HOKIANGA COUNTY COUNCIL.

New Zealand Herald, Volume XXXIV, Issue 10415, 13 April 1897, Page 3

HOKIANGA COUNTY COUNCIL.

An ordinary meeting of the Hokianga County Council, was held in the County office, Rawene, on the 26th day of March. Present : Vaughan, Powell, Seou, and Bernard.

Correspondence.—lncoming correspondence was read, and ordered upon as follows: -A letter from Constable McGilp drawing attention to the need of a Justice of the Peace being appointed at Herekino. Moved by Mr. Andrewes, " That Constable McGilp's letter re the appointment of a Justice of the Peace for the district of Herekino be forwarded to the Minister of Justice, with a recommendation that an approved local resident be appointed." Seconded by Mr. Vaughan, and carried, A letter from Mr. A, Audenon, asking that repairs be effected to bridges on the Papa Road. Moved by the Chairman, " That the bridges mentioned by Mr. Anderson on the Papa Road be repaired as soon as Ifunds are available ; in the meantime, Mr. Vaughan be instructed to expend the sum of £3tomake temporary provision for the travelling public." Seconded by Mr. Powell and carried. A letter from Mr. Dunn, Maugatu, re collection dog tax, moved by Mr. Andrewes, "That Mr. Dunn's letter re collecting dog tax be referred to the registrar of dogs." Seconded by Mr. Powell and carried. A letter from Iraia Kuao, declining the Council's offer of £12 and asking £30 for the right to remove metal off Pahekeheke. Moved by the chairman, "That Iraia Kuao be informed that the offer made for the metal is a fair one ; if not accepted, the Council will take the same under the Public Works Act. Seconded by Mr. Bernard and curried. Moved by Mr. Andrewes, " That in the event of the inspector being unable to arrange for metal at a reasonable rate in connection with Mr. Amnion's contract, the inspector be authorised to stop the work at such a stage as he thinks advisable." Seconded by Mr. Powell and carried. A letter from R. Proctor, drawing attention to danger likely to arise through overflow of Punakitere, fronting sections 2 and 3. Moved by Mr. Andrewes, " That the work referred to in Mr. Proctor's letter be dealt with as soon as the funds of the riding are in credit." Seconded by Mr. Bernard and carried. Mr. Bolton asked the Council to repair his road and offered to subsidise the same. Moved by Mr. Andrews, " That Mr. Bolton's letter receive consideration when tenders are called for the erection of the bridge proposed to bo built in the neighbourhood of Mr, Bolton's property." Seconded by the chairman and carried. The following letters were also read and received :— Commissioner Crown Lands re section 43, block X, Mangamatea; two letters from Dr. Geo. de Clive Lowe, notifying the existence of typhoid and diphtheria at Rawene ; also a letter offering his services as medical officer of health for Hokianga ; the Registrar, Supreme Court, Te satisfying judgements against the Papuke properties. Mr. Henry Snelgar forwarding £3 on account ot hospital charges. Inspector Hickson, re collection dog tax. Chief surveyor, re specifications Horeke, Okaihau Road, asking details of all the Government grants expended, up to the 3lst March, 1897; the manager, National Bank, agreeing to the proposed overdraft; E. R. Cardno, re damage to Taheke bridge. W, C. Kensington, stating that no reservation is made over the Wairohia Point. The Bay of Islands County Clerk, re the grant for the deviation at Okaihau Hill, the Surveyor-General on the same subjeet. A number of letters which had been dealt with by the clerk were also laid on the table. Petitions.— the absence of Mr. Seon, the chairman presented three petitions/.—l. From a number of ratepayers in the Kohukohu riding, asking that the public pound be abolished. Mr. Andrews moved, "That in response to the petition, public notice be given of the intention of the Council, at its next meeting io close the Kohuknhu pound on and after the Ist day of June next, unless a majority of the ratepayers in the Kohukohu riid'inir show good cause to the contrary." .Seconded by Mr. Vaughan and carried. 2, A petition in respect to a swing-gate across Poporiti Road. Moved by Mr. Andrewes, "That the petitioners re swing gate through section 60 Block X., Mangamuk* survey district, be informed that the Council defer granting permission for the erection of a swing gate until they receive from the inspector of works at their next meeting a report as to the nature and position of the g»te sought to be used." Seconded by Mr. Powell and carried. Petition 3, asking that certain works be done on Yarboroughstreet. Moved by the chairman, "That the petitioners be informed that a sum not exceeding £5 will be spent on the said road.' Seconded by Mr. Bernard and carried. Re petition presented by Mr. Andrewes, deferred from last meeting, train Kohukohu residents, asking that repairs be effected to platform in front of Kohukohu Hotol. Messrs. Powell and Vaughan having reported on the same, the chairman moved, "That the platform which was erected by the Council in the vicinity of the Kohukohu Hotel be repaired, and fenced to the wa'er's edge forthwith, at a cost not exceeding 503." Seconded by Mr. Powell and carried. Inspector's Report. — Moved by Mr. Bernard, "That the Inspector's report be received, and given effect; to as funds are available." Seconded by Mr. Vaugbau and carried. Payments.— by Mr. Bernard, That accounts amounting to £179 5s Id be now passed for payment." Seconded by Mr. Vaughan and carried. Dog Tax Collector. — Moved by the Chairman, " That the Dog Tax Collector and his deputies be empowered to deal with unregistered ownerless dogs in accordance with clause 13 of the Dog Registration Act." Seconded by Mr. Andrewes and carried. Road REPAiR.-Moved by Mr. Powell, "That the mover be instructed to get a portion of the road near J. Gardiner's section repaired, on condition that half the cost is borne by the general Government." Secondod by Mr. Vaughau. Moved by Mr. Andrewes, "That the inspector be authorised to employ the surface men on the county roads in such ridings as are in credit, at such times as the inspector deems advisable." Seconded by Mr. Powell and carried. Willow Planting. - Moved by Mr. Bernard, "That the inspector be directed to have the frontage to the cutting on the Horeke ■ Okaihau road, near the County boundary, planted with willow cuttings." Seconded by Mr. Vaughan and carried. Health Offiobb.-Movc(l by Mr. Powell, "That the chairman's action in appointing Doctor Geo de Clive Lowe as medical officer of health for the Hokianga district be confirmed." Seconded by Mr. Vaughan and carried. Unrecoverable Rates.—Moved by the Chairman, " That all rates in arrears for a period of three years, that are unrecoverable, be written off the rate book." Seconded by Mr. Andrewes and carried. SALARIES-Comment having been made as to salary received by clerk, a detailed return waslaid on the table, showing the full amounts received and disbursed by him as clerk, inspector, and valuer. The net receipts for three years ended December, 1896, including bonuses, being as follow [-January to December 31. 1894, £99 13s 2d; January to December 31, 1895, £153 Os 6d; January to December 31,1896, £12812s Wd. By-laws.— proposed set of by-laws relating to wheel tax were also read and considered. After some discussion, Mr. Powell gave notice of motion that the by-laws as read be considered at a special meeting to be fixed on the same day as the next ordinary meeting.—[Own Correspondent.]