Mangonui County Council Meeting

Northland Age, Volume IX, Issue 55, 19 April 1940, Page 4

Mangonui County Council Meeting

Financial Statement Presented When the Mangonui County Council met on Wednesday proceedings were by Cr. Holder introducing the Third Form of the Kaitaia District High School, who (accompanied by their teachers) attended part of the meeting for the purpose of studying local Government. The children were welcomed by Mr. C. J. E. Barriba’.l (chairman) who spoke on be half of the Council. Prime Minister’s Death This being the first meeting of the Ceur.cil since the death of the Prime Minister, Rt. Hon. M. J. Savage, all present stood in silence as a mark of respect. A teiegram expressing sympathy with the Government, which had been dispatched by the County Clerk (Mr. C. McKinnon) was read and aproved. Normal business was then proceeded with, minutes of the previous meeting being confirmed and accounts I totalling £1402 7/5 passed for pay- J n-.ent. Sanitary Inspector’s Report The Sanitary Inspector reported having inspected 12 habitations, four food premises and one building for plumbing and drainage. A survey of the Te Hapua settlement had been made and a report forwarded to the Medical Officer of Health in regard to shortage of water during dry seasons. Visits had also been made to the Te Kao, Cape Reinga, Ahipara and Whangape settlements. Tuberculosis patients had been located and attended to. Traffic Report The Traffic Inspector reported that 110 heavy vehicle licenses had been issued this quarter. A start had been made in connection with the registration of dogs which was still proceeding though it appeared that only half the necessary quantity of the drug for combating hydatids was to hand. The balance had been applied for. There were very few animals in the Pound at present and details of recent Court action in regard to i-*ock straying on roads were given. Progress in Roads Continued favourable weather had allowed read works to be pushed or. end all Government grant jobs had been completed except for mecalling work on Diggers Valley Road wi.ich would be started next week, stated the Engineer's rep'-rt. During the year ended March 81, 1940, the following work had been cempleted under Government tiiants rrd County subsidy by this Council : Reforming existing metal roads. 5 miles 17 chains ; New metalling, 7 miles 56 chains ; Culverts (concrete rines), 48 (1054 ft) ; Bridges, 1 new ECfoot span bridge completed and a 6C foot span bridge in hand ; Metalled recess had been given to 30 additional settlers.

Maintenance work was being carried cut on main highways with graders and metal surfaces were showing improvement with rains. Arrange mrnts had been made with T. Ace, con'.ractor, for metalling from Rich i-’s quarry. An additional 1000 yards was to be crushed at schedule rates and part delivered to the road and part placed in dumps at the roadside

for future use. Graders had also been at work on by-rords clearing slips, watertabling ar.d re-shaping metal surfaces. Roads e’ealt with were : Duncan’s Road. Parapara Road, Te Rore Road, Taka-hue-Herekino Rord, Fern Flat Road Thompson’s Road and Barriball’s

Road. The County’s Finances The financial statement for the year ending March 31, 1940, was presented by the Treasurer. Receipts amounted to £30,140 compared with £35,524 for the previous year. Expenditure was £31,565 as against £35,285. The year commenced with a credit balance of £1669 14/5 and ended with a surplus of £244. The percentage of current European rates collected was 81 percent as against 80 percent last year. The Riding percentages were as follows : Ahipara 80 percent, Awanui 70 percent, Herekino 81 percent, Houhora 76 percent, Kaitaia 84 percent, Mangonui 87 percent, Oruru 89 percent, Victoria Valley 79 percent. The Ridings balances were : Credit. —Ahipara £l4O 19/5, Houhora £4ll 15/4, Kaitaia £389 12/11, Mangonui £36 1/11, Oruru £2B 10/11 ; Debit. —Awanui £389 4/-, Herekino £97 4/-, Victoria Valley £226 5/3. Acromrcme tc be Maintained by P.W.D. A letter was received from the Whangarei Public Works Department that owing to war a number of aerodromes had suffered restriction of ordinary services and, therefore, sources of revenue, and while most of

them were kept open for State use some of the less important fields were being closed. The Waipapakauri Aerodrome would be kept open, and from the Ist inst. the Public Works Department would be responsible for its control and maintenance until the cessation of hostilities overseas. Deviation at Awanui A letter from the District Highways Council sought information as to whether the Council was prepared to contribute its share towards the deviation at Awanui on a £3 for £1 basis. This was agieed to. County Assessor Appointed On the motion of Crs. Hoskin and Holder, Mr. John M. Dawson was appointed County Assessor. Kaingaroa Bridge In reply to advice, sought, it was agreed that the Council should suggest to the District Engineer that the footpath on the proposed new bridge at Kaingaroa be placed on the right hand side of the bridge coming from Kaingaroa. Committee Appointed for Housing Loans Six applications, amounting to £3400, had come to hand after the conditions of loans under the Rural Housing Act 1938 had been advertised. It was decided, on the motion of Councillors Holder and Shaw, that he Clerk be instructed to take the necessary steps to raise a special loan of £SOOO under the Act. It was further decided that a special comittee comprising the Chairman and Councillors Holder and Hoskin be appointed to deal with applications. Outstanding Rates The Clerk was instructed to sue for all outstanding rates, the movers of the motion being Councillors Hoskin and Matthews. Street Lights for Awanui After a discussion on proposed street lights for Awanui, it was decided to leave the matter in the hands of Councillors Shaw and Matthews who are to report back the details to .he next meeting. Roading Affairs A motion that the Public Works Department be asked to expedite the ; ng of authority for the expendiure of Churtons Road grant was carried. After a discussion upon the Wai-oapakauri-Ninety Mile Beach Road, it was decided that the necessary steps be taken to declare the Waioapakauri - Houhora Junction to the Ninety Mile Beach road a main road by special order. Councillor Hoskin recorded his vote against the proposal. Roads to be Classified ' After a discussion of the bad effects of heavy traffic on lightly-built roads and bridges, it was decided that he Engineer be asked to furnish to he next meeting a list of roads in he County which were not classified, with a view to having them classified. Kitchen’s Bridge Mr. D. Kitchen waited on the Council with reference to Kitchen’s Bridge. Settlers had had only the ford to use "or over 54 years, he pointed out, and when it rained the river came up very fast, making access difficult and dangerous. Even if the proposed new highway was to be formed, this road would still have to be kept open. On the motion of Councillors Hoskin and Holder, it was decided that he Council make application to the Public Works Department for the reinstatement of the £BOO grant for Kitchen’s Bridge, and that Mr. Douglas Kitchen be asked to interview the Minister of Public Works while in Wellington and place the matter before him.

Waipapakauri Cemetery It was decided that the matter of having the Waipapakauri Cemetery cleared and generally improved be left in the hands of Councillor Shaw to deal with.