Hawera County Council.

Opunake Times, Volume I, Issue 7, 24 July 1894, Page 2

Hawera County Council.

The monthly meeting of the County Council was held on Friday. Present: Councillors Forsyth (chairman), Qain, McLean, McR ie, Winks, Hemming* way, Stewart, Steyen-on, and Scott. CORRESPONDENCE. F. McGuire and G. Hutchison, with respect to non-payment of thirds where land i 3 bought by scrip ; each promising to give the matter attention. Egmont Road Board, suggesting an acreage rate as a proper method of local rating ; and asking the Council to cooperate iu securing this.—Cr McLean thought they should advocate that the rates be struck on the. unimproved value.—Tiie Ci a'rmm agreed, and moved, That the Council would_ be in favour of a change by which the rate should he struck on the unimproved value, but canroi support an acreage rate.—Cr Quin seconded the motion, which was craned. The Chairman of the Egmont Licensing Committee wrote with respect to Mr Ogden's accommodation license, that there was a doubt as to what the fee had been fixed at by the Licensing Committee. —The matter was to be brought before the Liceusing Committee at the nest quarterly meeting.— Money to be held pending further advice. From G. Hutchison, reporting that the Minister of Lands had promised to consider the question of " thirds " in respect of scrip ; if nothing was done when the Estimates were brought down, he would move in the matter again. I'UNEHU. From thirty-three ratepayers on the Eltham Road asking for the construction of a bridge over the Punehu river. They asked that deferred payment money might be used. In connection with this matter, the Chairman reported that he and the engineer had been unable to come to any terms with Mr Watson, but Mr Thomas was willing to allow the Council to make a cutting on the opposite side for £5. They, however, thought that it would be better to take the present crossing under the Public Works Act. It would cost more, but even after the bridge was erected it would be a good cattle crossing, and a good stand by in case of need. Cr Stewart asked if it was necessary to take a man's land when he was willing to sell it at a fair price ? Mr Watson would sell for £ls, and not charge for the cost of keeping the road open d±miig_,lho-. past—year....... Some people had been paid a great deal more merely for the use of their land.

The Chairman said that Mr Watson had absolutely refused. If he had made any such offer to them, it 'would have been accepted at once. In fact, he had said that he was sorry to put the Council to extra expense, but that he would get into hot water with his neighbours if he allowed the Council to go through. In the dicussion -which followed, members seemed to think that some of the settlers were endeavouring to force the Council to build the bridge, and Cr Stewart, who took this view, said lie presumed that this letter was intended to show them how to get the funds. Cr Hemmingway objected to the use of deferred payment money for the Punehu bridge alone, while other streams on the road had not been bridged. Both at Mangawhero and Punehu they had factories close to them, and in case of Hoods no doubt the settlers would suffer serious inconvenience; and if the settlers generally in that loan area were found to approve of using the land fund money to build both bridges, he would be in favour of that, because it would benefit the whole district. He moved, That the matter be held over until the opinion of the settlers could be obtained, either by petition or public meeting, as to the building of the two bridges. Cr Stewart agreed that the other bridges were as important, but there were special circumstances in connection with this case. The building of the Oeo bridge was deferred on the understanding—indeed the promise—that this Punehu bridge should be built. The Chairman admitted the promise, but said that it was conditional on the finishing of the gravelling, and the loan money had not been sufficient to do that. He agreed that these two bridges should be built, and to take the land fund was the best thiug that could be done; but ifc must be remembered that in that case the interest on the loan would have to be paid by special rate. The Punehu, no doubt, had the first claim, but it would be better to build both. Motion carried. H. Spratt applied for slaughtering* license.—Grantecj,. Foreman's Pveport. The engineer reported that, with respect to the proposed deviation of the Hawera road, it would cost at least £l5O ; that the cost of the earthwork by keeping on the straight and giving a one-in-elevon grade on the south side of the line, would be £7O to £75. The Awatuua stream and three others on the Opunake-Stratford road repuired bridging. The gravelled roads had suffered greatly during the past two months, especially the Manaia road. Attention was diawn to the dangerous state of the main road through Normanby township. The Town Board were doing nothing to it. Something should be done to see who was responsible. Blinding on the Eltham road was progressing satisfactorily considering the weather. Cr McLean did not think that the Hawera Road was required. Cr Winks thought that the road was required, but the expenditure was beyond the Council's means. Agroed that no money be expended. As to the Opunake-Stratford road, Cr Hemingway said that the settlers could not gut out. They had been very quiet, and if money were available it should be spent at once.

Tins course was decided on. STOPPING AVORKS. The Chairman said that the general account was now overdrawn to the amount of £2700, and the accounts to be passed that day would amount to »* £470. This could not go on, and though the roads were in a bad state, he was of opinion that they must now stop work. He was doubtful whether the proposed loan would be carried, for there were many against it, and the Council si nply could not go further with any safety. Crs Stevenson and McLean agreed that they must stop. The Chairman said that it was right enough to expend money in an extraordinary emegrency, trusting to the future to put things right, but that did not now apply. On the motion of Cr Stevenson and the Chairman, it was resolved to stop all woiks chargeable to the general account. COUNTY CONFERENCE. A circular was read stating that the county conference would open on 7th August in Wellington. Cr Winks thought that it would be a waste of public money sending a delegate. Cr Stevenson thought that-it would be well to send a delegate if the conference could get 10s subsidy instead of ss. Cr Quin said that the conference might urge rating on capital value. The Chairman said his idea was that the whole system of local government needed reform. There were too many bodies. Our local government was administered by a host of little boards, too many of which were nominated, and on the. whole was very costly. What was wanted was a modification of the old provincial system, so that stronger bodies shall be elected to deal with local government matters. Cr Stevenson thought that there should be a reform of the charitabld aid system, so that the money should be taken out of the consolidated revenue. Then all the people iu the colony would pay their fair share, Cr Scott quite agreed with Cr Stevenson;s views on the charitable aid question. v It was decided to authorise th« chairman to attend, if he deemed itadvisable ; and to hold the next Council meeting on 3rd August, by which time members could consider required amendments.* NEW RIDINGS. The Chairman moved that Crs Quin, Winks, Scott, and McLean be a committee to report on the re-arrangement oi the n£w road district. It was now all in one division from the Palmer road to the railway line. The committee, he thought, would no doubt consult those ratepayers who took an interest in the matter. It had been suggested that there should be one riding including the Main South Road, and to extend to Inaha ; another to include the Normanby Read and to go back to the Palmer Road; aud another include the Eltham Road to near Kaponga, to be called the Mahgatoki. An objoction to this was that it alter the present loan areas, and the Hawera riding people would no longer be able to pay interest out of ordinary rate. However, no doubt all these matters would be considered.

Cr McLean suggested that the new road district should be just cut in two. Motion agreed to. WHEEL TAX. Councillor McLean moved that a wheel tax he imposed. It would biing in a large revenue and would not press heavily on anyone. The details could he settled by a committee. Councillor Winks thought the tax would be heavy on people who seldom used the road, perhaps only once a year. Councillor McLean said that Cr Winks could not have considered the matter in all its bearings or he would take such objection. At the present time the man who only used the road once a year paid his full taxes, and the man who did most damage paid least money. In answer to a question, Councillor McLean said he would varv the tax from £1 to £lO. Councillor Stevenson seconded. The revenue was not sufficient and with the need for better roads now that the milk carts used them so much more money must be raised. At present the council had no money to do anything with. If they could get £6OO or £7OO a year it would be of great assistance. Cr McLean—We will get £IOOO. The Chairman supported the motion ; at the same time he was not very sure that it would bring in sufficient money to make it worth while. Still it was worth euquiry. The principle was he thought good;"it was placing the burden of the roads bu those who used them, and was better than rating. The support of roads by rate was usual, but after all it was a rough and ready way. Pending public enquiry he would support the mo- # tion, but he would not agree to put a harassing tax on the ratepayers unless it was worth while from a revenue point of view. The motion was agreed to, and it was resolved tfiat the details be considered by committee of the wlftle county next meeting day. GOKSE. It was resolved to send a notice to Maoris to clear gorse off several roads ou the Plains and at Meremere. The council adjourned—Star.