COROMANDEL NEWS.

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXIV, Issue 19771, 19 October 1927, Page 14

COROMANDEL NEWS.

FLOOD DAMAGE REPAIR. ADDITIONAL RATE STRUCK. [BY TELEGRAPH.—OWN CORRESPONDENT. J COROMANDEL, Tuesday. The Coromanciel County Council met yesterday, the chairman, Mr. James, presiding. The resident engineer of the Public Works Department wrote advising that the sum available lor restoration of flood damages this year was very limited, and that recommendations for subsidies would be limited to cases where settlers were isolated by reason of storm damage which cuts them off from their base of supplies. As settlers in the Mercury Bay district did not suffer this disability when the road over the range was out of order, he was unable to recommend the granting of a subsidy on this road. The Northern Steamship Company drew attention to the rapid shoaling of the berth at the Mercury Bay Wharf, and said that at the rate silting was taking place it was highly probable that in a year's time steamers would not get to the wharf at high water. Mr. Lee was deputed to investigate and report. The director of State forests wrote that land planted with trees was not exempt from rating. The value of the trees, however, was not taken into consideration in assessing the value of the land for rating purposes. It was decided that the application of Messrs. Sweeney and McNeil for the statutory monetary aid in prospecting and developing a seam in the Kefmedy's Bay ranges be favourably recommended to the Minister of Mines.

I It was resolved that during the operation of the Summer Time Act the council will meet at 9.30 a.m. instead of 830 a.m., as at present. Mr. J. W. Ward's proposal to substitute a new line of road to give access to his property from the Colville-Port Charles Road, was approved, on the condition that he provides for the survey and legalisation of the road. The chairman and foreman were deputed to deal with the question of repairs to the Coromandel Wharf, and to report upon the most feasible scheme for providing a turning place on the mole for motorcars. Unpaid rates for the period 1921 to 1927 were written off as follows: —European, £261 Is 6d; Maori, £963 18s 4d. It was resolved that an additional halfpenny in the pound rate be struck over the county for the current year, and that the resident engineer of the Public Works Department be asked if his department would undertake the preparation of plans and specifications for'work covered by Government grants and subsidies. Failing this, the council will invite applications for the position of county engineer, such applications to be dealt with' at next meeting.