WHANG ARE I COUNTY COUNCIL.

New Zealand Herald, Volume XXIX, Issue 8965, 24 August 1892, Page 6

WHANG ARE I COUNTY COUNCIL.

j A meeting of the above Council took place in the Council Chambers on Wednesday, the 17th August, at two p.m. Present: Messrs. J. M. McKay (chairman), J. Mallabond, J. D. McKenzie, B. Ormandy, J. W. Kerr, A. H. Mason,' G. H. Minchin, J. Rolleston, J. McKinnon (clerk), and D. C. Wilson (engineer). The minutes of the previous meeting and outward correspondence were read and adopted. Correspondence.— the Colonial Secretary, asking for a return of the members of the Council, and number of road boards aud school committees within the county : Agreed to supply the information asked for. From the Chief Surveyor, Auckland, informing the Council that ,he had recommended the Government to grant certain moneys for Tokatoka and Waipu Cove Roads, and that the Wairua should be bridged, which would strengthen the petitions that the Council have already forwarded to the Minister of Lands, asking for grants for these important works. From the Otamatea County Council, refunding half the cost of the repairs to Waipu Gorge Road: Received with thanks. A loiter ' was received from Mr. R. Thompson, M.H.R., stating that Eru Nehua's claim for compensation could not be settled by the Government until the Council authcrise the Minister of Public Works to proclaim the Air Line road a public road : On the motion of Mr. McKenzie, seconded by Mr. Mason, resolved, 44 That this Council request the Miuister of Public Works to take and proclaim under the authority of the Public Works Act, 1882, and its amendments, and under the authority of the Counties Act, 1886, all that road-line in the county of Whangarei running through the Pupipuhi State Forest, and commonly known as the Air Line road, and recently surveyed by the Government, and that the same be a county road." From the Taranaki County Council, requesting the co-operation of the Council re rating of native lands : On the motion of Mr. McKenzie, seconded by Mr. Mason, resolved, 14 That this Council are in full sympathy with the Taranaki County Council in the matter ot■ rating the native lands, and are now urging upon ,the Government to have all native lands rated." From James Butcher, asking that certain repairs should be done to Ruarungi road : Mr. Ormandy said that the road was being attended to. From the Commissioner of Crown Lands, asking that the gum lands of the county be marked on a plan : The clerk informed the meeting this was being attended to. From the Survey Office, stating that the rent of Mr. Simpson's office was paid into the bank. From J. W. Carter, re road at Mata: Agreed that Mr. Ormandy attend to the matter. From Kauri Timber Company, informing the Council that the logs on Tangihua road would be removed at once. From the chief surveyor, stating that the road recently redefined by Mr. Stevens in Tangihua is a public road. The Minister of Marine wrote, that they would be willing to hand the harbour over to the control of the Council, but could not entertain the idea of granting £200 to repair the wharves. From Mr. Thompson, stating that at his request Mr. Louch was instructed to report on the condition and probable cost of putting the wharves in repair, and that he had no doubt that provision would be made for that purpose; also, Mr. Thompson thought that the Council should accept the control of the harbour, and put an end to the present unsatisfactory state j of affairs. For a number of years the Council has been spending £20 per year out of j rates that was required for road repairs, in j lighting Marsden Point wharf, while the i Marine Department has coolly pocketed the harbour rates, now amounting to over £250 net, and the Marine Department would be too glad to have an excuse to keep the control of trie harbour ; but now as the Oyster Bill has passed, it would be absolutely necessary that the harbour should be placed under local control. It was resolved to wire to Mr. Thompson asking him, if possible, to get the Government to put the wharves in repair and make the best arrangements possible for the Council before handing over the control thereof. The Minister of Marine wired asking what recommendation would the Council make re closing of the oyster beds : It was agreed to ask that they be closed for 12 months. Wire from the Surveyor-General asking that a voucher be signed for the expenditure of Warkworth-Kawakawa vote : Agreed to do so. From the Receiver of Land Revenue who had paid to the credit of the Council at the bank, £92 2s 7d. From Messrs. Brown and CamDbell stating that rates would be paid forthwith on the Commercial Hotel, Whangarei. From the agent of Bellevue Estate, enclosing cheque for £6 towards repairs on road to the estate. From the Whangarei Town Board, Ruarangi Road Board, tonga East Road Board, and others stating that a rate of £d would be levied for the current year. From the Whareora Road Board re expenditure of rates: Agreed to attend to the same. From the Commissioner of Crown Lands to define positiou of proposed cemetery at Mimiha. The Clerk said he had forwarded tracing to settlers at Helena Bay, asking them to mark on the tracing the site required. From H. G. Stevens asking for a share of daily labour at the Maunu experimental gardens : Letter received.

Refund of Rates.—Mr. Killen appeared on behalf of the High School Board of Governors asking that the Council should make some concession re rates (£24 63 8d) recovered by law due on the Kioreroa reserve. All the councillors spoke on this subject, and contended that the Council was not in a position to grant the request of the High School Board, as the reserve escaped taxation for some 14 years ; that the Council had constructed a good metalled line of road through the reserve, which had increased the value thereof; that the Government had spent some £4000 in improving and planting trees on the land, and further that the Government auditor would not allow the Council to refund rates for educational purposes, but at the same time the Council quite agreed with the fostering of a High School in the district, and would only be too glad to assist in any way to promote the furtherance of higher education, but unfortunately the law forbade the expenditure of county rates on such institutions, and also the financial condition of the exchequer was anything but flourishing. On the motion of Mr. Roileston, seconded by Mr. Ormandy, resolved, 4 " That this Council, while desiring to meet the Board of Governors of the High School in every way possible, regrets its inability to remit the rates due to them."

Mad.su Experimental Grounds.—A report was read from the manager of the Experimental Grounds re trees sold, and giveu to school committees for Arbor Day. On the motion of Mr. McKay, seconded by Mr. McKenzie, resolved, " That the thanks of the Council be tendered to Mr. Hislop for the great trouble he has taken with the distribution of trees for Arbor Day." The councillors spoke in the highest praise of Mr. Hislop for the manner in which he has carried out his duty in connection with the nursery at Maunu. Mr. McKenzie always found Mr. Hislop civil, courteous, and competent for the position he fills. The manner in which his accounts and returns were kept was most creditable. Mr. McKinnon, the clerk, endorsed Mr. McKenzie'a remarks, aud the motion was carried unanimously. By-laws.—On the motion of Mr. Mason, seconded by Mr. Ormandy. a committee, consisting of Messrs. Mallaboud, Mason, Ormandy, and McKenzie were appointed to confer with the County Solicitor re bylaws for wheeled traffic.

Charitable Aid.— claim of £212 10s 4d was received from the North Auckland Hospital and Charitable Aid Board, but the consideration of the payment was deferred until some future date. Mr. Mallabond gave a very able speech on the question of charitable aid.

Tender?.—The tenders for advertising and printing were given to Mr.G. E. Alderton. No tenders were received for buildin? sites. It was proposed to call tenders again, as few people knew that tenders had been called and others had not had time to tender.

Dog Collars.—'Tenders : H. S. Hill, for new collars 6±d each, and altering labels on old collars '2£d. Resolved, " That the tender of Mr. Hill be accepted." Each tenderer submitted samples of collars, which reflected great credit on the makers. Messrs. Ormandy and McKenzie were appointed to inspect the collars as they are received from the contractor.

Dog Registrars.— P. Ward, 35 per cent, on amount of cash received by sale of collars for whole County. Mr. Parses, Is for each collar, Maniiia riding only. J. Abrams, Is per collar, Waipu riding. W. C. Snell, 9d per collar, an(l T. Boyd, 9d per collar sold for Mangapai riding. A. Thomas, Is per collar for Hikurangi i and Maunu riding. Resolved, " That the tender of Mr. Ward be accepted for the whole county." Mr. Ward has had considerable experience with the collection of the dog tax in the South Island, and beiue: an ex - police constable, and good Maori linguist, should fill the position of Registrar satisfactorily. > The dog registration fee was fixed at 5s for sporting dogs, and 2s 6d each for all others.

Stationery. were received from Messrs. Clement and Bentley, and F. J. Pryor. Each tenderer submitted samples of the materialp they intended to supply. The samples submitted by Messrs. Clement and Bentley could not be surpassed for quality and variety. In fact, the Councillors were of opinion that the stationery would compare favourably with tiny goods obtained from the stationers in the large Southern towns. Great credit is due to Mr. Beutley for the manner in which he got sip the samples, and for the goods supplied to the Council during the post two years. On thie motion of Mr. McKenzie, seconded by Mr. Mason, it was resolved, "That the tender of Messrs. Clement and

Bentley, being the lowest, be accepted.' Carried unanimously. : Remission ok Rates.—Mrs. Campbell, a widow, residing at Ruatangata, wrote asking the Council to remit her rates, as she had no road to her property. Mr. Rolleston proposed, "That Mrs. Campbell's rates be remitted." Seconded by Mr. Kerr. An amendment was imposed by Mr. Minchtn, " That the Council have no funds at present, and cannot entertain Mrs. Campbell's request." Seconded by Mr. Mallabond. The amendment was carried.

Accounts.— amounting to £83 8s 9d were passed for payment. Mr. McKenzie proposed, " That the question of striking a rate be deferred till next meeting." Seconded by Mr. Kerr, and carried. Jordan Road.—Proposed by Mr. Rolleston, " That the engineer be instructed to call for tenders for work on the Jordan Road. amounting to £35, available from the land fund." Seconded by Mr. Kerr, and carried. Proposed by Mr. Ormandy, "That the engineer be authorised to lay off some work on .the Mata block; also some on the Onewhare Road leading to Waikiekie." Seconded by Mr. Mason, and carried. Miscellaneous.Altering boundaries of road district: The Paraa Bay Road Board applied to have the boundaries of their district altered. Agreed same be attended to at a future meeting.. -Resolved, " That James McKinnon, ' county clerk, be, and he is hereby, appointed for the purpose generally of giving all notices to occupiers or owners of land abutting upon any road or street over which this county has the control or management, to Out down and grub up and remove all obstructions to traffic or drainage arising from the growth of plants upon any such road or street up to the middle line thereby, along the whole frontage of the laud occupied or owned by any person." The meeting rose at eleven p.m., and will meet about the second week in October.— [Own Correspondent.]