County Council Meeting

Northland Age, Volume 7, Issue 12, 17 December 1937, Page 5

County Council Meeting

At the monthly meeting of the Mangonui County Council held in Kaitaia on Wednesday, the following business was transacted : l'ar East Relief Appeal.—To an appeal for assistance for those in distress in the Far East, the Council took the view that calls nearer home had a better claim. Raising Road at Oruru.—Writing with regard to the raising of the road at Oruru in order to overcome the effects of flooding, the district engineer stated in a letter that arrangements were being made to commence the work and it was necessai’y for the Council’s contribution of £l5O to be paid into the public account. The estimated cost of the work was £6OO.

A Whangape Road.—Mrs. Lisle appeared before the Council and asked when a stai't w r as to be made with the work on the road serving her Whangape property. There was a grant of £4OO for the road.

The chairman said that the Native Department was to give some assistance also. The work was to be done by the P.W.D. but the Council could write to the Department setting out the position from Mrs. Lisle’s point of view. Water from Town Supply for County Resident. The Council was requested by the Kaitaia Town Board to permit the supply of water from the town supply to county residents. The request was granted conditional on the county residents being supplied with water on the same terms as town resident. Awanui Footpaths. The Awanui school committee wrote asking that some of the silt that is being taken out of the Awanui river be placed on the newly formed footpath to the school and that notices be erected, warning drovers to keep their cattle off the footpaths. The first request was granted but an attempt to keep cattle off the footpaths was regarded as useless.

Standard By-laws.—The N.Z. Standards Institute wrote with regard to the standardisation of by-laws and asking for the Council’s views. The chairman : What would suit in other cases would not suit in Mangonui where development work is still in progress. The clerk : The circular refers more particularly to building by-laws. The question was deferred till next meeting. A Lake Ohia Road.—Mr. J. Pribicevich waited on the Council with regard to some metalling he had done to his road so that it would be passable by the cream lorry. Cr. Matthews moved that the Council meet Mr. Pribicevich to the extent of £l2 15/- and the motion was carried. The state of a bridge near his house was mentioned by Mr. Pribicevich. The bridge was dangerous and should

be replaced. The engineer : The bridge is now provided for in the grant. The engineer was authorised to have the bridge renewed. Far North Road.—Mr. M. Hoggard asked that attention be given to the road from Waiharara to Kaimaumau, a distance of 5 miles. The chairman : There would have to be a grant before anything could be done. The engineer was requested to furnish a repoi't and estimate. Fairburn Highway.—The Fairburn branch of the Farmers’ Union wrote requesting that the Council endeavour to have the unexpended balance of £2OOO for the Pamapuria-Duncan’s road section of the Fairburn road expended in raising certain pai’ts of the road above flood level. This question was held over till next meeting. Mangonui Road.—Mr. W. T. McLea (Mangonui) again wrote complaining of the condition of his access road, over which the local storekeeper now refused to take a vehicle. This was left in the hands of the engineer and riding member who are to report at the next meeting. Dog Registration Fee.—The dog registration fee was fixed as for last year and the clerk drew attention to the fact that a farmer was only allowed to have three dogs on a fee of 2/6 each. Waihoe Road.—Cr. Holder wanted to know if anything could be done in regard to Waihoe road for which no grant appeared on the estimates.

The engineer : The road is not in the five-year plan. The clerk : In such a case a grant can only be obtained by cutting out another road. Christmas Bonus for Unemployed. —The clerk gave the following figures showing the amount that was to be paid to unemployed in the County shortly : Bonus—£27s ; holiday pay —£63B ; ordinary pay—£Bl6 ; total —£l7lo. Compliments.—Before the meeting concluded the season’s compliments were exchanged. Closing a Road at Taipa Mr. Adamson, as a deputation, requested that a portion of a road at Taipa, near his property, be closed. It was explained by Cr. Barriball that if the section is not closed, Mr. Adamson would have to do a good deal of additional fencing. Cr. Wrathall : What will be done with the closed section. Mr. Adamson : It will go to us as compensation for the land taken for the new road.

Cr. Wrathall : Sufficient compensation has already been made in fencing and in the betterments of your land. The land now has a value as beach sections.

The clerk : By transferring this land to Mr. Adamson, the Council would give three-quarters of an acre more than it received.

Replying to Cr. Wrathall, Mr. Adamson said no further claim would be made for compensation. It was decided to close the road and vest the land with Mr. Adamson.

Full-time Employment for the Unemployed Speaking of the unemployment scheme, Cr. Wrathall asked if the Council had any information. Under this scheme the Government was prepared to find work for all unemployed at £4 a week. He thought the Council should avail itself of the scheme. Cr. Matthews questioned whether there were any men and the clerk said 130 were employed in the county under No. 5 scheme. Cr. Wrathall moved that an application be made to the Minister of Employment tor permission to employ men now engaged under scheme No. 5, under scheme No. 13. The motion was seconded by Cr. Matthews and carried.

NORTHERN STOCK SALES The N.A. Farmers’ Co-op report holding stock sales at Kaitaia on Tuesday and Broadwood, Wednesday. There were only small yardings at each centre but competition was keen and the majority of the lines offered changed hands. Fat cows made £4 10/- to £6 ; small and unfinished steers £4 5/ ; cows and calves £3 16/- ; boner bulls £5 ; heifers £5 10/-. A small line of ewes and lambs made 17/- over all. Weaner pigs brought 18/-, slips £1 6/-. Although quite a number of horses were yarded only two ponies changed hands, these bringing £4.