rates.” —Cr. F. Holder. * * * * When discussing the Council's attitude regarding arrears of rates and the suing for same, Cr. F. Holder said, “Well I have not, so far, paid mine in full, and if there is any suing to do, I trust the Clerk will start on me.” * * * * “I honestly believe that a number of people cannot pay their rates but we, as a Council, will have to do all we can to collect. I think that the time will soon come when the Government will have to come to the assistance of practically all the Counties in New Zealand.”—County Chairman. SPREAD OF GORSE A letter was received from Mr. H. M. Thompson bringing under the Council’s notice the danger of spreading gorse throughout the County by reason of carting gravel from a gorse infected area, quoting the gravel now being carted to the Victoria ValleyMangamuka Road. The letter also drew the Council’s attention to the need for the removal of gorse on his own access road. Cr. H. H. Thompson stated that the writer was correct in his contentions regarding the spread of gorse, although on roads

on which there was heavy traffic the gorse did not get a chance to grow, on side roads it certainly did spread from the gravel. Cr. Vickers mentioned that the same thing had occurred at Herekino. Councillors expressed appreciation of the manner in which Mr. Thompson had placed the position before the Council and it was decided that notices be sent to owners of property on Thompson’s road to remove gorse on the roadside.